Andy, Item 1. Bike lane proposal was for lanes on both sides of Cornwall. On the East side where parking is to be retained the lane is extra wide to allow for a bike to swerve to avoid car doors. Item 2. I hadn't thought about Louise's motion to "retain parking" as a non action and therefore a non motion. Glad it went down or Joan would have had to step in, that is, if she caught what you did.

Frank,
I hope your surgery went well and I find much to like in your comments. I also found it strange that this came to Council from the Parking Commission. Most items come to us from the source, in this case P. W. or the Mayor with a recommendation and the comment and minutes from the commission that reviewed it. I also learned from this that Council is often hampered by the form of the request. I would like to have had this come to us as a 'best bike route' proposal from the Bike/Ped advisory committee as a result of their looking at the range of cycle options for travel in and out of town. For example, I use the Railroad trail to ride into town and travel west on North Street then south on Ellis or Franklin to the South Bay trail behind Bellingham High and on into town. As a recreational cyclist I wouldn't dream of using Cornwall and dodging buses and breathing diesel fumes and traffic and large volumes of pedestrians at some times of the day. I also am very concerned that removing the parking on one side will make the street look wider and result in increased car speeds.

This was a difficult vote because of the above and because we had to choose between the neighborhood's desire not to be further divided and the Comp Plan which represents all of Bellingham. After reviewing more than 300 written submissions and listening to more than 50 people present for three minutes a piece it was not an easy choice.

Like Damon, I don't think a space in the front of your house on a public right of way belongs to the home owner. Many people, my self included have to park in driveways or behind the house. Cars are a privilege not a right. Lot's of people are really unhappy about the results. Damon, I know you are gone but we listened to three hours of three minute comments. At 11PM everyone left and Council waded into a very thick meeting packet dealing with three unrelated, watershed acquision bond approval and a lot of other very important business. Go figure.

A group of COB folks took the train Tuesday morning to Portland returning late Wednesday. We met with city officials including the elected Auditor and the Mayor and housing issue folks. It was well worthwhile. As you know from the campaign one of my issues it trying to make our government more accountable. Portland surveys it's citizens on four main areas of public service and, using data from that and expenditures, they write a very thorough report on the results of their efforts to provide the best service possible. It may be a liberal Mecca and they spend a lot of money but the seem to deliver on their promises and on what the citizens say they want from their government. Transportation there is quite wonderful. Since we were on foot or public conveyance we really noticed the range of transportation choices we had. More on their unique structure if anyone is interested. Stan