Regular police bicycle patrols will be returning next year, as part of Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund's new Downtown Forward initiative to make the city center feel safe and welcoming.
In an emailed statement Thursday to announce the Downtown Forward program, Lund said that her administration will also be supporting downtown businesses and taking a close look at empty commercial storefronts.
"Downtowns define great cities. They are the social, economic and cultural heart of any community, and when a downtown thrives, the rest of the city benefits too," Lund said at the city's website.
Lund said she plans "a comprehensive commercial and retail industry trends study that will drive strategies to eliminate vacancies and encourage redevelopment of underutilized properties downtown."
Kicking off the Downtown Forward program is a new web page and a special event to solicit community input. It's planned for 5-8 p.m. Sept. 19 at Chuckanut Bay Distillery, 1311 Cornwall Ave.
Lund, who was elected in November 2023 and took office in January, issued an executive order in February that focused on addressing the fentanyl crisis and revitalizing the city's commercial core.
Since then, the city has increased cleaning of streets, alleys and sidewalks, and the Police Department has been conducting regular foot patrols to that are "focused on building relationships and disrupting the sale and distribution of illegal drugs," the city's statement said.
"Our officers being visible, accessible, and present fosters relationships with downtown businesses, residents and visitors. We are sending a strong message that downtown is not a place for disruptive activity. Public safety is important to all of us," Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig said in the city's statement.
Energizing downtown and making it more inviting has been one of Lund's primary messages in her first months on the job.
"Bellingham is a great city, and we have a great downtown worth investing in," she said in a video produced to introduce Downtown Forward.
"This is just the first step in our efforts to reinvigorate and reinvest in our downtown. Building on a foundation of safety, we are moving downtown forward with a vision for the great neighborhood we want it to be," Lund said.
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