Community Development Advisory Board

Community Development Advisory Board — January 8, 2026

This was a regular meeting of the Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB), an advisory body that helps guide the City of Bellingham's community development and human services funding. Nine of twelve members were present; the meeting was held in the Mayor's Boardroom and video recorded.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the November meeting were approved without discussion. Amy Navarro moved, Andrew Calkins seconded.

Road2Home Agency Presentation

Bart Hunter from Road2Home's Ally Program presented an overview of the organization, which receives partial funding from the City. The presentation covered Road2Home's services broadly and focused in particular on Gardenview, their tiny home village for people experiencing homelessness. Hunter described what the experience is like for guests both before they are admitted to the program and once they are living on site. This is the type of agency presentation CDAB regularly schedules to stay informed about how city-funded programs are performing in the community.

CDAB Board Elections

The board held its annual leadership elections for 2026. Shannon Laws was nominated to continue as Chair, and Matt Unger was nominated for Vice Chair. Both accepted their nominations.

Vote: Andrew Calkins moved, Matthew Main seconded. Approved 9–0.

HHS Outcome Reports

Staff walked members through the Health and Human Services (HHS) Outcome Reports, which provide a narrative summary of accomplishments for each program funded by the City during the 2024–25 program year. The minutes do not detail specific findings or member discussion, but this review is part of CDAB's ongoing oversight role for funded agencies.

Survey Results for 2026 Presenters

CDAB had expected to review survey results reflecting members' preferences for which community organizations they'd like to hear from in 2026. However, no survey responses had been collected prior to the meeting. Staff said they will resend the survey link before the next meeting so members can weigh in.

Staff Updates

City staff shared an annual report summarizing CDAB's accomplishments over the past year. No additional detail is recorded in the minutes.

Announcements / "What's the Buzz"

Amy Navarro raised a question about the status of day shelter services in Bellingham, noting that the City of Bellingham Public Library will be closing later this year — a facility that informally serves as daytime shelter space for people experiencing homelessness. City Council Representative Michael Lilliquist responded that the Mayor and Council are actively considering the issue, though no decisions have been made yet.

Katherine Freimund noted that CDAB Chair Shannon Laws will be giving a poetry reading on January 17, 2–3 PM, at Village Books.

Future Agenda Items

Members expressed interest in scheduling a future presentation from Didgwalic Wellness Center.

Key Takeaways