About
The Sunnyland Neighborhood Association has been in operation as the City of Bellingham's official neighborhood association for at least 25 years. Its leadership, board, membership and mission has changed over time, as has the City's definition of the role of the neighborhood associations within the larger structure of the City itself. The current iteration of the SNA has been in operation since the summer of 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the objective of the SNA?
The SNA is organized to support quality of life, community preservation and enhancement, citizen involvement in civic affairs for residents, businesses, organizations and institutions within the Sunnyland neighborhood.
Who can be a member of the SNA?
Anyone 18 years or older who lives, owns property, operates a business or represents an organization (church, school etc.) within the neighborhood.
What are some of the ways that members can participate in the SNA?
Join us at one of the quarterly membership meetings or social events. Follow the SNA on social media to get meeting notices and information. Volunteer to become a board member (or nominate/encourage someone else to be a board member.) Contact the board to request a particular discussion topic/ speaker at a general membership meeting at sunnylandneighbors (at) gmail (dot) com.
Does it cost money to be a member?
No. Donations, however, are accepted to support costs such as rent for meeting spaces, printing, website fees, etc.
What is the purpose of the SNA Board and how does one become a board member?
The board conducts the business of the neighborhood association, which is a Washington State non-profit, and plans and organizes the quarterly membership meetings. Nominations and voting on board members occurs at the general membership meeting in February each year. The SNA strives for representation of the neighborhood’s geography as well as both resident and business representatives. The by-laws are available here.
Does the SNA recommend specific action to the city and the mayor?
The SNA acts primarily as a conduit for information and as a resource to foster participation in public input processes related to development, codes and other issues which impact the quality of life in the neighborhood.
The board and the SNA do not typically take positions on specific issues. A representative from the SNA is nominated by the Mayor to sit on the Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Council (MNAC). The MNAC provides a venue to share the concerns and interests of each neighborhood with the mayor and city administration.
Where and when are membership meetings typically held?
The meeting schedule is set annually by the board, and typically falls on the 4th Tuesday of February, May, August and November from 6-7:30pm. Please join our mailing list to stay informed of dates and content of upcoming meetings.
Meeting agendas typically include an invited speaker, announcements about upcoming SNA events and public comments/announcements from attendees.
Neighborhood meetings are held at Options High School (2015 Franklin St.) unless otherwise noted. If you are unable to attend but wish to catch up, minutes from past meetings can be found here. Minutes from meetings prior to 2022 are not linked on the website but are available by request.