October 31 - November 6, 2019
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County executive race awash in money, page 10
WCLS may pursue funding library projects through single taxing district
Adopt-a-Block volunteers clean Birch Bay, page 13
Daylight saving time ends on November 3
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Happy Halloween!
By Oliver Lazenby Building a library in Birch Bay and expanding the Blaine Library are the Whatcom County Library System’s top two infrastructure priorities, and it may pursue funding for both using a single taxing district. On October 15, the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) board of trustees asked executive director Christine Perkins to research and plan for a Library Capital Facilities Area (LCFA) that would encompass the Blaine school district minus Point Roberts. She will present a plan to the board at its December 17 meeting. “It’s definitely not decided that that’s what is going to be done,” Perkins said. The board may make a decision at the December meeting. An LCFA is the method Washington state law provides for funding library infrastructure projects through taxes. Through a levy, the LCFA would raise the nearly $3 million remaining to fund construction of Birch Bay’s library, and the several million required to expand Blaine’s library from 5,400 square feet to about 12,000 square feet. The cost of the Blaine project is unknown – an architect will present designs and cost estimates to WCLS in March. Based on square footage, WCLS estimates that the Blaine project will be in the ballpark of $7 million, but that’s a very rough estimate, Perkins said. “We’re hesitant to say what the actual numbers are because we just don’t know yet,” she said. If the board of trustees pursues a single taxing district for both projects, it would aim to put two ballot propositions on an August 2020 special election ballot – one to form the LCFA and another to levy money for the projects. WCLS board chair Marvin Waschke emphasized that pursuing a single taxing district doesn’t remove other options. The board could also form separate taxing (See WCLS, page 2)
s In the spirit of Halloween, various businesses in Blaine are participating in the Blaine Chamber of Commerce’s annual scarecrow display contest. This year’s winner will be announced on Friday, November 1. Above, last year’s winner, Curb Shots coffee shop, shows off their 2019 scarecrow display.
Photo courtesy of Donna Raimey
Music camp instructors return to play jazz concert By Kira Erickson When saxophonist Nick Biello met trumpeter Charlie Porter for the first time at the annual Blaine Harbor Music Camp, it was the beginning of a musical partnership. Hailing from opposite coasts, the two jazz players first met as co-instructors at the summer music camp where they return every year to teach kids. Seven years later, they are about to begin a tour promoting Porter’s newest album, which features Biello’s playing. One of these tour stops is appropriately the place where they first met – Blaine.
“Our paths don’t always cross as much as we’d like them to,” Biello said. “Blaine gives us the opportunity to come together and work on projects.” At the Blaine Performing Arts Center on Sunday, November 3, Biello and Porter will be performing from 4 to 6 p.m. with their music group, the EastWest Winds Quintet. The other quintet members include Julian MacDonough on drums, Tony Foster on piano and John Lee on bass. Tickets are $20 for adults and free for kids in grades K-12. “They’re super talented, really worldclass musicians,” Blaine Harbor Music
Camp board member Marla Tuski said. “For them to travel out and do a performance in our little community is just a really big thing.” Tuski knows the musicians from their participation in the summer music camp year after year. When her husband was involved with the Performing Arts Center, Tuski was introduced to Biello and Porter and was surprised by their musical expertise. “The guys are inspirational,” Tuski said. “They really get the kids pumped about music. It’s so interesting to me how they can be at the top of their game, but they’re
City council passes resolution opposing Initiative 976 By Jami Makan Blaine City Council passed a resolution opposing Initiative 976 after holding a public hearing on the issue at its October 28 meeting. Initiative 976 would limit motor vehicle license fees (car tab fees) to $30 per year; repeal or reduce certain motor vehicle weight fees; repeal the authority for city transportation benefit districts (TBDs) to impose vehicle fees; reduce electric vehicle fees to $30 per year; and repeal the 0.3
percent tax on motor vehicle retail sales, among other things. During the public hearing, one Blaine resident commented on the ballot measure. “I support Resolution 1781-19, which would oppose Initiative 976,” she said. “I know that the city doesn’t generally get involved in supporting specific things, but this is really important to us.” Prior to the vote, Blaine city manager Michael Jones explained why the city decided to take a position on the ballot measure. He said that I-976 would have the effect
of reducing revenue for state and regional road projects. “The state has estimated a loss of revenue in the vicinity of $1.75 billion dollars over about five years should this pass,” he said. “That has the potential to be very significant in the state’s ability to fund transportation projects.” Specifically, Jones said that the proposed grade separation project at Bell Road could potentially be affected if I-976 passes. The project would construct an overpass over
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(See Jazz, page 5)
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