October 1 - 7, 2020
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BHS grad Liam Lyons Blaine fall display constest remembered, page 3 starts Oct. 11, page 4
League of Women Voters holding voter forums, page 10
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Birch Bay berm Birch Bay berm construction progresses north construction questions answered By Ian Haupt
(See Berm, page 6)
s Granite Construction workers prepare a spot to install a high-density polyethylene pipe that will drain stormwater basins under the berm on September 28, 2020.
Photo by Ian Haupt
City extends plaza use waiver, but questions loom By Oliver Lazenby Blaine City Council voted unanimously at its September 28 meeting to extend an emergency resolution that allows businesses to use the H Street and G Street plazas. The resolution was set to expire on October 1. After some discussion, council agreed to extend the resolution until phase 3 of the state’s Safe Start Washington plan, but the council will likely discuss fees for use of the space at a future council meeting. Whatcom County remains in phase 2 of the Safe Start Washington plan after governor Jay Inslee indefinitely suspended the ability of counties to move to the next phase on July 28. The resolution waives code limits on use of the downtown Blaine plazas, allowing restaurants and retail businesses to apply for a park special-use permit to set up dining or retail space. In response
to the Covid-19 pandemic, city manager Michael Jones made city plazas available to businesses with a June 9 emergency order. City council approved the order at its June 22 regular meeting, with the October 1 expiration date. While the ordinance aimed at providing relief to local businesses hit by Covid-19, only the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company has used it. The company’s outdoor dining on the H Street Plaza, replete with a view of the harbor, has become a center of activity in downtown Blaine, but the city has some concerns that its treatment of the space could become unethical. “It’s enhanced the experience of downtown Blaine, and all of this is very good and fine and this is one of the goals of the city,” said councilmember Mary Lou Steward. “However, we are talking about a city park and what we are potentially doing is giving one businessperson priority or an advantage over people who are potentially
Blaine’s Holiday Harbor Lights Fundraiser Let’s light up downtown Blaine this holiday season by celebrating our seaside location with nautical theme street pole ornament displays. Blaine Chamber of Commerce and Wild Bird Charity are teaming up to accept (tax deductible) donations to purchase these light displays to decorate downtown this holiday season. Choose your display, your pole, or your block! For more info visit: blainechamber.com
competing for the same clientele. I think we need to proceed very carefully on this.” Other councilmembers argued that the oyster restaurant drawing more people to Blaine is a positive thing for other local (See Plazas, page 6)
INSIDE
With Birch Bay berm construction restarting last month, the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting via Zoom on September 24 for residents to ask the project’s contractor questions. In the meeting, Gairrett Orelup with Granite Construction, Whatcom County Public Works department representative Roland Middleton and Whatcom County engineering manager Jim Karcher gave updates on the project, officially called the Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facility Project. Whatcom Public Works staff said the pedestrian pathway south of the Bay Breeze Restaurant & Bar is ready to be paved but the material they planned to use was not working well in Washington weather. Paving will be postponed until public works finds a new, more sustainable material. Orelup asked for people to stay off the path for three to four days once it is paved. Granite Construction crews will continue to work north of Bay Breeze heading toward Cedar Avenue, Orelup said. They will be placing stormwater basins along the west side of Birch Bay Drive. High-density polyethylene pipe sections will extend from the basins under the berm into the water to drain stormwater treatment swales above the berm. “Crews are 100 percent focused on importing berm material,” Orelup said, which will likely be finished by the end of December or early January. Public works staff said there will be single lane closures on Birch Bay Drive while crews work on the berm. Wait times should be less than five minutes. The south end of the project will start to have a finished look soon, Orelup said, as they will begin planting in three weeks or so. “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. Middleton and Orelup warned residents that this is an active construction site, and asked for walkers to stay on the east side of Birch Bay Drive when passing construction areas. Orelup said it does wonders for the crew. They are operating heavy equipment that obstructs their view. “The last thing we want out here is to have an acci-
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