The latest news from the November 12 Blaine City Council meeting ...
Building height vote
City council held a tied vote on whether to follow the planning commission’s recommendation to increase building heights by one story on the west side of Peace Portal Drive in the downtown core.
Council voted 3-3 with councilmembers Richard May, Sonia Hurt and Eric Lewis in opposition and councilmember Eric Davidson excused from the meeting.
The opposing voters would need to make a motion to bring the resolution before council for a second vote, city manager Mike Harmon said. However, if the resolution is slightly different, it could come before council again without needing the oppositions’ motion.
Hurt moved to hold a second vote at council’s next meeting on Monday, December 9.
Councilmember Rhyan Lopez said he believed increasing the building heights was a piece to improving the city. Councilmember Mike Hill said he believed it was crucial to pass.
Hurt said her decision on which way to vote was difficult and she had to put her personal views to the side to represent her constituency.
Before the vote, May asked if council could require see-through buildings, which Community Development Services director Alex Wenger said technically council could require, but it would create another barrier for developers.
The zoning change was proposing to allow building heights to increase 12 feet, from 36 to 48 feet, in the waterview subdistrict on the west side of Peace Portal Drive, running south of F Street to north of Clark Street. Developers intially requested the change because they believed current zoning was prohibiting them from receiving a good return on investment. The waterfront area has had vacant property for years.
2025 budget
Council unanimously approved its 2025 budget after holding two public hearings on it in October and November.
The budget doesn’t reflect major cuts as were seen during last year’s budget process. The budget will be balanced with an ending fund balance of $26.29 million.
Along with the budget, council unanimously approved increasing its utility base and consumption rates for stormwater by 69.2 percent, water by 17.5 percent, electric by 5 percent and wastewater by 3.3 percent. Despite the large percentage for stormwater, the increase is a smaller dollar amount, finance director Jennifer Spidle said.
The change will go into effect with the January 2025 billing statements. This will be the third consecutive year the city has increased utility rates after years of the city not increasing rates to keep up with inflation.
Council also unanimously approved a one percent property tax increase, which will allow the city to collect about $14,500 more from its regular property tax revenue.
Inverness extension
Council approved a one-year extension to Inverness’ planned unit development and preliminary plat review timeline.
The Inverness PUD and preliminary plat were submitted to the city on December 15, 2022 but have remained under review by city staff since. The one-year extension will run to December 2025. The project is a 37-acre subdivision next to Semiahmoo Golf Course that will have 63 single-family homes.
