Blaine City Council approved a new budget request from the Public Works Department for up to $90,000 to purchase patio furniture for the downtown core. The decision is yet another in a string of downtown beautification projects in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Public works staff presented council with multiple proposals for patio furniture on March 23, with council approving funding to buy and install the furniture in central locations including the G Street Plaza. For good measure, a prototype of a square patio table with an accompanying bright blue umbrella was brought into council chambers for the occasion.
Cost estimates for the new furniture and other decorations like new light pole banners and railings were just below $80,000, according to the public works department. Council amended the language of the original proposal to allow up to $90,000 in expenses as a precautionary measure in case installation costs increase.
Public works broke down the costs for the upgrades at $55,000 for seating and railings at G Street Plaza and at participating restaurants, $21,000 for plaza improvements, and $3,300 for light pole banners.
According to city documents, funding for the new streetscape elements was unavailable in the original 2026 budget. After Washington lawmakers funded two park improvement projects, general funds suddenly freed up. The city also had nearly $500,000 in general fund savings from 2025 at its disposal, according to a city memo.
Similar to much of the city’s recent beautification approvals over the past year — such as the Downtown Revitalization Project, signage upgrades and more — council is preparing for an influx of tourists during the FIFA World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup will feature a slate of games in both Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle, and the city is hoping that will bring in throngs of soccer fans with empty bellies and gas tanks.
World Cup matches in the two cities begin on June 13 and conclude July 7.
