City council meetings start back up in person

Brown office chairs swiveled, bright spot lights aimed at those speaking and an energy similar to the first day of school permeated through council chambers on Monday, August 9. Six Blaine city council members, city staff and nearly 20 members of the public returned for the first in-person meeting at city hall since March 2020.

Business resumed as usual, with the significance of the first meeting since spring 2020 going largely unaddressed until Blaine city manager Michael Jones spoke during department reports.

“Welcome back,” he said. “It’s been a long time. I, for one, am glad to be in the same room having a face-to-face conversation.”

Council tackled several items during the August 9 meeting: Promoting two Blaine Police Department officers to sergeants, addressing changes to new work-live zoning, and updating Blaine Municipal Code for the first time since 2012.

Public comment was halted for the meeting because city staff needed more time to get the comment period to work with the new hybrid set up. Even with an audience at city hall, the public couldn’t speak because the city would need to allow those accessing the meeting remotely to also speak, city clerk Sam Crawford explained.

Guidelines are set for the new hybrid meetings. New Open Public Meeting Act rules state public meetings must offer a virtual component. Under the guidelines, councilmembers and staff must show proof of vaccination to be exempt from wearing a mask. Members of the public are trusted on the honor system and will not be asked if they are vaccinated if they are not wearing a mask. Those unvaccinated may attend virtual meetings. Very few masks were worn at the meeting and the guidelines didn’t require social distancing.

Council voted unanimously 6-0 that commission, committee and board meetings will also be hybrid and follow the same requirements as city council. Councilmember Eric Davidson was not in attendance.

City council  approved amendments to Blaine Municipal Code to establish work-live units in the manufacturing zoning district subzone B, west of Ludwick Avenue and north of Boblett Street. One work-live unit will be permitted per business that will be one-third of the working area or 1,500 square feet, whichever is less. Pioneer Post Frame first requested the amendment changes to create work-live units in December 2020.

Councilmembers also voted to update Blaine Municipal Code for the first time since 2012. The changes would streamline basic operations and include the option for virtual public meetings in the city’s code. The change allows for council, boards, committees and commissions to conduct fully remote meetings during inclement weather.

Blaine public works director Bernie Ziemianek gave an update to the east Blaine sewer project.

The field work is nearly complete which has allowed workers to collect data on soil conditions, he said. Some sewer lines were found on private properties without easements, including an important line across the Blaine High School parking lot.

Ziemianek said the final project cost is being worked on and he expects the project to still be complete by October 2022.

Council convened for an executive session to discuss potential litigation regarding the H Street annexation. After the executive session, city council voted for the planning director to consult the city’s attorney to remediate the procedural irregularities that could have resulted in the annexation proposal being remanded from Whatcom County boundary review board hearings.