In brief: Blaine City Council

Blaine City Council approves incentive policy for sale of former airport property

In an effort to attract new business and manufacturing companies to Blaine, city council voted 6-0 to approve a performance-based price reduction on the sale of property at the former Blaine Municipal Airport, which is owned by the city.

This follows the city’s announcement that packaged dessert producer Chuckanut Bay Foods agreed to enter into a purchase agreement for 2.8 acres of property on the site last month. The city is offering the company a discounted price for the property if they adhere to specific performance standards, explained city manager Dave Wilbrecht.

The sale incentive is designed to advance economic development goals outlined in the comprehensive plan with the intention of attracting new business, spurring job growth and expanding food, industrial and manufacturing enterprises.

“The creation of a policy will help the city attract and evaluate potential buyers consistently and provide direction and guidance to the city staff and potential buyers when negotiating transactions,” read a staff report.

City joins other citiesto address homelessness

In cooperation with 16 area cities and towns as well as Skagit, Whatcom and Island counties, Blaine City Council voted 6–0 to join a regional consortium to secure funding to address homelessness and affordable housing shortages.

Blaine city manager Dave Wilbrecht will sign an agreement to establish a Home Consortium, which will collect funds per the National Affordable Housing Act from 2018 through 2020. In all, Blaine and 15 other cities in Skagit, Island and Whatcom counties agreed to participate in the regional consortium.

According to a March 2017 memo from the Skagit County Department of Public Health, the funds will be used to develop affordable housing for households that generate incomes between 30 and 80 percent of the area’s median income.

Program funds will also be used to make housing accessible for households with an income lower than 50 percent of the area’s median income.