NOTICE OF FLUSHING

The City of Blaine Water Division started flushing the City's water distribution system. This is accomplished by opening hydrants along the system (starting at the well fields) to move fresh water throughout the distribution system.

The purpose of flushing the system is to remove any grit and debris in order to improve water quality through the distribution system.

During the city flushing program city water customers may experience a temporary low water pressure and/or cloudiness when flushing is going on. The cloudiness condition (caused by air) should be only temporary, and can be cleared by running a cold water tap for a few minutes to clean and flush your service line. If the condition continues for an extended period of time please contact the Blaine Public Works.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions, feel free to call Public Works at (360) 332-8820, or visit www.cityofblaine.com for weekly area updates.

Blaine Public Works.

$290,000 additional expenses annually, depending on interest rates. Each utility customer would need to pay about $33 per year to cover the city’s debt, or about $2.25 per month.

“When the loan is paid off, does anybody believe the city would reduce that utility back?” councilmember Garth Baldwin asked on February 22. He added the city is already behind on raising rates and that taxpayers are still paying off the city’s state-of-the-art Lighthouse Point Water Reclamation Facility. Council debate throughout the state, including Pasco, Kirkland, Chelan, College Place, Lakewood and Yakima.

TIF has only recently become an issue of debate for city council. Discussions on TIF geared up last November as council held a study session on the funding tool, before approving a $75,000 contract in December with Stowe Development and Strategies to conduct the analysis of the east Blaine area that would be sent to the state.

The city, the Jansens and Hertz had agreed to split the cost of Stowe’s $75,000 contract evenly three ways but a contract with the developers had not been prepared by December. Council was slated to vote on the contract during its February 13 meeting but tabled approving the contract because some councilmembers raised concerns that the $75,000 contract was too costly, despite Stowe having already spent over a month working on the study.

Councilmembers seemed confused on what they were voting on and councilmember Richard May directed city staff to ask Stowe to halt work until city council had more time to discuss TIF. In part, council wanted Harmon, who was away at the time, to provide recommendations because he had used TIF to buy down the costs of Sky Ridge, an affordable housing development and large sports complex in Spearfish, South Dakota. (While TIF was recently passed in Washington, it’s been a funding tool across the U.S. for years.)

The city had already incurred $63,000 of Stowe’s $75,000 contract, May said during the meeting.

Councilmembers discussed their earlier confusion on the financial contract with the developers they were supposed to vote on February 13. Councilmember Rhyan Lopez stated he thought council had already approved the developer contract and this was an additional $75,000, while councilmember Garth Baldwin asked why the contract with the developers wasn’t signed.

Councilmember Mike Hill said he supported having the option for the TIF district because it would help development, which he said was needed to improve the city budget.

“[Michael] Jones is the one that started this and he thought this would be a real good thing for the city, and it will be. It’s an opportunity. We don’t have to use it, or we can use it,” Hill said. “[The developers] are trying to help us, not hurt us. Every time we make a move it seems like we’re road-blocking these guys.”

Councilmember Eric Davidson voiced his reservation on the TIF district, saying he didn’t believe the city had explored the option enough, to which Baldwin agreed. May said council would ultimately decide how much debt the city would take on, if it decided to create a TIF district.

“You will have ample time to argue whatever limit you think should be the highest amount,” May told Davidson. “The likely one we’re being presented has shrunk greatly. We want to bite off what we can chew. The figures being most seriously looked at right now are rather modest.”

Mayor Mary Lou Steward suggested councilmembers use the next few months to look at the successes and failures of TIF districts in other states. May agreed.

The city is asking the state to review whether it would be fiscally responsible to take out $3.5 million in loans or bonds to be paid back through TIF revenue. If the city took on that debt, it would incur about $255,000 to

Heverling warned councilmembers that the February 27 council meeting was the absolute latest they could vote on sending the TIF study to the state because the state needed 90 days for review.

Council held the February 22 special meeting to ask Stowe questions regarding TIF. Stowe has been a major consultant on proposed or active TIF projects

After the special February 22 meeting, council briefly discussed TIF before taking two separate votes on it during its February 27 meeting. In a 7-0 vote, council approved the financial contract with the developers. Council then voted 4-3 for the city to send Stowe’s TIF study to the state for recommendations. Councilmembers Baldwin, Davidson and Kerena Higgins voted in opposition.