Sunday, June 28, 2009

An Easy Way to Make a Big Difference

With a single click, you can provide some woman with a free mammogram – really. This is a genuine opportunity to do good work with ease.

Snopes.com, “The definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation,” says,
“Let this be your good deed for today … it only takes a second. Go to the site below. All you do is click a button and a woman gets a free mammogram at no cost to you. It is paid for by corporate sponsors (who gain advertising in the process because you see their logo). All you do is go to the site and click the free button. It takes one second. However, you are only allowed one donation, so please pass the word.”

www.thebreastcancersite.com

While it is true, as snopes says, that you are only allowed one donation, that is one a day. Post a reminder to click every day, for mammograms and other causes. Options on the site allow you to combat hunger and/or support child health, literacy, the rainforest and animal rescue.

Added 7/3/09 - Forgot to say, you can get a daily reminder sent to your email - it sure helps to be able to click that link and start contributing.

rah

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Probing the Blaine-Birch Bay Relationship

At the Chamber, 6.16

Al used his three minutes at the monthly meeting of the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce to ask: Why does Blaine dislike us? That started a discussion that lasted 10 minutes. Some of the comments:

> They see people coming across the border, driving through Blaine and stopping at Birch Bay;

> They resent having railroad tracks that cut off their beach;

> They envy that Birch Bay has development, one reason given is Blaine's high cost of municipal personnel to residents ratios -– that is a turnoff for developers.

But some other comments agreed that the two communities have more in common than differences. Gary Tomsic was named as one who has encouraged cooperation.


At the Fire District meeting 6.18



In the public comments period at the start of the meeting Al read from the Blaine proposal to the County Council that included, “Blaine does not have adequate police and fire protection.” His question to the commissioners was: Isn't Birch Bay an equal member of the fire district? They were quick to agree that North Whatcom Fire and Rescue belongs as much to Birch Bay as Blaine. And Chief Tom Fields added that in his opinion the Blaine police department is, “understaffed and grossly underfunded.”

Asked about relative valuations and tax revenue, the Chief Fields estimated that Blaine and Birch Bay represent about 60 percent of the district. He said he thinks the two communities are about equal and is asking the county auditor for a breakdown.

Despite being the only citizens there, we found this an interesting meeting. The five commissioners are good old boys, in the best sense of the term, and seem to enjoy working together. For us it was better that watching TV.

In an agenda section devoted to UGA proposals, Chief Fields, who prefaced his comments with, “I may get tarred and feathered,” said he found favor with the Blaine proposal regarding Birch Bay's weaknesses, that it would be easier to serve an incorporated city.

In these discussions we've acknowledged that we are “fanning the flames of contention,” and explained that our intent is to “burn the fires out” by confronting people in both communities to recognize there is greater value in cooperation.

The Elder's View

“You should have been here 20 years ago,“ said Patrick Alesse who came by the Chamber's visitor information office Friday afternoon. Mr. Alesse explains that relations between Birch Bay and Blaine are much better now than when the Blaine mayor threatened to shut of Birch Bay's water. Mr. Alesse, a longtime Blaine water and sewer commissioner, says that commissioners of the two systems are now working well together. By way of example he explains that Birch Bay is supporting the Blaine system in adding new wells and cooperating on service areas.

About the size of Birch Bay's UGA

On Friday, the Herald published a report by Jared Paben that listed the population and acreage allocations in the proposed Urban Growth Act allocations. He repeated the previous information that Birch Bay is allocated 4,329 new residents-- growing 82 percent of the present estimated population -- by 2031 and keeping the present size of the UGA.

But Kate Koch, the county planner, who has facilitated the public meetings sponsored by the Birch Bay Steering committee, said in a phone conversation that the acreage allotment is likely to be reduced before the planning department's recommendations to the County Council, expected by July 31.

The aerial photo below shows the areas likely to be subject to reduction outlined in red.




ak

Monday, June 15, 2009

Birch Bay Gets No Respect

Blaine’s Urban Growth Area is the “most significantly oversized” UGA in the county. This is according to Whatcom County officials, as reported by Tara Nelson in The Northern Light this week. Blaine's City Council is offering a reduction of 2,549 acres, leaving 1,176 for future development. The County Planning Department is expected to recommend that Birch Bay's UGA remain unchanged at 4,375 acres. In population, the county is projecting Blaine’s growth to grow from 4,667 residents in 2008 to 8,370 in 2031. Birch Bay’s growth, now estimated at 5,290, is projected at 9,619 in 2031.

Whatcom County is under the gun from the State to update its growth management plan. After a series of extensions, the deadline for the county is now Dec. 1. This month, cities and unincorporated communities are negotiating their plans with the county.

Here, in summary, is Blaine's argument for larger allocations:
“While the work of the Birch Bay Steering Committee is admirable and it is clear that they and many more in Birch Bay have invested a great deal of time and thought into Birch Bay improvements, they are nevertheless only a committee and not a governing body. Birch Bay has limited infrastructure built to rural standards (roads, pedestrian sidewalks or walkways, storm water facilities.) Additionally, Birch Bay does not have many essential public services and facilities at an adequate urban standard to service Birch By community (police and fire protection, park and recreational facilities, public library community/senior center, schools.)”

We regard this statement as a gratuitous slap. It would be easy to ridicule the Blaine government and its problems with resolving difficulties, starting with the airport. And certainly, Birch Bay has problems, too. But the overriding factor is that the two communities have good reasons to work together. Where would the Blaine school system be without Birch Bay students and the Birch Bay tax base? North Whatcom Fire and Rescue is as much Birch Bay as it is Blaine. The Park & Rec District, recently rejuvenated, is an example of community cooperation and a building block.

Moreover, the county's growth plan is for 2031. Essentially, it provides guidelines. It is not about forcing newcomers where to live. They will have choices – Fairhaven, Ferndale, etc. Does the Blaine City Council believe the factors that have attracted people to Birch Bay – the water and beaches plus enterprising developers – will have less influence in the next two decades? As for this decade, as Alan Friedlob argued here in a February post, Birch Bay is doing fine in cooperation with the county.

What does the Blaine council expect will happen in 20 years? Will Birch Bay incorporate? Or, more likely, will growth create a contiguous, single community to foster a merger as happened with Fairhaven and Bellingham?

All of the Whatcom communities will present their recommendations to Whatcom County Council tomorrow night (June 16). Birch Bay is scheduled for 7 o'clock; Blaine for 7:25. There is only time for presentations this week. Tuesday evening, the 23rd, will be the time for public comment. To read the UGA proposal of all communities go to www.co.whatcom.wa/us/pds/2031

ak

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Access to Property Owner

“Tell them to xxxx ooo,” said the property owner when told that some of our readers complain that his new posts are encroaching on beach access from Birch Bay Drive south of Jackson Road. He said that twice more while explaining that he has five permits that took a year and a half to obtain. Hearing his voice louder and seeing his face redder, it was time for your correspondent to depart.



ak