Chapter 2.44
PUBLIC WORKS AND PARK ADVISORY BOARD
Sections:
2.44.020 Composition – Terms – Appointment – City employees.
2.44.030 Officers – Meetings – Rules – Record.
2.44.040 Quorum – Majority rule.
2.44.050 Responsibility of board.
2.44.060 City power to acquire parklands.
2.44.010 Definitions.
Words used in this chapter and Chapter 3.54 BMC shall be defined as follows:
A. “Board” means the public works and park advisory board.
B. “Public works liaison” means the assistant public works director, or other designee by the public works director or city manager.
C. “Park” means an area of land used for public recreational purposes, including but not limited to landscaped tracts, picnic grounds, playgrounds, athletic fields, parklets, trails, recreational centers and all other recreational facilities for the use and benefit of the public, including municipal buildings so used.
D. “Cemetery” means the seven-and-eight-tenths-acre Blaine Cemetery located at 4175 H Street Road. (Ord. 3007 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 2982 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 2324 § 2, 1997; Ord. 2246 § 2(a), 1996; Ord. 1394 § 1, 1974; prior code § 2-201)
2.44.020 Composition – Terms – Appointment – City employees.
A. Up to seven voting members shall constitute the board. The city council shall appoint a city council liaison to the board in January of each calendar year. The city council liaison shall not have voting powers nor be considered a board member. The city council shall appoint board members pursuant to Chapter 2.09 BMC. Board members must reside in the city of Blaine; city employees are ineligible to serve as board members.
B. The term of each appointed board member shall be four years. (Ord. 3007 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 2982 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 2611 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2324 § 3, 1997; Ord. 2025 § 3, 1991; Ord. 2020 § 3, 1991; Ord. 1394 § 2, 1974; prior code § 2-202)
2.44.030 Officers – Meetings – Rules – Record.
The board shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson in January of each calendar year. The board shall schedule at least 10 meetings per calendar year at such time and place as determined by the board members. The public works liaison and the board’s chairperson (or vice-chairperson in the absence of the chairperson) may cancel a scheduled meeting. All meetings shall be held in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. The board shall adopt rules for the transaction of business, and it shall keep a record of meetings. (Ord. 3007 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 2982 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 1394 § 3, 1974; prior code § 2-203)
2.44.040 Quorum – Majority rule.
Four voting members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Any action taken by a majority of those present at any regular or special meeting shall be deemed as the action of the board. (Ord. 3007 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 2982 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 2611 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1394 § 3, 1974; prior code § 2-203)
2.44.050 Responsibility of board.
A. The role of the board shall be advisory. The board shall be responsible for periodically advising and making recommendations to the public works director, city manager and/or city council related to parks, the cemetery and/or public works matters, as provided in this subsection.
B. Regarding parks and the cemetery, the board shall have the following responsibilities:
1. Periodically advise and make recommendations for maintenance, beautification, design, protection/preservation and improvements;
2. As requested by the city council and/or city manager, review and make recommendations for updates to the city park plan, including review of whether lands being used for park purposes are adequate and recommending to the city manager and/or city council what additional lands and grounds, if any, should be acquired and used for park purposes;
3. Provide a recommendation to the planning commission for amendments to the park and recreation element to the city’s comprehensive plan for required periodic updates to such plan;
4. Submit to the city manager and finance director, on or before the last Monday in August, a preliminary six-year capital facilities plan for the information and guidance of the city manager in preparing the budget for the development of parks, the cemetery and recreation facilities and the acquisition of property needed therefor;
5. Recommend to the city council and city manager appropriate measures to ensure that the city has a well-integrated and complete program for the use of its parks and, to accomplish this end, the board shall from time to time meet with appropriate city employees, the public and with officials of other groups who make use of the parks and cemetery; and
6. Advise and make recommendations to the city council as to the pricing for sale and utilization of cemetery facilities.
C. Regarding public works, the board shall have the following responsibilities:
1. Work with the finance department to determine long-term funding strategies for the street division of public works;
2. Make recommendations for the development of capital improvement plans for all of the enterprise funds;
3. Annually review and make recommendations for the city’s six-year transportation improvement plan;
4. Review and provide input on the long-term comprehensive planning of the city’s public works utilities;
5. Appoint one board member to serve as Blaine’s representative on the Citizen’s Transportation Advisory Committee for the Whatcom Council of Governments; and
6. Review and analyze other topics related to city public works. (Ord. 3007 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 2982 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 2324 § 4, 1997; Ord. 2246 § 2(b), 1996; Ord. 1394 § 4, 1974; prior code § 2-204)
2.44.060 City power to acquire parklands.
The city council shall have power, by ordinance, to acquire property for park purposes by gift, bequest, devise, donation, purchase, condemnation or other process, in accordance with the law; provided, that any mortgage or other obligation given in payment for land for park purposes shall not be a personal or general liability against the city, but shall be and remain a liability against the property so acquired only. (Ord. 3007 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 2982 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 1394 § 6, 1974; prior code § 2-206)
2.44.070 Annual report.
Repealed by Ord. 2324. (Ord. 1394 § 7, 1974; prior code § 2-207)
2.44.080 Budget estimates.
Repealed by Ord. 3007. (Ord. 2982 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 2324 § 6, 1997; Ord. 1394 § 8, 1974; prior code § 2-208)