Self-Dealing

On February 8, 2024, Downtown Advisory Committee (DAC) members Gurdeep Bains--a downtown developer with three building sites--and Scott Meaker--a downtown building contractor--were invited by City of Blaine Community Development Services (CDS) to provide presentations to the Blaine Planning Commission to support CDS’s efforts to change downtown zoning and development regulations to financially benefit developers. 

The exact wording of the (DAC) recommendations--voted on by Bains, Meaker and Blaine Planning Commissioner Kevin Owens--is now written in the downtown zoning code for review. The proposed changes have already been included as a placeholder in the 2024 docket resolution1940-24 that went before Blaine City Council on February 12, 2024.

Commissioner Owens spoke at two Blaine City Council meetings to promote and encourage them to move the DAC recommendations to the Planning Commission where he will review the DAC recommendations, despite concerns raised as to his no longer appearing impartial.

In September 2023, Bains applied to be on the Planning Commission, losing by a 4:3 vote, or he, too, would be voting for a second time on the DAC recommendations. Councilman Hill, who supported Bains's bid, owns the only property downtown suitable for a municipal parking facility--one of the DAC recommendations. Hill did not recuse himself from participating in Council’s discussion session on the DAC recommendations or recuse himself from participating in two City Council votes specific to the DAC downtown zoning and development regulations recommendations.

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