BLAINE ANNEXATION PROCESS

7/24/25 letter to Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn:

The 'UGA Swap' City-sponsored ballot Initiative to start the process leading to City annexation of approximately 800 acres of the Semiahmoo headlands must be approved by 60% of Blaine voters in November. By state law, changing the city boundaries has to be approved by voters, and the City is required to appoint 'pro' and 'con' committees to prepare voter pamphlet statements and rebuttals. 

Labeling the 'UGA Swap' as a de-annexation proposal is misleading; it is a proposal to de-annex roughly 500 acres in East Blaine and to begin the process of annexing nearly twice as much land on the Semiahmoo headlands by designating a new Urban Growth Area and Urban Growth Reserve Area, with significant tax increases for Blaine residents and threats to Birch Bay's drinking water.

The City is allowed to appoint up to three members to each committee, and must include as many applicants as possible in order to present diverse viewpoints. Only one person applied for the 'pro' committee. Five applied for the 'con' committee. They only appointed me.

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