Resident files lawsuit against City of Blaine over Public Records Act violation allegation

A Blaine resident, using the alias “Otto Pointer,” has filed a lawsuit against the city of Blaine, alleging violations of the state Public Records Act in Whatcom Superior Court. Pointer, a representative of the Blaine Water Coalition (BWC), claims the city failed to respond adequately to requests for correspondence related to the Avista at Birch Bay residential development, which proposes up to 490 units. The BWC argues that these records are essential for their appeal against the city’s Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance, filed on July 9. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, daily penalties of up to $100, and systemic reforms to address future PRA violations. Blaine City Manager Michael Harmon has dismissed the coalition's requests as misinformation that could impose significant costs on taxpayers, a claim Pointer disputes.

He asserts that the city’s figures are misleading and that the BWC structured their requests to minimize expenses. Formed in 2023, the BWC has raised concerns about the environmental implications of city-approved developments. The city of Blaine has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.