PRCAC moving on to new subjects

Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) meetings have been dominated by solid waste issues for the last year but the group continues to work on issues as diverse as the local economy and code revisions.

New PRCAC chair Jeff Christopher, representing the local taxpayers’ association on the committee, said he had introduced a proposal at the April 10 PRCAC meeting to bank 80 percent of funds collected through the local gas tax for large projects but use 20 percent for smaller projects on an ongoing basis. The proposal was tabled for a later meeting due to the absence of two of the five-person committee. Christopher’s proposal will be on the agenda when the committee meets again on Tuesday, May 8.

The Point Roberts Transportation Benefit District allows the collection of 1-cent in tax per gallon of gas sold on the Point to be used for transportation related projects. The current fund balance is $987,457. The first quarter tax receipts for 2018 totaled $18,580. PRCAC member Linda Hughes has been adamant TBD funds needed to be saved for major projects, such replacing the Maple Beach seawall. Other members have supported using the funds for smaller beautification projects, such as a recent request from the Point Roberts Garden Club to hire help for maintenance of the Tyee Drive plantings.

Also on the agenda for that meeting is a report by PRCAC member David Gellatly on an April 16 meeting with county executive Jack Louws, deputy executive Tyler Schroeder and Port of Bellingham economic development director Don Goldberg on galvanizing economic development for Point Roberts. Chamber director Louise Mugar also attended.

“Preliminary communications have already begun with representatives of the key stake holders in the community and we expect to meet with them within the week to commence a dialogue and chart a course,” Gellatly wrote on April 16 thanking participants. “While we did not walk out the door with any commitments, we certainly know the direction that we need to take as we make a concerted effort to find a way to invigorate the Point Roberts economy.”

The committee’s efforts to review and revise the Point Roberts Special District section of county code, a primary focus in 2017, have been overshadowed by efforts to reform the solid waste system but remain on the agenda, along with plans to have the Small Business Development Center in Bellingham schedule times to work with businesses on the Point.