BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The state Court of Appeals may decide tomorrow whether to stay the local court order that is blocking Bellingham's citizen initiative that would ban coal trains from the city.

Stoney Bird with No Coal! Bellingham says if granted, the stay would allow the initiative on the November Ballot.
He says the vote would not be legally binding, but Bellingham lawmakers may still take notice like they did with the red-light camera ballot measure.



August 28 is the last day the County Auditor can decide to put the measure on the ballot.

Whatcom County Superior Court ruled on August 3 that the so-called "Bellingham Community Bill of Rights" initiative was legally invalid and should not appear on the ballot.

The Court of Appeals would still have to rule on whether the initiative is a valid subject for the initiative process.