- Most Island County Offices will be closed to the public, except by appointment, beginning December 22, 2025, and re-opening on January 4, 2026. Should you have a time-sensitive matter, you may phone the office or department in question and arrange an appointment. You can find that information on the County website at www.islandcountywa.gov.
Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 46th week of 2025. Since next week I will be at a conference and the following week is Thanksgiving, I will not be writing a newsletter for the next two weeks. Please note below the numerous public hearings occurring on the first two days of December—including the most important action the Board takes all year: the passage of the annual Budget on December 1.
- Regular Session. Due to Veterans Day no regular session was held this week.
- The next regular session will be held on Tuesday, November 25. The agenda will be posted next Friday, November 21, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter. That is also where you will find the agendas for the Board’s meetings on December 1 and December 2, which will both be posted by Wednesday, November 26.
- Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
- Tuesday, November 25: Planning/Community Development Docket &
Work Plan - Monday, December 1: 2026 Budget and Levies
- Monday, December 1: Real Estate Excise Tax (change from 2 funds to
1) - Monday, December 1: Law & Justice Sales Tax
- Tuesday, December 2: Fireworks code amendment (re: sale of mortar-
style fireworks) - Tuesday, December 9: 2 PBRS applications
- Tuesday, November 25: Planning/Community Development Docket &
- Work Session. This is the agenda for the November 12th work session:https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11122025-1074. Here is the recording:islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11891/11122025-WS-Audio.Here are the presentations from the Planning Department: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11892/11122025-Planning-Presentations. Reminder: if you want to scroll through the recording to a time I note below, you will need to download it first.
- We began by talking about the $1.2 million we have received thus far from Opioid Settlement Funds. We will continue to receive funds through 2038, including approximately $200,000 per year for the next 5–6 years. The Board expressed our priorities on how these funds should be used. Human Services will consider these priorities and bring back some suggestions.
- Prosecutor Greg Banks brought a contract with the State for reimbursement for extraordinary costs of resentencing and vacating sentences as required by State v. Blake. Mark 0:37:57 in the recording.
- Human Resources Director Catherine Reid brought the long-awaited recommendations for including representation on County boards and advisory committees. A committee will take this information and propose changes to our processes; they will also bring us a resolution on continuing appointments, which we had limited to 1 year in 2025 while we waited for this report. Page 23 in the agenda; mark 0:55:28 in the recording.
- Andrew Riggs of Island Disposal gave a presentation on the survey they conducted on citizens’ wishes for curbside recycling in unincorporated Island County. The reason this is somewhat contentious is that this would add approximately $6.50 each month to each home receiving curbside trash pickup, whether they want to participate in recycling or not. The study found that almost 80% of residents were very interested in such a program, and another 15% were somewhat interested. The Board decided to bring this item to a public hearing, which will likely be held in March 2026. If the Board opts to include recycling with trash pickup, it will likely be rolled out during the Fall of 2026. The presentation begins on page 97 of the agenda; the discussion begins at mark 1:42:12 in the recording.
- Planning had two important items. The first was a discussion of their revised draft schedule for completing the Comprehensive Plan update. All draft elements are planned to be released on December 10. See the Planning Presentations link above for details; discussion begins at mark 2:12:40. The schedule will be tightened based on the conversation; the Planning Commission will also discuss this schedule at their meeting next week.
- The second item from Planning was a discussion on the Housing and Land Use Elements. See Planning Presentations link above, beginning on page 5; discussion begins at mark 2:48:46 in the recording.
- One of the most consistently troubling issues we’ve faced over the last couple of months has been the significant increase in costs we’ve seen in practically every contract we’ve updated. Last week we talked about the increased costs to jail food delivery, and to recycling services at our recycling stations. This week we talked about the $442,000 increase to what we planned to budget for our risk insurance. Mark 3:28:16 in the recording
- The next work session will be held on Wednesday, December 3rd. I believe this will be a pretty full agenda. You’ll be able to find it by Wednesday, November 26, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
- Some nice news: We heard this week from Congressman Larsen and Senator Cantwell that our $1 million request to help with our Recycling and Reuse Station Construction was included in the full-year Agriculture-Rural Development Appropriations Bill that passed the Senate and House and was signed by the President into law on Wednesday. Staff tells me that we expect to use these funds for design and engineering on this project.
- Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan Update: This is a link to the Planning Commission page: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/235/Planning-Commission. You can find details on their meetings and minutes, including Zoom info, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/Planning-Commission-4. The agendas are published at least a week in advance. The Planning Commission usually meets at 6 pm on the first and third Wednesdays of each month in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville.
- This week, the Planning Department brought the Board a draft revised schedule for adoption of the Comprehensive Plan update. See work session above.
- The next Planning Commission meeting will be next Wednesday, November 19th. This will be a virtual meeting only; the agenda is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11192025-1076. On that agenda: Schedule Update for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan; and required development regulations updates related to density changes (draft).
- As mentioned above, we are moving forward again to fill our advisory committees. If you have an interest in serving your community in a volunteer capacity, our County’s advisory committees are an excellent way to do that. Below are our current vacancies. If you are interested in applying or learning more about any committee, contact my office: either Jennifer at J.Roll@islandcountywa.gov or Layla at LA.Tromble@islandcountywa.gov.
- Camano Island Mosquito Abatement District: Two-Year terms; this position requires an additional application. Please reach out to the Commissioner’s office before applying.
- Position 3: Resident of the Camano Island Mosquito Abatement District
- Position 5: Resident of the Camano Island Mosquito Abatement District
- Conservation Futures Program Citizens Advisory Board: Three-year terms
- Position 4: Resident of District 2
- Coupeville Ferry Advisory Committee
- Position 1: Regular user of the Coupeville-Pt. Townsend Ferry.
- Ebey’s Reserve Historic Preservation Commission
- Position 4: Resident or Business Owner in Ebey’s Reserve with experience in historic preservation.
- Ebey’s Reserve Trust Board: Four-year term
- Position 7: Member at large.
- Island County LEOFF/Disability Board: Two-year terms
- Position 2: Member must be a retired Law Enforcement or Fire Fighter recipient of LEOFF 1 disability benefits.
- Housing Authority of Island County: Five-year terms
- Position 2: Member must be a resident of Island County
- Law & Justice Council: Two-year terms
- Position 3: Resident of District 2
- Position 5: Resident of District 3
- Position 6: Resident of District 3
- Lodging Tax Advisory Committee: Four-year terms
- Position 2: Member must be part of a business subject to the 2% Lodging Tax from Central Whidbey.
- Position 5: At-Large member eligible to receive the tax fund.
- Northwest Senior Services Advisory Board: Three-year terms
- Position 1: Member must be a resident of Island County with experience in issues facing seniors.
- Position 3: Member must be a resident of Island County with experience in issues facing seniors.
- Northwest Workforce Council: Three-year terms
- Position 4: Member must be a resident of Island County from a Community Development-based organization.
- Solid Waste Advisory Committee:
- Position 9: Member at Large from Camano Island
- Position 12: Member must be a representative of agricultural interests in Island County.
- Technical Advisory Committee for the Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization:
- Position 1: Representing District 1
- Position 2: Representing District 2
- Veterans Advisory Commission: Two-year terms.
- Position 4: Member must be from Disabled American Veterans Post 47
- Position 6: Member must be from the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center
- Most Island County Offices will be closed to the public, except by appointment, beginning December 22, 2025, and re-opening on January 4, 2026. Should you have a time-sensitive matter, you may phone the office or department in question and arrange an appointment. You can find that information on the County website at www.islandcountywa.gov.
- I will not be available to attend my usual Monday meeting with citizens in Freeland for the next two weeks—I will be at a conference next Monday, and on Monday, the 24th at 4 pm, I will be in Coupeville for the first of two meetings to certify the results of the election held earlier this month.
- I am planning to meet with interested citizens in Clinton at the Clinton Community Hall on Monday, December 24th, after the certification meeting—I will probably get there a little later than usual, around 5:15 pm.
- I next plan to meet with citizens in Freeland at the WiFire Community Space on Monday, December 1, at 3 pm.
Melanie
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~ John F. Kennedy
