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Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon’s Weekly Newsletter

Thank you for reading my last newsletter of 2025. I hope you have been able to stay warm and fed during this difficult stormy week, and that your families are safe. This holiday season please consider giving your family the present of emergency preparation, starting with putting together “go bags”, https://www.islandcountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=186.

This has been a challenging year for most of us, for a lot of reasons. I pray that 2026 brings us all moments of great joy and the energy to persevere when the road is rough.

Most Island County offices will be closed to the public, except by appointment, beginning next Monday, December 22, 2025, and re-opening on January 5, 2026. Should you have a time-sensitive matter, you may phone the office or department in question and arrange an appointment. You can find the information in the employee directory on the county website, https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Directory.aspx.

  • Regular Session, Tuesday December 16.  This is the agenda and recording for Tuesday’s meeting:https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/30ed6d99-84bd-4a1b-9b71-103d44b6d4a2.
    • There were no public comments this week.
    • We received an add-on from Public Works to approve an agreement extending our contract with a signage consultant; it’s the kind of thing that would normally be approved on a Wednesday Work Session to get put on the Consent Agenda but it was missed—and it had a year-end approval deadline. Mark 0:02:07 in the recording.
    • We discussed how the M&O for two new cars for Human Services would be handled—the cars are being paid for through a grant, and the ongoing M&O will be covered through the same grant which the department receives every year from the state. Mark 0:05:16.
    • We adopted Ordinance C-51-25, the Revised Countywide Planning Policies After Reassessment for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update. Mark 0:08:49 in the recording. The public has expressed some discomfort with the decision to let Oak Harbor reduce their growth projections, but I think it’s important for people to remember that even with this reduction the City of Oak Harbor is committing to taking more than 50% of the countywide growth over the coming decades.
    • The next Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The agenda for that meeting will be published by Friday, January 2nd here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
  • Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
    • Tuesday January 6:            Franchise Vafaeezdah
    • Tuesday January 6:            Franchise Allen
    • Tuesday January 13:          Public Defense
    • Tuesday January 13:          Franchise Delcoure
    • Tuesday January 13:          Franchise Witham
    • Tuesday January 13:          Franchise Solvang
    • Tuesday January 27:          Part 1 of Speed Study Public Hearing, to be held on Camano Island; public comment only; will be continued to following week
    • Tuesday February 3:          Part 2 of Speed Study Public Hearing, to be held on Coupeville; public comment and possible action
  • Work Session. This is the agenda for the December 3rd work session:https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12172025-1093; here is the recording: islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12245/12172025-WS-Audio. Reminder: if you want to scroll through the recording to get to one of the times I note below, you will need to download it first.
    • The first item was a discussion of County operations during the day’s/week’s storm. We committed to establishing clear protocols during the first quarter of 2026 so our staff and the public know what to expect during future events.
    • Human Services brought their 2026 Work Plan. Mark 0:42:20 in the recording.
    • Long Range Planning brought two items to the Board on Wednesday. The first was a discussion on the Revised Element Release for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update. I encourage you to read the very informative Staff Memo beginning on page 16 of the agenda. The presentation begins on page 21. Discussion begins at mark 0:55:46 in the recording. See the Planning Commission section below for a list of dates, times, and locations of meetings the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
    • The second Planning item was a proposed Interlocal Agreement with Oak Harbor to annex 77 acres into the city, composed of three small areas in the southwest of the city. This was the first of many discussions on this topic; public hearings and consideration of adopted code are expected to occur in the February/March timeframe. The memo and DRAFT ILA begins on page 40 of the agenda. The discussion begins at mark 1:31:38 of the recording.
    • The next Work Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. The agenda for that meeting will be published by Friday, January 2nd here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
  • The Board of Health (BOH) met Tuesday, December 16. Agenda: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12162025-1090. Video recording: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12220/BOH-Regular-Session-Dec-16-2025-Recording-MP4. Note: the recording starts with an annoying echo, but that goes away.
    • This was Commissioner Ron Wallin’s last BOH meeting, after 18 years as a Hospital Commissioner. We appreciate Ron’s dedication and leadership at WhidbeyHealth and the Island County Board of Health.
    • We passed Resolution HD-03-25 amending the late fee structure of the Food Fee Schedule, which eliminates the existing 35% penalty for late fees over one month. This is a business-positive move. Mark 0:03:41 in the recording.
    • Dr. Shawn Morris walked us through the 2025 Year In Review. You can find this report here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=212. Discussion begins at mark 0:14:48.
    • The Board approved the adoption of the Policy Process Framework and Standing Agenda Framework for the Board of Health. Presentation begins on page 18 of the agenda; discussion begins at mark 0:18:51 of the recording.
  • Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan Update:

IMPORTANT: the current drafts of the Comprehensive Plan elements have been released. We are asking for public comment. You will be able to find those elements here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/209/Comprehensive-Plan.

Long Range Planning will be meeting with the Board and the Planning Commission to discuss the draft materials for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update; dates below. The public is encouraged to attend.

    • January 7 – Housing (Housing and Land Use Elements, Development Regulations)
    • January 14 – Environment (Climate and Natural Resources Elements)
    • January 21 – Infrastructure (Transportation, Parks, and Capital Facilities and Utilities Elements)
    • February 4 – Economic Development and Clinton Subarea Plan

Public meetings will also be held on the following days:

  • Oak Harbor, at The Center: January 15 from 5 to 6:30 PM
  • South Whidbey, at the Clinton Community Hall: January 20 from 5 to 6:30 PM
  • Camano, at the County Annex Building: January 24 from 10 to 11:30 AM

I will meet with interested citizens at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland at 3 pm on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Melanie

“May your Christmas be like Santa: fat, jolly, and generous.”   ~the internet