Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 16th week of 2024.
Monday, April 22nd, is Earth Day. Earth Day prods me into remembering how blessed I am to live in this beautiful place, how important it is not to take that blessing for granted, and the responsibilities inherent in receiving that blessing.
There will be no Council of Governments (COG), Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) or Island Local Integrating Organization (ILIO) meetings next Wednesday, because the Board of Island County Commissioners will be conducting interviews for District Court Judge that day. We will interview six candidates from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24th, in the Commissioners Hearing Room in the basement at 1 NE 6th Street, Coupeville. The public is invited to join us there, or virtually via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/91375837099?pwd=SmdFZlgvRzVMOVZzSDNMZUNUR1hiUT09. For information on the candidates, go here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=79.
- Regular Session. The agenda and recording for the Tuesday April 16th Regular Session is here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/f6d28e1a-5e54-453f-b595-cdbd98b7c44d.
- Seven people provided public comment on Tuesday. They commented on a proposed airport GIS overlay map, climate and sustainability, enforcement of fireworks codes at public parks during the 4th of July holiday, the Shoreline Master Program (SMP), the Natural Resources Element of our comprehensive plan, and the Robinson boat ramp.
- In the Board’s response to the public comment, we began a conversation on the relationship between the SMP and the Comp Plan that we picked up again during our Wednesday work session (see below). The comments during Tuesday’s regular meeting begin at mark 0:27:18 in the video recording.
- We passed two resolutions on our consent agenda: C-22-24, “Supporting the North Whidbey Pool, Park, and Recreation District Request to Place the Formation of a Metropolitan Park District on an Island County Special Election Ballot”, and C-21-24, “Surplus of County Property, 2021 Exmark Turftracer Mower”.
- Two public hearings were scheduled for Tuesday. The first, a public hearing to expand the boundaries of the Crescent Acres Water Association, was postponed to a future date due to some unanswered questions.
- The second public hearing, a PBRS application for 16.16 acres on Camano Island, received no public comment. The application was approved.
- The agenda for our Tuesday, April 23rd regular session is here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/a8b974cb-ae3d-47cb-bb8f-578cc97064b1. There are no public meetings and no items on the regular agenda, so this should be a pretty short meeting.
- Upcoming BOCC Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
- May 7: Holmes Harbor Franchise
- May 7: Hensler Sewer Collection Franchise
- May 14: Deception Park Franchise
- May 14: Franchise Renewal Saratoga Beach (Whidbey)
- May 21 (pending BOCC approval of date): Marshall Drainage District Assessment
- May 21 (pending BOCC approval of date): Sierra Country Club Water Franchise Expansion
- June 6 (pending BOCC approval of date): Port of Coupeville Broadband
- TBD: Crescent Acres Water Franchise
- Work Session. The agenda for the April 17th work session is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04172024-739. The recording is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6885/04172024-WS-Audio. Other presentations from the meeting are here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6886/04172024-Previously-Unpublished-Presentations.
- We discussed the assessments for Marshall Drainage District, beginning at mark 0:02:33 in the recording. The documents, which begin on page 7 of the agenda, are augmented by the presentation that begins on page 1 of “previously unpublished presentations”. The public hearing on Marshall Drainage District will be held on May 21.
- We heard our quarterly presentation from Treasurer Tony Lam, beginning at mark 0:39:19 in the recording. We started by discussing the performance of the Island County Investment Pool; we intend to hold another work session discussion on that topic soon, and will invite representatives from some of the junior taxing districts who also participate in the ICIP to join us.
- We continued our review on the Natural Resources element, beginning at mark 1:11:40. The 2016 Comp Plan Natural Resources Element that we are revising begins on page 40 of the agenda, with the slides starting on page 54; the additional slides on the survey results begin on page 10 of “previously unpublished presentations”. We discussed the results from the Natural Resources survey beginning at mark 1:55:42. We had a great conversation about water and aquifer recharge, beginning at mark 2:10:04. We also talked, as I mentioned above, about the relationship between the SMP and the Comp Plan, beginning at mark 2:51:43.
- The next work session of the Board of Island County Commissioners will be held on Wednesday, May 8th. The agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, May 3rd, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
- The Board of Health met Tuesday afternoon. This is the agenda: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04162024-740. This is the recording: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6878/Board-of-Health-04162024-Recording-MP3.
- First item: we heard public comment from four members of United Student Leaders, requesting that the County declare a climate emergency.
- We voted to send a letter to the Stanwood-Camano School District, standing in solidarity with the school district’s pledge to empower every student within the school district, and expressing our commitment to address disparities, biases, and discrimination as we champion equity throughout the county. The initial draft of this letter can be found on page 5 of the agenda, and the discussion begins at mark 0:09:12 of the recording. The letter I signed on behalf of the BOH included the minor revisions approved during the meeting.
- An informative presentation was given on Community Health Workers. Most of us on the BOH had not understood the extent of this important job. The slides can be found beginning on page 6 of the agenda; the presentation conversation begins at mark 0:17:36 in the recording.
- The County hydrogeologist, Dr. Chris Kelley, presented on the updated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water standards for PFAS, beginning at mark 1:17:46 in the recording, page 27 in the agenda.
- This is the last opportunity to fill out the Community Health Assessment survey. We have received many responses from South Whidbey residents, but are seeking more participation from others on our two islands. The CHA survey is available in English, Spanish, and Tagalog, and can be found here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/792/2023-24-Community-Health-Assessment-CHA.
- 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 Planning Commission meets at 6 pm on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month; the agendas are published at least a week in advance.
- The Comprehensive Plan Update public engagement website is now live: https://www.islandcounty2045.com/. I encourage you to join and participate.
- At our work session this week the Board of Island County Commissioners continued our review of the Natural Resources Element; see links above.
- The next meeting of the Planning Commission will be held Wednesday, May 1.
- The 30-day public comment period for the Island County Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) 2024-2028 draft is now open. The public comment period is open from Monday, April 15, 2024 until Friday, May 17, 2024 at 5pm PST. You can find the draft and comment link here: https://www.iscoedc.com/ceds/.
- Island County Public Health and the South Whidbey CARES Coalition are holding a Safety & Wellness Fair, part of the National Drug Take Back Day/Safe Disposal event on Saturday, April 27th, from 10 AM – 2 PM at the South Whidbey Community Center at 723 Camano Ave in Langley. Langley PD, South Whidbey Fire and Rescue, Critters & Co., and other local nonprofits will be there for a fun, engaging day. Bring your old medications with you for safe disposal.
- Last Saturday Climate Change Salon, Saturday, April 27th, 1:00-3:00 PM, Coupeville Public Library meeting room. At the close of Earth Ocean Month the salon’s topic will be how climate change is already being addressed on Whidbey Island and what more is planned or might be possible. We know our warming pollution blanket is getting thicker by the day. What opportunities to combine our efforts might we discover by hearing what others are doing? What more do we hope to do in the coming year? Individuals choosing to make a difference and members of environmental organizations are especially welcome. Join the conversation and bring a friend.
- You can find all of my newsletters since January 2023 here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Directory.aspx?EID=62.
- I spend every Monday afternoon meeting with citizens in my district. These are opportunities for you to meet in an open group to discuss anything County-related with me and anyone else who drops by. Below is my normal Mondays with Melanie schedule:
- 1:30 – 2:30 pm, Cedar & Salt Coffee House, 200 S. Main Street, Coupeville
- 3:00 – 4:00 pm, WiFire Community Space, 1651 E. Main Street, Freeland
- 4th Monday of the month (usually): 5:00 – 6:00 pm, Clinton Community Hall, 6411 S. Central Avenue, Clinton. This month, the Clinton Community Council is meeting on the 5th Monday, April 29, so that’s when I’ll be there (not next Monday).
Melanie
“What about naming trees?…if we have a tree in our name, we want that tree to live.” ~Jane Goodall