Happy Friday the 13th! Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 11th week of 2026.
- The Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners was held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026; video recording here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/ec8d9338-114d-4b66-968b-87c1648d23a4.
- There was no general public comment offered to the Board this week.
- We held four public hearings on water franchises; there was one public comment in favor of the Mutiny Sands Water franchise. All franchises were approved.
- The agenda for the March 17 Regular Session is here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/b4560e22-ca79-4d1b-b1dc-f76ba0085b1f. On that agenda: the three water franchise public hearings; see below.
- Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am, unless otherwise noted):
- Tuesday March 17: Driftwood Shores Franchise
- Tuesday March 17: Ledgewood Beach Franchise
- Tuesday March 17: Camano Vista Franchise
- Thursday March 19 at 1 pm: Joint public hearing with the Oak Harbor City Council regarding annexation into the UGA
- Tuesday March 24: Dirac Franchise
- Tuesday March 24: Modine Franchise
- Tuesday March 24: Bayview Camano LOSS Franchise
- Tuesday April 7: O’Daniels Franchise
- Tuesday April 7: Blankenship Franchise
- Tuesday April 7: Ginn Franchise
- Tuesday April 7: Development Moratorium extension
- Tuesday April 14: Homeless Housing Plan
- Tuesday April 14: Cool Road OSS Franchise
- Tuesday May 12: Curbside Recycling
- The Work Session for the Board was held on Wednesday, March 11th; agenda is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-1133; audio recording is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12934/03112026-WS-Audio.
- The Commissioners’ Office was first; we discussed the adoption of official Rules of Order for Island County Commissioners, which we hope will help our successors in the position (three years from now we will have a completely new Board from the one that serves you today).
- Public Health brought a contract with Puget Sound Partnership, for updates to the Onsite Septic Code and Local Management Plan. The update to the Local Management Plan will allow us to adopt some of the wastewater management alternatives identified in our recent study. Discussion begins at mark 0:44:29 in the recording.
- Long Range Planning brought two items related to the Comprehensive Plan, a schedule update and a discussion on the development moratorium in our LAMIRDS.
- The schedule update discussion begins at mark 0:53:21 in the recording; the updated schedule is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12942/03112026-Proposed-Comp-Plan-Timeline. The Planning Commission will hold two public hearings at the end of May, and the Board will hold two public hearings at the end of June which will (hopefully) culminate in the adoption of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan.
- The development moratorium discussion begins at mark 1:08:58. The Board will hold a public hearing on whether or not to extend the moratorium for up to six months, tentatively scheduled for April 7.
- This is the agenda for the March 18th work session: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03182026-1138. On that agenda: continued Enterprise Fleet Management workflow & fleet rightsizing conversation; 2026 County Road Administration Board Annual Reports; and discussion of Island County Code requirements for utility conduit depth. In the afternoon, beginning at 1 pm, there will be a Joint Work Session between the Board of Island County Commissioners and the Planning Commission to discuss remaining policy issues since the review of public comment.
- The Board of Health will meet Tuesday afternoon, March 17th at 1 pm. Agenda: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03172026-1137. On that agenda: Resolution HD-2026-03, proclaiming March 24th as World Tuberculosis Day in Island County (yes, we do still see tuberculosis cases in our community); and a review of the Community Health Improvement Plan.
- I’m working on this in break times during Island Transit’s special session meeting today to discuss development of the agency’s first 20-year Long Range Plan. There will be many surveys and meetings with the public over the coming months; I’ll keep you informed. My vision for 20 years from now: Island Transit runs a passenger ferry from Camano to Whidbey.
- Are gas prices too high for you? Island Transit offers around 150 trips over 15 fixed routes every day throughout Island County and ridership is FREE and SAFE.
- Island Transit even has tools to help you plan your trip. For example, if you want to take public transit to Seattle, check out the Travel with Tony videos: https://www.islandtransit.org/travel-with-tony.
- Last night I attended the third of five community meetings to provide information about the three potential sites for a new jail and offer residents an opportunity to ask questions and share input. The webpage for this initiative is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/crcproject; individuals who are unable to attend any of the meetings may submit questions to Jeff Douglas, Assistant Risk Manager & Safety Coordinator, at jdouglas@islandcountywa.gov. There are two meetings left (others may be scheduled later). Here is the schedule for the next two meetings; I strongly encourage everyone to attend one or at least to review the webpage, since this is an important public safety initiative that will ultimately impact everyone’s wallet:
- Thursday, March 19 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. The Center 51 SE Jerome St, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
- Saturday, March 21 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Convergence Room 121 E Camano Dr, Camano, WA 98282
- 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 Wednesday of each month in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville. There is no separate Planning Commission meeting this month due to the joint meeting with the Board on Wednesday.
- At 1 PM on Wednesday March 18, 2026, there will be a joint meeting between the Board and Planning Commission. Planning Department staff will discuss potential policy updates on the draft comprehensive plan materials with the Board and Planning Commission. Agenda and link: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03182026-1139.
- At 1 PM on Thursday March 19, 2026, there will be a joint public hearing between the Board and the City of Oak Harbor regarding an Interlocal Agreement between the City and County concerning annexation of lands in the city’s urban growth area. Use the Board Special Session agenda link to join via Zoom, https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03192026-1134, or join in person in the BOCC Hearing Room.
- The always-popular Patrick’s Day Pancake Breakfast at Island Senior Resources, benefiting Meals on Wheels, is this Saturday! Bring your friends, bring your appetite, and bring your St. Paddy’s Day spirit. Every donation helps ensure our neighbors continue to receive warm meals and friendly check-ins. Gluten-free pancakes are available too.
- Saturday March 14, 2026
- 9-11 a.m.
- ISR Bayview Center, 14594 SR 525, Langley, WA 98260
- Commissioner St. Clair will hold a virtual-only town hall on Wednesday, March 18 from 3:30 pm to 5 pm on the topic “Internet for All”, a discussion of broadband infrastructure in Island County. Jordan Arnold, newly appointed Director of the Washington State Broadband Office, will be joining the meeting at 4:30 p.m. Microsoft Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22478083592984?p=VpJChThmi6mNeXfkkq. Meeting ID: 224 780 835 929 84, Passcode: s4Lz3DQ6
- I will meet with interested employees on Monday March 16th and Monday March 23rd at 3 pm at the WiFire Community space in Freeland to talk about whatever issues you’re interested in discussing. I will be taking the week of March 29 – April 4 off (“5th week”).
Melanie
Yesterday was National Girl Scouts Day. I bought my cookies; did you?
“In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips.” ~ Salman Rushdie
