Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., May 6, 2022.
Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 18th week of 2022. If you have friends who might be interested in keeping up with Board of County Commissioners information, please encourage them to subscribe. My colleagues Jill Johnson and Janet St. Clair also produce govdelivery newsletters that you can subscribe to.
- Attention Water Districts: I received an email from Rick Larsen’s office regarding 2023 funding opportunities for Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. According to the email, “This funding opportunity is for projects that will result in quantifiable water savings, implement renewable energy components, and support broader sustainability benefits. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the production of renewable energy, mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict, and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States.” Water Districts are in Category A of eligible applicants. Applications are due July 28, 2022. For more information on this funding opportunity, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=R23AS00008
- Yesterday afternoon both Commissioner St. Clair and I attended the Heron Park Townhomes groundbreaking in Langley. These townhomes are a project of Habitat for Humanity and will allow seven partner families to help build homes which they will purchase with an affordable mortgage. This affordable housing project has been a long time coming and was finally pulled over the finish line thanks to fundraising by the Langley Main Street Association and a significant appropriation from the State that was requested and nurtured by Representatives Dave Paul and Greg Gilday. What was really moving for me was: although it was cold and rainy, everyone was happy and smiling to be present at this important bipartisan community event. This project is an example of government/non-profit/community volunteer partnership at its best.
- This Week’s Work Session. Agenda here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Commissioners/worksessions/2022/05042022%20Agenda.pdf. Main part of the audio: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Commissioners/worksessions/2022/05042022WS%20Audio1.mp3. Second part of the audio (final conversation on Eisenberg Airport; the end of the work session): https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Commissioners/worksessions/2022/05042022WS%20Audio%202.mp3.
- Climate Emergency Declaration and Climate Action Plan discussion: A lot of concern has been expressed recently to the Board from citizens urging that we pass a Climate Emergency Declaration and a Climate Action Plan. Wednesday was the first time the Board gave direction to our senior staff (Public Health, Facilities, Public Works, and Planning) to prepare proposals on each of these. I stated that my preference was that our staff use the Climate Emergency Declaration provided recently to the Board by the United Student Leaders of South Whidbey as a source to draft an emergency declaration that would delineate our County’s most immediate areas of concern, and use the ICLEI Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study completed recently as a source for drafting a CAP. The Board agreed to this direction given to staff. You can hear that 15-minute conversation in the main part of the audio above, starting at the 00:56:25 mark. I will certainly keep you apprised as we move these activities forward.
- The Port of Coupeville met with the Board of County Commissioners to discuss the purchase and operation of the Eisenberg Airport, a now-private airport located just south of Oak Harbor. This conversation can be heard in the main part of the audio above beginning at 01:12:44 through the end of that audio; the audio ends when the Board of County Commissioners went into executive session to consider the acquisition of real estate by lease or purchase (RCW 42.30.110(1)(b)). The second part of the audio begins when the Board came back into session and passed a motion directing staff to negotiate purchase of the Eisenberg Airport within the parameters discussed in executive session.
- Resolutions & Proclamations passed this week.
- Resolution No. C-30-22 (Consent Agenda): Authorizing the Public Works Director to submit formal applications to the WA State Recreation and Conservation Office for Grant Funding Assistance for the Lagoon Point Community Forest Project.
- Ordinance No. C-18-22 (Regular Agenda, Public Hearing): In the matter of amending Chapters 17.03, 17.04A and 17.06 of Island County Code to address standards for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The biggest concern expressed by citizens about this ordinance revision has been a worry that it would increase the number of ADUs allowable in Island County. It will not. There was no change from the pre-revision number of 35 ADUs permitted per year. The maximum square footage of a detached ADU will be 1200 sq. ft.
- COVID. My 61-year-old sister (in California) has COVID, and since she lives with my 90-year-old father I am feeling a little anxious about the disease today. I mention this only as a reminder: this thing is still with us. You can get this week’s Island County COVID update here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Health/COVID%20Manager%20Report%20Library/BOCC%20Brief%205-6-2022.pdf. Please note, although our county cases are low now, the WA Department of Health is calling the State Transmission Level right now “high”.
Happy Mother’s Day, everyone.
Thanks,
Melanie
“I want my children to have all the things I couldn’t afford. Then, I want to move in with them.”
—Phyllis Diller
