ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [May 9, 2025]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., May 9, 2025.

 Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 19^th week of 2025.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and recording for the Tuesday May 6^th Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
  • I noted at the beginning of the meeting that this is Public Service Recognition week, and thanked public servants in all jurisdictions for their dedication to the important work they perform for our citizens.
  • The Board heard public comment from one individual this week concerning the emergency moratorium passed last month on the processing of applications for and construction in mixed-use zones of rural center, rural village, and Camano Gateway village (RAIDs).
  • We moved the item to set a public hearing on that emergency moratorium from the Consent to the Regular Agenda, in order to speak with Planning about next steps. We also removed an item from the posted Regular agenda, applications for Conservation Futures Funds, for consideration at a future meeting instead.
  • Regarding the moratorium: at our May 21 work session, the Board will review a standard moratorium (non-emergency) on the processing of applications for and construction in mixed-use RAIDs that will be less restrictive with regard to maintenance improvements and other similar issues that have arisen as concerns since we passed the emergency moratorium in April. At our Board meeting on May 27, we will schedule a public hearing on that standard moratorium to occur in late June. On June 3^rd, we will hold the public hearing on our emergency moratorium (as we committed to in April). If we make the decision at the late June public hearing to pass the standard (non-emergency) moratorium, we will repeal the emergency moratorium at that time and replace it with the standard one. The discussion on this item can be found beginning at mark 00:06:09 in the recording.
  • The Board passed Ordinance C-27-25, establishing a new Special Review District, the Keystone Farm and Forest Preserve. This preserve is the 3^rd such Special Review District in the County (the other two are Pacific Rim Institute and Greenbank Farm), so this was a major decision with significant future impact. On behalf of Island County citizens present and future, I thank the Whidbey Camano Land Trust for creating this important public asset. The discussion on this begins at mark 00:17:50 in the recording.
  • We held a public hearing to amend the 2025 Island County Budget in order to fund unforeseen expenditures and recognize unanticipated revenue related to grant fundings and unanticipated events. There was no public comment. The discussion and public hearing begin at mark 00:30:07 in the recording.
  • During Commissioners’ Comments, Commissioner Johnson noted that this week is also National Correctional Officers Week. Island County recognizes and appreciates the critical, often high-stress work performed by our Corrections and Juvenile Detention Officers. Mark 00:42:39.
  • During Commissioners’ Comments I informed my colleagues of two issues I will be prioritizing in 2026 and 2027 in response to needs that will arise due to the increased density we are anticipating over the next twenty years. In 2026, I will be pushing to pass an ordinance restricting the discharge of firearms in neighborhoods and near areas where people gather. In 2027, I will be pushing for additional code enforcement officers and an increase to our fines and penalties associated with violations of Island County code. Mark 00:46:53 in the recording.
  • One-time TIME CHANGE: The next regular session will occur at 11 am on Tuesday, May 13, The agenda for that meeting is here. There are no regular agenda items or public hearings scheduled for that meeting.
• Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • June 3 Emergency Moratorium
  • June 3 C-28-25, amendment to the Sales & Usage Tax related to Affordable Housing
• Work Session.  The agenda for this week’s work session; the audio recording.
  • The Board met with the Executive Director of the Economic Development Council (EDC) to talk about a contract to monitor the County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). We decided to discuss this with the ports and jurisdictions at an upcoming Council of Governments (COG) meeting. Mark 0:18:27 in the recording.
  • Human Resources brought to the Board a discussion on a resolution establishing the weeks including Christmas and New Year’s Day as weeks where the County is closed to the public except for specified offices and where certain offices will be available by phone for appointments. This move is in response to the fact that we have both limited staff and limited public interest during that time. Discussion begins at mark 0:54:46 in the recording.
  • Whidbey Camano Land Trust (WCLT) is working with Island County Parks to implement a plan to acquire all or some of the Washington Department of Natural Resources leased Trust Land Transfer properties in our county. This was an important discussion about protecting and preserving some beloved forests, park lands, and bluffs for our citizens, and again I want to thank WCLT who are proposing to put $4.5 Million into actualizing this. The presentation begins on page 107 of the agenda; the documents begin on page 67 and the discussion begins at mark 1:25:05 in the recording.
  • We discussed a proposed Resolution of Atonement which would acknowledge Island County’s reprehensible history of approving racial restrictions in the deeds of over 900 properties in 22 subdivisions in the County from 1930 to 1950. The draft resolution can be found on page 26 of the agenda; the discussion begins at mark 2:20:00 in the recording.
  • The work session for next week has been cancelled. The next work session will be held on Wednesday, May 21. The agenda for that meeting will be available by Friday, May 16^th, here. 
• Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan Update: This is a link to the Planning Commission page. You can find details on their meetings and minutes, including Zoom info, here. 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.
• I will be available at 3 pm on Monday May 12^th at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland to talk with citizens interested in community conversations about county matters.

Melanie 

This is Public Service Recognition week. My thanks to all of you who work for the public, in every jurisdiction, in every agency of government. I know your work is often difficult, sometimes tedious, seldom appreciated, and never well-paid. But the work you do, and the people you serve, are always important.