ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [May 30, 2025]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., May 30, 2025.

The County’s Revised Goals and Policies for eight elements of the Comprehensive Plan, as well as the revised draft of our Vision and Values, have now been released for a 45-day public comment period. More info below.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 22^nd week of 2025.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and recording for the Tuesday May 27^th Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
  • There were no public comments this week.
  • We approved two M&O applications for Conservation Futures Funding: Island County Parks, which requested $100,000 for maintenance and operations expenses on twelve properties owned by County Parks that were originally acquired through the Conservation Futures program; and $127,000 for maintenance and operations expenses for the Keystone Farm and Forest Preserve on approximately 14 acres of easements obtained with CFP funding in 2024 by the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. The Keystone proposal intends to construct two separate ADA-compliant trails at the Keystone Preserve which will also improve access for forest management, and also includes trail signage for educational and informational purposes.
  • The next regular session will occur at 10 am on Tuesday, June 3, The agenda for that meeting is here. On that agenda: a public hearing amending Ordinance C-90-21, Related to Imposing an Additional Sales and Use Tax of One-Tenth of One Percent for Housing and Related Services as Authorized by RCW 82.14.530 (purpose: to make it clearer that the County can use those sales tax funds to purchase existing housing units for use as affordable housing); and a public hearing on Ordinance C-29-25 Adopting an Emergency Moratorium on the Processing of Applications for and Construction in Mixed-Use RAID Zones of Rural Center, Rural Village, and Camano Gateway Village (the public hearing on the original emergency moratorium passed in April). After the second public hearing, we will set a date for a replacement moratorium repealing the original emergency moratorium, the date dependent on how the public hearing on ordinance C-29-25 goes. The draft replacement moratorium can be found in the document for agenda item 10.
• 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
  • June 10         Franchise renewal, Race Lagoon Water Association
  • June 10         New franchise, Sandberg Water Association   
  • June 24 or July 8          Replacement moratorium
  • June 24         Rowe Road—continued discussion from Public Hearing held last year
  • July 15          Pleasant View franchise
  • July 15          Camano Colony franchise
  • July 15          Saekow & Wood franchise
  • July 22          Vafeezdah franchise
• Work Session.  There was no work session this week. The next work session will occur at 10 am (note time change) on Wednesday, June 4. Agenda here. On that agenda: a Medicaid contract providing essential, pre-release services for individuals leaving incarceration; preliminary drawings for PSE Up and Go EV charging stations, proposed site at 1 NE 7th St in Coupeville; the Board will delineate the breakdowns for the funding budget for the 2% Hotel-Motel Lodging Tax Revenue grants for 2026; and the Board will review and discuss the revised goals and policies for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update.
• The Council of Governments (COG) and the Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) met on Wednesday.
  • COG agenda; recording. First on the agenda was an informative update from Island Transit.
  • IRTPO agenda; recording. Recording sound starts about 20 seconds in. We adopted the 2025 IRTPO Comprehensive Safety Action Plan; thanks to all members of the public who provided comments on the draft document. 
• The Island Transit Executive Board held a Board retreat yesterday, during which we talked about such things as the importance of financial transparency and risk vigilance and worked to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the governing board to ensure we are all on the same page. Next Friday, June 6, at 9:30 am, will be the regular Board meeting; unfortunately I do not yet have an agenda to share with you. The agenda, including zoom link, will be posted here as soon as it’s available.
  • Island Transit is updating and improving their bus shelters and is currently taking a survey to get ideas on how the updated bus shelters should look.
• The Island Senior Resources Executive Board met on Tuesday afternoon. Did you know our County’s Meals on Wheels program served 125,400 meals in 2024, 52% to people over 80 years old? Island Senior Resources is conducting a county-wide series of listening sessions to hear your thoughts, concerns and ideas for improving services for aging residents. Space is limited and RSVP’s are requested. Click here for more details and to RSVP: Island Senior Resources Town Hall Series. Unfortunately the Coupeville meeting was last week, but they are planning to schedule another meeting in Coupeville soon.
  • Freeland: Monday June 2, 4 – 5, Freeland Hall
  • Oak Harbor: Tuesday June 3, 3 – 4, St. Stephen’s; and Monday June 9, 3 – 4, at the Center
  • Camano Island: Thursday June 5, 3 – 4, Camano Center
• From May 19 – June 20, the Department of Ecology is seeking comment on documents related to the Whidbey Marine & Auto Supply cleanup site in Freeland. The hazard involved fuel contamination. To date, groundwater monitoring has not detected any contamination at several monitoring wells located downgradient of the site. This indicates there is no immediate threat to the drinking water supply, but ongoing monitoring and cleanup is essential. See this link. The Department of Ecology is holding an open house in Freeland next Tuesday to answer your questions (in-person or online).
  • Tuesday, June 3, 4 – 6 pm.
  • In-person option: Whidbey Water Services, 5585 Lotto Ave, Freeland (the blue building behind Wells Fargo)
  • Online option: Zoom Virtual Meeting, Register 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.
  • Revised Goals and Policies have now been released for 45 Day Public Comment Period
  • In 2024 and 2025, planning department staff engaged the public in reviewing the existing 2016 Comprehensive Plan goals and policies. Input was collected through workshops at the Planning Commission, Board of Island County Commissioners meetings, online engagement, surveys, and focus groups with stakeholders.
  • Revised goals and policies drafts on the following elements are now available for public review and input: Land Use, Housing, Natural Resources, Economic Development, Capital Facilities and Utilities, Climate, Transportation, Parks, and the new Introduction Chapter Vision and Values.
  • Public comments will be accepted on the revised Goals and Policies for 45-days from May 30, 2025, until July 14, 2025. Visit our website for more information and details on how to comment.
• Tomorrow, May 31, Island County Sheriff’s Office is hosting the Hustle with Heroes 5K/10K Fun Run/Walk in beautiful Coupeville! Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just looking for a fun stroll with friends and family, this event is for YOU! Sign up. Best part? All proceeds support the amazing work of the Boys and Girls Clubs on the island.
• Thunder Run, the annual General Aviation/Disaster Response Exercise, is next Saturday, June 7^th, from 8 – 3, at the Whidbey Air Park off Crawford Road. Thunder Run is an exercise to practice aerial resupply of critical items, in conjunction with the Disaster Air Response Team as part of the Washington Counties General Aviation Response Plan. Flyer.  If you’re interested in volunteering, you will need to volunteer through the County by filling out this registration form, email it to dem@islandcountywa.gov, and sign up for a volunteer slot here. 
• I’m very happy to announce that South Whidbey Prepares is really building momentum. The mission of South Whidbey Prepares is to provide inspiration and resources to the 15,000 residents of South Whidbey, defined as the 66 square miles south of Lagoon Point road, to ensure we are prepared and resilient if disaster strikes. See this link. They will help you and your neighbors learn how to build an emergency support network. To sign up to help, ask questions or get on the email list, mail them at southwhidbeyprepares@whidbey.com.
• Regarding the recent Federal guidance controversy around COVID immunizations, the WA Dept. Of Health shared the following statement: “The Washington State Department of Health is closely monitoring ongoing federal discussions around potential changes to COVID-19 vaccine guidance. At this time, we are not making any changes to our programs or recommendations and will continue to monitor federal guidance as it evolves. Our priority remains ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The virus continues to pose serious health risks in Washington, including hospitalizations, long COVID, and preventable deaths, particularly among older adults, people with chronic conditions, and those who remain unvaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines remain one of our most effective tools for preventing severe illness. We encourage all eligible Washingtonians to stay up to date on their vaccinations to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the broader community.”
• Today I’m trying to schedule county Pride events in my calendar, and thought I’d share them with you in case you want to do the same thing:
  • Sunday, June 1, noon: Pride flag raising at the Langley City Hall
  • Saturday, June 7, 12:30 – 4 pm, Stanwood-Camano Pride Parade and Party in the Park, Freedom Park, Camano Island
  • Saturday, June 14, 12:30, Coupeville Pride Parade and Celebration, Farmers Market, Coupeville
  • Saturday, June 21, 12 – 3, South Whidbey Pride Parade and Festival, Langley. To register to host a booth or march in the parade, go here.
• I will be available to meet with interested citizens on County matters on Monday, June 2^nd at 3 pm at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland. At 4 pm, after this meeting, I plan to go to the Island Senior Resources Town Hall at Freeland Hall.

Melanie 

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”

~Alan Lakein