SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD: A community-led emergency preparedness group in the Village by the Sea is searching for more volunteers.
Cities
WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: The state predicts the county’s population will grow from the current 87,000 people to nearly 103,000 in 20 years. The bulk of the housing for population increases is planned for urban areas, which in Island County largely means Oak Harbor.
SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD: Langley Finance Director Wanda Grone wrote that she has announced her retirement from the city effective Oct. 31
WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: When the Oak Harbor mayor’s recent raise, over doubling his salary, came as a surprise to some city council members, they questioned the ethics and lack of transparency of the process. At Tuesday’s meeting, several council members apologized for calling volunteers into question and not doing more research.
WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: Coupeville residents and businesses might get more time to prepare for commercials, TV shows, photo shoots, major motion pictures and smaller, independent films being shot in town.
WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: In a 6-1 vote, the Oak Harbor council passed an ordinance that will loosen the restrictions on trading park land.
THE WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES REPORTS: Oak Harbor staff are currently incorporating city council feedback for a budget proposal for the city’s projects as part of the 2025-2026 budgeting process to be finalized and approved in November.
THE SOUTH WHIDBEY RECORD REPORTS: With little fanfare, the Langley City Council unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance limiting short-term rentals in the Village by the Sea.