ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [Aug. 15, 2025]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., Aug. 15, 2025.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 33^rd week of 2025.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and recording for the Tuesday August 12^th Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
  • We received four comments from members of the public this week. One person expressed a desire for the Board to put more consideration into the airport APZ (accident prevention zones) codes during our Comprehensive Plan Update. One commenter was a member of an advisory board with concerns about the Board’s decision to temporarily appoint members to only 1-year terms while we review our advisory board policies. And two spoke about the proposed fireworks resolution we discussed during Wednesday’s work session.
  • This was our week for welcoming new employees and celebrating service. Planning Manager Michael Beech has now been with Island County for 25 years, and Human Services Case Manager Beth Plush has been with the County for 35 years. We are very grateful to both for their years of dedication to the citizens of Island County and we join their departments in celebrating them and their great work.
  • The next regular session will occur at 10 am on Tuesday, August 19^th, The agenda for that meeting is here. There are no public hearings or regular agenda items scheduled for that meeting.
• Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • September 9:       Transportation Improvement Plan
  • October 6:            2026 Budget 
• Work Session. The agenda for the Wednesday, August 13^th work session is here; the recording is here.
  • Sheriff Felici joined us to talk about the proposed resolution to include fireworks in a Type 1 Burn Ban and to ban the sale of mortar fireworks in unincorporated Island County, mark 0:20:44 in the recording. There was not sufficient interest expressed by my colleagues to move the burn ban issue forward, but I will be following up regarding the sale of mortars. In addition, the Board will try to budget to provide public education materials around the use of fireworks, and we will investigate the feasibility of including an advisory vote in the August 2026 election to determine whether or not the citizens of Island County want to ban fireworks in unincorporated Island County.
  • Long Range Planning brought an ordinance to change the zoning regulations for the Freeland Non-Municipal Urban Growth Area to support development of workforce housing in Freeland, mark 1:22:01 in the recording, beginning on page 471 of the agenda. The Board is moving the item forward to the regular agenda; I will note in this newsletter when that conversation becomes scheduled so that although we will not be holding a public hearing on this topic (the Planning Commission already held one) we will welcome citizens who wish to speak on this matter during the regular public comments portion of that meeting.
  • The next work session will be held next Wednesday, August 20^th. Here is the agenda; contact my office if you’d like an invitation to the Zoom meeting.  We will be switching things around on Wednesday: we will hold our Wednesday Budget meeting at 10 am, and then start our regular Work Session at 2 pm. On that work session agenda: we will discuss two applications for Rural County Economic Development (RCED) grants, Port of Coupeville for $112,500, and Opportunity Council in partnership with Shelter Resources, Inc for $2,000,000; Public Health will bring us the long-awaited Wastewater Proviso Report and the Board will discuss state and local policy and regulatory recommendations to advance solutions and support affordable housing development (report available beginning on page 41 of the above agenda); and Public Works will bring the proposed 2026-2031 Capital Improvements Plan (revised per our last discussion).
• We held two 2026 Budget meetings this week. We met with Human Services and Planning on Wednesday August 13^th, beginning at mark 1:58:15 in this recording; and with Public Health, Superior Court, and the Prosecuting Attorney on Thursday August 14, here. Next week we will again hold two Budget meetings: On Wednesday August 20 beginning at 10 am we will discuss the County Clerk and Public Works budgets; and on Thursday August 21^st at 1 pm we will discuss the District Court budget and supplemental budgets. Contact my office if you would like to receive an invitation to attend any of these budget discussions by Zoom.
• 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.
  • The Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing this next Wednesday August 20^th at 6 pm on the revised Countywide Planning Policies to address the Oak Harbor Urban Growth Area allocations and will consider the Findings of Fact recommendations prepared by staff. Agenda and link here.
• Island Transit is happy to announce that their request for Hybrid Electric vehicles in the amount of $15M has been approved by FTA headquarters in DC.  These replacement vehicles are a critical need to the agency to continue providing reliable service to our community. We are grateful to Representative Larsen for his work in securing these funds.
• Island Senior Resources will be holding two Aging in Place presentations next week. Topics include: Housing suitability, transportation, social connection, financial resources, health & wellness, access to healthcare, and a review of long-term care options. Presentations will be about an hour long with a Q&A to follow.
  • Wednesday, August 20^th 1:30 – 3:00, Langley Library, 104 2^nd St, Langley 98260
  • Friday, August 22^nd 1:30 – 3:00, Oak Harbor Library, 1000 SE Regatta Dr, Oak Harbor 98277
• On Monday, August 18 at 3 pm I will meet with interested citizens at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland.

Melanie 

As I type this I am listening to the badly-needed rain falling outside.

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”

~ Dolly Parton