ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [June 27, 2025]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., June 27, 2025.

Just a reminder: Yes, it’s been spitting a bit of rain here and there, but Island County remains in a Type 1 Burn Ban. This means no outdoor burning of natural debris, even with a permit. Recreational fires are allowed in approved fire pits. For more information, see this link. You may want to check the Sheriff’s webpage again for the holiday weekend in case we move to a more restrictive burn ban.

Next Friday the County offices will be closed for 4^th of July (and I will not be publishing this newsletter). This year the restrictions put on fireworks in 2023 are in effect. Fireworks are only allowed on July 3^rd & 4^th and mortar-style fireworks are against the law in unincorporated Island County. For more information about County law and fireworks: Fireworks Laws & Safety Tips. Remember: fireworks are banned in County and State Parks (including beaches) and on Federal property.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 26^th week of 2025.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and recording for the Tuesday June 24^th Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
  • We received three public comments. The first was in response to the comprehensive plan aviation conversation the Board held last week. The second was related to fireworks: a request for more robust prohibition signage and a question about the code that still allows sale of mortars despite prohibiting their use in unincorporated Island County. The third was concern from a Camano citizen about the public comment process regarding a cell tower being installed in her neighborhood.
  • We held a second public hearing on whether or not to open the right-of-way on Rowe Road on Camano Island. We heard one public comment, from a citizen in opposition. The Board voted to deny the petition to open the unopened county road right-of-way. Mark 00:13:28 in the recording.
  • The next regular session will occur at 10 am on Tuesday, July 1, The agenda for that meeting is here. There are no regular agenda items or public hearings scheduled.
  • Next Tuesday afternoon at 1 pm, the Board will hold the first of our two discussions next week on draft elements to the Comprehensive Plan (agenda). We are scheduled to review the Capital Facilities & Utilities Element and the Parks, Recreation, & Open Spaces Element.
  • On Tuesday afternoon the Board reviewed the first 3/4^ths of the draft Natural Resources element; next Wednesday afternoon we hope to get through the rest of it. The agenda, slides, and draft goals and policies are here; Tuesday afternoon’s recording is here.
• Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • July 8            Replacement moratorium
  • July 15          Pleasant View franchise
  • July 15          Camano Colony franchise
  • July 15          Saekow & Wood franchise
  • July 22          Vafeezdah franchise
  • Aug 5            Delcoure franchise
  • Aug 5            Allen franchise
  • Aug 19          Witham franchise
  • Aug 19          Solvang franchise     
• Work Session.  There was no work session this week. The agenda and zoom link for next Wednesday’s work session, beginning at 9 am, is here. On that agenda: a discussion about the Island County Joint Tourism Board (“Embrace Whidbey & Camano Islands”); several important contracts and agreements between Superior Court and State entities supporting youth and family services; the 2026-2031 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the Public Works Department divisions of Roads Facilities, Solid Waste, and Parks; proposed changes to the zoning regulations for the Freeland Non-Municipal Urban Growth Area to support development of workforce housing in Freeland; and, scheduled for 1 pm, a review of the revised goals and policies for the 2025 update to the Comprehensive Plan for the Climate and  Economic Development elements and remaining portion of the Natural Resources element.
  • The agenda for the Wednesday, July 9^th work session will be posted here by Thursday, July 3^rd.
• 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 on eight elements have been released for a 45 Day Public Comment Period, through July 14; see this link. 
  • See above for info on the two Board of Island County Commissioners discussions scheduled next week on draft elements.
• On Wednesday the Council of Governments (COG) and the Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) Both were interesting meetings—but particularly the COG, where 6 members of the Washington State Department of Transportation joined us to talk about the Deception Pass bridges, and State Senator Ron Muzzall was there to add valuable information as well. If you only have time to listen to one County meeting from last week, this is the one I recommend.
  • COG agenda. COG recording. The Bridge presentation begins at mark 0:08:05 in the recording. The slides for the presentation can be found here. At mark 0:37:28 I expressed my concern that the State does not categorize this bridge as “critical” and asked what we need to do to raise that categorization (we don’t mean “critical” as far as bridge design—with a Navy base on our island we want to make sure that repair of our bridge is prioritized as critical during recovery from an emergency); this began an interesting COG discussion over the following fifteen minutes on issues around egress during emergencies. Also bridge related: Senator Muzzall spoke eloquently about the importance of suicide prevention on our bridge and the study the State is funding, at mark 0:55:34.  
  • IRTPO agenda. We approved the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and discussed options for full expenditure of our 2025 Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG); recording not yet available.
• From Washington State Ferries: For Port Townsend/Coupeville riders, the holiday will have an extra cause for celebration: Starting July 4, a second boat will run every Friday through Monday through the end of the route’s shoulder season on Oct. 13. This is the third and final step in WSF’s plan to return to nearly full domestic service, three years earlier than originally planned.
• Island County Public Health update:
  • Campylobacteriosis We are observing a seasonal increase in campylobacteriosis cases which causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The primary cause is undercooked chicken or contact with dog feces, with a seasonal uptick related to barbequing. We are providing educational outreach and case investigation. Key messages focus on safe food handling, including cooking chicken to a proper internal temperature of 165°F.
  • Pertussis and Measles Recently, there were 2 confirmed measles cases in Whatcom County and 2 cases in King County. We continue to see higher numbers of measles cases in 2025, with no cases or exposures linked to Island County. We continue to recommend routine vaccination with MMR, especially before travel abroad. For pertussis, our upswing in cases is slowly decreasing. To date, we have had 14 cases in 2025 and continue to provide full case investigation and control for all local cases.
• From Island CountyDepartment of Emergency Management: As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense across Washington, it’s more important than ever to understand the risks—and how we can prepare together. Please join us for a virtual Wildfire Preparedness and Response Workshop on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:30 PM. This event will bring together local and regional experts to discuss:
  • The wildfire risks unique to Island County
  • Challenges and strategies for wildfire response in our region
  • Steps you can take to protect your home, property, and family
  • How utilities like Puget Sound Energy are working to reduce fire risk
  • Join via Microsoft Teams at 2 pm on Thursday July 10: Teams meeting link
• Emissions reduction funding opportunity for community groups: PSE has recently added an additional grant program, Transportation Emissions Reduction Project Grant, that if awarded could potentially fully fund electric cars, trucks, vans, or buses or e-bikes for your organization where they directly benefit PSE residential electric customers in designated communities.  The deadline is July 16^th. This complements their existing Up & Go Electric Fleet programs that fund charging stations. Three funding opportunities:
  • TER Project Grant – Up to 100% funding for electric transportation projects
  • TER Grant Matching – Up to 100% matching funds for existing/pursuing non-PSE funding
  • TER Grant Writing – Up to $5,000 for grant application support
  • Visit  their website here to learn more – includes a link to a recording about the program. For any additional questions on the TER Grants program, please reach out to tergrants@pse.com.

The latest Island County Parent-to-Parent newsletter is available: 2025-June-Newsletter. Includes picnics, bowling, and movie events.

I will NOT be available next Monday, June 30^th, to meet with citizens either in Freeland or in Clinton. I will be in Freeland to meet with citizens following Monday, July 7^th at 3 pm at the WiFire Community Space. My next newsletter will be published on Friday, July 11.

Melanie 

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.”

~ Erma Bombeck