ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [Oct. 18, 2024]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., Oct. 18, 2024.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 43^rd week of 2024.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and video recording for the Tuesday October 15^th Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
  • We heard public comment from two individuals concerned because houses continue to be built in their neighborhood without a second road for ingress and egress during emergencies.
  • On the consent agenda: contracts for 14 of the 2025 LTAC grants were approved. More to come next week.
  • The franchise public hearing scheduled for this meeting was continued until February 4, 2025.
  • The next Regular Session will occur on Tuesday, October 22^nd. Here is the agenda and links to documents. On that agenda: the Commissioners will discuss our 2025 State legislative priorities; we will swear in 3 Commissioners for Diking District #3; and the public hearing shown below, to finalize Planning’s 2025 Work Plan and Docket.
• Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • October 22: Finalize the 2025 Work Plan and Docket to comply with the Growth Management Act (GMA) for the Comprehensive Plan update process.
  • December 2: Finalize Budget
• The Board of Health met this week. This is the agenda; this is the recording.
  • During public comment, we learned that at the Fall Festival Cider Fest in Langley tomorrow, October 19^th, you can drop off your expired human and pet medications at the Community Center, rear of the building.
  • We heard presentations on: the Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem program; how Public Health is using social media to deepen their communications reach; and winter storm readiness.
  • Island County badly needs more Volunteer Guardians Ad Litem and Foster Families! To learn more about both of these programs, see the presentation beginning on page 5 of the agenda or contact Cheryl Duncan, VGAL Program Coordinator, at c.duncan@islandcountywa.gov.
  • Now is absolutely the right time to get your home and family ready for winter. I was extremely unhappy to learn that this winter is expected to be both colder and wetter than normal in our region. Emergency Management’s presentation on winter storm readiness begins on page 45 of the agenda; you can find more information on preparing your home and vehicle for winter weather on the Island County website at this link.
• Work Session. This is the agenda for the October 16^th work session; this is the audio recording.
  • First on the agenda were three conversations about replacing the jail: A report on the activities of the Jail Replacement Steering Committee; a draft request for proposals for public relations and communication assistance for the jail replacement project; and a contract to complete a feasibility study on the Adult Jail and Juvenile Detention center.
  • Beginning on page 54 of the agenda you can see the draft Island County Budget and Diking District #4 Budget for Fiscal Year 2025; we expect to hold the public hearing on this budget and the 2025 levy resolutions on December 2nd.
  • In mid-November we expect to receive delivery of the new Public Health van that will be used to deliver direct public services next year; we are contracting with a company to then outfit the vehicle for this purpose. Mark 0:54:30 in the recording.
  • We discussed a contract to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations for updating the Island County Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP) for sustainable water resource management. This consultant has the comments from the WRAC from four years ago—they will be updating our CWSP to be in line with current state regulations. Mark 0:57:42in the recording.
  • There will be no work session next week; instead the COG, IRTPO, and ILIO will meet (see below). The next work session for the Board of Island County Commissioners is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13^th. The agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, November 8^th, here.
• The Council of Governments (COG), the Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) and the Local Integrating Organization (LIO) are all meeting next Wednesday morning beginning at 9 am. Here is the Zoom link; Meeting ID: 974 7384 4138; Passcode: 756258
  • The COG will be meeting with our legislators to discuss our combined and separate legislative priorities for 2025.
• 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 meets at 6 pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville.
  • Island County will host three stakeholder workshops to discuss the Climate Resiliency Sub Element for the Comprehensive Plan. Stakeholders from a variety of organizations and industries have been invited to participate in the workshops, including environmental groups, builders, tribes, social services, NAS Whidbey, and economic development. The public is invited to listen in and observe the workshops; there will be a chance for the public to provide written comments to inform the process.  The workshops will be held in-person at the Coupeville Rec Hall, 901 NW Alexander St, Coupeville, WA 98239. For information, email to compplan@islandcountywa.gov.  Sea-level Rise: 1-3 PM on Oct. 21; Groundwater: 1-3:30 PM on Oct. 29; Heat: 10 AM to 12:30 PM on Nov. 1
• Tomorrow, Saturday October 19 at 2 pm, at the Bayview Fire Station, Whidbey Island Living Legacy (WILL) will hold an information meeting about their non-profit organization’s mission. WILL’s goal is to make tiny home ownership a reality for retirees and retail workers.
• Online ordering for the Whidbey Island Conservation District’s annual plant sale begins November 1.
• Island County’s Emergency Preparedness Fair will be held on Saturday, October 19 at the North Whidbey Middle School, 67 NE Izett St., Oak Harbor from 10 AM to 2 PM.
• As I did last year, I want to gather here all of the free Trunk-or-Treat events or similar options your children have in our community to replace the old door-to-door trick-or-treating. Let me know if I missed any or got any details wrong.
  • Saturday October 19, Oak Harbor, 5-7: North Whidbey Fire & Rescue Haunted Drive Thru.
  • October 24-27, Coupeville, Practically Magic events, including movie nights the first three days; Torchlight Parade & Street Dance on the 26^th and the Great Coupeville Pumpkin Race on the 27^th.
  • Saturday October 26, Coupeville, 3-5: Stop into Beaver Tales Coffee on the Coupeville Wharf before the parade and decorate some cookies, win prizes for showing off your Halloween costume and enter a coloring contest. FREE event with Apple Cider and Hot Cocoa for the kids and Drip Coffee for the adults.
  • Sunday October 27, Camano, 11-2: the 4th annual Trunk or Treat at Pub 282! We will also be collecting winter clothing for all ages for the West Camano Little Free Pantry.
  • Monday October 28, Bayview, 5-8: The public is invited to join South Whidbey Fire/EMS at a “Trunk or Treat” event at the fire station. For more information call 360-321-1533 or email info@swfe.org.
  • Thursday October 31, Clinton, 4–7: Clinton Chamber of Commerce is happy to partner with Thirsty Crab Brewery and support the Trunk-or-Treat Halloween event. Thirsty Crab Event space.
  • Thursday October 31, Downtown Langley, 2:30–5: Downtown Langley will transform into a spooky wonderland filled with treats, costumes, and fun surprises! Bring the kiddos to trick-or-treat the Langley merchants, explore the “Trunk or Treat” at Langley United Methodist Church, and enjoy all the pumpkins, ghosts, and crows and spooky-ness you can handle! 
  • Thursday October 31, Oak Harbor, 5-7: No Tricks Safe Treats, Downtown Main Street
  • Thursday October 31, Camano Island, 6-7:30: Camano Chapel’s Trunk or Treat, Camano Chapel parking lot

I am available in Coupeville and Freeland on Mondays to meet with citizens interested in discussing County issues: at Cedar & Salt in Coupeville, 1:30 – 2:30, and at the Wi Fire Community Space in Freeland, 3 – 4.  

Melanie

“Grief is not a disorder, a disease, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical, and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure to grief is to grieve.”

~Earl Grollman

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