ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [Sep. 6, 2024]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Fri., Aug. 23, 2024.

It is very hot in Southern California, where we’ve spent the week with my Dad and sister Risa. As I complete typing this at 2 pm on Friday, the thermometer outside says 120’.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 37^th week of 2024.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and video recording for the Tuesday September 3^rd Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
  • One citizen offered public comment, about the need for greater staffing support for the IRTPO.
  • This was a very short meeting, with no regular session items.
  • The next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 10^th. Here is the agenda and links to documents. On that agenda: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement with the City of Langley for Edgecliff Drive Water Replacement Project, and the two Public Works public hearings shown below.
• Upcoming BOCC Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • Sept 10: Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
  • Sept 10: Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
  • Sept 17:  Glenwood Beach water franchise
  • October 15 (pending BOCC approval of date): Sewer system franchise transfer (Camano), Louis Saekow/Yaowapa Trongtham & The David L. Wood Living Trust
• Budget Workshops. We held one budget meeting this week and will hold another one next week. You can find the most current version of the schedule of upcoming budget meetings here. Agenda and Zoom info for the Wednesday, September 11^th  1 pm Budget Workshop: Meeting ID: 933 4111 5102 Passcode: 926296
• Work Session. The agenda for the Wednesday, September 4^th work session is here; the recording is here.
  • I think citizens will be especially interested in the first conversation of the day, with Sarah Bergquist of Washington State University (WSU). WSU Extension has been in Island County since at least 1917. Sarah spoke about the 8 core programs that the County partners with WSU on: 4H, Litter Cleanup, Snap Ed, Shore Stewards, Waste Wise, Food Systems, Forestry, and Master Gardeners. She also talked about other programs available to citizens through WSU in Island County, like college classes available in Coupeville, the Center for Environmental Research, Food Safety and Food Waste Prevention, and Mental Health First Aid. There was a LOT of discussion on environmental issues during the last half of this agenda items.
  • We went over the scope of work with our DEI organizational assessment consultant, mark 0:47:20 in the recording; the presentation is available here.
  • We discussed our draft 2025 legislative agenda, those items we want our consultant to work with our legislators to fund for us. They include an expansion of the Ituha Stabilization Facility, a request for money for capital improvements for our elections office, and a request that the State require WSDOT to develop and implement a Deception Pass Park Highway 20 Corridor Safety Plan. Mark 1:26:43 in the recording. I tried to get planning for the Bridge-to Boat trail included on the list; instead, we will work on this internally next year; that conversation starts at mark 1:28:15.
  • As part of Public Works’ request for funds for the Parks Element in the Comprehensive Plan, we held a discussion with them on passive vs active parks. Mark 1:56:33.
  • At mark 2:11:27, Planning brought us a proposal for the Keystone Farm & Forest Preserve, which would create a 3^rd “special review district” in the County (the other two are Pacific Rim Institute and Greenbank Farm). There will be a public hearing held at an upcoming Planning Commission meeting. The presentation begins on page 66 of the agenda.
  • This is the agenda for the Work Session on September 11. On that agenda: we will meet with Island Senior Resources to discuss their current budget and level of service and Long Range Planning brings back their 2025 Docket and Work Plan. In the afternoon we will hold a Budget Workshop (see link above).
• 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 Planning Commission meets at 6 pm on the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday of each month; the agendas are published at least a week in advance.
• The Port of Coupeville is putting on its Harvest Faire this Sunday, September 8, from 10 am – 5 pm at Greenbank Farm. The Harvest Faire includes free old fashioned activities for the whole family: hayrides, pie eating contest, farm animals, lawn games, artisan market, kids crafts, and more. The pie-eating contest starts at 2 pm. Also coming up later this month at Greenbank: Sat, September 28, 10 am – 5 pm, the Cider Festival.
• September is National Suicide Awareness Month. WSU has a certified team that can provide day-long Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Adult Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA) as full in-person, hybrid, and full-virtual workshops to anyone over the age of 18. They are currently providing training for free to groups of 8 or more, They are also certified to teach Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), which is a 2-hour training in suicide prevention. Groups can request any of these trainings  from the Island County Extension Office, 360-639-6060.
• There are a couple of veterans’ picnics happening over the next week. Both are free events to celebrate veterans, families, and our larger community. Free food and music.
  • In Langley: Sunday, September 8, noon – 4 pm, Whidbey Veterans Community Picnic, 4632 Tompkins Road. Hosted by the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center.
  • In Oak Harbor: Saturday, September 14, noon – 4 pm, Military Appreciation Picnic at Windjammer Park. Hosted by the Oak Harbor Chamber and the Oak Harbor Navy League.
• I will be back in Coupeville and Freeland on Monday, September 9 to meet with citizens interested in discussing County issues: Cedar & Salt in Coupeville, 1:30 – 2:30; Wi Fire Community Space in Freeland, 3 – 4. I will hold my first Listening Session with Veterans at the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center on Friday, September 20 at 2 pm.

Melanie

“What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.” 

~ Jane Austen