ISLAND COUNTY: A Message from Commissioner Bacon [Sep. 8, 2025]

Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) sent the following newsletter on Mon., Sep. 8, 2025.

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 36^th week of 2025.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and recording for the Tuesday September 2^nd Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners is here.
  • We received a very informative public comment about a program by the State Department of Natural Resources to provide private citizens with information and financial assistance to thin and maintain their small forests for forest health and wildfire mitigation. This program was formerly just available to property owners on the east side of the state, but it’s recently been expanded to the west side. See this link. The commenter also provided the Board with helpful historical information on low-impact development and the County’s Clean Water Utility fund.
  • There were no regular agenda items and no public hearings on Tuesday.
  • The next regular session will occur at 10 am on Tuesday, September 9^th, The agenda for that meeting is here. On that agenda: purchase of a parcel on Camano Island to use as the South Pit for the Camano Road Shop.
• Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during Tuesday board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
  • September 9:      Transportation Improvement Plan and Capital Improvement Plan
  • December 1:        2026 Budget
• Work Session. The agenda for the Wednesday, September 3^rd work session is here; the recording is here.
  • We heard a state legislative update from our County lobbyist, Columbia Policy Advisors, and began our annual discussion on our priorities for the next legislative session.
  • Planning reviewed with the Board the input from the public and the Planning Commission on the proposed reassessment of the housing numbers for Oak Harbor’s Urban Growth Area, beginning mark 1:29:22 in the recording and page 37 of the agenda.
  • The next work session will be held Wednesday, September 10^th. The agenda. On that agenda: we’ll go over a summary of escalating code enforcement cases from the permitting departments for interdepartmental coordination, including Public Health, Planning, Public Works, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, and Human Services; we’ll discuss two Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) applications; we’ll talk about potential code changes in support of the Comprehensive Plan update, specifically code changes associated with Accessory Dwelling Units, Co-Living Housing, and Emergency Housing; and Planning will bring a discussion to increase the Land Use and Building Permit Fee Schedule with the first increase taking effect January 1, 2026, and a second increase taking effect January 1, 2027.
• There were no budget discussions this week. Our next budget meeting will be in the afternoon of Wednesday, September 17.
• Today the Board of Island Transit met. No actions were taken during the meeting.
• 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.
• Public Health Update:
  • People frequently ask me about losses to federal and state funding we’re experiencing in Island County. For Public Health, our funding for Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) has been reduced by $150,000 and funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been reduced by $70,000.
  • Based on wastewater-based epidemiology (WAWBE) data, and emergency department (ED) visit data, we are currently experiencing an upswing in COVID-19. As we head into respiratory virus season, we are sharing prevention resources with our partners in school districts, long-term care facilities, and healthcare, as well as guidance with community members through social media. It is especially important to get your 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccine if you are aged 65 and older, are at high risk of severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine. If you need a vaccine, contact your regular healthcare provider or a local pharmacy. Be aware that availability of current COVID-19 vaccines is limited. Most insurance plans continue to cover COVID-19 vaccination.
  • As you’ve probably read in the paper or seen on the news, the State of Washington and the federal CDC are not in alignment about the efficacy and necessary availability of COVID vaccines (i.e. Washington State thinks they are important and should be kept readily available as before). For guidance from Washington State on COVID shots, go here.
  • For guidance from the CDC on flu shots, go here. For guidance from the CDC on RSV shots, go here.
• On Monday, September 8^th at 3 pm I will meet with interested citizens at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland.

Melanie 

Today is Bring Your Manners To Work Day

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou