A Message from Commissioner Bacon

Island County, Washington sent this bulletin at 07/07/2023 03:18 PM PDT

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Island County

District 1 News - July 7, 2023
Melanie and Pete

Commissioner Bacon with US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 27th week of 2023.

    • The first item on the agenda, a discussion on Marshall Drainage Basin & Surface Water Utility Assessments, was postponed for a future meeting.
    • We talked about the Thunder Run Drill happening this week at our local airports. Thunder Run is a dress rehearsal for earthquake disaster relief. Mark 0:20:11 in the audio.
    • County DNR brought a discussion on salmon recovery funding, mark 1:07:38 in the audio. The salmon recovery map referenced in the discussion can be found here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/651/Salmon-Recovery.
    • We began reviewing the Introduction section of the 2016 Comprehensive Plan, to identify changes we will want for the 2025 update. Mark 1:40:28 in the audio.
  • Representative Rick Larsen invited me to attend an event at the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal yesterday. Governor Inslee, Senator Murray, Representative Larsen, and US Transportation Secretary Buttigieg were there to discuss the importance of investing in the ferry system and ferry electrification, highlighting the upcoming electrification of the Clinton terminal. Also there to represent local interests were Representative Dave Paul, Port of South Whidbey Commissioner Curt Gordon, and me. As you can imagine, I was very happy to see so much attention paid to our ferry needs. Governor Inslee told me that what we particularly need are more boats and more staff—and it was a real pleasure to hear him say those words to me when it’s usually us saying that to them.
  • CHANGE TO TOMORROW’S THUNDER RUN DRILL: There will be no flights to AJ Eisenberg tomorrow because now BC AERO out of British Columbia will not be participating. As such, the amount of deliveries will be considerable lower than originally planned, and to get the most out of the exercise Emergency Management will be focusing their attention and directing remaining flights to the Langley Airpark as well as a single flight to Camano Island.
  • DATE CHANGES SINCE I POSTED LAST WEEK, Speed Study Meetings.
    • In 2022 Island County began reviewing the existing posted speed limits county-wide to provide an engineer’s recommended speed limit, based on data analysis and land use within the areas of review. Historically, data points (including the 85% and 50% percentile), Average Daily Traffic (ADT), collision history and engineering judgement have provided the recommendation for a posted speed limit.  The current project also considers development density and pedestrian and bicycle use. Now the County is seeking public input into the draft. Four area-specific meeting locations and times for you to review the print-outs of the findings and discuss them with staff are scheduled:
    • North Whidbey (Commissioner St Clair district) –City of Oak Harbor Library July 26th 4:30 PM -5:30 PM
    • North Whidbey (Commissioner Johnson district) –City of Oak Harbor Library Sept 27th (tentative) 4:30 PM -5:30 PM
    • Central Whidbey –Coupeville Rec Hall September 20th, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
    • South Whidbey –Trinity Lutheran Church August 23rd. 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
    • Camano Island –the Multi-Purpose Room located next to the Camano Annex building Sept 12th 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
  • Due to travel for a family celebration, Monday Tea with Melanie will not be held again until Monday, July 24.

Melanie

“Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.”      

~ recorded by Nat King Cole