A Message from Commissioner Bacon

Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 34^th week of 2023. Next week is a “fifth week” and the Board of Island County Commissioners will not meet; therefore I will not be publishing a newsletter next Friday.

Monday, September 4, Island County offices will be closed for Labor Day.

• Regular Session.  The agenda and recording for the August 22^nd regular session can be found here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/782c56b5-0d3e-48cf-be54-903a36d0c31d.
• The first item on the agenda was public comment. We heard public comment on animal welfare and artificial intelligence.
• The Board passed Resolution C-52-23 on the regular session, appointing three appraisers to Apportion Special Benefits in Diking District No. 4.
• We held a public hearing and passed Ordinance C-41-23, Ordinance Regulating Speed Limits through School Zone along Maxwelton Road and Amending Island County Code Title X, Chapter 10.01. This ordinance is unrelated to the speed study we’ve been having meetings on lately
• There will be no BOICC meetings next week. The agenda for the September 5^th meeting will be posted by Friday, September 1, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.                                    

• Work Session. The next work session for the Board of Island County Commissioners will be held on Wednesday, September 6. That meeting agenda will be posted by Friday, September 1, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
• The Council of Governments (COG) and Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) met on Wednesday.
• COG: Agenda https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08232023-605; Recording https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4440/08232023-COG.
• IRTPO: Agenda https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132023-590; Recording not yet posted; you will be able to find it soon here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.

• Planning Commission. I am very happy to announce that beginning in October our Planning Commission meetings are moving to the evenings, in order to encourage more citizen involvement.
• 6 pm, second and fourth Tuesday of each month, beginning in October 2023
• Island County Commissioners Hearing Room, Island County Annex Building: 1 NE 6th St.; Coupeville, WA
• The agendas (including Zoom meeting links) and minutes are published here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/Planning-Commission-4
• The next Planning Commission meeting is this next Monday, August 28, at 2 pm; agenda and Zoom link here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08282023-612.

• Our Marine Resources Committee (MRC) was featured in the American Shoreline Podcast last week! Here is the recording for you to check out. Big thanks to Jill Lipoti and Patrick Havel for taking time to share their experience. ASPN | Could The Marine Resource Committee Model Be America's Coastal Solution? (coastalnewstoday.com).
• 2024 Budget: The most crucial work the Board of Island County Commissioners does is pass a budget to keep your local government going for another year.
• 8/9 recording: begins at mark 02:17:30 in this work session audio recording: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4130/08092023-WS-Audio.
• 8/10 recording: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4203/08102023-Budget-Workshop-MP3
• 8/16 recording: begins at mark 01:54:55 in this work session audio recording: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4409/August-16-2023-Budget-Workshop-Audio-MP3
• 8/17 recording: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4398/August-17-2023-Special-Session-Budget-Workshop-MP3
• 8/23, 8/24, and 8/25: The recordings for this week’s meetings will be posted soon. See the Special Session Budget Workshops for this week under the “Board of County Commissioners Regular & Special Sessions” tab here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter

• Most Mondays I hold Monday Tea with Melanie at 3:00 pm at the WiFire Community Space, 1651 E. Main Street, Freeland. I apologize to those who showed up this Monday—I was stuck on highway 5 up near Bellingham for about 4 hours with a flat tire and did not get back to Whidbey until early evening (did you know that many newer cars do not come with spare tires? I had not known that before). I plan to be at the WiFire this next Monday, but will miss September 4 (Labor Day), and will also miss September 11.

Melanie

“I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.” ~ Lily Tomlin

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Please send along ideas and feedback. You can e-mail me at district1@islandcountywa.gov

It is an honor to serve you, 
Melanie Bacon
Island County Commissioner, Dist. 1

district1@islandcountywa.gov
(360)679-7354

PO Box 5000
Coupeville, WA 98239