A Message from Commissioner Bacon

Island County, Washington sent this bulletin at 01/09/2026 03:53 PM PST

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Island County

District 1 News - January 9, 2026
01132026 Newsletter Photo

photo by Florian Graner

Happy New Year, everyone. Thank you for reading my first newsletter of 2026.

Island County offices will be closed on Monday, January 19th in recognition of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King.

I love to feature Island County photos in this newsletter. If you have any photos you’d like to make available to me for free, I would be grateful for your gift.

  • Regular Session, Tuesday January 6.  This is the agenda and recording for Tuesday’s meeting: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/185e7139-595d-4a10-a4b3-48412cfc13da.
    • We received one public comment this week, from a citizen who has been reviewing the draft Comp Plan elements and has concerns about the housing and land use element and our county’s designations for natural lands and natural resource lands.
    • We held two public hearings on sewer franchises. There was no public  comment on either. Both franchises were approved.
    • During Commissioners Comments, Commissioner St. Clair and I discussed the requests we’ve been receiving from members of the public to declare a climate emergency. See mark 00:26:02 in the recording. We ask everyone who is concerned about our climate to review the draft Climate Element in the Comp Plan update, and if you identify anything you think we need to do different from what we’ve drafted, you should send us your comments for our consideration. Commissioner St. Clair and I are in agreement that we are not interested in declaring a climate emergency as a performative measure—we would only make such a declaration if it would result in tangible actions that we otherwise would not adopt (Commissioner Johnson was excused on Tuesday). 
    • The next Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The agenda for that meeting is available here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/bb455c7a-12fe-4b7e-83aa-fe04990dfe14. On that agenda: the 4 public hearings identified below.
  • Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am):
    • Tuesday January 13:          Public Defense
    • Tuesday January 13:          Septic Franchise Delcoure
    • Tuesday January 13:          Septic Franchise Witham
    • Tuesday January 13:          Septic Franchise Solvang
    • Tuesday January 27:          Part 1 of Speed Study Public Hearing, to be held on Camano Island; public comment only; will be continued to following week
    • Tuesday February 3:          Part 2 of Speed Study Public Hearing, to be held in Coupeville; public comment and possible action
    • Note: the engineering recommendation documents currently available on the Speed Study can be found here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/878/Speed-Limit-Study. However, there will be updates made—for example, the Board is considering a maximum Island County speed limit of 45 mph on County roads, which is not reflected in these documents.
  • Work Session. This is the agenda for the January 7th work session: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01072026-1097; here is the recording: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12338/01072026-WS-Audio. Reminder: if you want to scroll through the recording to get to one of the times I note below, you will need to download it first.
    • First item was a discussion with representatives from the Assessor’s office on the tax implications of Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) properties containing conservation easements.
    • We approved moving the two-year contract with the Economic Development Council of Island County (EDC) to the Consent Agenda. Mark 0:09:45 in the recording.
    • We discussed the impact to the County of the discontinuation of the penny, with Treasurer Tony Lam. Mark 0:27:45 in the recording.
    • We are moving forward with planning for the Clinton to Ken’s Corner Trail Project! Mark 0:44:37 in the recording. We did not go over the slides, but you can find detailed information in the presentation they prepared, beginning on page 45 of the agenda.
    • Island County will enter into an interlocal agreement with the Ebey’s Trust Board to “lease” an employee, which means that the next Reserve Manager will be a County employee eligible for County benefits, reporting to the Trust Board as their supervisor. We will be doing something similar with the manager of the Tourism Board. Mark 1:22:13 in the recording.
    • Long Range Planning discussed the Housing and Land Use Elements for the Comp Plan that have been released to the public for comment. Mark 1:26:55 in the recording. The presentation begins on page 78 of the agenda.
    • The next Work Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 9:30 am. The agenda for that meeting is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01142026-1102. On that agenda: A review of the Project Charters derived from the 2026 Work Plan for Public Health; and an overview with Long Range Planning of environment related changes in the draft Natural Resources and Climate Elements.

      IMPORTANT: the current drafts of the Comprehensive Plan elements have been released. We are asking for public comment through February 9th. You will be able to find those elements here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/209/Comprehensive-Plan.

Long Range Planning will be meeting with the Board and the Planning Commission to discuss the draft materials for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update; dates below. The public is encouraged to attend.

  • January 14 – Environment (Climate and Natural Resources Elements)
  • January 21 – Infrastructure (Transportation, Parks, and Capital Facilities and Utilities Elements)
  • February 4 – Economic Development and Clinton Subarea Plan

Public meetings will also be held on the following days:

       Oak Harbor, at The Center: January 15 from 5 to 6:30 PM

       South Whidbey, at the Clinton Community Hall: January 20 from 5 to 6:30 PM

       Camano, at the County Annex Building: January 24 from 10 to 11:30 AM

  • Public Health update: The Snohomish County Health Department has confirmed three measles cases (one family) who visited several locations while infectious between Dec. 27, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026. Of specific concern to Island County, a potential exposure occurred on the Mukilteo-Clinton Ferry on Dec. 30, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Other exposure sites include Sea-Tac Airport and various locations in Everett and Marysville. Measles is highly contagious; symptoms (fever, rash, cough) typically appear 7–21 days post-exposure (estimated Jan. 4–22). Residents should verify their MMR vaccination status. Anyone exposed who develops symptoms must call their healthcare provider before visiting a clinic to prevent further transmission. More information can be found in this press release: https://www.snohd.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/902.
  • The Island Transit Board met today.
    • The Board authorized staff to roll-out the proposed March 2026 Service Changes, including restructuring the NASWI and Zone 6 On Demand services and related service refinements. You can find these changes here: https://www.islandtransit.org/public-meetings.
  • I will meet with interested citizens at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland at 3 pm on Monday, January 12, and Monday, January 26. I will miss Monday, January 19th due to Martin Luther King’s birthday holiday, and I will miss Monday, February 2nd for family reasons.

Melanie

I write this on the anniversary of my Mother’s passing last year.

“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.”                   ~ Rumi