 I’ll be on vacation next week. There will be no Board meetings and no Friday newsletter from me.
Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 13th week of 2026.
- The Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissioners was held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026; video recording here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/9b07060f-fe02-4b60-957a-f5ec7cdabc5d.
- There was no public comment offered to the Board this week.
- We held three public hearings on septic franchises; all were approved.
- The Board will not meet on Tuesday, March 31. The agenda for the Tuesday April 7 meeting will be available here by Friday, April 3: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
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Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 a.m., unless otherwise noted):
- Tuesday April 7: O’Daniels Franchise
- Tuesday April 7: Blankenship Franchise
- Tuesday April 7: Ginn Franchise
- Tuesday April 7: Development Moratorium extension
- Tuesday April 14: Homeless Housing Plan
- Tuesday April 14: Cool Road OSS Franchise
- Tuesday April 21: 2025 Budget Amendment
- Tuesday April 21: Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Amendment
- Tuesday, April 28: Hudock Franchise
- Tuesday, April 28: Linkatoon Franchise
- Tuesday, April 28: Graves Franchise
- Tuesday, April 28: Groseclose Franchise
- Tuesday, April 28: Brentwood Franchise
- Tuesday, May 5: Mt. Wenatchee Franchise
- Tuesday, May 5: St. Peter Franchise
- Tuesday, May 5: Hellum Franchise
- Tuesday, May 12: Curbside Recycling
- Tuesday, May 19: Procurement Policy
- Tuesday, June 2: SE Camano Franchise
- Tuesday, June 2: Olympic Marine Franchise
- Tuesday, June 2: Higgins Franchise
- Tuesday, June 9: McConnell Franchise
- Tuesday, June 9: Lone Lake Franchise
- Tuesday, June 9: Summerland Franchise
- There was no Work Session this week. The next Work Session for the Board of County Commissioners will be held on April 8; the agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, April 3 here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
- The Council of Governments (COG) and Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) met on Wednesday.
- Do you ever think that you’d like to be more involved in your community but aren’t quite sure where to best use your talents? Island County has many advisory committees that the Board relies on to help the County make important decisions. Current vacancies are listed below. For more information on any of these volunteer positions contact Layla Tromble at la.tromble@islandcountywa.gov; the appointment application is here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/IslandCounty1/CitizenAppointmentApplication.
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Ebey’s Reserve Historic Preservation Commission (this is the most urgent right now—the HPC had to cancel the last 3 meetings due to lack of quorum, which holds up building projects for citizens in the Reserve).
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Position 2: Resident or Business Owner in Ebey’s Reserve. Experience in historic preservation preferred.
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Position 4: Resident or Business Owner in Ebey’s Reserve. Experience in historic preservation preferred.
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Conservation Futures Program Citizens Advisory Board: Three-year terms
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Position 3: Resident of District 2
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Island County LEOFF/Disability Board: Two-year terms
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Position 2: Member must be retired Law Enforcement or Fire Fighter recipient of LEOFF 1 disability benefits.
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IRTPO Technical Advisory Committee
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Position 2: Representing District 2
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Housing Authority of Island County: Five-year terms
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Position 3: Member must be a resident of Island County
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Law & Justice Council: Two-year terms
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Position 3: Resident of District 2
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Position 5: Resident of District 3
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Position 6: Resident of District 3
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Lodging Tax Advisory Committee: Four-year terms
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Position 2: Member must be part of a business subject to the 2% Lodging Tax from Central Whidbey.
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Position 3: Member must be part of a business subject to the 2% Lodging Tax from North Whidbey.
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Northwest Senior Services Advisory Board: Three-year terms
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Position 1: Member must be a resident of Island County with experience around issues facing seniors.
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Position 3: Member must be a resident of Island County with experience around issues facing seniors.
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Northwest Workforce Council: Three-year terms
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Position 4: Member must be a resident of Island County from a Community Development based organization.
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Veterans Advisory Commission: Two-year terms.
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Position 4: Member must be from Disabled American Veterans Post 47
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Position 6: Member must be from the Whidbey Veterans Resource Center
- It looks like there are still tickets available for Whidbey Homeless Coalition’s benefit dinner, the Art & Elegance Gala in Oak Harbor Saturday night March 28 at the Elks Lodge from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. This event will feature live music, catered dinner, silent and live auctions, no host bar, and elegant tablescaping displays up for live auction. By attending you'll be directly contributing to the vital services that Whidbey Homeless Coalition shelters provide to our communities’ most vulnerable.
- Next Thursday, April 2nd, beginning at 11:30 a.m., there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Camas Flats, an 80-unit affordable housing complex in Oak Harbor at 900 N. Oak Harbor Street. Commissioner Jill Johnson will be speaking. The County Commissioners are excited about this important new development, and we’re grateful to all of our partners who helped make it a reality. For more information on Camas Flats, see https://www.camasflatsapartments.com/.
- These upcoming trainings are being offered by WSU Island County Extension
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WSU Climate Stewards, https://climatestewards.extension.wsu.edu/ - Enrollment ends 4/1, course begins 4/2. Course includes: 10 weeks of 2-hour sessions via zoom, plus local in-person field experiences, and homework assignments. This WSU Certificate Course offers a deep dive into climate science to raise awareness and knowledge of climate change impacts, mitigation, and resilience strategies for Island, Skagit, and Whatcom County community members. $175 Course fee includes a $50 discount. Scholarships are available upon request. No prior experience or knowledge is required. Recommended for ages 15+.
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WSU Waste Wise Training, Camano https://extension.wsu.edu/island/nrs/waste-wise/waste-wise-volunteer-training/. Become waste wise! All community members are welcome to join WSU Island County as they cover the importance of reducing, reusing, and proper recycling for Island County residents. This 6-week training is being offered starting Monday, 4/13 from 4 to 6 p.m. each week at the Island County Multipurpose Center on Camano. Cost for participation is $50 and no-cost scholarships are available upon request. No previous experience or volunteer commitment required. Recommended for ages 15+.
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Eco Book Group, Camano https://www.facebook.com/share/1DkPAz6AYy/. This no-pressure Eco Book Group is hosted by WSU Waste Wise Camano and meets the 2nd Monday of each month at the Camano Island Library, 12 - 1 pm. The focus for the first book is "The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan." This group will be picking a new book each month to read and discuss. Haven't had time to reach the book? No problem! Join them and learn from the discussion. All are welcome! Ages 14+ recommended.
- There is a new Ferry Riders Opinion Group (FROG) survey. I think that from time to time we all need to let Washington State Ferries know how we feel about things https://pacificmarketresearch.opinioninsight.com/portal/community_1_1_1.php.
- In Oak Harbor at the end of May, Island Senior Resources is holding a benefit dinner and auction, with a charity golf tournament the next day. Your participation supports the wealth of community programs at Island Senior Resources, ensuring that seniors in our community continue receiving the resources they rely on. For more information and to sign up early, go here: https://senior-resources.org/benefit-events-2026/
- There is just one more meeting currently scheduled to provide information about the three potential sites for a new jail and offer residents an opportunity to ask questions and share input (a new one in Coupeville was just added; others may be scheduled later). The webpage for this initiative is here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/crcproject; individuals who are unable to attend any of the meetings may submit questions to Jeff Douglas, Assistant Risk Manager & Safety Coordinator, at jdouglas@islandcountywa.gov. I strongly encourage everyone to attend or at least review the webpage, since this is an important public safety initiative that will ultimately impact everyone’s wallet:
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Monday, April 6: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Board of County Commissioners Hearing Room, 1 NE 6th Street, Coupeville
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Planning Commission and the Comprehensive Plan Update: This is a link to the Planning Commission page: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/235/Planning-Commission. You can find details on their meetings and minutes, including Zoom info, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/Planning-Commission-4. The agendas are published at least a week in advance. The Planning Commission usually meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month in the Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville. The next Planning Commission meeting will occur on Wednesday, April 1.
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Island Senior Resources is sponsoring a FREE community showing of The Farewell, an award‑winning comedy/drama that explores family, culture, truth, and the different ways we face the end of life — all with humor and heart. Trailer: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1239464985/?ref_=tt_vids_vi_1. No tickets or RSVP needed. Stay afterwards for a thoughtful guided discussion with Andrea Denke, MSW, LICSW and Nathalie Gauteron, MSW, LICSW from WhidbeyHealth Hospice. I attended last week’s showing at The Clyde and highly recommend this film and conversation.
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Monday, April 6: 1 to 4 p.m. Oak Harbor Cinemas
- I will next meet with interested citizens at the WiFire Community Space in Freeland at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 6.
Melanie
Today is National Medical Science Liaison Awareness and Appreciation Day. I am so grateful for scientists who work in medical research, like my wonderful niece, Dr. Eliza Bacon of the City of Hope.
“Medical science has proven time and again that when the resources are provided, great progress in the treatment, cure, and prevention of disease can occur.” ~Michael J. Fox
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