 Photo by Linda LaMar
Thank you for reading my newsletter for the 39th week of 2026.
Next week is a Fifth Week of the month, which means the Commissioners will not meet.
We are in serious need of volunteers to serve on our Ferry Advisory Committees, for both ferries. Please contact me if you’re interested in talking about it.
- The Regular Session of the Board of Island County Commissionerswas held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026; video recording here: https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/cf763b17-97b6-41d1-84ab-bafcd5b8df18.
- We received five public comments: one commenting on the 2026 Sheriff’s budget; one providing us animal control call-out data; two concerned about rabies; and one asking us to refill the open animal control officer position
- We held three public hearings on water franchises; all were approved. No public comments were provided.
- There will be no Regular Session next week. The next Regular Session will be held on Tuesday, October 6; the agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, October 2, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
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Budget Workshops:
- We held our final Budget workshop this week. Recording: gov/DocumentCenter/View/16058/09232026-Budget-Workshop-Audio.
- The most potentially-controversial thing we did during that meeting was decide to cut out funding to WSU Extension by 50% in 2027. This means cuts to 4H and Master Gardeners, plus other programs valued by members of our community. To understand why we made that decision, I encourage you to listen to the WSU budget presentation from last week (beginning at mark 0:08:55 in this recording: gov/DocumentCenter/View/16036/09162026-WS-Audio) and our discussion this week about that presentation (mark 1:56:11 in this week’s recording).
- To understand why the Board needs to keep over $1 Million available in current expense in 2027, listen to the end of this week’s meeting beginning at mark 2:29:13 (hint: it’s for pre-work for the new jail).
- You can find the most recent version of the 700+ page Budget Book here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/231/Commissioners-Budget-Information.
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Tentative Upcoming Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Public Hearings (held during board meetings, beginning at 10 am, unless otherwise noted):
- Tuesday, Oct 13: Padilla Estates (franchise)
- Tuesday, Oct 13: Honeymoon Bay Vista (franchise)
- Tuesday, Oct 27: Clinton Water (franchise)
- Tuesday, Oct 27: Hope View (franchise)
- Tuesday, Oct 27: Owners Assoc. of Utsalady (franchise)
- Tuesday, Dec 1: PBRS
- Tuesday, Dec 1: 2027 Work Plan and Planning Docket
- Tuesday, Dec 7: 2027 Budget & Levies
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Work Session. There was no work session this week. The next work session will be held on Wednesday, October 7. The agenda for that meeting will be posted by Friday, October 2, here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter.
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The Council of Governments (COG) and Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (IRTPO) both met Wednesday, September 23.
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Island Senior Resources Update: updated website https://senior-resources.org/.
- I am excited about the ISR Fall Benefit Dinner and Live Auction at Useless Bay Golf & Country Club on Thursday October 15 from 5 – 8 pm. I am hoping to be mobile enough to attend this one event next month, because I really want to support ISR’s important work. I hope you’ll be able to attend too. For tickets and more information: https://senior-resources.org/news/benefitdinner26/.
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Island Transit Update: Today we held our second retreat to develop the first Strategic Plan for the agency. What we discussed today reflected feedback from the public after our first retreat.
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Public Health Update: Immunization Guidance by Population for Respiratory Illnesses. With respiratory viruses spreading locally, we are sharing the current 2026-2027 immunization guidelines from the West Coast Health Alliance for COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV. Here is a quick breakdown of the recommendations.
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Children & Infants. COVID-19: Recommended for ages 6–23 months, ages 2–18 with risk factors or never vaccinated, close contacts of high-risk individuals, and anyone wanting to reduce severe illness. Influenza: Recommended for everyone 6 months and older. (Note: Two doses are recommended for ages 6 months–8 years getting the flu shot for the first time). RSV: Protected via prenatal RSV vaccine, or an infant dose of nirsevimab or clesrovimab (for those under 8 months, plus 8–19 months with risk factors).
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Pregnancy & Postpartum. COVID-19 & Influenza: Recommended for all planning pregnancy, currently pregnant, or postpartum. RSV: Recommended for those at 32–36 weeks gestational age.
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Adults. COVID-19: Recommended for adults 65 and older, ages 19–64 with risk factors, close contacts of high-risk individuals, and anyone wanting to lower their risk of severe illness. Influenza: Recommended for all adults. RSV: Recommended for adults 75 and older, and ages 50–74 with risk factors.
- For local information on where to find all these vaccines, please visit Island County Respiratory Illness Immunization Info: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/1072/Immunizations
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Whidbey Climate Action’s October Island Conversation will be held on Thursday October 1, at a different venue this time—the United Methodist Church. The topic is “Once Upon a Coming Time,” with local storycatcher and novelist Christina Baldwin.
- You may be aware that I’ve been staying at Regency Coupeville for rehabilitation services for the last couple of weeks. They are sponsoring the Regency Coupeville Car Show in the Regency parking lot, featuring the Whidbey Cruzers, tomorrow, Saturday September 26th, from 11 am – 1 pm. They are also holding a community BBQ and raffle. This event is in support of Ryan’s House for Youth.
- I will not be hosting Monday afternoon community meetings until November (and might not be back to meetings even then), but:
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I am sponsoring a weekly meeting for citizens to meet candidates for County offices.These are not forums or debates—each week is just one candidate talking with voters interested in hearing their message.
- These meetings will be held at the Freeland Hallfrom 6 – 7 pm each Monday through October 19
- Tentatively scheduled:
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Monday, September 28, 6 pm: Commissioner Dist 3 candidate Matt Van Pelt
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Monday, October 5, 6 pm: Clerk candidate Maria Hazelo
Melanie
Today is my sister Risa’s birthday. We did not get along as children (she’s the only person in my life I ever told “I hate you!”), but we are very close as adults. She is truly a spectacular person and I’m proud and grateful to have her as my sister.
“To have a loving relationship with a sister is to have a soulmate for life.” ~ Victoria Secunda
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