March 11th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
Good food, good talk, good schools, all a part of the Orcas Island School Board's Bond Community Potluck last night.
Last night, the Orcas High School Commons was filled with a lively group discussing their viewpoints on the Orcas Island School District (OISD)Bond for Reconstruction and Repairs, which recently failed by about a 120-vote margin.
The Bond, which was for $35 million over a 25-year period, was described by many in attendance on March 10 as “just too big.”
Following a community potluck of hamburgers, veggie burgers, juice and “trimmings,” and numerous dishes brought in by guests, the Orcas Island School District Board, Superintendent, teachers, students, parents, architects, builders and other members of the public discussed what were identified as 4 critical questions, summarized as follows:
1) What concerns have you heard from those who did not vote for the bond?
2) What have you heard that would make those who voted no vote in favor of the bond the next time?
3) What questions do you have about the bond?
4) What will get people more involved in the discussion about the bond?
These questions were discussed around each of the tables where 10-12 community members sat. The entire group then heard from each table, and the concerns expressed in their answers were summarized by School Board Member Janet Brownell:
- The Bond is for too much money, especially now
- The Bond includes “wishes” as well as needs — some of the “extras” were enumerated as a track and indirect and contingency costs
- “Breaking Up” the Bond into 2 or several bonds would provide better timing and reduced expense for a construction bond
- Neighborhood groups and increased Internet presence would involve more in the discussion, as would theparticipation of teachers and students.
Brownell added that “trust issues” were also aired, particularly in the areas of sustained maintenance and the commitment to employ local builders.
The OISD Board has scheduled a meeting at 5:30 p.m. today, March 11, to discuss plans to move forward. They will consider both the timing and the amount of a future bond proposition. The meeting is open to the public, in the school library.
Board Member Keith Whitaker described the process of proposing a bond, saying, “The Board listens and responds. This bond was not the board’s agenda, but was put together after [the public] gave educational specifications of what we were told was needed…. This was a plan we heard from concerned community members.
“We will continue to do what the community asks us to do.”
Whitaker also added that some of the concerns have already been addressed, such as a Community Advisory Board for School Construction, which the Board is “committed to make happen in short order.”
People in attendance were reminded that the last time the District went out for a smaller-sized bond for capital construction after a larger bond had failed, (1978) the results were cost “savings” on materials and design that wound up costing more in terms of long-term sustainability.
Local builder Justin Paulsen corrected OISD Board Member Tony Ghazel’s reference to the Middle School Buildings as “not being built to today’s standards.” Paulsen said, “They weren’t built to yesterday’s standards either.”
Ghazel agreed with the correction and said, “In 1978, we got what we paid for — as we go forward, we will make sure we get what we pay for. We can only move forward.”
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March 11th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager
After much deliberation the San Juan County Council Tuesday authorized County staff to begin three steps toward raising money to keep the County’s solid waste utility afloat:
1) Prepare to sell bonds to pay down a portion of the utility’s rising debt and fund state-required capital improvements to its transfer stations.
2) Move forward with plans to transfer the Utility’s interest in a tract of land on Beaverton Valley Road and a closed land fill on Lopez to the County’s Equipment Rental and Revolving fund, to produce some cash and reduce the Utility’s responsibility for debt.
3) Proceed with an ordinance establishing a $15 minimum charge for dropping off garbage at any of the County’s transfer stations.
Additionally, the Council said that it would declare the utility’s need to proceed with capital improvements to meet Department of Ecology requirements to be an emergency. That could speed up the bidding and acquisition process for work at the San Juan County Transfer station.
The solid waste utility has seen its income plummet with the economic downturn. Faced with increased costs for planning a replacement transfer facility on San Juan Island and moving forward on projects to meet regulatory requirements, it has built up a $700,000 debt and is staring a cash flow crisis in the maw.
Tuesday County Public Works Director Jon Shannon presented the Council with four options for keeping the solid waste system operating, three of them involved maintaining the current level of service; the fourth would close transfer stations on two of the three islands. (Shannon’s outline of the options is available online at: http://www.sanjuanco.com/Docs/CAgendadocs/03-09-2010/County_Admin_SolidWasteMarch030910.pdf)
By a head nod, the Council indicated that reducing service by consolidating the transfer stations would be a last resort. Instead Council members indicated a preference for presenting an as-yet undefined revenue proposal to the voters in the fall election and, in the meantime, implementing the strategy of the property exchanges, borrowing and temporary fee increases to keep the utility functioning until the will of the voters is known.
Until last week, it appeared that the Council might assess a flat utility fee against land parcels in the County; however prosecutor Randall Gaylord issued a memo advising against that, saying recent case law could make such an approach vulnerable to legal challenge. Today he added that while an operating levy could be voted in by the electorate, it would have to be reauthorized by voters each year, making it essentially impractical.
Tuesday’s Council decisions were only preliminary. New fees, including any minimum drop off fee, must be adopted by ordinance after a public hearing. Council Members also indicated that they will seek public input and conduct additional discussion and deliberations before advancing a tax proposal to put on the primary or general election ballot.
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March 10th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager
This year’s Count of Homeless Persons (PIT) in San Juan County recognized 79 persons as homeless.
Among the homeless, 29 were classified as unsheltered - living in tents, cars, boats (not equipped with facilities for living aboard) or staying in motels (with money from churches, etc.); and 50 people, including many children, were staying in temporary, unstable living arrangements either with friends or family members – a situation commonly referred to as “couch surfing”.
The state-required Count was conducted by the County Health & Community Services on Thursday, January 28th.
Count organizers had anticipated an increase in the number of homeless people in the county due to the worldwide economic crisis and significant local business closures, but the count remained close to last year’s numbers.
Last year’s count found 23 people unsheltered and 50 “couch surfing” a significant increase over the 2008 Count which reported only 9 unsheltered and 17 “couch surfing”. Similarly, in 2007 11 were reported unsheltered and 17 “couch surfing”.
Citing an extensive effort in 2006 which identified 50 homeless people, organizers, say the increased numbers reported since 2009 could be a result of the amount of effort that has been put into the count since 2009, rather than an actual increase in the overall number of homeless people.
Organizers admit these numbers are an estimate at best, it is impossible to truly know the exact number of homeless people and those staying with friends or family in unstable situations. However, based on this year’s results and information from churches, food banks and other organizations that help the homeless, organizers see no sign that the problem is decreasing.
San Juan County PIT Count organizers and volunteers worked with local schools, food banks, churches, healthcare providers, support service counselors, youth groups, Senior Centers, Family Resource Centers, Sheriff’s department, Fire and EMS departments and many other community organizations to perform this year’s count.
The PIT was established by the Washington legislature in 2005 in the Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act (RCW 43.185c). The goal of the Act was to reduce homelessness in our state by 50% by 2015.
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March 9th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
The 2010 Census is underway. I urge you to participate as a complete count will benefit our community greatly. Census data is used to allocate state and federal funds. It is estimated that each individual counted may qualify our community for an additional $3,900 in annual support. In 2000, San Juan County was estimated to have one of the lowest compliance rates in the state with 38%. Our community cannot afford such a low count this time around.
Additionally, Washington State is slated to gain a seat in the US House of Representatives based on this year’s census data. The census count will determine which district gains that seat. Your participation in the count will have a direct impact on that decision.
Forms are being hand delivered by census enumerators beginning March 2. If you are not home, the forms will be left on your door. If for some reason you do not receive a form, copies will be available at the public library. Please make the effort to complete the census. You count!
Hilary Canty
Olga, WA
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March 9th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
The Orcas Island School Board invites the community to a BBQ & Potluck and bond discussion this Wednesday, the 10th, to be held in the High School Commons at 6:15pm.
On March 11, the day following the potluck, the Board will decide when to place the issue on the ballot – April is only one possibility and not a given. This will not be the last chance for community members to make their views known. The Board is committed to seeking public input throughout the design process and will create a community advisory committee to ensure that all voices continue to be heard.
The Board is open to any practical suggestion as to how to reduce the costs of the bond and has already been working towards that end, through bond committee and community meetings, and in consultation with experienced professional advisors, for the past several years. The Board cannot reduce the amount of the authorization that we request of the community based only on potential or possibilities, but that does not preclude us from pursuing any and all cost-savings measures and working to reduce the cost to the community, even after the bond is approved. This is exactly what we intend to do.
The Board has thoroughly explored the use of existing community spaces, but for regulatory and logistical reasons, the use of external facilities is not a workable means of addressing the needs of the educational program.
The amount of the bond was developed by experienced cost estimators who have worked on hundreds of school construction projects. It has been vetted against state averages and is close to $270 per square foot. The bond resolution does not mandate that unspent money be used to pay off the bond, but the Board has made it clear that it is their intention to do just that. There are significant restrictions as to how bond funds can be
spent: they can only be spent on capital projects, cannot be transferred to the general fund and must be spent within a prescribed period of time.
The interest rate of the bond cannot be accurately calculated until the bond passes in the election and it’s put up for sale. As a school building project, which is seen in a positive light by purchasers of bonds, the rate we get will be favorable. The Board intends to reduce the amount of the second half of the bond sale by as much as possible, to reflect whatever cost savings can be achieved during the design process. This will affect the total amount of the bond and the interest. Whatever amount is placed on the ballot, the Board is acutely aware that it will represent a maximum authorization only, not a mandate to spend all of the funds.
The $10 million in indirect costs on the $35M bond amount were not an unknown quantity. This portion of the budget includes many mandated costs, including required contingencies, employing a project manager, permit fees, geotechnical and other testing, as well as other known costs, such as furniture and fixtures for the reconstructed spaces, the fees for the architect, civil, structural and mechanical engineers and other consultants.
The repair and rebuilding of our school facilities is essential. Due to the condition of our aging campus, a 10%+ growth in our student population over the past year, and the increasing importance of offering programming such as Career and Technical (Vocational) Education and OASIS, that will serve all of our students now and into the future, we need to act promptly to provide a safe and effective learning environment.
The economic realities that we are all facing require us to be as prudent and as thorough as possible in our consideration of this bond, and we hope that the discussions at the BBQ and Potluck on Wednesday will be one part of that ongoing process.
We hope you will come and join us in discussing the future of our schools.
Sincerely,
The Directors of the Orcas Island School District
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March 9th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
Senator Kevin Ranker has sponsored bills that will better manage and protect the health of Puget Sound, straits and coast and the communities that depend upon them. The two measures, Senate Bill 6350 and Senate Bill 6557 garnered bipartisan support in the State House on March 4 and will now return to the Senate for concurrence.
Senate Bill 6350 will limit user conflicts between the increasing number of existing and new uses being proposed in our states marine waters. SB 6557 will help limit the amount of environmentally harmful copper, which ends up in Puget Sound, straits and coast waters through dissolving brake pads.
“The Sound and our beautiful coastal waters are so critical to everyone in this state. We must do everything in our power to protect the precious environmental and economic resources,” said Ranker, the prime sponsor of both measures. “These bills will go a long way toward keeping our waters clean and their usage fair, and I appreciate the strong support in the House, particularly from my seatmate, Representative Jeff Morris,”
Marine spatial planning will limit conflicts between critical existing uses such as fishing, shellfish aquaculture, shipping and recreation while promoting renewable resources such as wave, tidal and other energy facilities. SB 6350 received a 64-34 vote in the House.
“In order to maximize the benefits our Sound and ocean provide – both ecologically and economically – we urgently need a comprehensive process to rationally guide the multiple management objectives,” Ranker said. Close to seven million metric tons of dissolved copper enter the Sound and ocean every year — half of which originates from brake pads. Copper causes significant harm to salmon and other marine species.
SB 6557, which passed through the House with a vote of 86-12, requires brake pads be made of substances less detrimental to the environment. “We’ve found that the copper powder that comes off brake pads is a significant contributor to polluting the marine environment,” Ranker said. “Together with the auto industry, we are fixing the problem by developing a solution to keep motorists safe while protecting our waterways.”
David Dicks, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership said “The best way to control pollution in Puget Sound and all of Washington’s waters is to stop it at the source.The elimination of copper brake pads is one way to reduce a significant source of highly toxic material in our aquatic environment. The passage of this legislation ensures that any new products must be safe for drivers and safer for the environment.”
Both bills now head back to the Senate for concurrence on amendments, and must be finalized by March 11.
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March 9th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
(Editor’s note: Those interested in obtaining help in applying for this exemption can contact Jane Heisinger at the Orcas Island Senior Center (376-2677), who will set up appointments with the Orcas Island School District Budget Advisory Committee members).
From the San Juan County website, www.sanjuanco.com
If you are a senior citizen or if you are disabled, Washington State has two programs that may help you to pay your property taxes and/or special assessments. Your household income and your age or disability determines your eligibility for both programs.
The Senior Citizen and Disabled Person Property Tax Exemption Program freezes the value of your residence, exempts all excess levies, and may exempt a portion of regular levies. This results in:
- Freezing the value of your residence as of January 1 of the initial application year, and
- Providing you with a reduction in your property taxes
The assessor will continue to establish the market value of the property, however, you will only be billed for the taxes on the frozen value.
Further information about this exemption is available at sanjuanco.com/assessor/exempt
Application Form may also be obtained at this site.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Age or Disability
You must be at least 61 years old on December 31 of the year in which you apply,
or
You must be unable to work because of a physical disability. As proof of disability, you must send a doctor’s statement with your application.
Ownership
The exemption is available for your principal home and up to one (1) acre of land. If your local land use regulations require that you have a parcel of land larger than one acre for your home, the exemption may also extend to the additional acreage, up to a maximum of five (5) acres.
The property must be your principle home at the time you apply for the exemption. A mobile home may qualify as your residence, even if you do not own the land where the mobile home is located. You must occupy the home for at least six (6) months each year.
Your residence may qualify even if you are temporarily in a hospital or nursing home. You may rent your residence to someone else during your hospital or nursing home stay, if the income is used to pay the hospital or nursing home costs. Read more
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March 7th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
Two important pieces of legislation sponsored by Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, cleared the House on March 3 with near unanimous bi-partisan support. S Senate Bill 6346 offers residents of San Juan county alternative transportation options, while Senate Bill 6349establishes a farm internship program for smaller farms throughout the state. “With significant help from farmers and labor we were able to create a pilot that will help us ensure we preserve family farms in to the future,” Ranker said
Ranker believes farm internships are a way to inject youth into a pivotal, but aging sector of the state’s economy.
“The average age of a farmer in Washington is 57 years old,” he said. “If we’re serious about promoting agriculture in Washington, we’re going to have to encourage younger people to get into the farms and get their hands dirty.”
In order to qualify for the program, farmers with gross annual sales of less than $250,000 must submit a written application to L&I for certification and include the nature of work and how it will provide the intern with vocational knowledge and skills. SB 6346 passed 95-2.
SB 6346 allows residents of San Juan county to operate neighborhood electronic vehicles (NEVs) and medium-speed electronic vehicles (MEVs) on city streets and county roads that are not state routes if the road has a speed limit of 45 mph or less. State law previously would not permit these vehicles on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less. The bill passed 92-5. Both bills were amended in the House and as a result will return to the Senate for concurrence prior to arriving on the Governor’s desk.
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March 6th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
Sunday, March 7
Texas Hold ‘em Tournament at Vern’s Bayside. You must sign up by 12:30 p.m., with play from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Music Advocacy Guild School Benefit Concert 3 p.m. at the Orcas Island School Gym. Performances by Orcas Community Band, the High School String ensemble, the Island Sinfonia and the Orcas Choral Society. Admission is by donation and all proceeds go towards funding the needs of the music program in our public schools.Call Joyce Burghardt at 376-5946.
Doe Bay Café Free Movie also half price bottles of wine and free popcorn. 7 p.m. Call 376-8059.
Monday, March 8
Orcas Island Library Board of Trustees meeting 9 a.m. at the Public Library. 376-4985.
The origins and impacts of critical area regulations with the League of Women Voters of the San Juans, meeting at the San Juan Library in Friday Harbor at 12 noon. All are welcome.
Darvill’s Book Club discusses The Good Thief, by Hannah Tinti. The group meets at 5:30 p.m. at Mia’s café in Eastsound Square. All are welcome to join in. For further information, call 376-2135
Writers Salon Series with Artsmith & Doe Bay Café, this week featuring Artsmith Writers in Residence Tim Sherry & Monica Woelfel. Following the featured writers, audience members will have an opportunity to read their own works each week in a special Writer’s Open Mic. Reading begins at 7 p.m. Call 376-8059 or see www.doebay.com
Tuesday, March 9
Country Corner LAMIRD deliberations at County Council, 10:45 a.m. Only written public testimony will be considered.
Tax Help with Jim Biddick at the Senior Center. $4 per session. Appointments recommended. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 376-2677
Free hot lunch and Food Bank 11:30 a.m. at the Orcas Island Community Church.
Friends of the Library monthly meeting 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Public Library.
Deer Harbor Plan Review Committee at the Deer Harbor Community Center from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. This month’s meeting has been moved up one day. The Public is invited to this special meeting to examine some of the options for parking and property development in Deer Harbor Hamlet. Future meetings will remain on the second Wednesday, resuming in April. Call 376-3199 for more information.
Eastsound Sewer and Water District meeting, 4:45 p.m. at District Offices, Schoen Lane off Mt. Baker Road. 376-2720.
Super Suckers — the Giant Octupus. Marine Science Lecture Series at Camp Orkila, starting at 7 p.m. The giant Pacific octopus leads a life of mystery. With a personality that’s as complex as its appearance, this animal is a master of disguise that can open jars, mimic other octopuses, and finds its way through mazes in laboratory experiments. Tim Carpenter, Curator of Fish and Invertebrates at the Seattle Aquarium, will lead the lecture. Call SeaDoc’s Jean Spalti at376-3910
Orcas Fire District Commissioners meeting, 7:30 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Hall. Call 376-2331 for agenda.
Wednesday, March 10
Family Fun Math and Science Night sponsored by PTSA from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Orcas School cafeteria.
School Bond Potluck The public is invited to join in a friendly discussion about Orcas Island School Repairs and Rebuilding through public Capital Bond funding. 6:15 p.m. in the High School Commons. Contact Cathy at 376-2284 for information.
Thursday, March 11
Orcas Island Park & Recreation District meets 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Station.
Town Hall with County Council Members Richard Fralick and Gene Knapp, County Administrator Pete Rose and County Auditor Milene Henley, to discuss the County Budget Crisis, uplands portions of the Critical Areas Ordinance and the Solid Waste Transfer business model, from 4 to 5:45 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Hall. Contact the Clerk of the County Council at (360) 378-2898.
Special School Board meeting to discuss School Bond, 5:30 p.m. in the School Library.
Trivia Competition hosted by Dave Page at Christina’s every Thursday evening, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Featuring half priced bottles of wine. Call 376-4904.
Friday, March 12
Journey Stories Explorations at the Senior Center, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We all have journey stories — How do you go about telling YOUR story? In conjunction with the Orcas Historical Museum July event, “Journey Stories,” Caroline Buchanan will lead a series of Friday work sessions on March 12 & 26 and April 9 & 30 to help you tell your journey story. Buchanan will help you to decide – written, done as a journal, as a children’s book, a collage … Class limited to 10, $165. To register, call thel Senior Center at 376-2667. For further information, contact Caroline at 376-5509 or watercolors@rockisland.com
Family-friendly Dodge Ball Tournament at High School Gym to benefit Environmental Club’s field trip to Hanford Nuclear Reactor. $2 entry fee to join a team. Starts at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 13
“Lights out” Junior Lady Viking basketball teams (4th, 5th & 6th graders) take on challengers from Friday Harbor and the Mainland. Starts at 11 a.m. in the old school gym
Dodge Ball Tournament to benefit Orcas High School Environmental Club. $2 to join a team. Starts at 7:30 p.m. in the High School gym.
“Make a Scene” Writer’s Roundtable with playwright Sandy Thompson, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Library. All are welcome.
Dallas Brass plays at the Orcas Center — An American Musical Journey. 7:30 p.m.The Dallas Brass is a nationally-recognized ensemble of traditional brass instruments and percussion, and their Orcas performance will feature several Orcas musicians. $25, $17 (Orcas Center members), $11 (students). Come in early for the ‘Burgers & Brew’ at 5 p.m. for $12. Call 376-2281 or visit www.orcascenter.org
Miss Rose and Her Rhythm Percolators, 8 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall. Orcas’ Charly Robinson opens the show, a family-friendly, all-ages event. A portion of the proceeds from the show will benefit the Orcas Island Education Foundation. Tickets are $10 person, available at Darvill’s Bookstore, Orcas Elementary, Gordeaux’s & Eastsound Instruments.
Saturday Ukulele workshops! Beginners (age 10 – adult) from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ( $30), and Intermediate from 3:30 to 5 p.m. ($30). Call 376-3148 or email contact@missroserhythm.com
Sunday, March 14
“Climate Change Science and Potential Impacts on the Pacific Northwest.” The Crossroads spring lecture series continues at 2 p.m. at the Orcas Center with Dr. Nathan Mantua’s presentation.
“Indian in the Cupboard” movie to benefit kids softball and baseball at Seaview Theater at 2 p.m.
Babysitting Clinic for Boys and Girls. Sponsored by Orcas Rec. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eastound Fire Hall. In this class we focus on basic childcare and safety, emergency action skills, safe play, babysitter responsibilities, and job recruitment. Each participant will receive a babysitting certificate and be placed on a community babysitters list on the Orcas Rec website if they choose. Must be 12 years & older. Cost: $25 Participants must pre-register! Instructor: Margie Sabine. To register, visit Orcas Rec office in the Orcas County Building (Senior Center) or call 376-5339.
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March 6th, 2010, by Margie Doyle
Updated March 6 at 6:45 p.m.
“It seems like the validity of the EPRC is at stake… it comes down to a continuity issue.” Clyde Duke at March EPRC meeting
At the monthly Eastsound Planning Review Committee (EPRC) meeting on March 4, County Council members Gene Knapp and Richard Fralick reviewed the County Council’s 2010 priorities: chief among them was the dwindling county general budget, which translates into less county staff time for the priorities EPRC has set.
Already several EPRC projects are stopped at the county door: among them engineering time for the Streetscape Plan, near finalization since 2008; and implementation of Orcas Island signage.
The two Orcas Council Members said that the County Council had recently agreed that their three top priorities for 2010 were:
- The County Budget, still projected to be in the hole even after the property tax increase voted in last November;
- The Crtical Areas Ordinance updates for the uplands and shoreline areas;
- Solid waste transfer, with operations running at a deficit in the face of mandatory improvements and protections. “An increase in tipping [disposal[ fees seems a likely immediate action,” said Knapp, and Fralick added that the matter has to be dealt with this year.
In discussing what the county budget means for the EPRC, Fralick said, "The difficulty is that you’re doing things that require the county to come forward with money or staff time, and in today’s climate it’s just not going to happen.”
EPRC member Patty Miller questioned if it was time to consider the incorporation of Orcas Island. "I have never been a advocate for it but if we continue to struggle to get any County resources dedicated to Eastsound then it triggers the question for me," she added.
Fralick suggested that the EPRC may want to delineate where its projects are stalled at the county, and report to the County Council regularly, reviewing its priorities.
Fralick told the EPRC that one-third of the operational costs for the county transfer stations is transportation off-island.
He said the Council hopes the county can “do a good job with the uplands portion of the CAO and generate a model that makes sense to citizens” that will make the shoreline portion of the CAO update more acceptable.
Fralick said he didn’t understand the EPRC’s position regarding the removal of the proposed Country Corner LAMIRD from the Eastsound Sub-area Plan, as proposed by County Prosecutor Randy Gaylord.
Knapp said at the EPRC meeting that he did understand each side’s argument, but hasn’t come to a conclusion about it.
The removal of the 6 lots of the proposed commercial LAMIRD from the long-standing Sub-area Plan is supported by Gaylord’s office; EPRC members, while in support of establishing the LAMIRD, have expressed their opposition to removal of the proposed LAMIRD from the Sub-area Plan, which extends beyond the Eastsound Urban Growth Area (UGA).
Gaylord has said that the removal of the Country Corner Commercial LAMIRD would be consistent with how other “Activity Centers” on the island, such as Orcas Village and Deer Harbor, have been handled; it would also move towards making the Eastsound Sub-area boundaries consistent with the Eastsound UGA boundaries.
Those objecting to Gaylord’s position have stated that the Eastsound Sub-area Plan boundaries were established by Orcas Islanders intent on maintaining the rural character of the island. They also argue that, by removing the 6 Country Corner lots from the Sub-area, property that is a “logical” area for commercial expansion for the Eastsound “municipal” area will be reduced.
At the March 4 EPRC meeting, Clyde Duke commented that it “seems like the validity of the EPRC is at stake… it comes down to a continuity issue.”
Fralick replied, “I want a cogent argument that says, ‘We want to maintain the LAMIRD and the Sub-area Plan for the following reasons…..’”
The matter will come up before the County Council for deliberation next Tuesday, March 9 at 10:45 a.m. in Friday Harbor; the only public testimony accepted will be in writing.
Byways, Streetscape Plan, Stormwater, Housing
The EPRC also discussed progress on the San Juan Islands Scenic Byways Corridor Management plan as a possible way to fund signage for Eastsound and island trails.
Miller asked about .09 funds allocation to the Public Works department – designated for infrastructure projects — and if such funds could be used for a parking lot or the sidewalks and engineering for the Eastsound Streetscape Plan. Read more
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