Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee

Agenda

6:30: Call to order:

• Approve Agenda
• Approve February Minutes
   

6:40: Treasurer’s report

6:45: Public Comment

7:00: New/Old Business:
 

• BoCC Letter re: re-engaging with the ferry committee – received reply that lawsuit prevents them from talking to Islanders about the ferry. Is there anything we can/should do about this?
   
• Anything else?

7:15: Progress on 2025 Projects:

 C23-1 Guemes Island Seawater Intrusion Area:
 

Implement:

• Connect with Jack Moore about step county is taking (i.e. check-list/form; outreach to drillers);
• Phase II – explore how to get wells moved to health.
   

 Educate Islanders:

• Steve to draft “what C23-1 means for Islanders in Q1 2025
• Where to publish? GIPAC & GiCCA website; others?
• Education of real estate agents
• Rainwater: overall goal is to make it easier!
   

Educate Health staff:

• Reach out to Keith Higman re: tour for his staff (before haul-out)
• Other hurdles to get rainwater adopted county-wide:
• Discuss other issues with Keith- ie workflow with permit application process; other watershed issues, hurdles he is facing?

USGS Report Release:

• Share release of report with Islanders – depending on timeline could be at Annual Meeting or earlier in the year:
• Report has now slipped to May or June timeline as they want to do some additional internal review before sending it to us. Sigh….
   

Track and Comment on Comp Plan & Shoreline Update:

• Comp Plan: Track process & comment on next draft for some or all elements:
• Draft released: CompPlan2025_WholeDocumentRedlines_V2.0.pdf<https://www.skagitcounty.net/PlanningAndPermit/Documents/compplan2025/CompPlan2025_WholeDocumentRedlines_V2.0.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery>
• The comment period is Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, to Thursday, March 13, 2025
• A Planning Commission public hearing will be held on March 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM and possibly March 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM, if needed.
   

Shoreline Management Plan:

• Continue to monitor update process
   

Skagit Transit:

• With ferry fare skyrocketing explore ways to improve transit options on both Guemes and Anacortes side
• Skagit Transit has applied for federal grant for micro-transit for use on Anacortes side; should know in June whether its funded
• Skagit Transit is also considering a pilot on the island “to see what ridership would be like when the ferry is back in service. Do you think that’s something you would support exploring and be interested in discussing further?”
   

Educate Islanders about GIPAC:

• Establish website – GuemesPlanning.org;
• Fundraising: how to donate online (find platform that allows people to pay the fee?); host annual fundraising event; encourage donations by mail
   

Other Activities:

• Schoolhouse Park – comment letters submitted to support the temp use permit for materials stockpile. SEPA permit has been approved; seems to be moving forward so far.
•  BoCC Letter re: re-engaging with the ferry committee – received reply that lawsuit prevents them from talking to Islanders about the ferry.