Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee

GIPAC-Minutes-2025-10-06

Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee

October 6, 2025

Meeting Called to Order:

Board Members Present:  Allen Bush, Michael Brown, Gabe Murphy, Jep Burdock, Steve Orsini

Members of the Public Present: Cynthia Fajans, Pepper Fajans, Holly Rainwater, Dianne Nielson, Gale Myles, Patty Rose, Joanne Gray, Michael Gray, Brennan Filipini, Frea Gladish, Gordon Erickson, Pat Erickson, Cynthia Heft, Bill Heft

October Meeting Agenda: Approved

September Meeting Minutes: Approved

Treasurer’s Report:

GIPAC Account Balance $3074.96

Public Comment:

Pepper Fajans gave an account of his property situation. Michael mentioned the Fair Fares hearing on Tuesday October 14th, 1:00pm. 

Updates/New Business:

  • Guest Patty Rose: Well observation project update: Introduced group, currently 5 wells checking static levels, 10 wells checking chlorides. Going to include data from the Holiday Hideaway system. Gabe to follow up with Brennan on water testing for annual meeting.
  • Updates:
    • C23-1: Jack Moore feedback? Nothing back from Jack yet, Michael to follow up. 
    • Anacortes Dock: Comment period came and went, no public meeting scheduled yet. When notification comes out, GIPAC should be informed.
    • Guemes Parking Lot Redo: Meeting with Michael See: Allen followed up via email and got a date for GIPAC to meet: November 5th. 2:00 pm. 
    • Ferry fare new proposal: Allen pointed to the GIFC Thursday meeting. Informational session. Public hearing at County building October 21, 1:00pm.
    • Skagit Transit: Discontinued island service at the end of September. Not enough ridership to justify continuation. Additionally, there will be no bus in future ferry outages due to changes in SKAT policies and operations. 
  • GIPAC Business:
    • The board opened the floor to nominations and gave ample opportunities to the guests in attendance to speak up to make nominations. The 3 current members whose terms end November 2025 are: Gabe Murphy, Allen Bush, and Steve Orsini, all stated at the September meeting and reaffirmed at the October meeting that they would like to run again. They were each self nominated. Pat Erickson was nominated by Michael Brown for the one vacant board seat. (only 6 out of 7 spots have been filled for the last year.) A motion was made by Allen to close nominations and seconded by Michael. The board voted unanimously to close nominations.
    • The annual meeting date is 11/8/2025. USGS Guest Speaker scheduled! However… the federal government shutdown may change that. The well observation group may also present at the meeting.
  • Municipal Park District: Boundary Review Board was removed by county commissioners which makes expanding the boundary possible. Forming a new district with boundaries including the islands expands the tax base for the pool. Concern was expressed by many that this would be unrepresented and possibly controlled taxation for both operations and capital expenditures of the pool. 
  • GIPAC papers/history to Historical Society: Short discussion was had on what to retain or scan in. Pat offered to possibly help with scanning in information.
  • Website discussion: Request for more info on water conservation and the addition of a past projects list to add to the donations page. 

Meeting adjourned: 8:16

Gabriel Murphy