Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee

Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee

September 1, 2025

Meeting Called to Order: 6:35

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

Members of the Public Present: Pat Erickson, Gordon Erickson, Frea Gladish

September Meeting Agenda: Approved

August Meeting Minutes: Approved

Treasurer’s Report:

GIPAC Account Balance $2577.96

Public Comment:

The committee and guests gave introductions. Sang Happy Birthday to Jep!

Frea gave an update.

Updates/New Business:

• Updates:
  • C23-1 – Jack Moore feedback: Update requested from county, no reply in 2 weeks. 
  • CAO update – Short discussion about the timing and why the decision is held up. Decision date possibly 10/28/25.
  • Anacortes Dock – Open record hearing and public comment meeting has not been scheduled yet. Anyone who submitted a public comment should get notification of the public hearing date.
  • Guemes Parking Lot Redo – GIPAC would like to meet with Michael See. The committee had an in depth conversation about the county plan for the Guemes parking lot. We looked at the different historical designs and discussed the proposed design discussed by Public Works last year. Kathy will draft a follow up email to Michael S. to help convey our willingness to participate in process.
  • Ferry fare new proposal – Short discussion on new fares and GIPAC role. Steve was nominated to draft a letter on behalf of GIPAC.
  • Skagit Transit – Ridership was down initially but came back up in August. Kathy will follow up with SKAT in October. Short discussion on bus turnaround at Anacortes dock. Allen to introduce GIPAC to the new Anacortes School District Transportation Director. We want to keep a good relationship with the School District folks.
• GIPAC “business”
  • Solicitation for GIPAC Board nominations open today and Nominations close at end of October meeting. 

• Excerpt from bylaws below for reference:

3.2 Nominations for the Board. The process for nominating and filling positions on the Board of Directors is as follows:

• Nominations for open positions on the Board will be solicited at a GIPAC Board Meeting 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting (typically at the September Board meeting).

• At a GIPAC Board meeting 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting, nominations will be taken from attendees and nominations will close at the end of the meeting (typically at the October Board meeting). 

• At the Annual Meeting (typically in November), the membership shall elect, from the slate of nominees, members necessary to fill the open positions.

• The 3 current members whose terms end this year are: Gabe, Allen, and Steve. All 3 stated they would like to run again.
• There is one open board seat currently with 6 out of 7 currently filled.
• Nominations will close at the end of the October meeting.
• Pat Erickson showed interest in joining the board.

• Annual meeting date and topic; The board briefly discussed a Plan B if USGS doesn’t come through.
  • USGS is still tentative for the annual meeting. Kathy to follow up on dates, Allen to follow up on content from USGS in October.
  • Dates proposed: Sat Nov 8th and Sat Nov 15th.
• Website update – There was a short discussion about website content. Gabe asked that we get our September draft minutes out on website early

Meeting adjourned: 8:30