Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee

GIPAC-Minutes-2026-01-05

Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee

January 5, 2026

Meeting Called to Order: 6:35

Board Members Present:  Allen Bush, Gabe Murphy, Steve Orsini (in person) Kathy Malley, Jep Burdock, Michael Brown, Pat Richley-Erickson (on zoom)

Members of the Public Present: None

January Meeting Agenda: Approved

December Meeting Minutes: Approved

Annual Meeting Minutes: Approved

Treasurer’s Report:

GIPAC Account Balance: $4765.96

Public Comment: None

Updates/New Business:

  • Folks have reached out via our website contact form to enquire about donations. We need to start monitoring that.
  • Public Works / GIPAC meeting on Guemes parking lot needs to be rescheduled since it was cancelled due to flooding.
  • USGS Study: Kathy reached out, USGS still does not have the report complete. It needs to go through peer review first.
  • The board spent some time onboarding our new member, Pat Richley-Erickson, and gave her the opportunity to ask questions to help her get up to speed with GIPAC issues.
    • Kathy suggested that we share the board roster with Pat. Gabe shared it with all of the board and had previously updated it to reflect current board status after the November annual meeting.
    • It was also discussed that Pat should meet individually with each of the board members to help her get oriented with the group.

Ongoing Business:

  • The board discussed our 2026 projects:
    • Shoreline Master Plan: Continue to monitor the status of the update
    • Comp Plan: ADU allowance; Follow-up with Kyle Loring re Evergreen Islands challenge
    • Young’s Park: GIPAC to re-engage with the county to understand what future plans are to finish park restoration. (if any)
    • Skagit Transit: GIPAC wants to support SKAT however we can when the pilot project gets going.
    • Ferry:
      • Reschedule meeting with Public Works about Guemes side parking lot
      • TAG update
      • Additional conversation about ferry issues.
    • Strengthen GIPAC: A motion passed to revamp website donations page with link to Zeffe to donate.
  • A discussion was had about various GIPAC initiatives for the year and leads were assigned for most items:
    • C23-1: (undecided)
    • Rainwater: Steve
    • Boundary Review Board: Allen
    • Shoreline Master Plan: Kathy
    • Comp Plan: Well data collection project: Kathy
    • Wildfire Evacuation/GIFD/GET Collaboration: Pat
    • Young’s Park: Allen
    • SKAT: Kathy
    • Ferry Issues: Gabe/Allen
    • Website: Gabe/Allen
    • Water Works: Kathy
    • USGS Study: Kathy

Meeting adjourned: 8:35

Gabriel Murphy