This was originally posted to: Guemes Island Ferry Committee

Ferry Committee Minutes 2018-08-21

 

Call to order

A meeting of Guemes Island Ferry Committee (GIFC) was held at Guemes Library on August 21, 2018 starting at 7:07 pm. Attendees included Allen Bush, Bud Ullman, David Prewitt, Sandy McKean. Members not in attendance included Steve Orsini. Guests in attendance included Michael Gray, Phyllis Bravinder, Barb Ohms, Edith Walden, Glen Veal, Howard Pellet .

Guest Input (limited to 5 minutes per person)

Glen Veal stated that many of the Letters of Endorsement, and many of the letters from government agencies expressing support the county’s recent BUILD grant application used similar words; in particular, the phrase “I strongly support….”. Glen suspected that some sort of collusion was at play, but he could offer no proof of that. Glen stated that all these letters were in support of the BUILD grant, and he wished that the county had sought letters from citizens who are opposed the county getting this grant. Glen claimed that some at the county, and even at least one member of the GIFC, were spreading mis-information and mis-statements concerning the VW Fund. He disagreed with the county’s strategy of focusing their efforts on just the BUILD grant, rather his vision of applying for both BUILD and VW funding. Glen announced that he was going to start a letter writing campaign against the federal DOT approving the county’s request for a BUILD grant. He stated that the best way to kill the new ferry project in his judgment was to choke off as much money for the new ferry as possible. Going forward, he was going to focus on doing that regardless of the GIFC’s position. Furthermore, Glen felt the County Commissioners were not doing their job; and that ego was driving the new ferry project, rather than the project being driven by what made the most sense.

Unfinished business

There was some confusion regarding comments from some GIFC members at the GIFC quarterly meeting held on July 28, 2018. After much discussion, it became clear that Sandy’s comment that “We shouldn’t get our hopes up” that Skagit County would be granted VW money to re-fit our existing ferry since the state draft plan says that the money will go to the counties with the highest registrations of VW automobiles using 2 or 3 liter engines. Skagit is far down that list. Some apparently mis-understood Sandy to say that the county should not attempt to make an application.

On another issue from the July 28, 2018 meeting was Sandy’s concern that Steve presented a new GIFC policy to the county without first discussing it with the GIFC as a whole. Sandy’s view was that what was stated by Steve basically reversed the roles of our much discussed Plan A and Plan B policy by suggesting to the county that the county first use VW money to re-fit the existing ferry (Plan B) while we waited for outside money to fund a new ferry (Plan A). Since Steve could not attend today’s meeting, this issue could not be fully cleared up, but it was agreed by all to discuss the issues at our September GIFC monthly meeting.

New Business

Level of Service (LOS): In recent weeks several proposals have been made to change some of the ferry services; for example, adding additional runs at peak times (e.g., mid-day, early evening). The GIFC decided that the best approach to take on this LOS issue would be to have a general discussion it at our next PW/FC working session with the county.

Needs Based Discount: Bud said he would have a documented working proposal soon. He has been in communication with both Skagit and Whatcom county folks in an effort to see if Skagit can replicate the existing program in Whatcom. He stated that an outstanding issue is how such a program would be paid for.

It was pointed out that the $5.00 that can be paid to the Skagit County Auditor when one purchases one’s annual vehicle tabs goes toward financing ferry replacement. As it turns out, this money is for state ferry replacement and has nothing to do with the Skagit County ferry (the Guemes ferry).

Bud lead an interesting discussion on the county’s procurement strategy. There are two options: Design-Bid-Build and Design-Build. Glosten has recommended the Design-Bid-Build strategy since it gives the owner (Skagit County) more control over the design and building of the ferry; however, Design-Bid-Build has risks too for the county because the county will then not be able to hold the ship yard accountable for the consequences of any county decisions that may be made during the build phase.

October 13, 2018 was chosen for the next GIFC quarterly meeting.

Guest Q&A

Michael wondered how the county can run a vessel considered to be “ocean going” since the county has no license to operate an ocean vessel; nor are the ferry captains licensed for such vessels.

Glen gave a lengthy presentation (~ 50 minutes) of ferry history, his vision for the future of ferry service on Guemes Island, and his take on how various groups and individuals are motivated around the ferry issue.

Action Items

Schedule a PW/FC Meeting (Allen).

Discussion of Plan A vs Plan B policy (Steve)

Discussion of VW money under the “Ocean Going” vessels provision. (Allen)

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 pm

 

[Notes taken by Sandy McKean]