This was originally posted to: Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee

GIPAC: Draft Minutes for Dec 3, 2018 Monthly Meeting

Guemes Island Planning Advisory Committee

December 3, 2018

DRAFT Minutes

 

The meeting was called to order by Chair Hal Rooks at 6:37 PM. Members present: Edith Walden, Nancy Fox, Steve Orsini, Hal Rooks, Allen Bush, Patty Rose and Gary Curtis, Emeritus. Member absent: Michael Brown. Guests present: Marianne Kooiman, Phyllis Bravinder, Barb Ohms and Dan Horneman.

Draft minutes of the November 5 meeting were approved as posted on LineTime and the GICCA site.

Treasurer’s Report: Allen Bush reported balances of $9,703.02 in the Roz Glasser savings account and $2,808.00 in the GIPAC checking account. This reflects checks written to Edith for printing additional shoreline pamphlets and Patty for native plants. Allen has filed our 501c3 report for 2018.

Public Comment

Marianne asked about the request to rezone 280 acres on SE Guemes Island from Rural Intermediate to Rural Reserve. (CPA05-21) She asked about GIPAC’s commitment to pursuing this question. Discussion indicated that the rezone likely did occur, but that these lands may have reverted to the original plats when lots on Guemes were disaggregated. Two possible actions: write to the county about current zoning status and talk with Tom Glade of Evergreen Islands.  No decision taken.

Election of Officers

The following officers were unanimously elected: Hal Rooks Chair, Allen Bush Vice Chair, Michael Brown Secretary, and Allen Bush Treasurer.

Aquifer Recharge Study

The USGS study will require $80,000 additional funding. Committee members Rooks, Fox and Orsini distributed a draft, fund-seeking letter which was approved and will be sent to DOE, Department of Health, Skagit County and others. We will likely need to work with multiple agencies to complete this work. Marianne reported that the Skagit Conservation District submitted the proposal for the former USGS study. We will begin by asking Skagit County to contribute $40,000 and be the cooperating agency, as this information will help the county manage wells on Guemes and help citizens obtain water.

County Update

County Commissioners encouraged GIPAC to sound out the Department of Ecology  and the Swinomish Tribe on their views of rainwater catchment and permitting of wells. John Rose, of DOE, cited WAC 173-503-010 which states that the instream flow rule doesn’t apply to Guemes and other Skagit islands.

There will be a county budget meeting on December 18th.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM.

Submitted by Patty Rose for Secretary Michael Brown