Items discussed at the San Juan County Council’s June 24 meeting on Orcas Island included employment of a lobbyist at Olympia, the achievements and mission of the Eastsound Plan Review Committee (EPRC), and Eastsound Urban Growth Area (UGA) compliance with the Growth Management Act (GMA).

The Council unanimously passed a motion by Council Member Alan Lichter to direct the Public Works Department to amend the 2008 annual Road Plan to add acquisition of a dock, marine access and a parking point in or near Orcas Landing, and to bring the matter before the Council at the next meeting. The County is now negotiating to purchase property in Orcas Village that may be converted to a public dock.

Reports were also heard from Amy Masters of the Orcas Island Shuttle, Eric Youngren of Island Energy Systems on solar-powered energy and Tim Clark of the County’s Agricultural Resources Committee (ARC).

Council members discussed the best way to replace retiring Council Member Kevin Ranker’s lobbying efforts on behalf of the county’s legislative interests. They felt that three alternatives were possible: assigning various items to individual council members to represent in Olympia, hire a lobbyist to present county interests in Olympia or appoint an individual council member who would take on tasks of a legislative liaison, to be compensated for the extra work.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Council Chair Howie Rosenfeld said, “There is a fourth alternative – to do nothing.”

Peter Fisher, retiring Chair of the EPRC, presented the committee’s annual report – complete with grades – to the Council. In the Governance portion of his report, Fisher suggested that San Juan County be incorporated as a city. “Only a city form offers our elected leaders the authority to raise the money necessary to protect our islan’ds assets from degradation,” wrote Fisher. The EPRC Annual Report is online at www.islandssounder.com.

Patty Miller and Mindy Kayl, EPRC members, presented the second half of the EPRC’s report. Miller noted that the Eastsound Subarea Plan was created “after years of public input,” and said that much of the basic infrastructure planning is still in process. Elements include a transportation plan, a public parking plan (implemented by a parking fund) stormwater plans and management of the Eastsound Swale, gutter, curbs and sidewalks, adoption of a housing element to the plan and access to waterfront, trails and parks. M

Miller urged the council to develop draft action plans based on goals, approaches and costs.

“Since Eastsound is an unincoporated UGA, development and implementation of the Plan is the responsibility of the County.” She recommended that County Administrator set up a series of working sessions with EPRC to advance the work still “in process.” She suggested beginning in July with stormwater management and the Eastsound swale, followed by planning for parking in August. Other recommendations included joint update sessions with the council for the next one-to-two years “until we get momentum on implementation,” and immediate appointments to the EPRC for all open positions with candidates qualified to move forward the planning items listed.

Council member Bob Myhr said that the council has “gotten sucked into the GMA vacuum rather than figuring out what do we want to provide for our community.”

Miller warned against “getting bogged down in another set of discussions about incorporation” of Eastsound or Orcas Island, and instead advocated “implementation of the Subarea Plan as adopted by the county.”

Ranker said “Incredible work has been put together and not implemented – let’s get serious about implementation and prioritize the issues, and continue to let people know this is coming from the political will of the community.”

But when County Administrator Pete Rose was asked to prepare a briefing on costs of implementation of the Eastsound Subarea Plan and if it was realistic to make it a budget priority for next year, Rose t won’t get don in the backlog of long-range planning while preparing this. Something else is going to slip.”

Rosenfeld suggested that the Council keep in touch with regular meetings with the EPRC and oversee appointments.

Progress on finalization of compliance items for the Eastsound UGA indicates that pending a public hearing for the Eastsound Stormwater plan on July 29, and adoption of that plan, and a Planning Commission hearing on the Eastsound Sewer and Water District six- and 20-year capital improvement plans, followed by public hearings, the compliance taskss should be accomplished in time for the September Growth Management Hearings Board deadline.

For the reports to the council from Orcas Island Shuttle, Island Energy Systems and the Agricultural Resources Committee, go to www.islandssounder.com.