1 00:00:03,051 --> 00:00:08,046 Good morning and welcome to the October 6, 2026 regular session of the Board of Island 2 00:00:08,046 --> 00:00:13,022 County Commissioners. Uh, Commissioner Johnson is excused and Commissioner Bacon, 3 00:00:13,027 --> 00:00:18,007 as you can see, is virtual with us today. Um, please silence your cellphone, something 4 00:00:18,007 --> 00:00:21,004 I always have to remember to do. Um, 5 00:00:23,095 --> 00:00:30,063 You'll pardon me for a minute. OK. Um, Uh, during the meeting. Uh, would you join 6 00:00:30,065 --> 00:00:32,024 me for the Pledge of Allegiance, please? 7 00:00:34,089 --> 00:00:40,055 I pledge allegiance to the flag, the United States for that, and to the republic 8 00:00:40,006 --> 00:00:43,079 for which it seems, for the mission under God. 9 00:00:47,005 --> 00:00:47,051 Mhm 10 00:00:49,099 --> 00:00:54,072 This is the time in our meeting, uh, it is working. This is the time in the meeting 11 00:00:54,075 --> 00:00:59,035 that we set aside for public input or comments if you're online and would like to 12 00:00:59,035 --> 00:01:03,098 provide public comment. Please, if possible, raise your virtual hand and turn on 13 00:01:03,098 --> 00:01:09,002 your camera and microphone after accepting the invitation to become a participant. 14 00:01:09,011 --> 00:01:13,017 So you have to pay attention to that part. Um, we're gonna begin in the room with 15 00:01:13,019 --> 00:01:17,039 a good friend. I don't know if I'm supposed to say that, but Mr. Meehan, would you 16 00:01:17,039 --> 00:01:18,092 like to come to the microphone? 17 00:01:21,005 --> 00:01:29,002 Good morning. Gong Leehan, 721 Palisades Brookville resident. Uh So 18 00:01:29,002 --> 00:01:34,077 I'm here because uh I listened to uh a uh link that uh Commissioner Bacon, uh thank 19 00:01:34,077 --> 00:01:40,068 you very much, gave to us as uh people who pay attention to her little uh end of 20 00:01:40,068 --> 00:01:46,019 the week reports. And that was the, the report uh that I listened to that dealt with 21 00:01:46,021 --> 00:01:51,088 the WSU extensions interaction with the county commissioners regarding the budget. 22 00:01:52,087 --> 00:01:58,022 And, uh, and it really kind of shocked me. And so, I just felt like, well, I guess 23 00:01:58,022 --> 00:02:03,086 I need to come say something and um I actually kind of promised myself I'd stay out 24 00:02:03,086 --> 00:02:09,062 of county business with regard to my old job that I had here. And I worked here for 25 00:02:09,062 --> 00:02:16,071 26 years as a department head. And when I heard this budget session going, I realized 26 00:02:16,071 --> 00:02:22,003 that this whole concept of somehow or another things turned into turning the extension 27 00:02:22,003 --> 00:02:27,071 program into a subcontractor, right in there with window washer contractors. And, 28 00:02:27,008 --> 00:02:32,007 um, and I just want to remind people that it was the land grant university system 29 00:02:32,007 --> 00:02:38,079 that Abraham Lincoln brought in along with uh Justin Morrell, uh, that created Washington 30 00:02:38,079 --> 00:02:43,037 State University, which is uh one of the many land grant universities in this country. 31 00:02:43,095 --> 00:02:49,058 who made a huge, huge difference. And it was in the 1914 Smith-Laver Act that said 32 00:02:49,058 --> 00:02:54,058 to counties, we're gonna partner with you and all these land grant universities to 33 00:02:54,058 --> 00:03:00,083 come help you. So in 1917, that is when Russell Turner, who was the first county 34 00:03:00,083 --> 00:03:06,007 extension agent, came to Island County. And we have departments today that didn't 35 00:03:06,007 --> 00:03:11,031 even exist back then. But he was on the same par as everybody in this county that 36 00:03:11,031 --> 00:03:15,007 was running a major program. And that included the sheriff, the treasurer, the auditor, 37 00:03:15,002 --> 00:03:22,046 and on and on. So, 109 years ago is when Russell Turner came here. And I'm here to 38 00:03:22,046 --> 00:03:27,001 tell you that I, I, after listening to this budget thing, I decided, well, jeez, 39 00:03:27,019 --> 00:03:30,038 I guess I haven't been paying attention. As you well know, I kinda am wrapped up 40 00:03:30,038 --> 00:03:35,013 in aviation these days. Trying to do something about that. But uh so I started paying 41 00:03:35,013 --> 00:03:39,085 attention. And lo and behold, I realized that my budget when I was a county extension 42 00:03:39,085 --> 00:03:46,032 director here in 2008, it was actually a little bit bigger than the budget that uh 43 00:03:46,007 --> 00:03:53,074 exists today for the WSU extension program. And, uh, and that's 20 years ago almost. 44 00:03:54,017 --> 00:03:58,024 And I'm thinking, well, that's a bad sign. Then I decided, well, I'm gonna look and 45 00:03:58,024 --> 00:04:03,043 see uh how, how is this working out? If it's a subcontractor, who's the department? 46 00:04:03,085 --> 00:04:08,053 Well, my understanding was it was supposedly in government services. And so I went 47 00:04:08,053 --> 00:04:12,008 to look at government services on the, the county website. There is no mention of 48 00:04:12,008 --> 00:04:19,031 WSU extension in the county website. And here we are partners of 109 years of seniority 49 00:04:19,049 --> 00:04:24,067 as partners. And I'm just trying to figure out how can that be? So, I guess also 50 00:04:24,067 --> 00:04:30,014 I'm trying to say is, is that it looks like this county has abandoned the university 51 00:04:30,032 --> 00:04:35,059 and the concept of a land grant partnership with the county. And I find that quite 52 00:04:35,059 --> 00:04:40,099 distressing. And, um, and you have an opportunity to start the turnaround if you 53 00:04:40,099 --> 00:04:46,058 choose to do that. Now, the other thing that got me so wired up was, uh, one of the 54 00:04:46,058 --> 00:04:51,078 programs that I valued in, uh, being a director for Washington State University Extension 55 00:04:51,078 --> 00:04:57,042 in Island County was the 4-H Youth Program. And I always committed to the concept 56 00:04:57,067 --> 00:05:04,039 that we're gonna have a strong 4-H youth program. And, um, And then I find out that 57 00:05:04,053 --> 00:05:10,004 here, things are going along where there's a major potential, major cut to half of 58 00:05:10,004 --> 00:05:17,092 the extension program, which included the 4H position. Well, you know, when I was 59 00:05:17,092 --> 00:05:24,021 a county extension agent, and I came here in 1982, it was probably 20 years, uh, 60 00:05:24,045 --> 00:05:30,061 almost 20 years of working with male board of county directors. And I always worried 61 00:05:30,061 --> 00:05:35,038 about those guys, they are not gonna care about kids, cause they're always worrying 62 00:05:35,038 --> 00:05:40,088 about land use stuff. And so, lo and behold, we started getting women on the board. 63 00:05:41,023 --> 00:05:46,081 And I thought, oh, there's hope here, don't have to worry so much. But here we are 64 00:05:46,081 --> 00:05:52,043 today, 3 women on the board of county commissioners. And we're talking about eliminating 65 00:05:52,006 --> 00:05:58,047 a position that supports the youth program that has been here since Smith Lever Act 66 00:05:58,047 --> 00:06:03,095 was created in 1914. Don, so you're gonna need to wrap it up. I am wrapping it up 67 00:06:04,007 --> 00:06:08,027 with that because I find the whole thing shameful. Thank you very much for your time, 68 00:06:08,068 --> 00:06:12,082 Don. Thank you for being here, and I wish you would stay because we respond to public 69 00:06:12,084 --> 00:06:17,006 comments at the end of the meeting, and it's a short meeting. I agree. I'd, I'd like 70 00:06:17,006 --> 00:06:20,037 you to stay, Don. He just walked out. 71 00:06:24,003 --> 00:06:26,093 All right. Is there anyone else in the room for public input? 72 00:06:30,034 --> 00:06:33,083 Online Hunter. 73 00:06:41,038 --> 00:06:41,048 Oh 74 00:06:44,011 --> 00:06:50,092 Hello, can you hear me? We can. Can you state your name and where you're from? I 75 00:06:50,092 --> 00:06:57,037 am in Coupeville, Washington. My name is Hunter. I am the public 76 00:07:00,081 --> 00:07:08,037 OK, you have 3 minutes. Go ahead. All right, on this day of September 24th. I was 77 00:07:08,037 --> 00:07:15,058 placed over at the Haven, which is a shelter. And on Morris Road, 78 00:07:16,014 --> 00:07:24,000 and I was, it's night to night basis. Between the hours 79 00:07:24,031 --> 00:07:32,002 of 3:30 a.m. till 4:35, I had got up, I 80 00:07:32,002 --> 00:07:39,055 went to the bathroom. I went to the male bathroom. And there was an overnight staff 81 00:07:39,055 --> 00:07:47,053 member named Crystal. That uh I went, I came out. They said something to 82 00:07:47,053 --> 00:07:54,021 me about uh you can only be in there for 10 minutes. That's ridiculous. But yes, 83 00:07:54,038 --> 00:08:01,097 10 minutes. And I said, well, I have to change my diaper. And so she let me go 84 00:08:01,097 --> 00:08:09,027 back. And I came out and at 4. 4:00, 85 00:08:09,004 --> 00:08:16,007 4:35, the uh shelter manager, Eddie Martin, 86 00:08:16,084 --> 00:08:22,094 came to the bunk. They have bunks, bunk beds, and they came to my bunk. Melissa Jordan, 87 00:08:23,008 --> 00:08:29,031 I don't know why she said that, but my name is Hunter. She said, you need to leave. 88 00:08:29,084 --> 00:08:35,065 There is fentanyl in the bathroom. Fentanyl in the bathroom. Smells like fentanyl. 89 00:08:35,007 --> 00:08:40,025 You were supposed to change your diaper and we don't even see it in there. This is 90 00:08:40,025 --> 00:08:47,087 ridiculous. This is ridiculous. Uh, you need to leave now. All I did was took out 91 00:08:47,087 --> 00:08:55,069 my uh cleaning uh body wash and that's all I had. And 92 00:08:56,027 --> 00:09:00,082 another thing, I was in there, I didn't smell this stuff. Well, it is. And and and 93 00:09:00,082 --> 00:09:06,094 you were in the I I I was in the men's bathroom and I went over to Crystal, the overnight 94 00:09:06,094 --> 00:09:13,028 staff member. I told her, and yes, it was. Yeah, I said in the men's bathroom. Yes, 95 00:09:13,034 --> 00:09:18,032 it was in the men's bathroom. That's ridiculous. That came from I think the women's 96 00:09:18,032 --> 00:09:25,033 or outside or whatever because they had the doors open. But anyway, and so Eddie 97 00:09:25,033 --> 00:09:32,065 Martin, shelter manager, says to me, uh, says to Crystal, uh, you need, you don't 98 00:09:32,065 --> 00:09:37,017 need to say anything to her and call me a her. You don't need to say anything to 99 00:09:37,017 --> 00:09:43,074 them. Then, then sat there and you need to leave now or I have to call the cops. 100 00:09:44,002 --> 00:09:49,029 This is crazy. This this is upsetting. I, I, I, I got my stuff together. I mean, 101 00:09:49,037 --> 00:09:54,077 just I said, will you check my stuff? You can check my bags. She did not check the 102 00:09:54,077 --> 00:10:02,077 bags at all. Just told me to leave. So, later on, and I was standing outside trying 103 00:10:02,077 --> 00:10:08,074 to get myself together and waiting for a bus to arrive on Morris Road. Sat there. 104 00:10:09,002 --> 00:10:14,014 She came, pulled up, kept telling me, get out of the parking lot. I'm, I'm off the 105 00:10:14,014 --> 00:10:19,033 property of the building. This is not your property. It is. Get off the property. 106 00:10:19,097 --> 00:10:25,008 You're not gonna mess up my show. I don't know what that means, but this is the shelter 107 00:10:25,008 --> 00:10:33,001 manager, and then she drives off. So I, I end up contacting the uh 108 00:10:34,007 --> 00:10:41,037 Coalition, Homeless Coalition in Allen County. And I spoke with the executive director, 109 00:10:41,051 --> 00:10:47,031 Stanton. Stanton, it was a woman. And I tried to explain to her that this was wrong. 110 00:10:47,043 --> 00:10:51,065 I shouldn't have been done that way. I, she, she said that she talked to Eddie Martin. 111 00:10:51,079 --> 00:10:55,008 I told her to do it. And you're not gonna be in the program. I didn't even know I 112 00:10:55,008 --> 00:11:00,098 was in the program. Hunter, I'm gonna ask you to wrap it up and what I'd like to 113 00:11:00,098 --> 00:11:08,091 do is if you could uh email the board or somehow reach out to us, we will. What 114 00:11:08,093 --> 00:11:16,066 is the email? What is the email address? It's BC. Is that, is that case sensitive? 115 00:11:17,007 --> 00:11:22,002 No, just board of county commissioners BOCC at 116 00:11:22,002 --> 00:11:29,006 islandcounty.gov. Island County, uh, Island County 117 00:11:29,019 --> 00:11:36,058 WA.gov. Uh-huh. And I wanna be able to connect you up to our human services team 118 00:11:36,058 --> 00:11:41,095 and perhaps the state ombudsman. So if you want to tell us, we will make sure to 119 00:11:41,095 --> 00:11:47,019 follow up. You said the state, state who now? Our, our human services department 120 00:11:47,025 --> 00:11:51,084 and there's something called the ombuds program at the state that can is a, is an 121 00:11:51,084 --> 00:11:59,064 advocate for people, uh, uh, circumstances like this. OK. All right. Thank you. Thank 122 00:11:59,064 --> 00:12:05,077 you for, for reaching out. Is there anyone else online? 123 00:12:22,012 --> 00:12:26,095 OK. I see no one else. Is there anyone else in the room? I've already asked that 124 00:12:26,097 --> 00:12:34,082 question. I will close our public comment, um, Per the agenda, commissioner, 125 00:12:35,001 --> 00:12:41,045 we have two executive sessions today. One at 11:30 a.m. to discuss real estate sale, 126 00:12:41,005 --> 00:12:45,021 purchase or lease if there's a likelihood that disclosure would increase the price, 127 00:12:45,066 --> 00:12:50,051 and the second one at 1:00 p.m. to discuss litigation and potential litigation with 128 00:12:50,051 --> 00:12:57,053 legal counsel. And we also have a uh uh business meeting this afternoon as you, as 129 00:12:57,053 --> 00:13:02,093 you know. So, would I, I'd entertain a motion to approve the agenda as amended. I 130 00:13:02,093 --> 00:13:07,012 move to approve the agenda as amended, adding these two executive sessions. I'll 131 00:13:07,012 --> 00:13:13,082 second, all in favor. Aye, aye. And I move to approve the consent agenda as published. 132 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:20,066 I'm gonna pull an item off the consent agenda, OK, if you don't mind. What? There's 133 00:13:20,066 --> 00:13:24,091 a motion on the floor. There's a motion on the floor. I'm not going to second your 134 00:13:24,091 --> 00:13:30,063 motion so that I can pull one item. OK, so the motion fails for lack of second. Robert's 135 00:13:30,063 --> 00:13:37,039 rules. Thank you. Um, I'd like to pull item number 3, which is an interlocal agreement. 136 00:13:37,044 --> 00:13:41,099 We have a very brief, uh, meeting today, and I think it's a wonderful opportunity 137 00:13:41,099 --> 00:13:49,008 to sort of celebrate a little bit the work that our new, um, DEM disaster manager 138 00:13:49,008 --> 00:13:53,006 is doing. So is Justin in the room? Have I lost him? Oh, he's hiding behind. Can 139 00:13:53,006 --> 00:13:59,052 you come up to the table and um, if, if with, is that OK, Melanie? I just think it's 140 00:13:59,052 --> 00:14:02,084 a great opportunity to highlight some of the work. It's OK, but we still need to 141 00:14:02,084 --> 00:14:07,052 pass the consent agenda as amended. OK. She is great. I am not, I haven't done this 142 00:14:07,052 --> 00:14:14,005 in a couple of years. Uh, would you like to start the motion, chair? Sure, I, I move 143 00:14:14,005 --> 00:14:20,049 to, uh, approve the consent agenda as amended, pulling, uh, item number 3 to the 144 00:14:20,049 --> 00:14:25,085 regular session. Thank you, commissioner. I second it. All in favor. Aye, aye. 145 00:14:27,097 --> 00:14:32,008 Justin, this is just a chance to highlight your work. 146 00:14:35,037 --> 00:14:38,044 Thank you, commissioners. uh Justin Ross, Director of Emergency Management. 147 00:14:40,051 --> 00:14:44,033 OK. Did you, you want me to discuss it briefly? Yeah, just talk a little bit about 148 00:14:44,039 --> 00:14:48,089 what the interlocal agreement and how we work in collaboratively with counties across 149 00:14:48,091 --> 00:14:52,038 the region. Absolutely, thank you for the opportunity. So this interlocal agreement 150 00:14:52,038 --> 00:14:57,026 that I've asked that we enter into is, uh, um, creates a standard practice amongst 151 00:14:57,026 --> 00:15:02,046 our, our other, um, counties that we work with in Homeland Security Region One. So 152 00:15:02,046 --> 00:15:08,009 that includes San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit, Watcom, and Island County. So this agreement 153 00:15:08,009 --> 00:15:14,066 says that. In case that we have to activate our emergency emergency coordination 154 00:15:14,066 --> 00:15:19,002 center or emergency operations center in our neighboring counties, that for the 1st 155 00:15:19,002 --> 00:15:25,045 72 hours we're agreeing that we're going to deploy assets to our, to our neighboring 156 00:15:25,045 --> 00:15:32,056 communities to help them in their response and recovery practices. On the dime of, 157 00:15:32,058 --> 00:15:36,067 of Island County and in this agreement, the same thing happens, so we can request 158 00:15:36,067 --> 00:15:40,058 resources from those other uh communities and they'll send their resources to us 159 00:15:40,073 --> 00:15:46,002 with the same, same agreement. So this uh really illustrates the uh the collaborative 160 00:15:46,002 --> 00:15:49,074 working nature of our, our, our relationship with our neighboring counties and uh 161 00:15:50,004 --> 00:15:55,007 moves the needle for us significantly because we have a smaller trained staff to 162 00:15:55,007 --> 00:16:00,024 respond to our emergency coordination center. Now we can Um, rest assured that we 163 00:16:00,024 --> 00:16:03,016 can reach out to our neighbors and that there's not gonna be an immediate cost for 164 00:16:03,016 --> 00:16:08,004 us, and then once we cross that 72 hour mark, then we'll have to renegotiate what 165 00:16:08,004 --> 00:16:13,072 the situation is from there, but this is a, a, a, a, a, a, uh, a great benefit to 166 00:16:13,072 --> 00:16:17,084 Island County, so I appreciate your consideration with it. Thank you. Commissioner, 167 00:16:17,089 --> 00:16:23,056 do you have any questions? I do. So, uh, so Justin. Is this, is this a commitment 168 00:16:23,056 --> 00:16:28,084 for just staff in DEM or is it a commitment for other county staff? So for example, 169 00:16:29,005 --> 00:16:34,008 there's an emergency over in Snohomish County and they just needed desperately to 170 00:16:34,008 --> 00:16:40,015 clear off a road, would we send public works people over there as an example? Yeah, 171 00:16:40,069 --> 00:16:44,055 this is specifically for emergency management related things. So that, this is to 172 00:16:44,055 --> 00:16:49,079 go work in somebody's emergency operation center. It would be for the DEM if they 173 00:16:49,081 --> 00:16:53,011 requested other resources, then I would go to the commissioners and see if there 174 00:16:53,011 --> 00:16:57,019 was interest in us sending other resources, but this is, this is committing the DEM 175 00:16:57,019 --> 00:17:01,077 staff. OK, thank you. And of course we can, we can say we're unable to participate 176 00:17:01,077 --> 00:17:07,004 at this time, you know, we're not, we're not bound to do this, but Can you give any 177 00:17:07,004 --> 00:17:11,055 examples in the past because I can think of examples where we've worked collaboratively 178 00:17:11,057 --> 00:17:18,006 in every, in disasters. Do you have any concrete examples? Well, I know that uh Island 179 00:17:18,006 --> 00:17:23,002 County sent over some resources to Skagit County in the December floods of last year, 180 00:17:23,029 --> 00:17:27,068 so, um, it's not unprecedented that this happens and uh what I'm looking forward 181 00:17:27,068 --> 00:17:31,048 to is when we get a make a request of, of, uh, Skagit County and they can send over 182 00:17:31,048 --> 00:17:37,073 some of their, uh, well-honed resources too. And that was the most current when I 183 00:17:37,073 --> 00:17:42,069 was recalling that we sent folks up into that um Anacortes area and places where 184 00:17:42,069 --> 00:17:47,061 they were seeing just significant flooding, but going all the way back to the pandemic, 185 00:17:47,007 --> 00:17:54,084 we worked with our county neighbors on, um on the COVID response as well. So, I 186 00:17:54,084 --> 00:17:58,092 just think it's important to know that we, we stand together regionally on these 187 00:17:58,092 --> 00:18:04,067 issues and I appreciate this contract. Any further questions, Melanie? No, uh uh, 188 00:18:04,087 --> 00:18:09,074 I'm good. Would you like to make a motion? Let me find item number 3 here and I'll 189 00:18:09,074 --> 00:18:16,058 do that. OK, um, I move approval of the interlocal agreement between Island County, 190 00:18:16,071 --> 00:18:20,058 San Juan County, Skagit County, Snohomish County, Watkin County, and the city of 191 00:18:20,058 --> 00:18:25,001 Marysville to provide mutual aid to one another during a disaster or emergency event 192 00:18:25,001 --> 00:18:31,066 through the Washington Interstate Mutual Aid System. I'll second that. Any other 193 00:18:31,066 --> 00:18:38,004 discussion? All in favor. Aye, aye, thank you. All right, thank you, commissioners. 194 00:18:38,036 --> 00:18:44,066 Thank you, Justin. So, there are no public hearings today. Uh, the executive sessions, 195 00:18:44,079 --> 00:18:51,006 um, the board will reconvene at 11:30, uh, for two executive sessions. Uh, the first 196 00:18:52,028 --> 00:18:59,019 Uh, executive session under RCW 42301101B to discuss real estate sale, purchase, 197 00:18:59,024 --> 00:19:03,027 or lease if there's a likelihood that disclosure would increase the price. The executive 198 00:19:03,027 --> 00:19:08,039 session will be held in the administration building room 116 and it's expected to 199 00:19:08,039 --> 00:19:13,075 last 15 minutes or until 11:45 with no announcement anticipated. Then the board will 200 00:19:13,075 --> 00:19:21,027 reconvene at 1:00 p.m. for an executive session as permitted under RCW 42301101 I. 201 00:19:21,009 --> 00:19:25,093 Uh, to discuss litigation or potential litigation with legal counsel, the executive 202 00:19:25,093 --> 00:19:30,085 session will be held in the admin building room 116 and is expected to last 30 minutes 203 00:19:30,085 --> 00:19:36,021 or until 1:30 p.m. with no announcement anticipated. With that, we'll move to commissioner 204 00:19:36,021 --> 00:19:43,005 comments or announcements. OK. Well, we have uh just a comment that we have our, 205 00:19:43,055 --> 00:19:50,053 on Friday, um, Island Transit board meeting. Seems like every time I turn around 206 00:19:50,053 --> 00:19:53,062 there's an island transit board meeting. But anyway, there's an island transit board 207 00:19:53,062 --> 00:19:58,033 meeting on Friday. The only other thing that I had was a couple things. First, thank 208 00:19:58,033 --> 00:20:02,033 you, Janet, for the way you responded to Hunter. Those, that was where I was gonna 209 00:20:02,033 --> 00:20:07,009 go as well. So thank you for that. And, and I wanna thank Don Meehan. I am sorry 210 00:20:07,009 --> 00:20:15,004 that he left. Um, Don Meehan is, uh, has been a, an amazing Um, citizen participating 211 00:20:15,011 --> 00:20:19,058 in public service in Island County, as he said, worked for the county for a couple 212 00:20:19,058 --> 00:20:25,086 of decades. Um, and I, I, I appreciate the history that he brought into the conversation. 213 00:20:26,019 --> 00:20:31,036 I have talked with, with Sarah Bergquist. About the actions that the board took, 214 00:20:31,075 --> 00:20:38,056 um, she had, uh, come up with a, a new budget that's at a 35% cut. I said I'd like 215 00:20:38,056 --> 00:20:42,099 to look at the 35% cut versus the 50% cut, kind of get a sense of what the difference 216 00:20:43,001 --> 00:20:48,051 is in what can be provided, but I said the more important thing in my opinion was 217 00:20:48,085 --> 00:20:55,036 that um I sometimes feel that that WSU is providing the same sorts of services to 218 00:20:55,036 --> 00:21:00,028 the citizens that it was providing 100 years ago or 50 years ago or whatever. We 219 00:21:00,028 --> 00:21:08,011 need to bring We need to make the uh services that we're receiving from WSU to 220 00:21:08,011 --> 00:21:14,095 be more topical to today's world. So for example, uh, I would be interested in services 221 00:21:14,095 --> 00:21:20,003 that enhance our work on water, on climate, on housing, on emergency preparedness, 222 00:21:20,032 --> 00:21:25,047 on, uh, mental health services, and so on. And she told me that 4H, 1 of the 4H programs 223 00:21:25,047 --> 00:21:31,004 they have is, is a, is a mental health. Program. I said, you know, Sarah, if you 224 00:21:31,004 --> 00:21:35,052 had brought that to the board and talked about the mental health work that 4H is 225 00:21:35,052 --> 00:21:39,032 doing, we probably would not have taken the actions that we did. I can't say that 226 00:21:39,032 --> 00:21:44,061 for sure, but it would have made an impact on the board. So, um, yeah, in January, 227 00:21:44,073 --> 00:21:49,056 she's gonna come to the board and we're gonna re-talk about, we're gonna have conversations 228 00:21:49,056 --> 00:21:55,035 about really what is The, the best relationship we can have with Washington State 229 00:21:55,035 --> 00:22:02,009 University Extension in 2026 and moving forward and really rethink, uh, you know, 230 00:22:02,047 --> 00:22:07,027 what kind of needs we have as citizens of Island County. So that's happening. And 231 00:22:07,027 --> 00:22:11,086 I, uh, and, uh, I'm gonna need to reach out to Don after he calms down a little bit, 232 00:22:12,011 --> 00:22:17,083 um, see if he would participate in our 175th, uh, anniversary next year. I, I need 233 00:22:17,083 --> 00:22:21,059 to put together a committee to work on that and he would be an amazing participant. 234 00:22:21,068 --> 00:22:28,048 So, That's all I have today. I appreciate you. I have been um 235 00:22:30,057 --> 00:22:37,012 I have been struggling with how to respond and thinking a lot about that particular 236 00:22:37,012 --> 00:22:42,051 budget decision in a time in which our budget decisions are really tough. The 4H 237 00:22:43,001 --> 00:22:48,053 decision, as you recall from the conversation was one I was most concerned about 238 00:22:48,053 --> 00:22:53,032 because I believe that it is part of our mission for belonging and well-being of 239 00:22:53,032 --> 00:23:00,097 our youth just as the funding that we had from Rep Paul is done for us on Cao with 240 00:23:00,099 --> 00:23:06,022 uh the group that now is at Community Resource Center, the work in Oak Harbor that 241 00:23:06,022 --> 00:23:11,066 it is part of our mission to promote, I think the 4-H promotes inclusion and well-being. 242 00:23:11,076 --> 00:23:16,054 So, I had reached out to Dave to see if we had any ability but haven't had a chance 243 00:23:16,054 --> 00:23:22,081 to meet with him to, to take a look at that funding source to continue to fund 4H. 244 00:23:23,015 --> 00:23:29,016 I think it's vital to those kids' lives and part of our lifestyle. Um, I appreciate 245 00:23:29,016 --> 00:23:34,051 the other questions and, um, your effort to work with her and bring back this discussion 246 00:23:34,053 --> 00:23:42,015 in January. Um, they, it is a unique relationship with counties. It is not the 247 00:23:42,015 --> 00:23:49,079 same as, um, a club or Other organizations, it is part of what when 248 00:23:50,045 --> 00:23:55,099 Beach Watchers spun off to Soundwater Stewards, Soundwater Student Stewards no longer 249 00:23:55,099 --> 00:24:01,071 has the same gravitas and relationship to the county that Wazoo Extension has. And 250 00:24:01,071 --> 00:24:06,075 since I was part of that transition, I understand how that was a challenging transition 251 00:24:06,075 --> 00:24:12,067 because of that very thing. So, um, thank you for that work, and, um, I look forward 252 00:24:12,067 --> 00:24:20,031 to learning more as a constituent. Next year. Um, in addition to Island Transit, 253 00:24:20,036 --> 00:24:27,024 I have the Northwest Clean Air Agency board meeting, um, on Thursday and the MRC 254 00:24:27,024 --> 00:24:34,058 meeting today. I wanted to share that this morning, I came out of a Ecosystem Coordination 255 00:24:34,058 --> 00:24:38,086 Board land use subcommittee meeting, again, part of the Puget Sound Partnership work 256 00:24:38,086 --> 00:24:44,026 where we talked about shoreline management plans, the state's tendency to um try 257 00:24:44,026 --> 00:24:51,009 to uh protect our sound through regulations changes at a time in which the other 258 00:24:51,009 --> 00:24:57,003 county commissioners and I all agreed, we don't have capacity to implement those 259 00:24:57,003 --> 00:25:04,083 regulatory things. We don't have capacity for enforcement, um, My colleague in Jefferson 260 00:25:04,083 --> 00:25:09,047 County talked about over 200 open code enforcement cases, none of which are on the 261 00:25:09,047 --> 00:25:14,086 shoreline, and we are often struggling with code enforcement here. It was a very 262 00:25:15,022 --> 00:25:22,003 good meeting. It was positive. There was also recognition because there was a recent 263 00:25:22,003 --> 00:25:26,055 meeting in which they talked about the delays from Department of Ecology in approving 264 00:25:26,055 --> 00:25:33,035 our plans and how that draws out what is already a very painful um conversation. 265 00:25:33,083 --> 00:25:40,022 And um the need for DOE to get the resources to be able to do their jobs in a timely 266 00:25:40,022 --> 00:25:46,014 way so that we can do our jobs in a timely way. Um, it was a good conversation. Uh, 267 00:25:46,027 --> 00:25:51,086 there's a letter that's gonna go from the ECB to uh Puget, uh, to the Department 268 00:25:51,086 --> 00:25:58,005 of Ecology. I will share with you guys. I made a point of saying that instead of 269 00:25:58,092 --> 00:26:03,043 Our partners in the state coming at this from just this purely regulatory, we can 270 00:26:03,043 --> 00:26:08,087 regulate our way to salmon restoration. We need to be recognizing and pass with, 271 00:26:08,091 --> 00:26:14,009 with deep empathy that when our residents are struggling against some of these changes 272 00:26:14,096 --> 00:26:20,059 and protections, That they are advocating for what for many of them is their largest 273 00:26:20,059 --> 00:26:28,002 asset and the lack of understanding sometimes that armoring may not even protect 274 00:26:28,028 --> 00:26:34,022 their asset. But when you are facing the threats that we face with sea level rise 275 00:26:34,024 --> 00:26:39,046 and the extreme weather events, they go to, but that's how granddad did it, right? 276 00:26:39,076 --> 00:26:44,063 That's how, that's what I know. And what we also know because I worked with a resident 277 00:26:44,063 --> 00:26:50,014 on Cameno following the bomb cyclone who had 50 cubic yards of dirt scoured out behind 278 00:26:50,016 --> 00:26:57,043 his seawall, and it didn't protect him. And so I made a strong emphasis first that 279 00:26:57,043 --> 00:27:02,053 the state recognized. Resources need to flow to DOE and counties if they want us 280 00:27:02,055 --> 00:27:07,034 to do this work. If they're, if, if, if they are truly our partner, they must be 281 00:27:07,034 --> 00:27:13,026 partnering with us and not doing unto us these things. And the second point I made 282 00:27:13,026 --> 00:27:17,066 was for all Parties to have empathy for both sides of this conversation because this 283 00:27:17,066 --> 00:27:21,098 is, this is a tough conversation when you're talking about people's lives and major 284 00:27:21,098 --> 00:27:29,065 assets. And, um, the third thing is better education because we know that 285 00:27:30,007 --> 00:27:36,002 armoring can do damage to our neighbors. Armoring can, cannot protect us. So what 286 00:27:36,002 --> 00:27:41,092 are the solutions? And I'm actually proud despite You know, sometimes I feel like 287 00:27:41,092 --> 00:27:47,008 if everybody hates us, we've made the right decision. Uh. I'm proud of our SNP and 288 00:27:47,008 --> 00:27:53,034 I'm proud of the compromises we made in our SNP that said we are going to let science 289 00:27:53,034 --> 00:28:00,000 guide our decisions and we are going to encourage options that allow for residents 290 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:07,029 to find a solution that is scientific protective but works within their, their circumstances. 291 00:28:07,041 --> 00:28:12,028 So we're not abandoning science and we're not abandoning protections, but we are 292 00:28:12,028 --> 00:28:19,076 saying that this is a very real Human and environmental tension and we have to be 293 00:28:19,076 --> 00:28:25,072 able as, as leaders in this work to live in both of those spaces simultaneously. 294 00:28:26,001 --> 00:28:30,047 So it was a good meeting this morning and I appreciate their listening and I appreciate 295 00:28:30,049 --> 00:28:35,088 that they really are elevating the the voices of counties through folks like um Heidi. 296 00:28:36,004 --> 00:28:40,083 Eisenhower and and Kate Dean before her and others and Helen Price Johnson who founded 297 00:28:41,016 --> 00:28:45,043 this committee so I just wanted to share that with you because I know through your 298 00:28:45,043 --> 00:28:50,066 work at MRC that you would be interested in that conversation. Yes, thank you, Janet. 299 00:28:50,088 --> 00:28:57,086 Thank you. Sorry for taking so much time, but we've got we haven't, um, and I have 300 00:28:58,008 --> 00:29:06,003 nothing more, um. Anything more for us staff because I clearly am failing 301 00:29:06,032 --> 00:29:12,014 at my job on Robert's rules and all that. Commissioner Baker, good to see you. Um, 302 00:29:12,035 --> 00:29:15,085 hope you're continuing to heal. I asked if you would show your purple toes, but they 303 00:29:15,087 --> 00:29:16,004 said no. 304 00:29:18,018 --> 00:29:23,089 They're not pretty. This meeting is adjourned until 1:30 a.m. See you then. 305 00:29:35,007 --> 00:29:41,024 Good morning. It is 11:01 a.m. and I have a correction to the executive session announcement. 306 00:29:42,014 --> 00:29:48,081 The first executive session will occur at 11:30 a.m. when the board reconvenes for 307 00:29:48,081 --> 00:29:56,031 an executive session as permitted under RCW 42.30.1101I to discuss 308 00:29:56,038 --> 00:30:00,069 litigation or potential litigation with legal counsel. The executive session will 309 00:30:00,069 --> 00:30:07,004 be held in the administration room room. Administration Building room 116 and is 310 00:30:07,004 --> 00:30:12,084 expected to last until 11:45 a.m. with no announcement anticipated. The executive 311 00:30:12,084 --> 00:30:17,096 session at 1:00 p.m. is correct and will begin at such time. Thank you. 312 00:30:24,094 --> 00:30:30,049 It is 11:30 a.m. and the board has reconvened and gone into executive session as 313 00:30:30,049 --> 00:30:37,029 allowed under RCW 42.30.1101 I to discuss litigation or potential litigation with 314 00:30:37,029 --> 00:30:38,053 legal counsel. Thank you. 315 00:30:43,043 --> 00:30:49,002 It is 11:45 a.m. The board, the chair has stepped out of executive session and requested 316 00:30:49,002 --> 00:30:55,024 15 more minutes in executive session. Until 12 p.m. Thank you. 317 00:31:02,058 --> 00:31:08,048 It is 12:00 p.m. The board has exited executive session and the meeting is recessed 318 00:31:08,048 --> 00:31:09,009 until 1:00 p.m. Thank you. 319 00:31:17,056 --> 00:31:24,067 It is 1:05 p.m. The board has reconvened and gone immediately into executive session 320 00:31:24,067 --> 00:31:30,015 as allowed under RCW 42.30.1101 I to discuss litigation or potential litigation with 321 00:31:30,015 --> 00:31:37,092 legal counsel. Uh, the meeting is expected to last 30 minutes or until 1:35 p.m. 322 00:31:45,064 --> 00:31:50,099 It is 1:35. The board has exited executive session and the meeting is adjourned until 323 00:31:50,099 --> 00:31:57,043 2:00 p.m. for a business meeting with public health, public works, planning and community 324 00:31:57,043 --> 00:31:59,063 development and human services. Thank you.