BOARD OF ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES OF MEETING - SPECIAL SESSION MARCH 31, 2004

 

The Board of Island County Commissioners  met in Special Session  Wednesday, March 31, 2004,  in the Island County Courthouse Annex Hearing Room, 1 N. E. 6th Street, Coupeville, Wa.   Commissioners William J. Byrd, Chairman, Mike Shelton, Member, were present; Wm. L. McDowell, absent. 

 

SPECIAL SESSION 9:00 A.M.

 

PUBLIC HEARING HELD:  Ordinance #C-27-04 Amending the Island  County District Court Districting Plan, Chapter 1.12 ICC, to Establish a Langley Municipal Court Department and Consider  for Adoption two Interlocal Agreements

 

A Public Hearing was held at 9:00 a.m. as scheduled and advertised, for the purpose of considering Ordinance #C-27-04 In the Matter of Amending the Island  County District Court Districting Plan, Chapter 1.12 ICC, to establish a Langley Municipal Court Department.   Also, to consider for adoption two Interlocal Agreements between Langley and the County to (1) fund the City’s  financial responsibility for the court and probation services; and (2) for misdemeanor  prosecution services. 

 

Others in attendance: 

            Greg Banks, Prosecuting Attorney 

            Neil Colburn, Mayor, City of Langley

            Dale Roundy, Attorney

            Peter Strow, District Court Judge                     

            Jennifer  Conway, South Whidbey Record

 

No one in the audience responded to the Chairman’s invitation to speak either for or against Ordinance  #C-27-04.  

 

Commissioner Shelton moved to adopt  Ordinance #C-27-04 In the Matter of Amending the Island  County District Court Districting Plan, Chapter 1.12 ICC, to establish a Langley Municipal Court Department.  Motion, seconded by Commissioner Byrd, carried unanimously.

 

Following adoption of Ordinance #C-27-04, Commissioner Shelton moved to adopt Interlocal Agreement for Misdemeanor Prosecution Services between Island County and the Island County Prosecuting Attorney and the City of Langley  [RM-PA-04-0029]. Motion, seconded by Commissioner Byrd, carried unanimously.

 

Commissioner Shelton moved adoption of an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Langley and Island County to fund the City’s  financial responsibility for the court and probation services [RM-PA-04-0027]. Motion, seconded by Commissioner Byrd, carried unanimously.

[Ordinance #C-27-04 on file with the Clerk of the Board]

 

Special Session adjourned at  9:05 a.m., to reconvene  in Special Session at Noon.

 

SPECIAL SESSION – COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

 

The Board of Island  County Commissioners met  again in  Special Session on March 31, 2004, beginning at Noon  following the RTPO Meeting, held in the  Island County Courthouse Annex, Commissioners’ Hearing Room #102B, 1 NE 6th Street, Coupeville, Wa.   William J. Byrd, Chairman, and  Mike Shelton, Member, were present.  Commissioner McDowell absent.  The   meeting was called  to allow  County Commissioners’ participation in a joint Council of Governments meeting with Elected Officials from Island County, City of Oak Harbor, City of Langley, Town of Coupeville, and Port Districts.  Discussion topics included:    (1)   Restoration of the Airfield at Monroe Landing for Public Use; (2) Island-wide 2% Hotel/Motel Tourism funds.

 

Council of Governments’ members present:  Patricia Cohen, Mayor, City of Oak Harbor; Neil Colburn, Mayor, City of Langley;  Nancy Conard, Mayor, Town of Coupeville; Larry Eaton, City of Oak Harbor; Ed Van Patten. Port of Coupeville

 

Airfield at Monroe Landing

 

Follow-up on the airport discussion from February 25th meeting.  Sharon  Hart, Executive Director, EDC,   shared information received from the FAA,   a hand-out entitled:  Oak Harbor Park FAA Comments 2/23/04, providing basic airport characteristics, Federal  Grant program Carrier Needs; Code Changes since 9-11 and infrastructure requirements.  

 

Airport ownership options are:  private business, port district or county and  the majority opinion was that a port district probably would be the best way to go.  The initial investment would have to be made before qualification for grant funds.  As far as the next step,  Sharon Hart will put together a  presentation for the next Council of Governments  meeting as to the best way to proceed; will look to WSDOT for assistance.

 

Island Wide 2% Hotel-Motel funds

 

Interlocal Tourism Promotion Agreement  between Island County, Oak Harbor, Langley and Coupeville, relating to an additional 2% excise  tax on lodging,  to be used solely for tourism promotion, acquisition  of tourism-related facilities, or operation  of tourism-related facilities was entered into  September 5, 2000. Discussed current status of Oak Harbor’s participation with respect to Island-wide 2% Hotel-Motel funds and the fact that Oak Harbor City Council is considering the possibility of  pulling out of the agreement at the end of the year.  Oak Harbor survey of hotel/motels showed that 90%  of the customers were Navy or Navy-related  business, and therefore, the City  did not see a  benefit from the Big Bang tourism advertising campaign.

 

 

Langley pays only 1%; Coupeville and Oak Harbor 2%.  If Oak Harbor pulls out, the rest of the participants will need to determine if sufficient dollars remain to conduct an  advertising campaign or do away with the tax altogether.  Mayor  Colburn offered to meet with the Oak Harbor City Council to explain Langley’s position.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board at this  time, the meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.     

 

The next regular meeting of the Board will be held on April 5, 2004, at 9:30 a.m.

 

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                             ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

 

                                                 ______________________________

                                                 William J. Byrd,     Chairman

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                 _____________________________

                                                Mike Shelton,  Member

 

                                                [Wm. L. McDowell,   Member – absent ]

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:    ____________­­­­­___________

Elaine Marlow, Clerk of the Board