BOARD OF ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES OF MEETING

SPECIAL SESSION – MAY 22, 2004

The Board of Island County Commissioners met in Special Session on May 22, 2004 from 8:00 a.m. until Noon, in the Fireside Room of the Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 525 & Woodard Road, Freeland, Wa. The special session was called at the invitation of the Executive Committee of the Whidbey Island Board of Realtors to discuss GMA and “Best Available Science” (BAS).

William J. Byrd, Chairman, Mike Shelton, Member, and Wm. L. McDowell, Member, were present. County, City and Town Planning staff members participated. Mayor Patricia Cohen, Mayor, City of Oak Harbor and Nancy Conard, Mayor, Town of Coupeville, were in attendance. Joe Hunt, South Whidbey Record, attended.

The presentation was made by Alexander W. “Sandy” Mackie, Perkins Coie LLP, Olympia, Wa. sponsored by the Whidbey Island Association of Realtors. Mr. Mackie by way of an overhead presentation overviewed GMA and Best Available Science: Unwritten Rules and Evolving Guidelines in Designating and Protecting Critical Areas. Other documents referenced and used during the presentation included: The Planning Cycle; Growth Management Fact Book;

Meeting the Challenges of Growth; and The State of Smart Growth.

In general this was a roundtable discussion about GMA, Best Available Science, and some pointers about what should and should not be done. Options were briefly reviewed that could help meet some of the GMA requirements as far as setbacks. Importance placed on maintaining good records on the actions taken, and documenting how the GMA and Comprehensive Plan have and are being complied with.

Meeting adjourned at Noon.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

______________________________

William J. Byrd, Chairman

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Mike Shelton, Member

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Wm. L. McDowell, Member

ATTEST: _______________________

Elaine Marlow, Clerk of the Board