Commissioners Present: Benye Weber, Bruce Bryson and Ann McDonald

Others Present: Jim Patton (Executive Director), Laura Blankenship (Port Comprehensive Plan Editor-in-Chief), Amber O'Brien (Edwards & Associates), Justin Burnett (Whidbey Examiner), Lindy Kortus (Coupeville Resident) and Roseann Alspektor (Whidbey-Camano Tourism Marketing Coordinator)

Call to order: The special meeting was called to order at 5:12 pm by Commissioner Weber in the Boardroom at Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville, WA.

PURPOSE OF THE MEETING:

The Board of Commissioners will consider all of the comments and recommendations received from the public and local governments pertinent to the draft Comprehensive Plan 2007-2026. The Board will determine the appropriate content of the plan that they will formally adopt at their next regular public meeting on May 9, 2007. The public are invited to attend this special meeting but there will not be an opportunity for public input. The record of all public input to the Comprehensive Plan will be kept at the Port office.

Presentation of NON SUBSTANTIVE Comments and Recommendations:

(Editor-in-Chief Laura Blankenship)

The record of NON SUBSTANTIVE comments and recommendations is on file in the
Port office.

Additions & Corrections to Sections I & II:

The Board had no objections to the additions and corrections to sections I & II.

Coupeville Projects/Initiatives, Sections III & IV:

There were no recommended changes or additions to Coupeville Projects/Initiatives Sections III & IV.

The Board had no objections to Coupeville Projects/Initiatives Sections III & IV.

Board comments:

Coupeville Project/Initiative #2 - Environmental Stewardship: Bryson said that the Shoreline Management Program (SMP) would control the environmental stewardship issue.

Greenbank Projects/Initiatives, Sections III & IV:

The Board had no objections to the changes or additions to Greenbank Projects/Initiatives, Sections III & IV.

New Projects/Initiatives, Sections III & IV:

Weber pointed out that Ron Muzzal is not a Coupeville Farmer. His address is Scenic Heights and his farm is located in Oak Harbor. Blankenship will make that change.

The Board had no objections to the New Projects/Initiatives, Sections III & IV as amended.

Operational Suggestions:

The Board read and acknowledged the operational suggestions.

Presentation of SUBSTANTIVE Comments and Recommendations:

(Executive Director Jim Patton)

The record of SUBSTANTIVE Comments and Recommendations is on file in the Port office.

Port Operations, Sections I & II:

The Board agreed that no changes are necessary to Port Operations, Sections I & II.

Coupeville Sections III & IV:

The Board agreed that no changes are necessary to Coupeville Sections III & IV.

Greenbank Sections III & IV:

Transition Planning - The staff recommendation to the Board was to add a new initiative to Greenbank Sections III & IV. The draft language was attached that outlined the recommended new Transition Planning initiative. Patton said that the idea behind this initiative is that the Port would establish an executive planning group two years in advance of the transition date in 2014 when the Lease and Management Services Agreement between the Port and the Greenbank Farm Management Group are scheduled to terminate. The Board had copies of a list of steps that the executive planning group would take to determine the best plan for transition. The list of steps would also be included in the Comprehensive Plan. Patton read aloud the language for the new Transition Planning initiative. This initiative would become initiative #4 in Section III: Projects/Initiatives-Greenbank Farm Facility. The following language would be included in the Comprehensive Plan:

4. Transition Planning Initiative (Section III)

The Port has a lease and a management services agreement with the Greenbank Farm Management Group (GFMG), a private, non-profit organization which will terminate March 31, 2014. It is in the best interests of the Port, its District taxpayers and the Greenbank Farm to initiate an evaluation of the Port's options for the management and operation of the Port Tract of the Greenbank Farm well in advance of the termination of these two contracts. The future lease options of the majority of the Commercial Area property and its buildings must be carefully considered to ensure minimal impact on the subtenants of GFMG and Farm activities.

Patton also read aloud the paragraph that would be added regarding the implementation of the Transition Planning initiative. The new paragraph would be added as #4 to Section IV: Implementation-Greenbank Farm Facility. The following language would be included in the Comprehensive Plan:

4. Transition Planning Initiative (Section IV)

The Port will convene an executive planning group no later than March 1, 2012 to begin the evaluation, planning and decision process to ensure a smooth transition from the current master lease and management services agreement to a new arrangement considered to be in the best interest of the Port District taxpayers and the Greenbank Farm. The executive planning group will take the following steps to achieve this objective.

1. Seek and consider public comment on Greenbank Farm activities, operations, maintenance and management.
2. Evaluate the record of cooperation between the Port and GFMG.
3. Evaluate the record of performance of GFMG in terms of its stated commitments to fund development, attracting volunteer in-kind support, and providing stewardship of the capital and environmental resources of the Port Tract
4. Explore viable alternatives to a contractual relationship with a non-profit organization.
5. Explore contractual alternatives to a lease and/or management services agreement.

The intention of the Port is to take the necessary legal and administrative actions to enable the Board of Commissioners to approve a transition plan at least six (6) months prior to the current lease and management services agreement.

Blankenship suggested changing the last sentence of the first paragraph, Section IV to read The executive planning group will take, but not be limited to, the following steps to achieve this objective.

The Board concurred with the recommended changes and additions for the Greenbank Farm Facility-Sections III & IV.

Conservation Easement - Patton said that there were a number of public comments received in opposition to the conservation easement initiative. The staff recommendation in order to clarify the Port's position was to use alternative language for page 43 of the Comprehensive Plan under Conservation Easement Section III Projects/Initiatives paragraph 2. The second paragraph would be deleted and replaced with the following language:

If so, the Port will explore the benefits and consequences, including cost, of placing permanent development restrictions on the property. Meanwhile, the Port will not consider any significant changes in the current zoning of the Port Tract.

Patton said that in order to be consistent with the language added to section III (above) the staff recommendation would be to delete everything after sub paragraph a. on page 49 under Conservation Easement Section IV-Implementation and replace it with the following language:

b. Following the completion of the Asset Inventories (See Master Site Plan below), convene an executive planning group to explore the benefits and consequences, including costs, of establishing a conservation easement on portions of the Port Tract.

c. Seek and consider public comment on the adoption of a conservation

easement in the Port Tract.

Proceed with conservation easement planning based on benefit assessment and community support.

The Board concurred with the recommended changes and additions for Greenbank Sections III & IV - Conservation Easement.

Agriculture Plan - Patton said that there was one public comment recommending that the Port drop the organic certification at the Farm on the basis that the soil is so poor that it requires chemical fertilization. Patton said that the value of organically certified land on Whidbey Island is extremely important. The staff recommendation is to retain the organic certification and make no changes to this section in the Comprehensive Plan.

The Board concurred with the staff recommendation to leave the Greenbank Sections III & IV - Agricultural Plan as written.

Wetland Acquisition - No changes were recommended by the staff.

The Board concurred with the staff recommendation to leave Greenbank Sections III & IV - Wetland Acquisition as written.

Living History Site - No changes were recommended by the staff.

The Board concurred with the staff recommendation to leave the Greenbank Sections III & IV - Living History Site as written.

New Projects & Initiatives Sections III & IV:

Puget Sound Clean Up - No changes were recommended by the staff.

The Board concurred with the staff recommendation to leave the New Projects & Initiatives Sections III & IV - Puget Sound Clean Up as written.

Board comments:

Weber pointed out that the Port of Coupeville was the first Port out of 68 Ports to become a Shore Steward.

Patton pointed out that the Port also supports the Marine Resources Committee (MRC) and WSU Beach Watchers.

Air Transportation Facility - Patton said that the Port received a lot of input on this section of the Comprehensive Plan. Most of the public input focused on the idea in the document that if the Navy's Outlying Field (OLF) was ever surplused the Port should acquire it and turn it into a quiet area and not operate it as an air port. That idea seemed counterintuitive to most individuals. The staff recommendation is to amend page 52 of the Comprehensive plan to delete the second paragraph under Air Transportation Facility, Section III, New Projects & Initiatives and replace it with the following language:

Outlying Field (OLF) is in the Port District. It is under federal ownership and in active use by the Navy. There is always the possibility that OLF may be declared surplus at some point in the future. It offers an ideal site, location and infrastructure for a general aviation facility. The Port would pursue OLF as an opportunity to develop a publicly owned airport solely or in partnership with Island County if it should become available.

Patton said that this would be a significant decision for the Board because it is the first and only departure from the recommendations from the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group.

Patton said that in order to be consistent with the language added to page 52 of the Comprehensive plan (above) under Air Transportation Facility, Section III New Projects & Initiatives the final paragraph needs to be deleted and replaced with the following language:

The Port will monitor the federal surplus process in which the Outlying Field (OLF) may become available, with the intention of acquiring the facility solely or in partnership with Island County to develop a general aviation facility.

The Board concurred with the recommended changes and additions for the New Project & Initiatives, Sections III & IV - Air Transportation Facility.

Board comments:

Weber said that it is interesting to note that the Port of Coupeville came about because of a rumor that the OLF field was going to be surplused. A group of people decided to form a Port in order to be eligible to make application to take over the field and operate it as a general aviation facility. That was over 40 years ago.

Bryson said that although he appreciated the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Group's intent, it is extremely difficult to be able to find a place to establish an airport. This is a good opportunity that the Port should not forego.

Miscellaneous Items:

Additional Public Input: Blankenship said that comments from Roseann Alspektor (Whidbey-Camano Tourism Marketing Coordinator) were received after the deadline for public input. Alspektor made several positive comments supporting the marketing plan, the website development and the Marine Education Center. She suggested ways that the Island County 2% Committee could participate. Blankenship pointed out that the Plan is not specific to other organization participation. The Port has addressed partnerships and links to the Island County websites in the Plan. Blankenship said that although Alspektor's input was helpful, it would not require any changes to the Comprehensive Plan. The Board concurred.

New Maps: Bankenship said that the only other change was that Rob Harbour submitted a better map of Ebey's Prairie and a new map marking the Port Districts. The two new maps will replace the maps that were included in the draft Comprehensive Plan.

Appendices: Patton said that the staff recommended replacing the lengthy appendices in the draft Comprehensive Plan that covered the Planning Process and the Public Review Process with summaries that contained the pertinent details. Blankenship had prepared two appendices:

Appendix E-1: Summary of the Planning Process

Appendix E-5: Summary of the Public Review Process

The Board had no objections to the staff recommendation to replace the draft appendices with Appendix E-1 and Appendix E-5, making appropriate changes to appendix numbers.

Pages for Board signatures: Patton said he would provide new Introductory Remarks and a Resolution of Adoption for Board signatures at the May 9, 2007 Port meeting.

Board comments:

The Board thanked Blankenship for an excellent job on the Comprehensive Plan. They also thanked Patton for all of his hard work on the plan. The Board also wanted to commend all of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Board for their hard work and dedication to the plan. The names of the advisors will be included in the plan.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Weber adjourned the meeting at 6:15 pm.