Commissioners Present: Benye Weber and Marshall Bronson

Others Present: Jim Patton (Executive Director), Donna Keeler (Master Site Plan Coordinator), Molly MacLeod-Roberts (Edwards & Associates), William Bell (KWPA Radio), Nathan Whalen (Whidbey News-Times), Justin Burnett (Whidbey Examiner), Jeff VanDerford (South Whidbey Record) and Tom Baenen (GFMG President).

Call to Order: The regular meeting was called to order at 10:35 a.m. by Commissioner Weber in the Island County Commissioners' Hearing Room located at #1 NE 6th Street, Room B-102, Coupeville, WA, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING:
Weber stated that the Minutes for the regular meeting of January 9 and February 13, 2008, were available for approval and signatures. Weber identified two items that needed correction:

1. January 9th Minutes: page 5, first paragraph - replace the word fro to from
2. February 13th Minutes: page 2, first paragraph - rather than …as designated representatives to other representatives, it should read …as designated representatives to other organizations and units of government.

ACTION: A motion was made by Weber and seconded by Bronson to approve the January 9, 2008, regular meeting Minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

ACTION: A motion was made by Bronson and seconded by Weber to approve February 13, 2008, regular meeting Minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously.

Weber stated that the Minutes for the Special Meeting of January 7, 2008, for the State Auditor's exit conference were also available for approval and signatures.

She was the only commissioner present at that meeting but, according to the State Auditor's Office, parliamentary procedure allows for Weber to approve the Minutes provided that Executive Director, Patton, and Port Accountant, Chuck Edwards, who were also present at the Special Meeting, attest to the Minutes and sign them. Weber then signed and approved the January 7, 2008, Special Meeting Minutes as submitted.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:

Presentation of new business plan for Wharf Space D (William Bell): Bell was on hand to provide a brief overview of his proposal to assume the lease for the space currently leased by Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) for KWPA Radio and to answer any questions the Board might have.

He said that he had 30 years of experience in advertising and marketing as a consultant.

Bell explained that WICA's financing for the radio station was very tight and did not provide money for the capital investment of the retail space, so he would like to take responsibility for the lease. If Bell is permitted to assume the lease, the radio station will continue to occupy a portion of the space, but Bell will be the operator of the retail front end of that space. He plans to create a business called Local Grown that will feature locally grown products from the farms in and around the central and south end of Whidbey Island, satisfy the marine product requirements, and also serve espresso. He explained that KWPA has established a 501(c)(3) and letters of incorporation that will effectively begin to move KWPA out from under WICA. Bell is the chair of the Board of Directors of KWPA and they have moved very quickly to establish autonomy and begin development of funding and programs specifically for the radio station without being under the WICA umbrella. Bronson asked if the FCC has transferred the responsibility for the radio station from WICA to Bell. Bell said that on March 22nd they will have been on the air for 3 years and the FCC will consider a license renewal at that time. They plan to file for a license change immediately after that date.

Weber noted that Bell had previously made arrangements to pay the back rent for the space and asked if that money had been received. Patton said that it had. Weber thanked Bell for his presentation. Bronson said it sounded like a wonderful business with a well thought out business plan. Patton said that, with the Board's approval, he would draw up a Lease Assumption document for Weber's signature

ACTION: A motion was made by Bronson and seconded by Weber to approve the transfer of the lease for Wharf Space D from WICA to Bell, and to complete the transaction before the next regular meeting of the Board. The motion passed unanimously.

Weber thanked Bell for his interest and continued effort to bring about this worthwhile project and wished him much success.

MEETING OPEN TO PUBLIC INPUT: Weber opened the meeting to public input. No one wished to speak and Weber closed the meeting to public input and returned to the public meeting.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Port Executive Director's Report: (Patton)
Boating and fueling activities: Patton reported that fuel sales for February 2008 were $2,500, which was more than February 2007, and a good deal more than February 2006. Patton noted that the live aboard tug anchored in Penn Cove had purchased about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel. He reported that moorage fees for February were $329. He reminded the Board that the fuel tanks are being kept with a minimum of fuel due to the current high price of fuel and the lack of operational reserves with which to buy a stock of fuel. His policy is to respond to advance fuel requests from Ian Jeffords of the Penn Cove Mussel Farm and from the Mystic Sea whale watching ship. Mystic Sea arrival: Patton said that the Mystic Sea is here and will remain until May 15th and that will help with both fuel sales and moorage revenue. Test of absorbent boom: Two years ago, the Department of Ecology mandated that small ports with fueling capability provide a minimum of 200 ft. of readily deployed absorbent boom. The Port purchased that length of boom last year and it is stored on the north deck of the wharf. Fire Chief Joe Biller sent his rescue boat crew to the wharf and practiced deploying the boom around a mock diesel spill. Patton sent an email thanking Biller and the 3 young firemen who deployed the boom. Weber asked if the Fire Department had done it for training purposes and therefore not charged the Port for services and Patton said that was correct.

Status of Comprehensive Plan initiatives:
Progress on the Conservation Easement: Patton reported he met with Michael Stansbury, Greenbank Farm Management Group (GFMG) Treasurer. Stansbury recently retired from his law practice and is actively engaged in formatting the draft of the Port's request for the Attorney General's opinion as to whether or not the Port can surrender its property rights to another municipality. Island County Commissioner Phil Bakke has indicated he is receptive to the idea of the County becoming conservator of some or all of the development rights on Greenbank Farm, but stipulates that the Attorney General's opinion is required. When Stansbury has completed the draft and the Board has approved it, the request will have to be submitted to the Attorney General's office by a state legislator or by the local prosecutor. The plan is to have Senator Mary Margaret Haugen submit the request for the Port. Patton said he would keep the Board informed via email as to the status of the draft.

Progress on the Marine Education Center: The Washington State University (WSU) - Beach Watchers have put together a video presentation that explains the Port's long-term interests in establishing a Marine Education Center on the wharf and solicits opinions and input from a list of local stakeholders. There have been two briefings by the Beach Watchers so far, one given simultaneously to the Ebey's Landing Reserve Board and the Coupeville Historical Society Board and another for the Coupeville Town Council. The Beach Watchers have gathered a lot of valuable input. As the information is accumulated, Patton said he would keep the Board advised of the input they have received. Bronson noted that there is a great deal of enthusiasm for the project and a great deal of talent available. The point is to determine what will fit and what can be supported. He added that at yesterday's briefing, there were representatives from both the National Park Service and Washington State Parks, and they bring a lot of background material and a lot of materials that could be transferred under the aegis of various cooperative agreements with the state and federal governments that would allow the Port to do beneficial things for the wharf as well as the Marine Education Center. Bronson and Weber agreed that Patton's presentation at the briefings was very well done and thanked him for his work.

Weber noted that the next WSU-Beach Watcher presentation would be for the Island County Marine Resources Committee on April 1, 2008, in the Island County Commissioners' Hearing Room from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Report on the Master Site Plan for Greenbank Farm and presentation of the draft Asset Inventory (Donna Keeler): Keeler was on hand to present the draft of the Asset Inventory she recently completed, using a PowerPoint presentation. Patton explained that there are only four color copies available of the draft and three would be given to the Board. Black and white copies will be made and distributed to the 40 or so members of the Master Site Plan focus groups. When the Port has received comments and recommendations from the group members a final draft will be presented to the Board for approval.

Keeler explained that the Port's Comprehensive Plan contained much of the information that would normally be included in the Asset Inventory. Rather than duplicate that information, Keeler decided instead to look at each structure at the Greenbank Farm in detail to determine what is currently there (new and old), what is needed, and what are the greatest needs. She had walked through every building with someone from the Farm and they were very helpful.

She began the presentation by going through the maps prepared by IETS Mapping, which included recent aerials completed in late 2007 that have not even been formally released to the public yet. The detailed calculations of IETS of the acreage indicate that the commercial area is actually a little bigger than was previously thought (16.7 acres), while the environmentally sensitive area is actually a little smaller than they thought (12.8 acres).

Keeler continued by going through each of the structures with detailed descriptions and all the identified needs and issues of each building. She also reviewed items such as utilities, infrastructure, historical and archaeological significance, and cultural events associated with the Farm. Keeler said that Hank Vyrostek, the GFMG's groundskeeper, has added to the trails in the last couple of years, and she measured them as part of the inventory. There are close to four miles of trails within Greenbank Farm. Weber noted that Vyrostek had done much of the work voluntarily on his own time. Keeler said there were still some areas of the inventory that she needed to be complete, but she wanted to provide the Board with the draft so they could review it prior to releasing it to the focus groups and the public.

Keeler thanked the Board for the opportunity to prepare the report and submitted the draft Asset Inventory for their review. She said that she had learned a lot about the Farm and really enjoyed the work. Weber said the Asset Inventory was more extensive than she had expected, and that it was marvelous. She said she looks forward to taking time to study it. Patton noted that Keeler has had wonderful cooperation from the GFMG. The Board thanked Keeler for her presentation.

Visit to Coupeville by owner of Victoria Express - remarks by Island County Commissioners: Patton said the Port of Coupeville is developing a useful relationship with Jack Harmon, the owner and operator of Victoria Express. Harmon and some of his staff visited Coupeville for the purpose of briefing Patton, the Board, a representative of the Front Street Merchants and Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard two weeks ago. Harmon gave a briefing about his company and explained why he is interested in using the Port's wharf and mooring floats in Penn Cove as a terminal for a passenger-only ferry. He has done a demographic analysis of North Puget Sound that shows the population of Whidbey Island and Camano Island is bound to grow. The analysis showed that although the population of Whidbey Island has historically been tied to agriculture, it has changed dramatically within the last 5-6 years to include many more retired people who have the time and means to travel around this part of Washington State. Harmon would like to get his foot in the door of that potential business by providing a passenger-only ferry service between Whidbey Island, Camano Island and other towns in this vicinity.

Patton said that Mike Louver, who runs the SeaTac Shuttle, made almost exactly the same case to the Board two years ago, but when he approached the Camano Yacht Club about using their pier facility they didn't like the idea so Louver dropped the project. Patton said it now appears there may be opportunities for other places for a ferry to moor on Camano Island.

Patton noted that Harmon's briefing had prompted input from two of the Island County Commissioners. Justin Burnett, a reporter for the Whidbey Examiner, learned of the briefing and interviewed Commissioner John Dean on the subject. The Commissioner, who is a resident of Camano Island, expressed interest in the concept. Burnett reported that interview in the March 7, 2008, edition. A copy of that article is attached to these Minutes. Commissioner Phil Bakke also learned of Harmon's briefing and sent a letter to the Port of Coupeville expressing his general support of a Whidbey-Camano ferry service. A copy of that letter is attached to these Minutes. Patton said that the time is ripening for more thought and work in this area, but before he communicates further with the Victoria Express people he would like the Board to consider a motion authorizing him to do so.

Bronson said there is a general consensus that a transportation link between Whidbey and Camano is a good idea. He recalled that Harmon had requested a list of possible places he might be able to go, and Bronson thought the Port should cooperate and have Patton contact Harmon and help develop a more complete package scenario so Victoria Express can determine what they need to make the project physically and financially feasible.

ACTION: A motion was made by Bronson and seconded by Weber to authorize Executive Director Patton to continue communications with Victoria Express for the possible development of a ferry service between Coupeville and Camano Island.

Weber said the ferry service idea has been bounced around for years, and she continues to hope it will one day be accomplished. Bronson noted for the record that the correct term of the company is Victoria Express and that it is not the Victoria Clipper.

The motion passed unanimously.

Patton said he would keep the Board informed. The Board agreed that if Harmon wished to go beyond exploratory discussions, he would need to attend a regular meeting of the Port.

State Audit - final action: Resolution No. 144 regarding bank deposits: Patton submitted Resolution No. 144 for approval and adoption of the policy for bank deposits that the State Auditor had recommended be put in place. Bronson noted that a correction needed to be made to the resolution as he is the Vice President and Ann McDonald is the Secretary. Patton said he would amend it accordingly. Port Clerk Molly MacLeod-Roberts then read Resolution No. 144 into the record. A copy of the resolution is attached to these Minutes.

ACTION: A motion was made by Bronson and seconded by Weber approve and adopt Resolution No. 144, establishing policy and procedure for the timely deposit of moneys collected by the Harbor Master. The motion passed unanimously.

Greenbank Farm Management Report: (Baenen) GFMG President Tom Baenen was on hand to answer any questions the Board had regarding the February Report he previously submitted via email and which is included in these Minutes as follows

A new Events Manager, Steve Marriott, was hired as of February 15, 2008. A new Market Manager is being sought. The Interim Manager/Consultant who worked the last 10 weeks of the 2007 season, Peg Tennant, provided a good review of our Market Operation and some fine suggestions for improvement.

Four (4) independent contractor contracts for '08 have been put in place. They are: Janitorial, Bookkeeper, Loganberry/Pea Patch Supervision, Leased-area Grounds Keeper.

Hank Vyrostek, Managed Property Groundskeeper and Facilities/Equipment Maintenance person, is presently mentoring a new grounds person to work with him.

The County requested a footprint and height layout be placed at the sign location for the new proposed sign. This was done mid-month but the County has not yet issued the permit nor advised the architect or GFMG of any changes to be required.

One (1) retail space remains vacant. GFMG continues discussions with community members on other possible usage than retail, such as a learning center for classes and teaching of a wide range of subjects; agricultural, ecology, arts, crafts are among the ideas. Charlene Arnold with Coldwell-Banker/Tara Properties has been advertising and promoting but to no avail.

The mid-month Wine and Chocolate Market was a success. The Zydeco Dance on the first of the month was well attended and a success for Whidbey Pies Cafe. The Farm received a $200 donation as a result of the event.

Long-range strategic planning workshops continue. Draft asset inventory has been completed.

Work is underway for a first-time Volunteer Appreciation Celebration on March 1, 2008. 145 invitations have been mailed.

Todd Bitts has agreed to serve on the GFMG Board of Directors.

The monthly review with Port Executive Patton of the managed property income and expenses for January took place on the 25th at the Jim Davis House. Winter has reduced outside field activity cost, resulting in a small positive cash position. At that meeting, Patton and Michael Stansbury reviewed the status of work on the Conservation Easement.

Baenen asked if there were any questions. Bronson asked for clarification of Island County's request for a footprint and height layout for the new sign. Baenen said that the sign for the Farm had been approved by the Port prior to submitting it to the County. The County wanted to visualize where the sign would be so the GFMG placed four white posts to represent the perimeter and one post in the middle that represents the maximum height of the sign.

Weber thanked him for his report. Baenen said that through his attendance at the MSP focus group meetings it has become apparent to him that there is a lack of knowledge about what the GFMG's function is and how it performs on the Farm to fulfill the requirements and wishes of the public. He then invited everyone present to attend the Easter Egg Hunt at the Farm on March 22nd. He suggested it be used as an illustration of what GFMG does: provide various events free of charge to the public without revenue given to the Farm. Baenen also noted that the well attended First Friday at the Farm benefits the merchants at the Farm and doesn't really benefit the GFMG as they do not charge entry or parking fees but they do provide heat and electricity for the buildings used.

Weber thanked Baenen for his comments. She noted that each of the focus groups had at least one member from the GFMG, and if the focus groups weren't aware of the GFMG's functions, perhaps those volunteers could share the information with the rest of the focus group members. Baenen said Keeler would be adding another component for the next set of focus groups that would provide an explanation of what it costs to operate the Farm.

Weber thanked Baenen as President of GFMG for the Volunteer Appreciation lunch that was provided by GFMG. She said it was very well done and it was nice to meet some people for the first time.

Baenen clarified that the meeting that occurs each month between the Port and the GFMG to review finances is required by the Port to account specifically for the management fee, i.e. where it is spent and to ensure that it is spent only on the managed properties. Baenen said there is much more financial detail to the operation of the Farm than is done in that monthly meeting. Weber thanked Baenen for the reminder, but said that the Board is mindful of that.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Marine Resources Committee (MRC): (Weber) The Agenda from the March 4th meeting and the draft Minutes from the February 19th meeting of the MRC are attached to these Minutes. Weber said the MRC meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. in the Island County Commissioners' Hearing Room. The next meeting on March 18th is an educational meeting. There will be a presentation by the University of Washington/Luce Fellow student team on salmon recovery adaptive management. The April 1st business meeting will include a presentation by Graham Johnson on the potential Marine Education Center at the Wharf.

Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce (CWCOC): (Weber) Weber said the next meeting would be tomorrow, March 13th, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall at the Methodist church in Coupeville. Local Affairs Committee: An email of the notes from the February 12th meeting is attached to these Minutes. Weber said she would be attending the meeting today at 4 p.m. in the Chamber of Commerce office. They have been reviewing the project of the A-Z resource directory and funding issues for publication of that directory. A representative from the Freeland Chamber of Commerce has been asked to speak at the meeting.

Penn Cove Water Festival Committee: Weber reported the committee is now meeting monthly and the festival is scheduled for May 17th. The Committee is distributing save the date cards and lining up performers and entertainers for the festival.

Council of Governments (COG), Economic Development Council (EDC), Regional Transportation Policy Organization (RTPO), and Washington Public Ports Association Legislative Committee (WPPA): (McDonald) McDonald was absent so there were no reports for these committees.

Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) and Greenbank Farm Liaison: (Bronson)
SMP: Bronson said there were no recent meetings. Greenbank Farm: Bronson said he had been trying to attend most of the focus group meetings, and his knowledge about the Farm is growing. He apologized for not being able to attend this month's finance meeting but noted that Patton had attended. Bronson said he was very encouraged by the focus groups and thinks the Port will end up with a very useful set of recommendations from them. He is impressed with the members and noted that Keeler was doing a very good job.

NEW BUSINESS:

Support letter for USDA Producer Grant: (Patton) Patton referred to the email from Maryon Attwood requesting a support letter for the Whidbey Island Meat Processing Steering Committee for a USDA Value Added Producer Grant for 2008. A copy of the email and a draft letter of support to the USDA are attached to these Minutes. Patton explained that Attwood's suggested draft letter mentioned a good deal about the Greenbank Farm, and he thought since the Port is just beginning the Master Site Plan for the farm, it would be premature to predict how farm activities might coincide with a meat processing plant. Patton said he therefore drafted a more anodyne letter of support. Weber said she feels there is a need for this type of project on Whidbey Island.

ACTION: A motion was made by Weber and seconded by Bryson to send a letter of support for the grant application to the USDA Rural Development Office in Mount Vernon, WA.

Bronson said he disagreed with the lack of reference to the Greenbank Farm in Patton's draft letter of support. Since the Port does have the development program as part of its responsibility, he thinks a simple reference to the Greenbank Farm, saying it would fit within our agricultural development policies as contained within the Greenbank Farm, presents it as a real picture in which the Port is active. Patton asked if the Board might want to say something like: We are in the midst of completing the Master Site Plan for the Greenbank Farm and one of the focus groups is Agriculture. The Board agreed, and Patton said he would amend the letter accordingly and redraft it for their signatures.

The motion passed unanimously.

Port financial analysis and levy lift alternatives: (Patton) Patton read aloud a Memorandum for the Record dated March 12, 2008, that he had prepared. The memorandum described the Port's lack of sufficient revenue and operating reserves to sustain both the Coupeville Wharf and the Greenbank Farm. The memorandum recommended that the Board seek an increase in the levy sufficient to meet its obligations to preserve and operate both of those historic properties. A copy of the memorandum is attached to these Minutes.

If the Board chooses to seek a levy lift, Patton explained there are two practical options for timing of the request: the primary election on August 19th or the general election on November 4th. The advantages of waiting for the November election are: a) there will be more issues on the ballot so the election costs can be shared, 2) the Port would not be billed for the election costs until late December and would then pay them out of January, 2009 monies and, 3) the Port would have sufficient time to mount a campaign to explain the situation to all the residents of the Port District.

Patton reported that the Port's current levy is based on $0.15 per $1,000 of property valuation within the port district. The levy ceiling for any port is $0.45 per $1,000 so there is plenty of headroom available. Patton said that he had asked Dan Jones, the Levy Analyst for Island County, to calculate the additional rate required to provide an additional $150,000 annually to the Port of Coupeville. This amount would offset the payments on the bonds used to purchase the Greenbank Farm and also the fee that the Port is obligated to pay the GFMG for management of the non-commercial zones at the farm. Jones reported the additional rate amount was between $0.06 and $0.07 per $1,000. Patton explained that would result in an increase from $0.15 per $1,000 to either $0.21 or $0.22 per $1,000.

Weber said she had been fighting this since last year and she could see the handwriting on the wall. She said there was an apparent need and regardless of what the Port cut back on, that the Port needed to raise the levy amount.

Patton said the law does provide for a sunset clause on a levy addition. He noted that the Port has 9 more years of bond payments ($900,000), so the Port could choose to raise the levy an additional $0.06 or $0.07 for the period it would take to pay off the bond. He thought that would be accepted by the public as a sensible solution to the Port's financial problem. Patton also pointed out that the existing management services agreement with the GFMG ends in 2014, and while it is unclear whether the Port will continue with the GFMG or some other alternative the Port will still need to pay for management services of some kind of at least $50,000 per year.

ACTION: A motion was made by Weber and seconded by Bronson for the Port of Coupeville to request lifting the Port of Coupeville's levy lid from $0.15 per $1,000 to $0.21 per $1,000, with the request meeting the deadline for the November 4th ballot.

Bronson said that as the most recent addition to the Board, he had been surprised and discouraged to realize how bad the Port's finances are. He felt the levy lift should have been added way early on. He said that there is nothing else left, which the State Auditor had also indicated, and there really is no choice other than to increase the levy rate. Bronson said he would have gone to $0.22 rather than $0.21, but nonetheless, the difference is very small. The important thing is that it is only an increase of $0.06 per $1,000. There will be other issues on the ballot as well for taxpayers to look at, and the Port will need to spend considerable time explaining to taxpayers why the increase is necessary. Bronson said he would like to include the sunset clause as part of that explanation. He hopes that by the time the increased levy rate has sunset and the Master Site Plan is complete and the groundwork done, the Port would see some increase in rents from the facilities at the Greenbank Farm and on the Wharf to counter future expenses and provide more balance to the Port's finances. Patton said that under the terms of the lease with the GFMG, the rents from the leases at the farm accrue to the GFMG until 2014.

The Board agreed to amend the earlier motion to include a sunset clause stating the increase will expire in conjunction with the end of the bond payments in 2017.

The motion was amended to include a sunset date of 2017 and a vote was held. The amended motion passed unanimously.

Weber said they would need to have additional meetings on the subject of a levy lift and they had a lot of work to do during the summer because the Board will need to advise the Auditor by August 12, 2008, that the Port intends to place the levy lid increase on the November 4th ballot.

Patton said the normal procedure is that the Port will prepare a resolution and provide that to the Auditor by August 12th. He will prepare a draft resolution for the Board's consideration. He will also prepare a campaign with Power Point presentations, meetings, etc. Patton said he will sketch out those things and send it to the Board via email.

Bronson said that increasing taxes is never popular, but he thinks the Port has two invaluable assets and they both should be thoroughly supported. He hopes the levy lift can be explained to the public as a beneficial thing.

Baenen wished to congratulate the Board for doing something that is long overdue. He said the levy probably should have been increased at the time the farm was purchased. As a former Island County Assessor, Baenen said he had calculated that on a house worth $170,000, the increase in tax would be just $11.07 per year. [Note: an increase in the Port's levy of $0.06 per thousand on a $170,000 property would actually amount to an additional $10.20. The current levy of $0.15 per thousand on the same property is $25.50 per year.]

Weber said the Port had a good story to tell and had been frugal with their money. She thanked Baenen for his comments and added that lifting a levy is never an easy decision to make, especially with the current economy and other levies and/or bonds going before the people.

Washington Government Entity Pool (WGEP) name change: Patton reported that WGEP had notified the Port that they had changed their name to Enduris.

Shoreline Master Plan (SMP): Patton reported that Larry Kwarsick, the Planner for the Town of Coupeville, had provided Patton with the latest draft of the SMP for circulation to the Board. Kwarsick would like them to review it and respond to him as soon as possible.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS:

Next Port regular meeting: The next regular monthly meeting of the Port's Board of Commissioners will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, in the first floor conference room of the Service Alternatives Building located at #20 NW First Street in Coupeville, WA.

Monthly Financial Status Report: MacLeod-Roberts submitted the final January 2008 financial statement and preliminary February 2008 financial statement.

ACTION: A motion was made by Weber and seconded by Bronson to accept the final January 2008 financial statement as submitted. The motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Current Vouchers: MacLeod-Roberts submitted vouchers audited and certified by the auditing officer as required by RCW 42.24.080. She also submitted expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090.

ACTION: A motion was made by Bronson and seconded by Weber to approve by signature the March 2008 vouchers, numbers #660 - #683 for a total amount of $20,169.18. The motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Board, Weber adjourned the meeting at 12:24 p.m.