Council Holds Public Videoconference Oct. 25 After CAO Deliberations

n

Walt Corbin persists -- with the help of Pete Rose -- to get Council videoconferencing to Orcas Island.

Council Videoconference starts Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Orcas Public Library

Next Tuesday, Oct. 25, the County Council proceedings will again be accessible to the Orcas and Lopez public as the Council conducts a public hearing on the subject of redistricting, starting at 10 a.m.

However, following last Tuesday’s public hearing on the frequently flooded and geologically hazardous areas portions of the Critical Areas Ordinance update, the San Juan County Council will also conduct an Early Start Special Meeting that morning in the Legislative Hearing Room in Friday Harbor beginning at 8:45 a.m.

The purpose of the early start portion of the meeting is to continue deliberations on the Public Hearing to Consider Adopting an Ordinance Regarding Critical Area Regulations for Geologically Hazardous Areas and Frequently Flooded Areas; Amending San Juan County Code Sections 18.10.040, 18.30.120 and 18.30.130.

Public testimony was closed at the hearing on Oct. 18, with the Council reserving its right to re-open the option to reopen testimony at a later date.

On Oct. 25, the Council’s regular meeting agenda will follow the early deliberation session with a public hearing on the County Redistricting Plan beginning at 10 a.m. At that point, the Orcas Public Library will videoconference the meeting for those interested in contributing to the Citizen Access and Public Hearing portions of the meeting. At 10:45 a.m. the Council will discuss the General Section of the Critical Areas Ordinance update.

Videoconferencing has been made available to those who are unable to travel to Friday Harbor for public hearings through the efforts of Orcas Islander Walt Corbin. He has pursued that dream for some 10 years now. and says that with the active involvement of County Administrator Pete Rose, it finally happened this fall.

Council Clerk Ingrid Gabriel says that it was Corbin’s purchase of an enabling computer for the Council to use that put the last piece of the puzzle into the picture. As it is, the Council borrows equipment from the County Health Department, and schedules time to use the Orcas Public Library’s equipment and conference rooms. Gabriel notes that  none of those agencies have the staff or time to publicly broadcast full Council meetings.

Since the public access portions of the council have been videoconferenced this fall, a smattering of Orcas Islanders have attended the meetings on Tuesday mornings. Last week, Tina Whitman, Science Director of the Friends of the San Juans put forward her comments to advise “avoidance” as the best available science to protect property, infrastructure and people from geological hazards and frequent flooding.

On San Juan Island various speakers rose to comment in the public hearing, including Janet Alderton of Orcas Island, who advised against siting essential public facilities in geologically hazardous and frequently flooded areas.

Deputy Prosecutor John Cain reminded the council that the hearing was to protect critical areas — in this case frequently flooded and geologically hazardous — so that the function and values of the land are preserved and the public is protected from hazards.  “There is risk in being alive everyday,” Cain said. “What risk is worth taking?”

All Council proceedings can be viewed privately through live streaming on television and computers, if they are programmed to  have that capability.

The agenda and related materials of Council meetings may be obtained 3 days prior at the County website at www.sanjuanco.com/council/default.aspx or at the Council offices during each business day between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  For more information please contact the Clerk of the County Council at (360) 370-7470.