Orcas Public Gives Commentary to County Council

The County Council, in an all-day session September 27 on Orcas Island, delved into the complexities of waste disposal and of stormwater, with a field trip to property that illustrated the finer points of the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) update.

Soon into the start of the meeting, Citizen Access time went past its allotted 15 minutes as Orcas citizens gave their views to the council, first-hand.

Deer Harbor resident and scientist Janet Alderton: pointed out that the buffer areas under consideration in the CAO update should account for the insufficiency of chemical breakdowns in pollutants.

Eastsound resident, singer and environmental activist Sharon Abreu spoke of the connection between environmental and economic health of public areas.

“Protecting the environment is about protecting ourselves…. Our economy depends on our ecology.”

Eastsound resident, landscaper and political blogger Sadie Bailey addressed downstream impacts to be considered in the CAO update:  “We have to start at the top of the mountain. …So much runoff from Buck Mt. development floods waterfront property.

“Narrowing buffers is not the answer, especially upslope; eventually all this sluffs off onto the sea.”

Bailey urged the Council,  “The Eastsound Urban Growth Area is my home. ”Don’t forget us: we are the 50% who work here and support the economy.”

Tracy Levine, artist, supported Bailey’s report and said, “There are examples of eco-friendly sustainable environment; we have an incredible opportunity to do this.”

John Evans, Olga resident and farmer (and former County Commissioner) who said he was representing only himself, said that at the countywide shoreline visioning meetings the previous week, “Citizens had a high level of concern about the process… We’ve been told, ‘Just relax, you need to let the process work.’

Evans urged the council to pay attention to the process, before it comes to the council for sign-off. “By the time this record gets to the council, you’re going to have a hard time making any changes.

“If any of the comments are resonating with you then you need to make course correction, now because you’ll lose on appeals.”

“[If the council does] not have a record to support whatever you want to do, the record will be voluminous, and you can’t substantiate changes because you haven’t developed the record? What does ‘no net loss’ mean? ‘Non-conforming use?’ ‘Buffer widths?’

“You can’t wait till the final report is on your desk.”

George Post, Olga resident and former Manager of the Exchange recycling site, spoke to the Council’s lack of advocacy for waste reduction: “For 28 years the county been involved in solid waste. I’ve been involved at the Exchange, [and] we’ve  tried to demonstrate and help the county with the goals of waste reduction.

“I’m looking for evidence that the recommendations of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee have  had acceptance and implementation from the county ….  or support from the council over all these years.

“What good does it do to come before you, to have big meetings… when are we going to get anything done?”

Morgan Meadows, Eastsound resident and entrepreneur,  also addressed the waste issue, saying “How can we make the change to handle our waste appropriately so our children are inheriting land health and sustainability, not resale?”

Margie Doyle, Orcas Island school employee, and publisher of Orcas Issues, announced that there would be a League of Women Voters Election Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 5 in the Senior Center from 5 to 7 p.m. She thanked those who had gone through the electoral process to serve the public, whether in a contested election or not.

(Articles about the Solid Waste discussion and the Stormwater report to be posted later).