The Issues defined in greater detail:

1.    Completion of the Shoreline Master Plan and Historic Preservation Plan to preserve and protect the historic character and structures of Coupeville.

Coupeville is in the process of developing a final Shoreline Master Plan. It will be submitted to the Department of Ecology (DOE) for review. Then DOE will hold another public meeting to gather input from citizens. The Town is not required to hold another public meeting. DOE must approve the final plan.  If the Town chooses not to accept DOE’s mandates, the next step would be for the mayor and council to appeal the decision to the Growth Management Act (GMA) hearings board.

My position on the SMP is that it should not permit any new over-water development. The existing shoreline habitat needs protection. It is prime habitat for forage fish and the vegetation provides shade that helps to control Penn Cove's water temperature.

Historically, the open spaces along Front Street were wharf ends. In the past, ships entering the Cove tied up at the wharves to unload goods. As movement of goods changed from shipping to overland, the docks were not needed. However, the open spaces remain, offering unparalled views, and are consistent with the historical use of the street. Preservation of the view and access to the water is essential to maintain the historic character of Coupeville.

Coupeville does not have a Historic Preservation Plan. A draft was submitted (Design Standards and Guidelines: Town of Coupeville) in October 2002. Since that time, the Town has operated without an approved plan, waiting for former Town Planner Larry Cort to complete the document. Requests to the mayor regarding the expected completion date for the document are met with vague answers that it is being worked on.  It is critical that we have an approved plan to preserve the historic structures that define Coupeville, the second oldest town in Washington. Currently, Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve is completing a Historic Preservation Guide.

It is my belief that developing a SMP before adopting a historic preservation plan is like placing the proverbial cart before the horse.

2.    Open communication, dialogue and exchange of ideas between citizens and elected officials. As your Council member, I will be well-informed and base my decisions on critical issues from input gathered at informal, monthly public meetings.

As your council member, I will propose holding town meetings in a different format than the biweekly meetings currently held. In addition to the formal meetings, we need to institute a new style of meeting that encourages dialogue in a setting where people feel comfortable asking questions and giving input on issues. I envision such meetings as being similar to those held in Seattle called Town Hall Meetings. Operating without a predetermined agenda that requires council members to vote on resolutions, Town Hall Meetings would be round-table discussions, without a 5-minute time limit for audience input. Our current Town Council meetings have the council members and mayor seated on a raised platform above the attendees, who are designated as the “audience.” Audience denotes a group of individuals who are attending a performance/presentation to listen rather than participate in the event. We must change this method and welcome the ideas of all our citizens.

Communication can be greatly enhanced by developing better methods to disseminate information to the public. Channel 10 (local town cable station) should be the conduit for information about meetings of the Planning Commission, the Design Review Board, and Town Council. In addition, we are one of the few towns without a  website that provides access to policy, minutes of meetings and relevant information on current issues. Many town governments provide video coverage of public meetings. This is easy to do and Coupeville’s residents would benefit from first-hand viewing of meetings.

Open communication is key to protecting and preserving our quality of life.

3.    Adoption of Low-Impact Development techniques. Designs with low impact on the environment, resulting in a sustainable community, are critical for Coupeville and the health of Penn Cove.

Low-Impact Development (LID) is critical for Coupeville. I have attended many seminars, workshops, and trainings to learn about the techniques of LID, which can, and should be applied to commercial and residential development. Documented case studies indicate LID is less costly to implement than conventional development. It is appropriate for all parcels, regardless of lot size or density.

I discuss and propose LID techniques frequently with Town Council members and the mayor. Their response has been that they know and are current on the techniques. My response is that actions speak louder than words. Recent development projects allowed by the Town prove otherwise: impervious paving on large parking lots; water run-off dumped down storm drains; North Main Street project that incorporates traditional concrete sidewalks and parking strips that do not retain rainwater; large retention ponds.

We should be educating all developers (home and commercial) to incorporate the following basic LID techniques into their plans:

·       Maintain natural forested areas for infiltration

·        Limit grading and soil compaction to maintain infiltration potential and groundwater flows

·       Amend disturbed soils for infiltration

·        Narrower streets and smaller building footprints to limit impervious surface area

·      Roadside bioswales instead of curb and gutter to treat, slow, infiltrate, evaporate and transpire runoff

·        Use a range of pervious techniques such as pervious concrete, pavers and asphalt, for walkways, driveways, and patios to reduce impervious surface area

·     Pin or pile foundations to maintain subsurface flows

·     Bioretention areas (rain gardens)

·       Dry wells or trench drains for storage and infiltration

·      Rain barrels and cisterns

·       Green (vegetated) roofs to reduce runoff

·       Use native and drought-tolerant ornamental landscape planting material; limit the use of turf

4. Fiscal responsibility. The Town should provide quality service to current residents before extending water and sewer lines beyond the Town limits.

Many of the existing sewer and water lines servicing Coupeville residents are old and need replacing. Madrona Way is a prime example. The lines are old, frequently break, and are inadequate. The mayor has promised to upgrade the system for over ten years but nothing has been done. Two months ago, the Council and mayor approved a contract to install new water and sewer lines to an area not currently served by the Town- the Black Road project. Water service has been extended beyond the Town’s current boundaries, while residents wait for promised upgrades of existing systems.

In addition to being fiscally responsible in providing quality utility service to its residents, the Town has $60,000 in its Parks and Rec budget, with no plans to use it in the near future. The trail from Town Park to the beach was in bad repair (debris piled on the bluff side; railing rotting; vegetation overhanging the path; driftwood blocking entry to the beach). I wrote letters and shared my concerns at town meetings urging action by the town. Local Boy Scouts volunteered to do the work. The Capt. Coupe Park would benefit from improvements in terms of landscaping, beach access, and accommodations for recreational boaters (kayaks and canoes), better seating, and removal of concrete poured along the shoreline in years past. At this time, the Town and mayor have no plans to use the money in the budget. In fact, at this writing, the terms of all members of the Parks and Rec Board have expired.