01/27/2010: "No Action On BAS"

01-26-10) A teleconference with Professor Paul R. Adamus on Tuesday (see story below) was instructive on how the County may address part of the CAO (Critical Areas Ordinance) update process, but it was also disappointing that if the County was to hire the good professor, he would not be able to start work until later in the year.

Councilmember Lovel Pratt was concerned about any delay in moving forward in assembling the required BAS (Best Available Science), and so backed away from suggestions that Adamus should be hired to help the County in a manner similar to the work he did for Island County.

The connection to Island County was said to be important, in that much of the work produced and paid for by Island County could be a basis for San Juan County; and more to the point, the state approved the work that Adamus did for Island County, and it also survived a legal challenge successfully. Given the problems San Juan County has had with legal challenges to it's land use laws, this was seen by some on the council as another reason to engage Adamus to work for the County.

The Council will continue the discussion in the following weeks