09/18/2007: "CC Considers Getting “Facts Out" On Stormwater"

Stating the success of the referendum on stormwater funding resulted from the Countie’s failure to educate the public, the County Council has agreed on the importance of getting involved in the upcoming election on funding for the ordinance.

The election will determine if the funding ordinance for the stormwater ordinance should remain as is, or should it be rejected, which would send how the Stormwater Ordinance (which is not subject of the vote) is funded, back to the Council as being unacceptable as written.

Prosecutor Randy Gaylord informed the Council that there are limits to how involved, and in what way, the Council can work to influence the outcome of an election, but advised them that as long as they stick to the “facts”, and not make arguments for or against, they should be on safe ground.

County Administrator Pete Rose suggested that the Council can hold a “public meeting to discuss the issue, and then pass a motion” that would be for or against “something”. After some discussion of the matter, it was suggested to Rose that perhaps Communications Program Manager Stan Matthews could write a “Stormwater Education Pamphlet.”

On another front, Councilman Alan Lichter said that he and Councilman Gene Knapp will be holding a “Town Meeting on Orcas on the 24th of October, and that one of the topics of discussion will be the funding ordinance for the stormwater ordinance. Adding to the mix is the planning now underway by the League of Women Voters to hold debates on the referendum on all three major islands

Stan Matthews and Utility Manager Ed Hale are scheduled to address the Council today (Tuesday the 18th) on the topic of an “Education Pamphlet”. It is expected the Council may set a date to hold a public meeting to ostensible gain public input on stormwater funding, and then based on the testimony, agree to do something or other that is lawful. Or, the may simply have Matthew write a pamphlet on the subject.