Island Guardian

Thursday, October 26th

The Wider Implications Of Initiative 933

By Albert Hall

The problem that Initiative 933 attempts to correct is that property owners are being arbitrarily restricted from the full use of their land. When a permitting authority requires over 60% of a parcel be set aside "to preserve the environment" or some other ill-defined or undefined public benefit, there is indeed a problem. But lest readers think that this writer is locked into ideological support of property owners, consider the following.

In most American communities, property owners routinely abide by setback regulations for front, side and rear yards. In one sense this is clearly a "taking." However, rather than being opposed, most understand that these setback regulations (1) are reasonable and (2) enhance neighborhoods (and the values of their respective parcels).

The setbacks of my Town of Friday Harbor residential lot consume 37.8% of the total land area; and assuming consistent enforcement throughout my neighborhood, I have no problem abiding by them. Nor do I have any problem with exceptions being granted under a well established procedure for particular circumstances.

The main distinctions between "takings" for long accepted setbacks and those addressed by Initiative 933, lie in the fact that the one is long established, near universally supported and (most important) clearly defined. Area set-asides, on the other hand, are relatively new, and arbitrary.

Initiative 933 will hopefully motivate permitting jurisdictions to articulate succinct and reasonable regulations and, after widespread public debate, seek their approval. It is quite probable that much of the present problems arise from Growth Management Act (GMA) guidelines and attempts to zealously implement their most restrictive outcomes. This is amplified by the fact that GMA appellants seemingly want to cram a one-size-fits-all template throughout the state.

While the intentions of Initiative 933 are laudable, it would be equally nice to revisit the GMA statute; and in particular to restore to local jurisdictions (and not regional hearings boards) the final determination in matters concerning the use, restrictions on and development of private property.

(Albert Hall is running for a County Council seat, Friday Harbor district)

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Wednesday, October 18th

Trash in our Oceans--You Can Be Part of the Solution

By Stephanie Buffum Field

Those beads, those beads, those beautiful plastic pellet gun beads. Resting on sidewalks and in street gutters waiting anxiously, along with cigarette butts, for the next rain to come. Friday Harbor's stormwater drains will soon carry them into the sea for their next adventure. Being the size and color of salmon eggs, they could deceive the cleverest bird or fish.

Think of all the plastic that ends up in the ocean for one reason or another -- packaging materials, cigarette butts, styrofoam food containers and cups, discarded medical waste, plastic bags, and fishing lines and nets. Marine garbage is not just unsightly and unsafe; it is an ecological disaster for the animals that are forced to live with it.

Debris Hazardous for Marine Animals and Other Marine Life

Each year millions of seabirds, sea turtles, fish, and marine mammals become entangled in marine debris or ingest plastics which they have mistaken for food. At other times, animals accidentally eat the plastic while feeding on natural food.

According to a 1998 Marine Mammal Commission study, 267 marine species have been reported entangled in or having ingested marine debris. Plastic netting or fishing line can constrict the animals' movements or cause infection from deep wounds as it tightens. Animals can die from exhaustion as they attempt to escape. Animals can starve to death as ingested plastic clogs their intestines, preventing them from obtaining vital nutrients. And the toxic substances that are present in plastics can cause death or reproductive failure.

Once debris reaches ocean bottom, especially in areas with little current, it may continue to cause environmental problems. When plastic film and other debris settle on the bottom, immobile plants and animals can suffocate, producing areas essentially devoid of life.

Polluted Waters Make Trouble for Humans, Too

Marine debris also acts as a navigational hazard to fishing and recreational boats by entangling propellers and clogging cooling water intake valves. Repairing boats damaged by marine debris is both time-consuming and expensive.

Humans can also be directly affected by marine debris. Swimmers and divers can become entangled in abandoned netting and fishing lines. Beach users can be injured by stepping on broken glass, cans, needles or other litter. And because debris in coastal areas or floating in the water is visually unappealing, its presence can result in lost tourism revenues.

What You Can Do

Every piece of litter has a person's face behind it. All of us can lend a helping hand in solving the litter problem. Here are a few ideas:

• Secure your load--in your boat and in your car.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Cut the rings of plastic six-pack holders. This lowers the risk of entanglement to marine animals if the holders do make it out to sea.
• Look for alternative materials or avoid excessive packaging.
• Report lost or abandoned gear call the WDFW hotline 1-800-477-6224 or use a reporting form on-line, http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/derelict/derelict_gear.htm
• Collect marine beach debris. Call Patt Martin (378-7850), who will provide you with bags, gloves, grabbers, safety vests, and will coordinate litter collection.
• Participate in the 2007 San Juan County Spring Beach Clean Up. Call Friends of the San Juans for more information, 378-2319.

( Stephanie Buffum Field is the Executive Director of Friends of the San Juans, and a Member of the San Juan Island Anti-Litter Initiative Steering committee)

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Tuesday, October 10th

Stop Stealing!

I was not planning on writing a letter to support I-933, but someone is denying me my free speech by stealing "Vote Yes For I-933" signs from my property.

Those who know me know I support many environmental organizations and causes, financially and with sweat. Few can parallel my support for recycling: I started the ROAR program (Reach Out And Recycle) and Consignment Treasures building on Roche Harbor Road.

So, why am I supporting I-933? Because I-933 won't touch any law, zoning code or rule passed before Jan. 1, 1996, and by that time there were quite a few of them. Since that time many environmental laws have been passed that are over the top, out of control, and they have gone too far. That is why Oregon passed their own form of I-933, and why we should too. The best example I can give you is my brother Fred's situation.
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Sunday, October 8th

The Town Steps Up To The Plate

By Debbie Pigman

Let me reminisce a little………about seven years ago, when I started working with the Chamber, I received a few calls encouraging me to do "something" about litter on the sidewalks in Friday Harbor. I came up with what I thought was a wonderful idea, did a little research and presented to the community the "Adopt a Block" Program, thinking that service organizations, school clubs, families, and businesses would jump at the opportunity! They didn't.

A year or so later, the Chamber organized "Clean up Friday Harbor Days," picking one day every two weeks during the tourist season when groups would meet early in the morning at the Chamber office…..each person was handed gloves, a bag and a broom and assigned an area of town to clean. This worked for a while with the Rotarians, the scouts, real estate agents and other Chamber members participating. But, alas, this program quickly fizzled out.

Fast forward several years to this past March 2006 and the first meeting of the Chamber Downtown Forum. The first topic for action at this meeting was none other than "Aesthetics: Cleaning up the Sidewalks and Curb Areas of Friday Harbor." What started as a topic of discussion among concerned business people and others, moved quickly to businesses agreeing to take responsibility to clean the areas outside their store fronts – "Sweep in Business" was the mantra. A committee met and prepared an appeal to the Town to provide additional support for an ongoing Town clean up effort. At the same time, Lori Stokes and David Dehlendorf were sowing the seeds of the Anti- Litter Initiative, focusing on education and the clean up of the entire island! This group, too, urged the Town to put increased resources into litter removal.

And the Town is stepping up to the plate!

As a first step towards partnership and support of our concerns, the Town purchased dustpans and brooms for any Friday Harbor businesses that would use them, and the Chamber has distributed 36 to date. A hand-held sidewalk/curb vacuum was utilized the last four months, making a noticeable improvement in how our sidewalks and gutters look. The Town Council and Administrator are encouraging continued dialog among the Chamber, the business community, the Anti-Litter Initiative, the community and the Town government; this dialog will help to ensure that the Town is aware of the concerns and issues and, therefore, will have the information it needs to make litter control a priority in its allocation of resources.

It is important that all of us do our part in keeping our town clean. Why?
As stated in the Chamber Forum "Clean-up" Committee's presentation:

• A clean town makes a nicer place to live, work and visit.
• A clean town is more secure and comfortable.
• A clean town is more attractive for the benefit of those who live here as well as to visitors, whether they are tourists, family or friends.
• A clean town shows we appreciate what we have and makes the experience of showing our town to others more enjoyable.
• A clean town is good for business, which is ultimately good for the whole community!

Debbie Pigman is the Executive Director, San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce and member of the Anti-Litter Initiative Steering Committee

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