GIFC Meeting Minutes 3/14/2024
Call to order: 7:09 pm
Committee Members in Attendance: Allen Bush, Gabe Murphy, Andy Leech, Becca Fong
(on Zoom) Community Members in Attendance: Sandy Mckean, Lisa Charnock
Public Comment: None
Agenda Approval: Approved
Last Month’s Minutes: Approved

Regular Business:
● Election/Appointment of Board Positions:
Gabe: Chairperson, Allen: Treasurer, Becca: Webmaster/Communicator
Positions are for 2 year terms

$26 donated at Annual Meeting, allocated to deficit. Still $23 short of even.

Recap/Discussion of Annual Meeting
Turnout was good. Slide deck, and recording are available upon request. Several folks have already asked about the recording and presentation which has been shared. In general the meeting went well. The point about extra insurance was covered well. Gabe sent a thank you to commissioners showing
appreciation for their attendance. Andy noted that along with good attendance, nobody
left early, so people were engaged. Becca also appreciated the attendance,
engagement, and hoped the commissioners recognized the community was engaged.
Allen attended the Commissioner’s consent agenda: where the new insurance resolution was presented. They are adding property insurance again this year (WA State Risk Pool), but are removing the sheriff boat insurance this time. It was noted that the committee should be asking for the Deficit Reimbursement Report soon as it is usually out in April.

Business for GIFC term beginning March 2024:

New Website: Gabe
Domain name: guemesferry.org was purchased.
Will take some time to get set up, but it will be good to have our own space.
Home page with general information about committee and mission.
Minutes will be posted here now once up and running.
Will take some time to get historical data migrated over, but priority is getting basics set up first.
Page of links to county information would be a good addition.

Survey
Only got a couple responses, but not discouraged.
Want to re-run it again with feedback from the community.

Upcoming GIFC engagement with Skagit County
What is plan-b? What if we don’t get the money? Not waiting until the election results are in.Is money going away, can it be extended?
What elements of the new ferry concept are going to move ahead now regardless of ferry funding?
New ticketing system, ticket booth, and holding lanes. Is that moving forward?
Send a letter to commissioners and public works. Committee to follow up via email with thoughts.
March 23rd Skagit Transit presentation 1:00 Saturday Anacortes Public Library
Thanks to Becca and Allen for engaging with the reporter writing the article on state ferry funding.

Adjourn 8:30