GIFC Minutes, Thursday, April 11, 2024 7pm
Allen Bush, Becca Fong, Gabe Murphy Andy Leech and Dave Shill. Guest Lisa Charnock
Intro / Q&A for Dave Shill
Follow up discussion on a potential meeting with Skagit County Public Works
With all of the anticipated ferry system changes coming up in the next several months, the GIFC would like to request a meeting with Public Works Ferry Management to get more information and to discuss a number of important topics. These are
- New Ticketing System
- Plans for Anacortes Terminal Modifications
- Washington State Kids Ride Free Funding
- Integration with Skagit Transit and Route 409
- Plans for Guemes Parking Lot Modifications
- Electric Ferry Funding Contingency
- Annual Ferry Deficit Reimbursement Report
- Mid-Year Budget Projections
If we do get a meeting, let’s prepare ahead of time questions we would like answered and send them a detailed list ahead of a meeting so they can prepare.If we do not get a meeting, what specific information would we like to request from SCPW to share with our constituents? Let’s compile a list and start requesting that information.
Website: What do we want to include?
We have edit capabilities for the website stuff right now, let me know if you would like to directly contribute and I can get you set up. Indirect contributions, e.g. suggestions, thoughts, writing articles or posts… all thoughts are welcome.
Some immediate thoughts, that may find homes in existing line items:
- Ferry Performance
- Ridership: annual/seasonal/changes
- Financials: costs; income; sources; historical and most recent
- Staffing: past/present/projected; seasonal changes
- How does the Guemes Ferry system compare with other similar systems; Pierce, Whatcom, “Columbia River”. Points of comparison might include ridership, sources of income, cost for customers, type of management system, ex. PW, contract operations and management, etc., number and type of vessels, plans and ongoing programs for replacement, modernization, etc.
- What alternative operations and management structures might be considered to provide safe, reliable and affordable ferry service for Guemes? This might include contracted commercial operation and management; privatized ferry service, other?
- The web site might include a place for posting articles written by individuals that relate to aspects of ferry. I think of the piece written recently about the insurance cost increases. Another topic could be the role of the ferry in disaster, medical and public safety situations. This area of the website could be populated with topics and articles provided by community members as well as GIFC members, past and present (careful of what we ask for here).
Email sent to our mailing list reminding them of Upcoming Meeting Dates:
Monday, April 22nd, 2024 from 5-7pm at the Anacortes Senior Center (1701 22nd Street, Anacortes) The Skagit County Commissioners will be hosting a community meeting in Anacortes on Monday, April 22nd, at 5:00pm at the Anacortes Senior Activity Center. The Skagit County Commissioners and representatives from Planning & Development Services, Public Health, Public Works, the Department of Emergency Management, Facilities Management, and the Sheriff’s Office will be in attendance to respond to community questions. We were told that it would Include Public Works and the ferry.
Monday, May 20th 2024 at 5pm at the Guemes Island Community Center – Public Works Town Hall on the new ticketing system. Public Works will be having an in-person public meeting for the new ticketing system, on May 20th at the Guemes Island Community Center 5:00pm. We were told by Skagit County that more information will be sent out via press releases and shared on their social media sites. The ferry committee sent this list of topics to The Commissioners and Public Works and were told that Grace (Kane), Public Works Director, and Rachel (Rowe), Ferry Manager, have our requested list of topics to consider for their agenda if they have the information available.
Meeting Adjourned 8:30 PM
Notes taken by Allen Bush
Guemesferry.org 