Council told burlap bags are on way out

There were two sure signs at last week's La Conner Town Council meeting that spring is in the offing.

The first was the presentation by Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Executive Director Cindy Verge of the official poster, a depiction by artist Kerry Clavadetscher of a Savannah sparrow perched on a favorite tulip.

The second was an announce-ment by Town Public Works Director Brian Lease that king tide winter flood protection sandbags will be picked up at the end of the month. The bags have been in place along the waterfront and in low-lying areas since late December, when La Conner was deluged with saltwater flooding that caused nearly $2 million in property damage.

"I have a plan to start (sandbag removal) no later than the 27th," Lease told Council. "We'll start downtown and work our way out."

As for the tulip poster, Verge praised it as a "delightful job" on the part of Clavadetscher, who has a bachelor's degree in physics from Yale and holds a natural science illustration certificate from the University of Washington.

"In the poster," Verge said, "she has hidden things that are important in her life. I think it's going to be a real popular poster."

Town Administrator Scott Thomas, in his monthly report, told Hayes and Council members there are several bills under consideration in the state legislature "that may have significant ramifications for La Conner."

One is House Bill 1293, which eliminates external design review boards, allowing only administrative review of design standards. Thomas said under the proposed legislation, towns and cities would be able to apply only clear and objective regulations to the external design of commercial development, except for designated landmarks or historic districts.

"The bill passed the house," Thomas said, "and is now in the senate. Whether the bill survives and how it applies to La Conner is in question."

Town officials praised a detailed report compiled by Town Assistant Planner Ajah Eills on sea level rise and its impact on La Conner.

"Over the next 30 years," Eills stated in her memo, "sea level rise will create a regime shift in coastal flooding, causing more damaging flooding more often. In 2060, La Conner can expect to see today's 100-year flood every two years instead. Of course, this flood regime shift will affect all flooding in La Conner, not just the major flooding events."

Lease said that the burlap flood protection sandbags will be picked up later this month and be replaced next flood season with nylon bags.

"Once you start picking them up," Lease said, "they start to fall apart."

Town leaders were disappointed to learn that veteran planning commission member Liz Theaker intends to step down from the advisory panel next month.

"No. 1, she's brilliant," Hayes said of Theaker.

Hayes also alluded to his having opted to not seek a fifth four-year term. He compared a key achievement with critical infrastructure challenges in the coming decade.

"Projects like the boardwalk are the types of projects that are important and of great benefit – we love them – but if they don't happen the community still moves forward," Hayes said. "But looking ahead, at what the town will be facing in terms of sewer, water and flooding, if they don't happen, everything stops. They're critical."

An immediate critical need is assessing the health of Pioneer Park tree stands. Council entered into an agreement with Bartlett Tree Experts for consulting services.

"This is all about safety," Lease said. "The goal is to address hazards."

On the energy front, Councilmember Mary Wohleb closed the briskly paced 75-minute meeting reporting that the Town is "99.5 per cent ready" to apply for state Department of Commerce funds to solarize the fire station. The grant being sought would be implemented in two phases, the first for a feasibility study and the second to cover installation.