Proposed Amendment to 55%/45% Should Be Reviewed

Opinion and Action.  I became concerned after reading that the County Council plans to introduce an amendment to the ferry fund / fare structure tomorrow night  (Council meeting 6/5/2012) without following the Council’s general policy of reviewing proposed legislation with fiscal consequences.   After reading the proposed amendment (AB2012-197) , I emailed the Council requesting simply [...]

ALERT: Ferry Advisory Committee on Council Agenda

Just received notice from Dana Brown-Davis in the County Council office at 11:16am today that the following is being added to the County Council agenda for tonight, 4/24: PLEASE ADD TO COUNCIL, INTRODUCTION: 4. Nomination and appointment to fill vacancies on the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee – various applicants (AB2012-044A) (applications received to date are [...]

Public Works Ferry Committee Report on Some Task Force Recommendations

At long last, Public Works (which now has its own ferry committee; wonder how much that costs!) as reported on its evaluation of some of the 2011 Ferry Task Force recommendations.  Thanks to Ken Mann for posting the inter-departmental memo from Public Works on Google docs and for alerting people on his Facebook page. Public [...]

Large Load Trucks Prohibited During Low Tides

Public Works just posted a new schedule for when large trucks (over 40,000 GVW) will be prohibited from using the ferry, due to “less than zero” tide conditions.  This is to reduce damage to the docks. Please read this table — there are a lot of hours during many days in April-August where high-weight trucks [...]

Old Parking Lot Closes, New Parking Map

As planned, Public Works announced that the fenced lot will be closed as of April 16.  A new parking area is already available along Lummi Shore Road (like during dry dock; see map). Whether or not dawn-to-dusk security will be continue has not been announced yet.  The Whatcom County Ferry website has both announcements.

Possible Fare Change for Children?

On their Agenda for tomorrow night, Tuesday March 27, 2012, the County Council will introduce (not vote on) an ordinance to change ferry fares just for children (Item 2) and also to build pedestrian walkway at Gooseberry, per The Great Lease (in Item 3). Both are under “Introduction Items”. Public hearings will be scheduled, a [...]

Read Advisory Committee Applications

As she promised, Jill Nixon (County Council clerk) has put submitted applications for the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee on line.  You can read them here. As of today,  only five people (all islanders) have applied.  Her intent is to update this as new applicants submit their forms.

Announcement: Gooseberry Pt Lot Closes Monday April 16, 2012

Here’s Public Works’ official notice about the secure (fenced) Gooseberry Pt parking lot closing on April 16, 2012.  Mike McKenzie, from private conversations with Frank Abart, has said that additional unsecured roadside parking (right side of road, past the ferry) will be added, perhaps as many as 55 spaces.

“Queuing Alternatives Analysis” Before County Council 2/28

County Council will be asked to vote next Tuesday, 2/28,  on a $22,460 contract for a “Queuing Alternatives Analysis” at the Gooseberry Point dock area. The matter is on the Council’s Consent Agenda, which means the Council expects to agree unanimously to approve the expenditure.* Here is the exact wording on the Council’s agenda, along [...]

Updated Research & Different Conclusion on Plattsburgh Ferry

<my apologies – I meant to post this 10 day ago but forgot to hit ‘publish’.  wynne> Jim Dickinson has responded to Frank Abart’s 2008 report to Pete Kremen (included in full here, from a B’ham Herald blog post by John Stark). That report, after some more investigation by PW, was sent recently to Jack [...]