Our Lummi Island Community

LUMMI ISLAND WORK GROUP – Work Concluded November, 2023

Table Of Contents
  1. What we are
  2. Members
  3. Announcements
  4. Contacts
  5. Documents
  6. Prior announcements / Notes

What we are

The Lummi Island Work Group is a group of islanders who came together to represent islanders’ interests around our ferry fares and codes. We are a diverse group with multiple areas of expertise and abilities, but most importantly we love our island community and are committed to supporting it.

Members

  • Bob Anderson – Moderator
  • Charles Bailey
  • Rhayma Blake
  • Peter Earle
  • Rich Frye
  • Pam Gould
  • Diane Harper
  • Janice Holmes
  • Myra Ramos
  • Mary Ross
  • Catherine Shornick
  • Ralph Steele
  • Steve Thomas
  • Marissa Ourada

Contact the Work Group for Comments or Questions

Lummi Island Work Group Member Bios

 

Announcements

 

                                                            Creation of the Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee – Nov. 2023
 
Now that the new Ferry Committee has been created and is operating, please click on this link to the section of the website for the WCFAC, 
or go to the official Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee website.
 
https://ourlummiisland.org/info/org/wcfac/.   
 
https://www.whatcomcounty.us/521/Whatcom-County-Ferry-Advisory-Committee
 
 

Name Change for Ferry Advisory Committee

On 10/10/23 the Whatcom County Council enacted a new ordinance 2023-057for the Ferry Advisory Committee. The name Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee (LIFAC) was officially changed to Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee (WCFAC). Many changes were made including the number of members. The prior committee had been comprised of 7 members and that number is now raised to 9 members. The complete new ordinance is not posted on the county site yet, but here is a link to the new WCFAC ordinance.  

https://documents.whatcomcounty.us/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=5183887&dbid=0&repo=WC

Following is the notification of WCFAC vacancies and a link to applications

WHATCOM COUNTY FERRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
6 Vacancies. 

  • 3 vacancies for members who live or own properties on the island. Partial terms ending 1/31/2024 (one) and 1/31/2025 (two). 
  • 2 vacancies for members who do not live or own property on Lummi Island and who live in unincorporated Whatcom County. Full terms end 1/31/2026. Priority given to one Lummi Nation member.
  • 1 vacancy for a member who does not live or own property on Lummi Island. May live anywhere on the mainland. Partial term ends 1/31/2025.

All members must live in and be registered to vote in Whatcom County. The Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee provides review and recommendations to the Whatcom County Council and Executive on issues that affect the ongoing operations and infrastructure of ferry service to Lummi Island. The committee also provides a forum for those who depend upon Lummi Island ferry service to voice their ideas and concerns about the ferry service. Council-appointed.  Applications due in the County Council Office at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

Here is the application link

 
 
 

The County Council is holding two meetings of interest on Tuesday, September 26 

 At 3:25 PM, the County Committee of the Whole will consider:

  • Amendments to the ordinance that define LIFAC. Proposed changes include adjustments to the name (to Whatcom County Ferry Advisory Committee) and the number of committee members (from seven to nine), among other adjustments. New changes could also be introduced. The intent is for the Committee of the Whole to introduce an agreed upon ordinance at the Full Council meeting that evening at 6 PM.
  • Distribution of ARPA funds (American Rescue Plan Act) intended to reimburse Covid-related losses. Approximately $358,000 was lost in ferry revenue during Covid mitigation efforts.

At 6 PM, County Council Agenda includes introduction of proposed ordinance changes to the Ferry Advisory Committee. No action will be taken; public comments and a likely vote will occur at the next meeting on October 10. The hope is that new committee members would be appointed at the October 24th meeting, with advisory committee meetings commencing shortly thereafter. 

Links to associated documents are provided in each of the meeting agendas. The community and Work Group have provided feedback to the Council, Public Works and the County Executive.

Whatcom County Committee of the Whole Agenda 9/26/23  3:25 PM approx.

Whatcom Co. Council Meeting Agenda 9/26/23. 6 PM

————-

Contacts

Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee

Whatcom County Executive

Whatcom County Council 

the Work Group 

Documents

Prior announcements / Notes

Keywords

Ferry, Rates, Fares, Budget,
Main Menu
Our Lummi Island Community
Ferry / Travel / Weather