About the Port of Coupeville.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Purpose
Future - Comprehensive Plan
History
Budget
Board of Commissioners
Meetings & Agendas
Contact Information
Introduction
Coupeville was founded by Captain Coupe on the south side of Penn Cove on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound area of Washington. The town has long been a port and a center for fishing and shell fish. The Washington State Port District of Coupeville was established in November 1966 by a vote of the residents of Central Whidbey Island - see History below.
Purpose
The two major purposes of any district port are:
- Primary mission is to promote economic development
- Ports are our public sector trade link
The Port of Coupeville currently pursues these goals through its activities within the district at the Coupeville Wharf and Marina, and at the Greenbank Farm. Both these areas are more fully described elsewhere on this site.
In recognition of the special environmental characteristics of central Whidbey Island, the Port has also adopted the following purposes:
- Protection of the environment
- Encouragement of eco-tourism
Voters play several important roles:
- Determine district boundaries
- Approve mission and finances
- Elect commissioners
Future
In May, 2007 a Comprehensive Plan to guide the Port investments for twenty years was approved and adopted by the Board of Commissioners. The Plan can be found on this web site by clicking on the icon below.
Comprehensive Plan
The Port of Coupeville requested public approval on the November, 2008 General Election ballot for an increase in the Port's annual levy of 6 cents per $1,000 property tax valuation for the years 2009-2017. This increase would have relieved the Port of the remaining debt burden incurred by the purchase of the Greenbank Farm in 1997 and paid the annual fee owed to the Greenbank Farm Management Group for the next nine years. Of the 7085 registered voters in the Port district over 4000 voted to deny this request. Click here for facts concerning this request. The Board of Commissioners will determine how best to continue to bear the debt burden while continuing to support the increasingly expensive operations and maintenance of the buildings and infrastructure of the Coupeville Wharf and the Greenbank Farm.
The Board of Commissioners made the following briefing on the first 3-year review of the Port's Comprehensive Plan 2007-2026 available to the public at a Special Meeting at the Greenbank Farm on February, 22, 2010. The Board will entertain public comments on the results of this 3-year review at their next regular meeting (10:30 am, Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at the Coupeville Recreation Hall)
Click to download a 2.2Mbytes PowerPoint File
History
| November, 1966 | The Port of Coupeville was established |
| 1969 | The new Port of Coupeville purchased the Wharf for $28,400. | 1997 | Greenbank Farm was purchased by Island County, Nature Conservancy and the Port of Coupeville. The Port of Coupeville owns 151 acres that include all the barns and buildings, and contracts with the Greenbank Farm Management Group to manage the farm. |
Budget
The Board of Commissioners of the Port of Coupeville met in regular public session on October 1, 2009, considered, and unanimously voted to adopt the Final Budget for 2010. The detailed budget document can be viewed here and copies can be obtained at the Port Office, #24 Front Street, Coupeville, WA
Board of Commissioners
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Mr. Marshall Bronson President Commissioner District 1 |
Ms. Ann McDonald Vice President Commissioner District 3 |
Ms. Benye Weber Secretary Commissioner District 2 |
MEETINGS:
The Board meets monthly in open public session to conduct all Port business. The meetings begin at 10:30 am on the second Wednesday of each month and are held at various locations in the Town of Coupeville, given on the Agendas.The next regular meeting will be held on June 9 in Coupeville - the Agenda (as of June 6) can be found here.
ARCHIVES: Approved minutes of previous meetings.
BYLAWS: The Bylaws of the Port of Coupeville were adopted May 9, 2009. A copy can be seen by clicking here.
Contact Information
All enquiries should be addressed to:
|
Mr. James M. Patton Executive Director P.O. Box 577 24 Front Street Coupeville WA 98239 (360) 678-5020 |
Ms. Long Bechard Harbor Master P.O. Box 577 24 Front Street Coupeville WA 98239 (360) 678-5020 |
Mr. Robert Y Elphick Webmaster P.O. Box 577 24 Front Street Coupeville WA 98239 (360) 678-5020 |