Saturday, February 1, 2014 • The South Whidbey Record
WWW.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.COM
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Funicular gets tacit Council of Governments go-ahead By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record Langley’s plan to move people up and down the Camano Avenue bluff got another nod in the right direction for a funding windfall. Langley city leaders hope to get nearly $268,000 out of a county Rural Economic Grant request. The Island County Council of Governments recommended the city’s plan for either a funicular or an elevator at its last meeting Jan. 22. “We believe they both serve the same purpose,” Langley Director of Community Planning Jeff Arango said. The previous plan was for a funicular, a track-mounted cart facing toward Saratoga Passage. Getting people and their belongings, which city council members envision as shopping bags, from the city’s downtown core to the marina was the impetus for the funicular. “At this point, we are still favoring the funicular, though we are listen-
PUBLIC ARTS CONTINUED FROM A4
by the city. In addition to overseeing capital project art, the commission would establish a public art program to plan, design, fund and implement installations in the city.
Acting LPD chief gets extension Dave Marks has at least a few more days as the acting chief of the Langley Police Department. After several years as an officer with city law enforcement, Marks was appointed as the acting chief in August when former chief Randy Heston retired. The contract was for six months and is set to expire Feb. 15, three days before the council’s
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Langley Director of Community Planning Jeff Arango discusses city planning issues at the Jan. 21 city council meeting. ing to the feasibility presentations and the architects’ drawings of Mr. (Paul) Schell,” said Langley Mayor Fred McCarthy at the meeting. As Wharf Street, the road that connects First Street to the South Whidbey Harbor boat marina, has changed in recent years, so has the bluff transit plan. One key property, Drake’s Landing, went through a
second meeting of the month. Mayor Fred McCarthy said extending Marks’ contract as the acting chief was necessary while the city continues to evaluate the size of its police force and looks for a new police chief. “Legally, we need to have an acting appointed chief,” McCarthy said. The mayor said Marks would present his study of the Langley Police Department’s staffing to the city council at the Feb. 18 meeting. Since Heston’s retirement, the police have worked on a three-officer rotation, including Marks. Heston successfully requested a staff increase for the 2013 budget for three full-time officers and a chief after 2012 had high overtime and reserve officer expenses. McCarthy said he would make a recom-
Introducing our new Real Estate Partner in Langley
change of ownership and options to purchase, with each listening to the city’s interest in a means of transportation from the water to the city. Now the favored option is a publicprivate partnership for a bridge and elevator. The bridge would reach out from Cascade Avenue to an elevator platform atop the Drake’s Landing
mendation to the city council about whether to keep the police force at three officers or increase it to four, which was budgeted for this year. The mayor received the study from Marks on Thursday and declined to say what his recommendation will be. “I’m not prepared to do that right now,” McCarthy said. Once the city council reviews the study, it will have the option to go forward with staffing at the budgeted four officers, or keeping it as is with three. With the size determined, then the city will post the job opening for the chief’s position.
property. Schell, owner of the Inn at Langley, has an option to buy the property and proposed a building that would keep the basic Drake’s structure. A cafe, two levels of residences, and an elevator that runs from the ground level up to the bridge platform are included in the design. Schell first proposed the idea at a Port of South Whidbey commissioners meeting in April 2013. At the time, he estimated the cost of the elevator and viewing platform at $240,000, less than the estimated $250,000 funicular. Back in 2012, the city was awarded $232,000 to widen Wharf Street, but that plan was scrapped in favor of creating a way for people to get up the steep hill with greater ease. Langley may have up to $500,000 in grant funding for work on the elevator or funicular project. McCarthy estimated the total cost at about $877,000. “We believe $500,000 will cover the city’s costs,” Arango said.
PORT Surveillance cameras go live Say cheese next time you visit a Port of South Whidbey boat launch. Feeds from three surveillance cameras went live on the port’s website Wednesday, Jan. 29. The live streams come from three locations: South Whidbey Harbor, Bush Point and Possession Beach and refreshes about every five seconds. Eight cameras in total were installed throughout port properties. The project was approved in Sept. 2013
Either option would prominently display the landscape that Langley enjoys. Glass doors would face east, looking out toward the Cascade Mountains and Saratoga Passage, on both the elevator and the funicular, as well as the viewing platform. “Views would be a major part of that proposal as well,” Arango said. Should the elevator plan fizzle, Arango said the funicular could not be simply moved along the bluff to a different location. The Wharf Street property is a rare commodity, and a different location would also require partnering with a different property owner or the port for space to land passengers, he said. “Essentially, we need a partner to be able to pull this project off,” Arango said. “I think the Drake is more of an ideal location.” Work, however, would likely not begin until 2015. The city will present the project again at an Island County Commissioners meeting either Feb. 12 or Feb. 19.
and funded by a FEMA grant of $65,000 to provide surveillance of the properties and waters. The project also aims to help boaters check conditions of the boat launches. “I’m so excited,” said Port Finance Manager
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