The Vashon-Maury Island Community Council (VMICC) held its general meeting on Oct. 18, on Zoom.

The full agenda included a report from Major Joe Hodgson, the Council’s new liaison to the King County Sheriff’s Office, which indicated a low crime rate on the island. Hodgson will continue to report on a bimonthly basis.

Four Puget Sound Energy officials gave a detailed talk on PSE’s Clean Energy Implementation Plan. PSE’s intent is to have 60% of its energy from clean sources by 2025 and 100% by 2045. Audience questions raised concern over PSE’s ongoing support for natural gas, which is a significant polluter of water and air.

The meeting also included a report from Justin Hirsch, one of Vashon’s representatives to Washington State Ferries. Currently one of those spots is vacant. Anyone interested can contact any VMICC representative listed on vmicc.net. Hirsch explained the slowdowns are occurring due to low ridership during COVID, hence lower income, lower priority of the state legislature, fewer training programs, attrition of workers due to COVID both from illness, sequestration and vaccination issues.

David Vogel, who is president of VMICC, noted that the island also can benefit from ample participation in the Fauntleroy Dock Repair project, which will have a huge effect on islanders.

Jo Ann Herbert reported that after a successful meeting with King County Library, trees and bushes around Vashon’s library will not be pruned during the nesting months of February through August. She urged other gardeners to follow the same practice.

At the next VMICC meeting, a vote will be taken on a proposal to endorse King County’s updated building codes for commercial and large structures. A full text of the proposal, as well as a complete transcript of the meeting, is available on the Community Council’s website, vmicc.net.

The Council meets on the third Monday of the month — the next meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, on Zoom. Look for the Zoom link both for video and phone participants at vmicc.net. All who have an interest in the island are welcome to join a meeting.

— C. Hunter Davis is a board member of the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council.