Anacortes council adopts community forest lands plan, advances code changes to enforce trail rules

The Anacortes City Council on May 4 unanimously adopted Resolution 3213, an updated Anacortes Community Forest Lands (ACFL) plan intended to guide forest management for the next five years, and advanced related code changes in Ordinance 5029 for further consideration.

Mr. Vokes introduced the plan update, telling the council it was a "years in the making" document and noting staff added wording at the urging of Miss Molton to flag the possible addition of a second maintenance position and its costs. Council member Miss Hunt said she "support[s] this plan" and called it "a great step forward into the next five years," while urging additional work on financial sustainability, measurable priorities and fire-safety measures. Mr. Young moved to adopt the resolution; the council adopted it by voice vote.

Council then heard a first reading of Ordinance 5029, which would add enforcement and penalties for violations of posted ACFL restrictions, define trail-use designations, clarify conservation-easement language and place certain forest-related capital projects into the city's capital facilities planning process. Mr. Lunsford said the ordinance would give parks staff and the police department a mechanism to address off-trail use and repeat violations, including the ability to issue infractions under the cited RCW.

The ordinance also includes a new conservation-easement program update and a proposed increase in the conservation-easement fee to $2,000 per acre (an inflation adjustment from a prior $1,000 rate). Staff told council the fee increase is intended to grow the Forest Lands Endowment and support stewardship; Mayor Walters said recent bequests and endowment interest help fund stewardship and acquisition efforts.

Council members discussed how enforcement would work in practice, with Mr. Fantini asking whether the parks department has capacity and staff answering that APD would assist and that a first-contact conversation could precede a citation. Miss Hunt asked whether the city's existing leash law (AMC 604100) made additional leash signage necessary; staff responded that the citywide leash law remains in force.

Ordinance 5029 also proposes a drone policy that would prohibit takeoffs and landings of unmanned aircraft on ACFL lands except for permitted public-safety or permitted filming uses; councilmembers suggested the city consider a small number of designated drone-launch locations to accommodate hobbyists, while commenters reminded the council to consider FAA rules where forest lands adjoin airport zones.

Public commenters urged a conservative approach: a representative of Evergreen Islands objected to including a kayak launch in the capital facilities plan and urged that the ACFL remain "wild," and another speaker emphasized that management actions should be guided by "best available science." Staff and volunteers who worked on the plan were repeatedly thanked during the discussion.

Next steps: Council directed staff to return Ordinance 5029 with corrections and the staff-suggested edits next week for further consideration on the regular agenda with opportunity for more public comment.

The resolution adoption takes immediate effect as council recorded the voice vote; the ordinance is at first reading and will return for subsequent action.