THE GUEMES ISLAND FERRY COMMITTEE CHARTER

A. The name of the committee shall be the Guemes Island Ferry Committee

B. The Committee shall continue to coordinate ferry related issues with the ferry users and the Skagit County Board of Commissioners.

C. The Committee’s principal areas of concern shall be:

1. Safe, courteous, reliable service

2. Well maintained facilities

3. Equitable fare structure

4. Prompt, adequate emergency services

5. Continued representation by an elected Ferry Committee.

D. The Ferry Committee shall be composed of 5 elected members.

1. Elected members shall serve five-year terms.

2. These terms will be staggered to ensure term overlap.

3. Initial term length will be determined by lot.

4. An election will be held annually.

5. The Committee shall replace members unable to complete their terms by committee appointment until the next election

6. Nominations for ferry committee candidates will be requested from the ferry user group at the quarterly ferry committee meeting held immediately preceding the annual election meeting. Nominations of candidates from the floor will also be requested at the annual election meeting.

7. To avoid conflict of interest, no County official, no County employee, nor anyone under contract to the County shall serve on the Ferry Committee.

E. The Ferry Committee shall hold public meetings quarterly with additional meetings as needed.

F. The Ferry Committee shall establish procedures including, but not limited to meeting times, locations of meetings and the production and distribution of meeting summaries.

G. Charter amendments may be made by a four-fifths majority vote of the Ferry Committee and with the acceptance of a two-thirds majority vote of those present at an annual election meeting and the acceptance of any changes by the Skagit County Board of Commissioners.

H. The Ferry Committee must be independent of all organizations.