The first step in devising any plan is intelligence: You have to know how things are to determine how things will be.

To that end, the volunteers working on the next Port of South Whidbey comprehensive plan met with port director Ed Field on Monday for a mini “State of the Port” review, plus an in-depth examination of the port’s holdings.

The new comprehensive plan will cover the span of March 2007 to February 2013. The port has set a tentative deadline of April to finish a final draft that can be presented for public review, and commissioners hope to adopt the plan at their meeting the following month.

Commissioners said they are committed to building tourism, enhancing recreation facilities and pressing for additional economic development.

The committee reviewing the port’s comp plan includes representatives from across the South End: Sue Ellen White, Lynn Swanson and Mikkel Husted from Clinton; Peter Casale, Jack Lynch and Marty Behr of Langley; and Cliff Bjork, John McFarland and Scott Fleming of Freeland.

“It’s a good cross-section of people from a variety of backgrounds,” Lynch said.

“Our job is to look at the strategic direction and then give commissioners a general sense of where they need to focus their attention,” he explained.

The work of the committee is broad, but with few strings attached. The group isn’t expected to develop detailed justifications for their recommendations, or implementation plans.

But before the committee could look ahead, a look back was necessary. Members were given a detailed look at the port’s properties,

The port owns 25 percent of three properties in Freeland, Mutiny Bay and Maxwelton Beach.

The port maintains the dock at Freeland and the county handles on-shore duties.

At Mutiny, the port owns the ramp and one lot to the south. The port is currently upgrading the bathroom at Maxwelton Beach and considering the possibility of upgrading the bleachers at Dave Mackie Park’s baseball diamond.

“The neighbors hold a terrific parade every year and the idea of a stand that would swivel 180 degrees has been considered,” Field said.

The port has total control over Possession Park, where the port has updated the on-site caretaker residence and are working on a new septic system. A salmon-habitat project may also come to fruition there.

“The Skagit River Cooperative folks are conducting a feasibility study to see if the 10-acre marshland area is suitable for a salmon estuary habitat,” Field told the committee.

“Depending on their findings, we’ll approach local landowners to see if they’re interested in joining with us. If not, commissioners have indicated they approve of the estuary concept, but we need to see what the study finds,” he said.

Field is especially proud of the wholly-owned Clinton Beach park that was finished last spring.

“It was a long process that was championed by a wide section of island residents,” he said. “Technically, it’s a passenger-ferry support area and if that means of transport becomes a reality, we’ll be ready.”

The committee also dissected the Bush Point boat launch, a sore point for the port.

As local residents can attest, the $1.8 million improvement project isn’t done yet.

Field has high hopes, however.

“By the end of the month, the floats we’ve been waiting for should be delivered,” he said. “We’ll see that they work, then store them on port property until spring.”

In 1998, the port reached a deal with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to upgrade the boat launch ramp at Bush Point so boaters and fishers would have better access to the west side of the island. When grant funds were exhausted, the port ponied up $115,000 to get the job finished. Even so, completion of the launch project has been delayed due to administrative, construction and environmental problems.

Lynch was curious about the strange surface used for the new ramp. Field answered, it all has to do with surf smelt.

“When this particular species was found to inhabit the shoreline, the state decreed a special grid design be used,” he said. “The real concern is sand building up over time.”

Other questions posed by committee members hit on disability access, the caretaker’s role at Bush Point, fishing and the neighbors and lighting.

“For some reason, the state installed lights that polluted the neighborhood but we’ve modified them,” Field said. “The key is to get the project finished, take control, evaluate the situation and make any corrections needed.”

The port will assume a 35-year lease over the property once it finalizes and agreement with the state after the improvement project is complete.

Finally, Field brought the committee up to speed on events in Langley, where the port shares ownership with the city on two parcels that bracket the boat launch ramp in the marina.

In 2003, the city and port signed two contracts to improve the boat ramp and upgrade the marina. The city also kicked in money, and the project is currently in the permitting stage. Construction is slated to begin after the new year.

The port has also helped pay for a master plan for the marina that envisions a 200-slip harbor that could cost upwards of $10 million.

The committee is expected to look at the master plan proposal again, especially since the city recently suggested selling its marina to the port.

Another big question for the committee is the 400-foot floating dock purchased by the port from Bremerton.

The dock will be delivered next summer, and conventional wisdom dictates it will be anchored parallel to the shore to offer space for transient boaters.

Field said it could be used elsewhere, though.

“One side of the pier is designed to hold back waves and give protection to boats in the harbor,” Field said. “However, a lot of engineering work may be required to maximize its usefulness.”

Maintenance of the port’s properties is sure to be a top priority of the new comprehensive plan.

“A lot of South Whidbey residents use our facilities year-around and we want to be sure they stay in top condition,” Field said.

On Dec. 4, the committee will hear from county and city of Langley officials.

The next regular port meeting is at 7:30 a.m., Dec. 13 at Freeland’s Trinity Lutheran Church.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-53000 or jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.