Submitted by the League of Women Voters Observer Corps, a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to aid public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.
County Council regular meeting of Nov. 5
The Council reviewed the third set of 2024 proposed budget amendments and set a public hearing for Dec. 3. The amendments appropriate additional revenues and expenses as well as changes to actual spending and funding sources. They reviewed and set a hearing for the 2025 budget mid-biennium review. Expected revenue has increased by a greater amount than additional expenditures leaving the projected end 2024/beginning 2025 cash higher than anticipated with an anticipated cash cushion of a little over $1 million. After approval of additional funding requests, an update on remaining ARPA funds (Covid-era federal supplemental funding) was added to the Dec. 2 agenda.
The Council reviewed and set a public hearing for the 2025 Capital Improvement Plan and the Six-Year Plan for Dec. 3. Most projects in the plan have been reviewed previously, but later in the meeting Council approved adding the Weeks Point Way Restoration project on Lopez to the plan. Environmental stewardship will work with a barge operator to ensure the area can still be used as a barge landing.
The Council approved the cancellation of unclaimed warrants from previous years. They clarified that this removes these payments from the books, but if a vendor should at some point request payment, they can reinstate their claim. The Council approved the 2025 clean water utility charge which will now be a flat rate for San Juan, Orcas and Lopez islands of $124 per equivalent service unit and $92 for Shaw and other islands. Previously the rates varied slightly from island to island, so there are either small increases or drops for individual islands.
After a protracted discussion, the Council approved grants recommended by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for all grantees except the Visitors Bureau. The Council previously directed that a new three-year contract with a flat fee was their preference; however, the LTAC recommended continuing a base payment and performance bonus. The Council learned at the meeting that they cannot enter a contract without funds already on hand for the entire contract term. The Council sent the recommendation back to the LTAC and will ask the Visitors Bureau to report on their performance measures at an upcoming meeting. The Council was concerned about constituent opposition to the level of tourism promotion, but also about the immediate need to replace the Visitor Bureau contract that expires Dec. 31.
The Council postponed the scheduled consideration of the Tribal Engagement Framework to Nov. 12. They added review and approval of the Department of Commerce emergency transportation funding contract to the Nov. 12 agenda.
Friday Harbor Town Council regular meeting of Nov. 7
Mayor Ray Jackson presented a certificate of appreciation to Frank Burns for 30 years of service in the town water department. He proclaimed November National Gratitude Month.
The Chamber of Commerce runs the Visitors Information Center which has rising costs. They presented their request for LTAC funds for the July 4 events, including the usual $15K for fireworks and an additional $3,800 for the parade, because insurance for the event went from $250 to $2,500. The remaining funds are for radios to coordinate the event. The Council approved the request. The Tree Lighting event will be on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.
The Council and mayor agreed to sign a group letter on ferry issues for the upcoming legislative session from ferry-served communities and organizations from around Puget Sound. They will circulate the letter to other county organizations that may wish to sign.
The Town’s Department of Community Development is working with the County on finalizing the Land Capacity Analysis for the Comp Plan update and is taking part in the Climate Resiliency focus group meetings. They are working on a design ordinance for the town. They will start internal electronic permit processing this month and later will eventually have public access to electronic permit processing.
Finance director Bethany Berry did a preliminary budget review focused on revenues and information on two revenue-related ordinances. Following a public hearing, the Council approved the ordinances authorizing 2025 levy certification and setting rental rates for town properties for 2025.
Denice Kulseth, administrator, thanked town residents for passing the road levy with a solid 69% approval and thanked the citizen advocacy team. A legislative update for small cities will be presented at a weekend gathering in Mukilteo which she will attend. The court hearing on the County lawsuit regarding water at the fairgrounds took place on Oct. 22. There is no date for when a decision will be announced. She is working on a way forward for the wastewater treatment plant and getting good support from the WA Department of Commerce. She has confirmed they can set different water rates for out-of-town users. An arborist assessed the Dutch elms and will provide a report soon. He recommended the lights be removed from the trees. There are new lights up in Sunshine Alley.
Friday Harbor Port Commission regular meeting of Nov. 8
The Commission approved the 2025 budget resolutions for the property tax levy continuing at the standard levy rate and harbor improvements in the waterfront master plan. They approved a change order for the Northwest Taxi Lane construction to cover the internal transfer of funds. The project went over budget due to extra paving needs. They approved the assignment of the sublease for Hangar S-3 to Golf Sierra LLC.
The Washington Public Ports Association and the state confirmed that the $7 million electrification grant will not be affected by changes in the federal administration.
Commissioner Marrett will attend the WPPA meeting in December.
A port staff member went to the first of two facility security officer training sessions in Seattle. Once qualified he can help the coast guard process the arrival of international ships. Commissioner Goodheart offered to be the representative for the Port on the Marine Resources Committee.
SJI Fire District regular meeting of Nov. 8
The commissioners thanked the voters for approving the fire levy and the citizens committee that supported it. They issued a press release thanking everyone and noted the funds would be used to make the community safer. They had received two thank you letters, one of which included a donation.
The commission held a public hearing and approved setting the fire district tax for 2025. They reviewed and adopted the preliminary 2025 budget, which now includes the post-levy revenues projected at just under $4.7 million. Most expenditures had been set with the 2024 levels; with levy passage, few priority expense items were increased including some safety items and personnel expenses. It will be another six months before new revenues start to come in and the priority will be on rebuilding reserves. They will need contingency funds to deal with Hannah Heights issues. Other adjustments will be made during the midyear budget reviews and amendments. The chief projects a year-end cash balance of about $600K.
They received a used firetruck from the Forest Service surplus that will be used to supplement service for the outer islands. They are still working to launch their program to do fire inspections for businesses in Friday Harbor. They are looking to implement service agreements with the Sheriff’s Office and Coroner. All the county fire districts are working on renegotiating their contracts with the County Fire Marshall. They are updating their agreement with the EMS.
They are negotiating with the Port to move the fireboat from the Friday Harbor Marina to Jensen’s Shipyard to help address parking challenges.
County Council regular meeting of Nov. 12
Department heads introduced new staff members: a courthouse facilitator who will help people navigate legal processes and three recent additions to the Assessor’s Office. During public access, five residents spoke in support of the Cultural Access Initiative. Two residents spoke in favor of the resolution on the Tribal Engagement Framework.
After a public hearing, the Council approved three ordinances setting levies for land conservation, County roads and current expenses for 2025. The Council approved the SJC Tribal Engagement Framework and asked staff to work on some revisions to a letter to tribal governments about the resolution. They set a public hearing for Dec. 10 to move a parcel on Lopez from Farm and Agricultural Use to Farm and Ag Conservation. They set a public hearing for Dec. 10 to consider adding docket amendment requests to the DCD work plan.
They did second touch reviews of the 2024 budget amendments, the 2025 and Six-Year Capital Improvement Plans, the 2025 budget mid-biennium review and canceling prior years’ unclaimed warrants.
The Council heard the one-year report on the 32-hour workweek which is now posted at: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31157/32HWW-One-Year-Report_111224. The data continues to show improved retention and recruitment of staff with fewer and shorter vacancies and less use of sick time. However, most exempt (non-union) staff either work the same or more hours than before. Total actual hours worked fell only eight percent, in part because more positions were filled. There is continued interest in having a more uniform countywide schedule to reduce confusion and support cross-department collaboration. The County will continue to track staff and resident feedback.
The Council approved setting a public hearing for Dec. 10 for the Cultural Access initiative. Council Chair Fuller abstained. The prosecuting attorney presented a progress report on the planning code revisions. The first step in progress is reorganizing the code to keep all references to specific areas together. This will help in finding conflicts and make the code easier for users and planners to navigate. The Council set a hearing for Dec. 10 to approve the proposed organization of topics. Actual amendments to the code will take place later in the process.
Council members and the county manager will attend the Washington counties conference next week.
