Submitted by the League of Women Voters Observer Corps.
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to expand public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.
County Council meeting March 13
The Council set a public hearing for March 21 for approval of setting up a Safety Committee of County employees to review accident reports and make recommendations to improve workplace safety in county facilities.
To further consider the proposals for the Argyle Lots, the Council will invite both parties to each make a 40-minute presentation to Council on March 21 to answer questions about financing, envisioned timelines, and other questions presented by council members.
The Council reviewed progress on bills in the state legislature. The Council may discuss how to strengthen advocacy on addressing education funding. The bill to remove the levy lid lift is dead; a scaled-back special education bill is moving forward. The funding issues facing the schools are serious; Lopez School District is particularly stressed.
The extension of a tax that supports veterans and mental health is moving forward.
The solid waste extended producer responsibility bill is dead.
The County seeks to build productive partnerships with tribal nations that have treaty rights in the islands. As this involves complex cultural issues that vary among tribes, the Council plans to organize cultural competency training and to assign specific staff as liaison points. They will review the wording and guidelines for using the Coast Salish acknowledgment.
They will also review public fees for public access to county facilities in relation to tribes.
Port Commission meeting March 8
The Gathering of the Eagles Canoe Journey group attended the meeting and gave a presentation on their heritage and the special place that the islands represent to their culture. They are looking for a safe place on San Juan Island to land their canoes and build a fire as they stop over on their journey in late May.
Jay Julius of the Lummi Nation presented ideas for approval to bring a totem to be placed at the marina and a virtual reality interpretive center in the clock building. The interpretive center will be an educational destination to connect people to the stories of the local indigenous people. The motion to accept the offer of the totem was approved (2-1), though the concern was raised with there had not been usual public input. Timing and logistics need to be worked out.
The Commission approved a motion to contract with Reid Middleton as an on-call Marina Engineer after evaluating the qualifications of four companies.
The Commission approved the AIP44 Airport Energy Assessment Study Grant Application to the FAA.
The Commissioners authorized the Executive Director to award the Taxiway A contract to the lowest responsive bidder. Most of the costs will be covered by insurance and the balance will be covered by the port. Though the competition will be strong, the outlook for getting congressional funding for a state-of-the-art travelift looks promising.
The Commission discussed the possibility of having renewable diesel available on the island. Cherry Point offers this alternative. Although not available now, the Port hopes to offer it in the future.
Spring maintenance projects are underway and include dock remediation, shower improvements, replacing water lines and other general upgrades.
Board of Health meeting, March 15
Mark Tompkins, Director of Health and Community Services reported the regional Accountable Community Health board is receiving and reviewing project proposals mainly from the Family Resource Centers. Christine Minney and Kyle Davies reported the Community Collaboration Committee would meet March 24 and again on April 28. Jane Fuller attended the North Sound
Behavioral Health meeting last week with Community Health Director Barbara LaBrash and will get an orientation next week. The County needs to nominate someone to the Opium Abatement Council. Mark Tompkins will report on this to the Council on April 4. Jane Fuller met with the executive director of the Northwest Regional Council and Christine Minney will meet with her and will get an overview of funding sources.
Move forward on a Community Health Assessment, Jane Fuller and Lisa DiGiorgio will be the two Board of Health members on the Community Health Assessment Advisory Committee. Some staff will be assigned to the committee and then they will open to external members.
The elected officials on the Board of Health approved the new health and community service fees and a sliding scale. The new fee schedule reduces many fees, most down to $10 and eliminates others such as most pediatric services, and HIV and STI testing. There is no refusal for inability to pay and fees can also be reduced according to self-reported income standards.
Environmental service fees remain unchanged.
Environmental Health Manager Kyle Dodd reported on County programs in 2022, including sewer and sanitation services, seafood and biotoxin monitoring, food safety, water recreation safety, drinking water, solid waste, animal bites (rabies) monitoring.
The Board then adjourned to the Fairground for the launching of the Lucy B. Mobile Health Outreach Van which will bring community health services to locales on all the ferry served islands.
Town Council meeting March 16
During public comment, a citizen, David Mason, stated that said he had a legal opinion that Town could deem the property formerly occupied by Herb’s Taverna blight and acquire it by eminent domain. compensating the property owner; he urged the Town to do so. He also advocated acquiring the former Lifecare site from the Library for workforce housing and expressed concern about a development on Roche Harbor Road.
Two citizens spoke in favor of permitting food trucks and were informed of an upcoming working session of the Planning Commission to discuss the matter.
Mayor Jackson proclaimed March Women’s History Month in the Town of Friday Harbor. The Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding and a Collective Bargaining Agreement with their employee union.
The Council approved inspection and debris removal at the Lawson Pond water intake, an amendment to the Water System Plan Update with a deadline of September for completion, a generator maintenance contract for one year, with potential options for more cost-effective maintenance to be investigated for next year, including encouraging local companies to register as bidders.
The Council approved getting detailed options on the Gretchen bench by Landscape Forms for new town benches.
The Council discussed ways to honor the contributions of local citizen Vern Howard and decided on issuing a proclamation of appreciation.
Planning Department informed the Council about State legislation and proposals to reduce connection fees as an incentive for affordable housing. As they draft new rules for Detached Accessory Dwelling Units, open questions are whether to require such units to be metered separately or included under the main unit meter, whether to prorate connect fees, and whether the property owner must reside on the property to be eligible for a permit.
The Council expressed interest in what was happening at the County on the Argyle Lots RFP, which will require Town review and permitting. The County Council will hear from the two parties at the March 21 County Council Meeting.
The Administrator reported the Town will take part with the County on a student created Adopt-A-Road program. She is negotiating an agreement with Fire District 3 to do fire safety inspections for
businesses in town.
The session was continued until March 29 at noon when the Council will review and award the sewer System Construction Contract.
