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 Dec. 13
During Public Access Lovel Pratt of Friends of the San Juans asked that council to again include getting oil spill equipment and personnel located in the county and to support whale deterrence during an oil spill.
In their discussion of legislative priorities at the federal and state level, the council included affordable housing, health and mental health, school funding, growler noise abatement, coastal erosion, oil spill issues, and ferries.
The council approved the recommendations for the 2023 Lodging Tax Awards by 2-1 with council member Wolf opposing due to the balance of distributions among islands.
The Auditor’s Office reported on grant administration. The council was asked to ensure that grant requests include indirect costs in the budget before approving them for submission, The Auditor’s office will be submitting a new procurement policy to meet federal standards for procurements using grant funding.
The council authorized the County Manager Mike Thomas to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to create an Opioid Abatement Council to monitor funds received from opioid settlements.
There was a ceremony to recognize county employees who had reached milestone anniversaries working for the county.
San Juan Island School Board, Dec. 14
The Board elected Sarah Werling Sandwith as the Chair for 2023, Barbara Bevens as the Vice Chair and re-elected T.J. Heller as the legislative liaison.
ASB Report: The student rep reported the Winter Dance would be Jan. 6. They had a door decorating contest and Friday would be traditional Wear your P.J.s Day
Superintendent’s Report: Faith Knight will be replacing Cynthia McVeigh as the new HR person. The school is still experiencing high levels of flu and colds, but down from the peak. The Washington School Districts Association WSDA Conference and meetings with state representatives will be February 26-27. Legislative priorities are fully funding Special Education and Safety Net Programs. One is issue- SJI wants regionalization revised to work correctly but it appears WSDA may lobby for a flat structure. The need to clarify positions on this.
Enrollment overall remains on target with a few losses in elementary and gains in high school. The state will use January enrollment as the snapshot for final funding. The 6% increase in Opalco rates and 5% increase in Town of Friday Harbor water rates will put pressure on the utilities expenses.
Friday Harbor Port Commission meeting Dec. 14
During public access, several people representing a coalition of groups planning to submit a proposal for creating a suite of facilities for agricultural and food producers on port property and asked the commissioners to allow more time before choosing a proposal. The commissioners were interested in the idea and encouraged the group to present as full a plan as possible by the Jan. 15 deadline and to come to the Jan. 25 meeting, where proposals would be reviewed and discussed. They were also encouraged to look at other port properties as potential sites.
The commissioners approved a contract for Shipyard Cove Marina Expansion of up to $175k and an agreement to manufacture floats for SJ County for Orcas Landing.
There is a proposal to put a Native American Welcome Pole for Friday Harbor on port property and it was decided the deck by the clock tower would be the best location.
The Shipyard Cove expansion design will include a free breakwater which would provide unserviced tie-up moorage on two sides for larger craft.
The commission discussed the process and schedule for the Jensen and Shipyard Cove Master Plan Update. There are key priority and policy questions that the commission needs to decide on after which they may reconstitute a Citizens Advisory Committee to get additional public and stakeholder input. They will seek information on what environmental cleanup measures are available to inform consideration of future uses.
The Maintenance Supervisor reported the power is back on at Jensen’s. They are doing some landscaping projects on port property, sprucing up the showers and replacing some pumps.
The commission agreed to accept a $684 insurance settlement for Jensens.
Port director Todd Nicholson reported the only bid for the port restroom remodel was $ 1.5 million, versus an estimated $400 thousand cost. He proposed updating the showers and replacing the portable bathroom. The Commissioners will make one more attempt to find a local contractor for the job, as the plan was to use the space occupied by the portable for badly needed parking.
A commissioner met with a group interested in getting a glass crusher on San Juan Island and possibly locating it on port property. One key will be updating local codes to allow or require crushed glass in construction uses.
Friday Harbor Town Council, Dec. 15
There were no comments from the Public on the final 2022 Town Budget Amendments. Final adoption of the 2022 amendments and the adoption of the 2023 Town Budget were postponed to the newly scheduled Dec. 29 meeting at noon.
The council approved six ordinances to change water, sewer and stormwater rates and connection fees.
The council authorized to the Town to enter into an agreement with the SJ County Economic Development council to promote economic development in the Town of Friday Harbor.
The council approved lodging tax grants for tourism promotion for 2023 to the Ag Guild, Cutting, FH Film Festival, SJIMA, the Whale Museum, SJI Chamber of Commerce, the SJ Community Theater, Archipelago, and the SJC Arts Council.
The council amended and agreement to Grey Osborne for the McDonald Street Reconstruction Project.
The Community Development and Planning Department provided an update on several projects in town. The foundations are going in for the rebuild of Crystal Seas; Windemere has submitted plans and the permits should be issued by spring.
There are rebuild plans for Cynthia’s and a neighboring lot, and for Friday Harbor House. In the first four months of 2023 the CDPD will be working with the Council to update the Housing Action Plan. The Council reviewed and approved a rebuild for China Pearl/Bluewater which will not change the footprint but will add seven residential units on the upper floors for vacation rentals.
Administrator Denice Kulseth reviewed the accomplishments of 2022 and noted that for 2023 they will begin to plan and pursue newly available funding for a new water treatment plant. She hopes to have a collective bargaining agreement ready for approval at the Dec. 29 meeting.
