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 regular meeting of July 22
San Juan County Council welcomed the new county manager to her first council meeting. During public comment, two Orcas residents spoke about the severe ferry service disruptions in July and the efforts of the Community Water Taxi to help those impacted.
Communications Director Erin Andrews reviewed the results of the recent communications survey. Over 700 residents responded. Their preferred methods to get county information would be through an e-mail newsletter, on-line editions of local newspapers, and the county website. The preferred channels for providing feedback were surveys and polls, calling or emailing County staff, and submitting questions and feedback online. The county plans to start a quarterly newsletter, redesign the county website, and to make the council meeting agenda topics more descriptive.
The environmental stewardship department reported on projects to monitor and analyze vessel traffic in the county, derelict vessel programs including prevention work, improvements at the Orcas transfer station, and challenges with cleaning streets to prevent problematic run-off in water supplies. Both vessel monitoring and derelict vessel programs are seeing solid progress and results. The Orcas Transfer Station has completed the compactor building, which includes solar panels producing twice as much power as the facility uses. They are working on how to compost organic waste, and exploring commercial solar on landfill, with state representative Alex Ramel coming this week to explore regulatory issues. Street cleaning and drainage ditch maintenance have been seriously challenged by equipment and labor shortages. The council approved an interlocal agreement with Skagit County and Friday Harbor for occasional use of the Skagit landfill for solid waste.
The county is moving forward with a tribal engagement beginning with the eight tribes with fishing rights and the Samish. The council approved a letter to the tribes regarding consultation on the comprehensive plan update.
Given the severe ferry service disruptions in July the council agreed that Chair Fuller will contact Gov. Jay Inslee’s office to request that the governor declare a state of emergency to release state funds to support the county in dealing with the disruption to county residents, businesses, and public services. The council approved of Chair Fuller inviting private groups, port directors, and transport operators to form a local transportation working group to share ideas on local transportation challenges. This will not be an official county advisory body.
County Council regular meeting of July 23
The meeting was on Shaw Island and began with county staff members introducing themselves. The chair said several Shaw residents had requested Item #2 on a Shaw Island sub-area plan standing committee be removed from the agenda, but it would remain as an information item, with no action taken. During public access ten Shaw residents spoke. Eight said Shaw islanders were happy with the current sub-area plan and did not want it changed, and thus saw no point in having a standing committee. Two members thanked the county for their attention to Shaw issues including public works and the post office and expressed support for possibly reviewing the 25-year-old area plan to ensure it reflected current needs.
The public works director said the council had approved the purchase of land on Shaw, for which they are submitting a request for it to be rezoned so it could be used to store material and waste for Shaw public works projects. Such projects would include road regrading, ditch repairs and culvert replacement to prepare for eventual chip sealing. Looking forward a marine facility was planned for Neck Point in five years. They will evaluate options to preserve and rehabilitate Blind Bay Road, which is affected by sea level rise, and is sometimes inundated during king tides.
The council explained that the Shaw Island sub-area plan itself, which is part of county code, calls for a Shaw Island sub-area standing committee with a responsibility to review the subarea plan every 5 years. The committee also potentially could review and make recommendations to the Planning Committee on building proposals on Shaw, as do subarea committees on Orcas and Lopez, giving the community an official input. A Shaw resident recently asked why a committee had never been created. Members must be Shaw Island residents who volunteer and fill out an application. Shaw residents as a community need to decide if they want such a committee, and if not, the code could be amended to say “may” instead of “shall.”
Residents heard about recent repairs at Shaw Island parks. For the upcoming Fair, residents can enter non-perishable items in the fair on their home island—Aug. 10 for the case of Shaw. The emergency manager reviewed risks of wildfire in the county, which peaks in summer though risk of severe fire is low. He outlined steps to reduce risk and offered information on programs that help property owners reduce risk.
Chair Fuller reviewed the steps the council had approved the day before to ask the Governor’s Office to declare an emergency regarding ferry disruptions in the county and to create an informal local transportation working group.
SJC Public Hospital District #1 regular meeting of July 24
Ellen Wilcox, SJC Health Communities Manager briefed the commissioners on the 2023 SJC Community Health Assessment. Thirty-four percent of the county population is over 65; 65% have college degrees. The median household income is $68,577; $70,000 is needed for a family of 4 and $51, 562 needed for 2 seniors. Three top health care needs/deficiencies: 1) mental health services for anxiety, depression, and substance abuse; 2) access to housing, with the highest unaffordability rate in the state; and 3) access to health care services, including bureaucratic barriers; lack of providers for reproductive health, urgent care, and dental care; and ferry reliability impacting off-island access to care.
PHD/EMS Superintendent Butler presented the financial report for the first half of the year, where the budget is on track. The finance department issued its first round of paychecks. EMS calls for June 2024 were 121, up from 101 in June 2023. New rates for EMS outreach services established.
Evan Perrollaz, Executive Director of Home Care Services, said the Village at Home provided 40 hours of services last week amidst a continuing challenge to find employees. Integration of EMS Community Paramedicine program with Village at Home services is complex, with paramedicine Chief Cuddington’s departure. The commissioners affirmed their support for continuing paramedicine services, with paramedics doing initial visits and evaluations and then transitioning follow up services to the Village at Home.
The feasibility study for solar installation estimated $3 million cost for adding solar and batteries to both the EMS building and the Village at the Harbor. The Village buildings would require a new roof, but the EMS building would be simpler. The Commissioners agreed the district should move forward in exploring lower cost options and applying for grants.
For the proposed expansion of the Village at the Harbor they will not seek to rezone the site as commercial since health care facilities cannot operate in areas zoned commercial. The town would not support a height variance. They will need to meet with the town and county to clarify what rules impact an expansion. They will hire an attorney to advise on code requirements and get all opinions from the town and county in writing.
The commissioners hear a presentation on the Washington Reproduction Action Alliance. It is a joint venture between the Attorney General’s office and the University of Washington offering telehealth and coordinated care for patients who cannot get reproductive services at a local health care facility. The program also supports transportation costs.
PHD will do outreach. Peace Health is not participating.
