Submitted by the League of Women Voters Observer Corp.
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to promote public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.
SJC Public Hospital District regular meeting of Aug. 28
Executive Director Jack Estrada gave the semiannual Peace Island Medical Center (PIMC) subsidy report for January-June 2024. Expanded service appointments are available for increased GI services; outpatient physical therapy Monday-Friday; diagnostic imaging, including mammography, MRI, and echocardiographs. Interpreter services are available for phone and clinic encounters. Staffing improved with the addition of Lauren Kreiger MD to family medicine and full staffing of reception and lab. PIMC patients are 91% San Juan Island, 5% other SJC islands, and 4% outside SJ county. The Commission approved the half yearly contractual subsidy to PIMC.
PHD Superintendent Nathan Butler’s reported that the financial services transition is complete, with a bimonthly payroll schedule, a timely change given the County’s impending termination of financial services to junior taxing districts. Collaboration between Community Paramedicine and Village Home Care is ongoing, with the loss of a few participating EMS personnel. Talks continue with PIMC for health care housing. In the near term, the PHD is looking at temporary solutions to employee housing. The routine state audit is coming up. Mount Baker Planned Parenthood hopes to stabilize local services soon. EMS call volumes are consistent with past levels. Assistant Chief Bishop conducted multiple trainings. EMS has new intubation equipment. EMS won a national award for its stroke/cardiac care. They have begun to update the capital improvement plan.
The Commissioners passed a resolution for emergency roof repair for the Village at the Harbor of extensive water damage due from heavy rains on Aug. 26. They passed resolutions with 2024 budget amendments for the PHD, Village at Harbor and EMS Services.
Friday Harbor Town Council. regular meeting of Sept. 5
The mayor proclaimed September Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and presented the proclamation to a citizen who thanked the town for helping raise awareness. The mayor declared that Friday Sept. 6 designated to recognize former mayor Gary Boothman and that Flags would fly at half-mast for the day.
In public comment two citizens spoke about an impending sewer system failure at the Sunrise development, that would affect 26 families. If not addressed, they will be forced to abandon their homes. They want to connect to the town sewer system, which would require renegotiating the development agreement with the Home Trust. They hope that can run concurrently with acting. If not connected to the town’s sewer, it would greatly reduce housing units that could be built on the site. Later Barbara Starr asked that a discussion of the ramifications be on a future agenda.
County Manager Jessica Hudson addressed the Council and said her door was open to answer questions and offer support to the Town Council. She looked forward to coordinating with Administrator Denice Kulseth.
The Council passed ordinances extending the downtown core and the historic preservation overlays to Web Street. The Planning Director Ryan Ericson hopes to bring the detached accessory dwelling unit ordinance to the next council meeting. He will then kick off the comprehensive plan update process with feedback gathered at the county fair and proposals from the consultant. The town has a survey online for public input. They are coordinating with county on housing needs for possible expansion of Urban Growth areas. In October they will discuss allowing food trucks in public rights-of-way.
The public works director Jesse Douglas-Seitz reported that on the Marguerite project that they have installed the new sewer main and connections and added cleanouts, where missing. They have reconnected the water and upgraded the connections. They are working on the stormwater mains and the new curb and gutters will collect rainwater and divert it to the system earlier. They have started repairing driveways and walls. They are two weeks out from doing gutters and curbs and will start paving at the end of September with a hard finish date of Oct. 15. They are on schedule and on budget.
Kulseth reported the town’s fair booth and presentations had great traffic, especially the historical photo montage. They have finalized the document record for the litigation over the county’s water use appeal. The town will be opening labor negotiations with the guild on Sept. 12.
