Submitted by the League of Women Voters

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.

SJI School Board regular meeting of Nov. 26

The meeting opened with the Treblemakers Elementary School Choir leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and singing three songs to honor veterans and bring in the holiday season.

The NW Educational Services District accredited Friday Harbor High School for the next six years.

The superintendent reported the district got a $190,000 Stack grant to fund the new electric school bus. In January, the district will submit more grant requests for the new bus. In March they will seek funding for another electric bus and in April for a new diesel bus. In March, they will request bids for new siding on the school buildings hopefully in time to be finished in August.

The school received a $1,920 donation from Purple and Gold for sports.

Enrollment is up for October and students from Lopez continue to attend school. Stuart School is up and running with three children and a dedicated teacher.

The board and superintendent attended the Washington State School District Association meeting in Spokane. Board members went to several sessions on artificial intelligence and how it was being used in various school districts. School districts across the state continue to struggle with lack of full funding from the state budget. School boards continue to lobby state legislators to address this critical issue.

The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

County Council regular meetings of Dec. 2 and 3

On Dec. 2, the environmental stewardship department updated the Council on plans for replacing the temporary culvert on Killibrew Lake Road with a fish-compliant one. There are two alternate designs, one with a nine-day full closure of the road and one with a 45-day period of a single bypass lane. They have FEMA funding and will be presenting the plan to the public and then tendering for bids for both designs in 2025.

The Council got an update on the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District (LSWDD). Unlike other taxing districts, it is under the direct control of the Council and managed by its board. LSWDD space adjoins public works land creating issues and it needs more space. In negotiating various items, it emerged that some current practices did not comply with code. County staff and the LSWDD negotiated a new draft agreement which the Council is reviewing from both sides.

Council members reviewed the various boards, commissions and committees they sit on in view of the coming turnover of two council members.

On Dec. 3, the Council held five public hearings for items of business that were reviewed at recent meetings. They adopted an ordinance updating the rules of procedure for the council; approved the third 2024 budget amendments; approved annual and six-year Capital Improvement Plans; approved the mid-biennium review and update of the 2025 budget; and adopted an ordinance cancelling prior years’ unclaimed warrants. They approved modifications of a letter to tribal governments referencing the planned tribal engagement framework for approval at a future meeting.

They briefly discussed state legislative priorities with their lobbying firm, including legislative changes to allow solar installations on landfill and allow lodging tax funds to support sustainable tourism management. They adopted a resolution for San Juan County to join the Northwest Clean Air Agency.

The Conservation District updated the Council and asked for their support for proposed legislation to remove limits on conservation district rates for low population counties. The rates provide 3.5% of the district’s budget, the bulk of which is from tied grants. That small amount is their only discretionary funding. The district has tripled the number of projects and clients served and quadrupled the acres served. They have lengthy waitlists for their services to landowners, including helping create farm and forest management plans. They are an adjunct campus for Western Washington University providing practical training for conservation students.

Negotiations with the Sheriff’s Guild are wrapping up. The county has hired a new safety and risk manager and will be recruiting a new human resources director.

Board of Health regular meeting of Dec. 4

The executive director of Accountable Communities of Health (ACH) will be retiring, and they will be searching for a new director. They are still waiting for the details of the state’s new Medicaid programs. Peace Health has been working on a Community Health Needs Assessment and has a first draft.

Jennifer Armstrong of the SJI Family Resource Center briefed the board on the Perinatal Mental Health Initiative program that they are running with a small two-year $20,000 grant. It provides direct services to women and families to cope with mental issues around conception, pregnancy, childbearing and post-natal depression and anxiety. It is a public-private collaboration to support people in coping with these physically and emotionally stressful events. Services include resource guides, peer support both in groups and one-on-one mentoring and training a range of providers. A major issue is that nearly all families get their prenatal health care outside the county and then have different health care providers after a child is born on their home island creating a major gap in their continuum of care.

In 2024 the County Health Department started work on a Youth Community Health Assessment, which will be one of the first of its kind in the state. When doing the 2023 Community Health Survey they heard great concern, especially from schools about the children and youth in the wake of the Covid pandemic. They started by convening schools and other community partners in February and March. In April they did focus groups with 12–18-year-olds. They have data from the statewide youth survey and the state is now working on a survey of the 5-12 range. For the county assessment the Health Department is analyzing the data gathered and filling in data gaps with early learning providers and young adults 18-24. The final report is due to February 2025. Early findings show that while teens feel well supported in the community, which feels safe and concerned about their education and health, they have shortfalls in mental health support, in education on mental health, reproductive issues and managing relationships, and support in managing technology and social media. Adults who work with youth also highlighted the lack of mental health services, but also economic challenges, food insecurity, and the lack of support for special health care needs.

Mark Tompkins updated the board on the search for a new health officer. Whatcom County is interested in sharing a health officer and Mark joined interviews of two candidates, who will now be interviewed by representatives from the Whatcom and San Juan Boards of Health. If one of the candidates is hired the county will need to work out an interlocal agreement or contract arrangement with Whatcom for the joint position.

Friday Harbor Town Council regular meeting of Dec. 5

Mayor Jackson was absent. Council member Geffen chaired the meeting. He presented a $15,000 check to the Friday Harbor Food Bank from Harbor Life Ring donations and town matching funds. Food Bank Director Radonsky thanked the Town for continuing support to food bank programs. The Council scheduled the ribbon cutting for the completed Marguerite Street project for 11 a.m. on Thursday Dec. 19. The street has been open for traffic for the last week.

There was a brief public hearing for the 2025 budget and 2024 budget amendments. There was no new information presented this week. The next updated budget numbers will be presented at the December 19 meeting at a reopened public hearing. That hearing and final action on the budget likely will be continued to Dec. 30, to allow the 2025 budget and 2024 budget amendments to take into account the results of the current union negotiations.

The public works department will be proposing an ordinance to amend the town code to add definitions and strengthen standards for noxious vegetation that obstructs pedestrian and vehicle traffic and safe views at intersections and that obstruct streetlights. Once passed the town will be trimming vegetation, including some trees, in line with the new code.

The administrator reported the tree expert recommended further trimming of one of the trees at the waterfront circle. The second tree is fine as-is. Neither tree poses a safety hazard. The lights have been removed from trees as recommended. The public restrooms behind Sunshine Alley are undergoing repair and renovation. The Town has submitted a request for a state loan for the water treatment plant and requested $250k for the plant in the county public facility program grant round. The request has been recommended for approval by the committee and awaits County Council approval.

The town is working to renegotiate the lease for the transfer station property with the county asking for a significantly increased monthly rental to offset part of the $36,00 annual cost of testing required at the site.

The town has hired a new manager for the waste treatment plant to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of the previous manager.