Submitted by the LWVSJ 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 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 December 2024

Evan Perrollaz, deputy public hospital district superintendent, attended a Greenhouse Project Convention, along with Village at the Harbor Director Tina Smith. The Greenhouse Project is a national nonprofit creating alternate living environments to traditional nursing home care facilities. They toured a Detroit project which was a joint state and nonprofit venture for 500 low-income residents and talked to a Mississippi group that partnered a similar joint venture for elder care.

The San Juan Islands Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3), held its first fundraiser at the Village on Dec. 14, which generated over $10,000 and a lot of interest, particularly regarding housing issues. The Village at Home enrolled 40 new home health care clients this week. They hope to start the CNA training program soon.

Nathan Butler, PHD superintendent, reported that the state audit is ongoing, and due to the PHD’s multiple units, it costs $75,000. There are payroll changes regarding benefits in the upcoming year. The Long-Term Care Committee filled a Medicaid bed vacancy at the Village, which is now close to 100% capacity. Superintendent Butler is president of the SJC Chiefs’ organization, a group of first responders in the county. The EMS 2025 training calendar is set, with Assistant Chief Bishop scheduling 90 items. Recent medics testing identified an excellent internal candidate for medics training school.

The commissioners approved updated policies and procedures regarding budget changes; a premises agreement with the San Juan Islands Healthcare Foundation for use of PHD property; and a fee agreement with the SJC Sheriff’s Office for emergency dispatch service.

The commissioners will keep the same officers for 2025: Chair Ana Lisa Lindstrum, Vice Chair Gail Leschine-Seitz Finance Committee Rick Frazer and Everett Clary.

The commissioners went into executive session for the Superintendent’s Annual Review.

Friday Harbor Town Council regular meeting of Dec. 19

The mayor read out a thank you letter from the Food Bank for the Town’s Harbor Life ring collection and match totaling $15,000.

In a brief work session, the financial manager noted the draft 2024 Budget Amendments and Draft 2025 budget, which were awaiting final numbers pending the outcome of union negotiations for the 2025 budget. The Council had no questions. There was no comment made on either issue at the following public hearing, which was then closed.

The financial manager described a proposed change in the utility shutoff procedure to support automating the process. Currently utilities are shut off 50 days after the due date if payment is not received. The change would set standard dates. If a bill has been delinquent for 60 days, then final notices would go out on the 11th of each month and the utility would be shut off on the 25th of each month if the bill was not paid. Council members clarified that this would not shorten the overall time residents had to pay between when the bill was due and shut off.

The administrator noted the recent car collisions with pedestrians in town crossings. She spoke to the Sheriff, who said the recent incidents had involved older drivers driving the speed limit with pedestrians wearing dark clothing. She said they would look into getting reflective armbands to be available at public places and reminding residents to think about their visibility when out walking, especially in winter.

The Town is awaiting a response on its revolving fund loan application to the state for the water treatment plant but noted the County Council had approved their Public Facility Assistance grant of $500K over two years. The town uses its own public facility assistance funds for sewer plant operations.

The meeting was continued until Dec. 30 for action on the 2024 budget amendments and 2025 budget.

SJI School Board regular meeting of Dec. 17

At the annual organizational meeting, Barbara Bevins was elected to continue as board president; Brian Moore was elected to continue as vice president; and Melanie Hess was elected as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association representative for 2025.

Superintendant Fred Woods reported that he observed the Stuart Island school classroom via Zoom. Everything was in order. He and other board members attended the advocacy meeting on Orcas.

Woods reported on the student body as their representatives were out sick. The Key Club collected over 600 pounds for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Ten students volunteered for community service and assisted with tree lighting and the chamber holiday dinner. Basketball, wrestling and cheer are underway for the season and are going well. The Eco Club went on a few field trips with Mr. Garson where they did environmental research on the island.

Student enrollment across the district and spending was on budget.

The board updated several board policies on sexual harassment and discrimination regarding students and staff in line with language recommended by the Washington State School Districts Association. They reviewed for later adoption a WSSDA-recommended policy on physical education and health classes.

Director Heller reported on a Dec. 6 meeting of board members, superintendents, school staff and union representatives from Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and San Juan Island school districts to discuss legislative priorities. They will send out information to local media, their communities and legislators in January and schedule town halls later in the month. They ask people to contact their local legislators to support action on school issues. Finally, they plan face-to-face events in Olympia with legislators. Other districts across the state will be doing the same. Directors Heller and Kurtz, and Superintendent Woods will attend WASDA’s legislative conference on Jan. 11-12.

County Council regular meeting of Dec. 23

The Council approved the revised Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommendation for the 2025 destination marketing services agreement for one year with the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau with a flat fee of $535K which represented an 8% nominal cut in funding versus the 16% cut the Council had proposed. Given inflation, the real cut was larger. Given the fall in tourism activity and the challenges faced by tourism-dependent visits, the LTAC thought, and the Council accepted, that this was not the time for a higher cut. The LTAC committee did express interest in better data and a willingness to potentially consider a bigger cut depending on what the data revealed. The council approved using LTAC funds to support the wages of the LTAC coordinator up to $30,380.

The Council ratified the bargaining agreement with the Sheriff’s Guild for 2025-2026. The Council approved a resolution adopting county staffing levels and pay and benefit plans for 2025. In both cases, Council members noted the cordial and productive negotiations between the County manager and union representatives.

The Governor sent a letter to the Canadian government in support of stationing an emergency tow vessel in Sidney. This is in support of the bilateral effort to get such a vessel based near enough to the Salish Sea to respond to vessel emergencies and mitigate the damage from oil spills.

The Council passed a resolution to appoint Tamara Green as interim coroner while they continue to seek a functional way to manage coroner services now that state law has changed to prohibit the County prosecuting attorneys from acting as coroner as had been the practice in small counties.