Other News
Jan 19, 2025: Four districts, six unions, three PTAs, and county leadership all agree: legislators must take action to fully fund education no
Dec 19, 2024: San Juan County Parks and Fair Announces New Camping Software; Delaying Reservation Availability
Dec 10, 2024: County Council Considers Extending Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste to Allow for More Collaboration
Dec 5, 2024: San Juan County to Consider Updated Interlocal Agreement with Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District
Dec 2, 2024: San Juan County Council Sets Public Hearing for Cultural Access Sales Tax at Dec. 10 Meeting
Nov 25, 2024: San Juan County Celebrates Completion of Lopez Skate Park and Calls for Inaugural Skaters
Nov 7, 2024: How Has Extreme Weather Impacted You? Participate in the County’s Climate Resilience Planning Effort
Nov 1, 2024: UPDATE: Sea Wall Repairs Temporarily Close MacKaye Harbor Dock and Boat Ramp on Lopez Island
Oct 22, 2024: DRAFT North Shore Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Oct 21, 2024: Reminder: You’re Invited to Attend Open Houses for the 2025 Comp Plan Update This Fall
Oct 1, 2024: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN JUANS SPONSORS OCTOBER COUNTY COUNCIL VOTER FORUMS ON SJI, ORCAS, AND LOPEZ
Sep 24, 2024: County Hosts Community Meeting on Lopez Island to Discuss Public Safety during Hunting Season
Sep 24, 2024: SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise
Sep 23, 2024: DRAFT Watmough Bay Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Aug 29, 2024: San Juan County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Survey Sets Baseline for Ongoing Change
Aug 27, 2024: 2024 San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners Gardening Workshop Series, October 15-24, 2024
Aug 27, 2024: County Representatives Discuss Solutions to Ferry Service Disruptions with Governor Inslee
Aug 21, 2024: County Council’s Request to Governor for Relief from Ferry Service Disruptions Not Fulfilled
Aug 20, 2024: San Juan County Certifies Primary Election Results & Celebrates Highest Primary Turnout in Years
Aug 13, 2024: WSF Commits Additional Crews to Interisland Route to Ensure Service During County Fair Week
Aug 13, 2024: Ferry Data from Staff and Local Partners Shapes Council Request for ‘Executive Relief’ From WA State
Aug 5, 2024: The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival returns to Lopez for its 27th Summer Concert Season
May 2, 2024: WA State Governor and Assistant Secretary of WSF Talk Ferry Service & Solar Power with SJC Officials
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
County Council June 25,2024
Jun 26, 2024
By League of Women Voters of the San Juans
San Juan County Council Meeting June 25, 2024
During public comment several residents of Shaw spoke to the county’s planned purchase of land for a public works facility. Two commenters raised unanswered questions about the project with one opposing the purchase without more information. Friends of the San Juans reminded the council of the need for environmental assessment review before developing the site. Two commenters spoke in support of the project, one of whom read a letter signed by many residents, noting how the inadequate existing facility affects the quality and scope of road and other projects on Shaw. Later the council approved the purchase of 1427 Neck Road on Shaw Island. They have long been seeking a site and appropriate properties are rarely available. The future of the existing site is an open question for community discussion when the time comes.
The council approved an ordinance to update the county code on vehicles and traffic, adopting the model state traffic code, excepting sections that do not apply in the county. The County set a public hearing on changes in the Noxious Weed Control Board Membership Voting Map.
Human Resources briefed the council on equal opportunity statistics for the county and the council adopted an Equal Opportunity Plan for 2024-2025 required under federal law. Women are underrepresented among sworn law enforcement officers, skilled craft and senior administrative positions; the report does not cover elected officials where women are well represented. Men are underrepresented in administrative support positions and black and Hispanic residents are underrepresented across job areas.
The County will form an internal working group on the 32-hour work week to monitor how the new system is working, develop appropriate performance indicators, and seek solutions to address the challenges identified for staff and the public.
Given recent security incidents in the county, the safety committee will look into staff training on de-escalation and dealing with threats. Chair Fuller reported that after the council’s letter to Washington State Ferries, she had several conversations with WSF senior staff to discuss the communications issues that have plagued the ferry schedule task force and to some extent the Ferry Advisory Committee. They have a plan to address the problems starting with the June 26 meeting of the task force.
The new County Manager Jessica Hudson is due to start on July 15.
*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.
The council approved an ordinance to update the county code on vehicles and traffic, adopting the model state traffic code, excepting sections that do not apply in the county. The County set a public hearing on changes in the Noxious Weed Control Board Membership Voting Map.
Human Resources briefed the council on equal opportunity statistics for the county and the council adopted an Equal Opportunity Plan for 2024-2025 required under federal law. Women are underrepresented among sworn law enforcement officers, skilled craft and senior administrative positions; the report does not cover elected officials where women are well represented. Men are underrepresented in administrative support positions and black and Hispanic residents are underrepresented across job areas.
The County will form an internal working group on the 32-hour work week to monitor how the new system is working, develop appropriate performance indicators, and seek solutions to address the challenges identified for staff and the public.
Given recent security incidents in the county, the safety committee will look into staff training on de-escalation and dealing with threats. Chair Fuller reported that after the council’s letter to Washington State Ferries, she had several conversations with WSF senior staff to discuss the communications issues that have plagued the ferry schedule task force and to some extent the Ferry Advisory Committee. They have a plan to address the problems starting with the June 26 meeting of the task force.
The new County Manager Jessica Hudson is due to start on July 15.
*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.