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
Observer Corps Notes:County Council August 6. 2024
Aug 7, 2024
By League of Women Voters of the San Juans
County Council Meeting August 6. 2024
Three new county employees were introduced, a new dispatcher and a new deputy in the Sheriff’s Office and a new public health social worker. During public comment eleven citizens representing schools, science and arts organizations urged the council to implement a 1/10th of 1% tax under the Cultural Access Initiative to support arts and science programs for county residents. Three citizens urged the Council to renew the destination marketing contract with the San Juan Islands Visitors’ Bureau quickly, noting that tourism businesses are seeing reduced traffic and income with negative impacts through the county’s economy. The uncertainty about contract renewal was impairing their ability to address problems caused by ferry issues.
After public hearings, council approved several measures: updating the Noxious the maps and membership rules for the Noxious Weed Control Board, redesignating 1,000 acres on Orcas Island to Agricultural Open Space from Designated Forest Land; and authorizing a 99-year lease of the Argyle Lots property to the SJI Home Trust.
The budget analyst reviewed the budget performance through June 30 with revenue coming in at $38.3 million or 46.2% of the year’s target and expenses coming at $35 million and 36.6% of the year’s target. Most revenue sources are running on target with only the REET running notably low at 70% of target, while interest income is running double the target. The council reviewed proposed mid-year budget amendments and a request from the Treasurer’s office for a new position. They asked for more detailed financial projections to consider before adding the position when a budget amendment is ready for the next review.
They set public hearings for September 10 to extend the sales and use tax for public facilities and to amend exterior lighting standards in the Eastsound sub-area.
The Council discussed adding the Cultural Access initiative issue to future agenda and determined that before that they needed more information on how it might be managed and implemented, county staff capacity to administer a program, the views of the school districts, the possible intentions of the Town of Friday Harbor. Some work on this was done in a report on the possible formation of an Arts Council.
Council member Fuller talked to the governor’s office on ferry issues, where she was advised to formulate specific requests. She was working with the Ferry Advisory Committee on the requests which might include private charter for passenger service from Anacortes to all islands, barge service, and for WSF to be able include more all island runs.
*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.
After public hearings, council approved several measures: updating the Noxious the maps and membership rules for the Noxious Weed Control Board, redesignating 1,000 acres on Orcas Island to Agricultural Open Space from Designated Forest Land; and authorizing a 99-year lease of the Argyle Lots property to the SJI Home Trust.
The budget analyst reviewed the budget performance through June 30 with revenue coming in at $38.3 million or 46.2% of the year’s target and expenses coming at $35 million and 36.6% of the year’s target. Most revenue sources are running on target with only the REET running notably low at 70% of target, while interest income is running double the target. The council reviewed proposed mid-year budget amendments and a request from the Treasurer’s office for a new position. They asked for more detailed financial projections to consider before adding the position when a budget amendment is ready for the next review.
They set public hearings for September 10 to extend the sales and use tax for public facilities and to amend exterior lighting standards in the Eastsound sub-area.
The Council discussed adding the Cultural Access initiative issue to future agenda and determined that before that they needed more information on how it might be managed and implemented, county staff capacity to administer a program, the views of the school districts, the possible intentions of the Town of Friday Harbor. Some work on this was done in a report on the possible formation of an Arts Council.
Council member Fuller talked to the governor’s office on ferry issues, where she was advised to formulate specific requests. She was working with the Ferry Advisory Committee on the requests which might include private charter for passenger service from Anacortes to all islands, barge service, and for WSF to be able include more all island runs.
*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.