Other News
Apr 25, 2025: New Daily Service Schedule, Growing Ridership & Other Insights on County’s Pilot Transport Services
Apr 24, 2025: Building and Land Use Permits, Long-Range Planning Projects, & Staff Recruitments: DCD Leadership Provides Spring Update
Apr 4, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Transportation Element, Plan Intro, & Administration Piece Ready for Review
Mar 19, 2025: San Juan County Establishes Interim Inter-Island Transportation Services as RFP Process Continues
Mar 7, 2025: 2025 Comp Plan Update: Climate Element and Draft Official Map Amendments Available for Review
Mar 6, 2025: Governor Ferguson announces plan to restore Washington State Ferries to full service by this summer
Mar 4, 2025: Public Meeting: Land Bank Using Prescribed Fires to Manage Wildfire Risks & Restore Ecosystems
Feb 19, 2025: San Juan County Seeks Proposals from Transportation Service Providers for Pilot Project
Feb 12, 2025: Call for Candidates: Three-Day Special Filing Period for Lopez Metropolitan Park District Commissioners
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
LWVSJ Notes: County Council Meeting Sept 10
Sep 11, 2024
By League of Women Voters of the San Juans
San Juan COunty Council Meeting September 10, 2024
During public comment two citizens urged the Council to adopt the ordinance setting lighting standards for Eastsound that have involved years of work to address a serious need. Eight citizens representing a range of businesses and nonprofits urged the council to sign a five-year contract with the SJI Visitors Bureau, noting their strong work on stewardship and the economic importance of tourism that supports year-round services including the hospital and other amenities.
The Council extended the Sales and Use Tax for Public Facilities. The Parks and Fair Director recommended against the county taking destination marketing in-house or seeking proposals as unlikely to attract bids, but to renew the visitor’s bureau contract for 3-5 years with some modifications. The council asked that the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) be advised they would favor a three-year contract with a flat fee rate. The Council will later review LTAC recommendations.
The County lobbyist gave the council an update on the likely situation facing the state legislature in the upcoming long session which will pass a budget, for many legislators for the first-time in tight financial conditions. He advised the council to focus on issues pertaining uniquely to San Juan County, which could include decoupling the affordable housing REET from the Land Bank, allowing solar installation on landfill, and funding requests for the Argyle property, salmon recovery, and an emergency response tug in the Salish sea.
The council reviewed and approved updates to the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) and the Environmental Stewardship Capital Plan including removing two unnecessary culvert projects and pushing back dates on projects with permitting delays. The Killibrew Lake Project was moved from the TIP to the ESCP as the Bayhead project.
The County will need to find another way to provide coroner services than through the PA’s Office given a change in state law. The county manager is researching options. The council approved the sale of the county interest in the Orcas Senior Center and approved the purchase of property at 531 Fern Street in Eastsound to eventually relocate county services.
The council agreed to abstain from voting the county’s shares in an upcoming recall vote in the Eastsound Water Users Association. The council discussed two $90k grants awarded by the state Department of Commerce to NGOs Island Stewards and Friends of the San Juans to do community outreach around the Comprehensive Plan update without consulting the county or addressing coordination.
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 extended the Sales and Use Tax for Public Facilities. The Parks and Fair Director recommended against the county taking destination marketing in-house or seeking proposals as unlikely to attract bids, but to renew the visitor’s bureau contract for 3-5 years with some modifications. The council asked that the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) be advised they would favor a three-year contract with a flat fee rate. The Council will later review LTAC recommendations.
The County lobbyist gave the council an update on the likely situation facing the state legislature in the upcoming long session which will pass a budget, for many legislators for the first-time in tight financial conditions. He advised the council to focus on issues pertaining uniquely to San Juan County, which could include decoupling the affordable housing REET from the Land Bank, allowing solar installation on landfill, and funding requests for the Argyle property, salmon recovery, and an emergency response tug in the Salish sea.
The council reviewed and approved updates to the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) and the Environmental Stewardship Capital Plan including removing two unnecessary culvert projects and pushing back dates on projects with permitting delays. The Killibrew Lake Project was moved from the TIP to the ESCP as the Bayhead project.
The County will need to find another way to provide coroner services than through the PA’s Office given a change in state law. The county manager is researching options. The council approved the sale of the county interest in the Orcas Senior Center and approved the purchase of property at 531 Fern Street in Eastsound to eventually relocate county services.
The council agreed to abstain from voting the county’s shares in an upcoming recall vote in the Eastsound Water Users Association. The council discussed two $90k grants awarded by the state Department of Commerce to NGOs Island Stewards and Friends of the San Juans to do community outreach around the Comprehensive Plan update without consulting the county or addressing coordination.
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.