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 Observer Corps Notes: County Council December 10, 2024
Dec 12, 2024
By League of Women Voters of the San Juans
County Council Meeting December 10, 2024
During public access eight people from Orcas Island spoke in favor of the cultural access program. A person from Lopez supported the tree planting plan for Lopez Village. This was the last in-person meeting for council members Minney and Wolf, but they will attend meetings on December 16 and 23 virtually. The Council approved the letter to 14 tribal governments about a proposed engagement framework.
At a public hearing on the cultural access program and sales tax at which an additional 25 county residents spoke in support of the program, which is supported by all four county public school districts. The Council approved the tax and creation of the program. Council member Fuller abstained as she would have preferred the tax go on the ballot for voter approval and due to concerns about a potential negative impact on the chances of a levy to establish a Parks and Recreation District on Lopez.
After public hearings the council approved the transfer of a parcel of land to the Agricultural Conservation Land Program and added 2024 docket requests of proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and the County Code to the Department of Community Planning’s workplan. Friends of the San Juans spoke in favor of moving quickly to update the code to allow renewable energy projects on Rural Farm and Forest Land, now only allowed on Agricultural and Forest Resource Lands. The council noted the burdens on the Department’s workload that it was important to address this in the upcoming comprehensive plan and code updates.
The Council approved a $12,000 grant to volunteer entities running cold weather shelters. They approved grants of $84,000 from Housing Sales Tax to each of the three resource centers for housing case management services. The Council adopted a resolution setting 2025 state legislative session priorities. The Council approved the recommended Public Facility grants-- four to the Economic Development Commission and a $500k grant to the Town of Friday Harbor for the water treatment plant.
The Council approved the Public Works Department moving forward to request designating the land purchased for an essential public facility of Shaw for rural industrial use instead of rural general use. The process will be similar but faster because the allowed uses are narrower. The next step in the process is the CEPA checklist and Shaw Island residents have lots of questions about the impacts of the proposed uses.
The Council reaffirmed their recommendation to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to allocate a flat $500k to the Visitors Bureau for destination marketing.
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.
At a public hearing on the cultural access program and sales tax at which an additional 25 county residents spoke in support of the program, which is supported by all four county public school districts. The Council approved the tax and creation of the program. Council member Fuller abstained as she would have preferred the tax go on the ballot for voter approval and due to concerns about a potential negative impact on the chances of a levy to establish a Parks and Recreation District on Lopez.
After public hearings the council approved the transfer of a parcel of land to the Agricultural Conservation Land Program and added 2024 docket requests of proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and the County Code to the Department of Community Planning’s workplan. Friends of the San Juans spoke in favor of moving quickly to update the code to allow renewable energy projects on Rural Farm and Forest Land, now only allowed on Agricultural and Forest Resource Lands. The council noted the burdens on the Department’s workload that it was important to address this in the upcoming comprehensive plan and code updates.
The Council approved a $12,000 grant to volunteer entities running cold weather shelters. They approved grants of $84,000 from Housing Sales Tax to each of the three resource centers for housing case management services. The Council adopted a resolution setting 2025 state legislative session priorities. The Council approved the recommended Public Facility grants-- four to the Economic Development Commission and a $500k grant to the Town of Friday Harbor for the water treatment plant.
The Council approved the Public Works Department moving forward to request designating the land purchased for an essential public facility of Shaw for rural industrial use instead of rural general use. The process will be similar but faster because the allowed uses are narrower. The next step in the process is the CEPA checklist and Shaw Island residents have lots of questions about the impacts of the proposed uses.
The Council reaffirmed their recommendation to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to allocate a flat $500k to the Visitors Bureau for destination marketing.
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.