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
Joint County and Friday Harbor Town Council Meeting March 12, 2025
Mar 13, 2025
By League of Women Voters of the San Juans
County and Friday Harbor Councils Meet March 12, 2025
In opening remarks, town and county council members welcomed regular consultation and improved coordination and stressed the need for a united front in the face of federal uncertainty and state budget challenges. The meeting then kicked off with a review of Home Fund achievements after seven years, in which revenue had reached about $15 million of which $13 million had been committed to projects and $2 million to be awarded in the 2025 grant round. This money leveraged an additional 480 million in grants and has funded 196 affordable housing units of which 104 are complete and 96 under construction, many of which will be complete in 2025. Lopez island accounts for 32 units, Orcas 90 and San Juan 74. The Argylle project expects to break ground in 2027 as design, permits and financing will take 18-24 months.
The County gave a brief update on the governor’s emergency funds for pilot projects offering barge and interisland passenger service when ferries are down and scheduled passenger service to Anacortes. The requests are out with bids due Friday March 14, with service expected to start in April and run through June 30 and some interim services to cover March-April. County residents are urged to use the services as usage data will inform decisions on extending the services. A Victoria-Clipper-type service may restart in June or July for passenger service to Seattle. A bill on a mosquito fleet is in the state legislature.
The town and county managers reviewed bills in the state legislature that could have local impact. The situation changes daily as bills fail, move forward, or are amended. Bills they are watching closely include a possible lift of the 1% cap on property tax increases, a road usage tax to phase in replacing the gas tax, a bill offering REIT flexibility, and a bill on mobile dwellings.
The Town and County planners gave a joint presentation on their coordination of the Comprehensive plan updates and efforts to ensure their codes and policies conform with the Growth Management Act and are consistent with each other. They are working closely on Urban Growth Area elements. UGA expansion proposes to include two residential neighborhoods and some Port property??"Jensen’s Shipyard and the rest of the airport. The UGA (town) is expected to accommodate 60% of future population growth, but needs to ensure it can provide water, sewer, and other services.
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 County gave a brief update on the governor’s emergency funds for pilot projects offering barge and interisland passenger service when ferries are down and scheduled passenger service to Anacortes. The requests are out with bids due Friday March 14, with service expected to start in April and run through June 30 and some interim services to cover March-April. County residents are urged to use the services as usage data will inform decisions on extending the services. A Victoria-Clipper-type service may restart in June or July for passenger service to Seattle. A bill on a mosquito fleet is in the state legislature.
The town and county managers reviewed bills in the state legislature that could have local impact. The situation changes daily as bills fail, move forward, or are amended. Bills they are watching closely include a possible lift of the 1% cap on property tax increases, a road usage tax to phase in replacing the gas tax, a bill offering REIT flexibility, and a bill on mobile dwellings.
The Town and County planners gave a joint presentation on their coordination of the Comprehensive plan updates and efforts to ensure their codes and policies conform with the Growth Management Act and are consistent with each other. They are working closely on Urban Growth Area elements. UGA expansion proposes to include two residential neighborhoods and some Port property??"Jensen’s Shipyard and the rest of the airport. The UGA (town) is expected to accommodate 60% of future population growth, but needs to ensure it can provide water, sewer, and other services.
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.