Submitted by the League of Women Voters Observer Corps

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.

Regular Board Meeting San Juan County Public Hospital District # 1 Jan. 25

Alisha Halvorson ARNP is the new healthcare practitioner for the Planned Parenthood Clinic of Friday Harbor and has completed a three-month training program, funded by PHD, for Planned Parenthood protocols.

Raymond Faber of Faber Construction, with Supervisor Butler, discussed preliminary site plans for the expansion of Village at the Harbor.

The extension will be a second story over part of the communal area in the existing building and extend over the parking area. It will add 24 additional rooms, office space and common areas.

Staff Reports: The Village end-of-year budget was within 98% of budgeted totals. The PHD budget is the midpoint between biannual tax revenue payments.

Assistant Chief TJ Bishop: All EMS vehicles have new call signs consistent with vehicles operating solely in station. Paramedics transitioned to in-station duty this month, working two days on (48 hours) and six days off (144 hours) with five flex days per year. The living space was remodeled to accommodate full-time residency. Joint training with the Fire Department started this month. Call levels have reached 2019 levels. At the EMS end-of-year banquet, Weyshawn Koons was honored for her 30 years of service.

Committee reports: Commissioner Clary (Finance) noted difficulties with the county’s numbers not matching PHD numbers and communicating with overworked county personnel. He recommended that financials be handled in-house rather than by the county.

The Code of Ethics update was tabled to February.

New Business: The Board retained the current slate of officers for 2023: Anna Lisa Lindstrum, Chair; Kyle Loring, Vice Chair; Everett Clary, Secretary and Financial Officer. The Board passed a motion to authorize $50,000 for a new hot water system for The Village, and up to $80,000 if a heat pump hot water system is feasible. As they move to handling finances in-house they will use Tyler Financial software, an integrated system that handles payments, timekeeping, HR and other services.

The Board passed established a rate of one-hour sick leave per 40 hours worked for part-time employees

Village rates will go up four percent in March, and four percent in January.

Friday Harbor Town Council, Feb. 2

The Mayor proclaimed February African American History Month.

The Council approved pans expenditure for the Town Poetry Gardens partly funded by the Arts Commission Budget and partly by lodging tax.

Rock Island Communications briefed the Council on issues limiting access to federal funds for expanding broadband access in town. To be eligible for grants the areas applied for must have limited existing but Zito communications report a higher level of service than it actually provides. Getting town residents to go online to the Federal Communications Commission interactive broadband map and uploading speed test data may be the best way to correct the federal data.

Town Public Works is seeking to purchase two new trucks and is in communication with the county on composting proposals. The Solid Waste Advisory Group meets later this month and will discuss the issue further.

Public Works presented a preliminary design for the Nash Street extension and will soon begin consultations with adjacent property owners. The Waste Water Treatment Plant Improvement project is out for bids. It will begin this year and be staged in five phases.

The Town Planning Department briefed the Council on recent Planning Commission discussions on detached accessory dwelling units.

They plan to recommend that lots must be at least 10,000 sq ft and that the units may be up to 60% of the size of the main residence up to 1000 sq ft. They propose to have some “canned plans” i.e. pre-approved designs which can be quickly permitted.

Issues such as requirements for owners on site, parking and other elements remain to be determined. The Planning Commission welcomes public input at its public meetings on the second and fourth Thursday evenings.