Submitted by the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization that 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.
Friday Harbor Port Commission, regular meeting of Nov. 14
The Commission approved the 2026 operating budget and a resolution for the property tax levy. It also approved the 2026 capital budget and plan for harbor improvements with some scheduling changes. It approved the payment for the cannery and dealt with the Federal Aviation Administration rescinding the transfer of seaplane activity funds to the airport.
The Economic Development Commission presented its funding request for 2026. The port will look at several options that could provide funding in creative ways next year.
In the public comment, Mike Byrne suggested potential uses for the cannery building, which he would like to see as a center for the sailing community. The executive director said all options will be considered when putting together the strategic plan.
The Commission agreed to use Port labor to build the new solar canopy in the upper marina parking lot to save money and allow the Port to phase the construction to mitigate parking issues. Project costs will be tracked and reviewed to inform future decisions about using in-house staff versus subcontracting.
The Commission approved clarifications of paid time off rules in the employee handbook. It approved the assignment of Hangar V2 and a change order to the HB Hansen contract to allow building a retaining wall and vehicle access ramps to manage the embankment at the rear of the hangar.
Executive Director Todd Nicholson reported on plans to remove the derelict docks at the cannery in compliance with direction from the Department of Natural Resources. The Port will work with the tribes on project details.
SJI Public Hospital District, regular meeting of Nov. 19
Superintendent Nathan Butler said the levy lift passage indicated the huge trust that islanders have in public hospital district services, and they take that seriously. He thanked the levy committee and the team effort in getting out the message to the public.
October continued the trend of record monthly calls. PHD/emergency medical services now qualify for enrollment in the Public Employees Benefits Board program, the state health insurance program, at considerable savings over the higher cost of previous employee insurance. Changes in health insurance are affecting the community, with only one insurer available on the Affordable Care Act exchange for about 2,000 county residents. Peace Island layoffs eliminated a locally based director.
Deputy Superintendent Evan Perrollaz reported that they filed a solar grant application. Solar power and its battery storage will be a backup for generators and make buildings, particularly the Village, more resilient in disasters. They will apply for electric vehicle chargers.
Village at the Harbor Director Tina Smith said The Village was gearing up for the holidays, with decorating done by volunteers. The new Medicaid resident is settled in. There are a few vacancies, but most new residents wait until January to move in.
Commissioner Gail Leschine-Seitz reported from the Long Term Care Committee that a Peace Health grant of $100,000 will provide dental services to those in need. After a budget hearing, the commissioners approved the PHD 2026 budget and the EMS 2026 budget. Possible EMS budget challenges in 2026 could be lower insurance reimbursements and other health care changes. The commissioners approved the EMS tax levy resolution for the 2026 levy increase of 1%, and levy certification to the Department of Revenue for the PHD and EMS levies.
Friday Harbor Town Council, regular meeting of Nov. 20
Mayor Ray Jackson proclaimed Nov.29 Small Business Saturday and encouraged all to shop at local businesses.
Becki Day, director of the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce, gave an overview of chamber events and programs, of which the largest job is the Visitors Center. She requested the first 2% from LTAC funding for the Fourth of July parade and fireworks and funds to modernize the Visitors Center. The council approved $58,900 to the Chamber for the two requests.
At a continued public hearing for the Griffin Place Development Agreement, a town resident said any density bonus should be granted for permanently affordable housing only. The Council approved the Griffin Place Development Agreement as presented with staff recommendations.
Bethany Berry, Town finance director, said there will be a public hearing on utility rates at the Dec. 4 meeting. She provided the Council with an overview of the 2026 preliminary budget. Information on the budget is on the Town’s website.
Public hearings were held on the 2025 Revenue Sources, Fee Schedule, Property Tax (RCW 84.55.120) and on Preliminary Budget/Expenditures. Both hearings were continued to Dec. 4. A public hearing was opened on the Final Budget and will continue until Dec. 18. The Council adopted the Tax Levy for 2026.
The Town administrator, Denice Kulseth, reported that staff received fire extinguisher training from Fire District #3. Council member Steve Hushebeck requested an evaluation of street and pedestrian improvements that might be needed with the potential increase in population on Grover Street. Ryan Ericson, Community Development director, reported he had met with the school superintendent about sidewalk and parking improvements that the school district and the Town would make on Grover Street.
County Council, regular meeting of Nov. 25
In public access time, the Friends of the San Juans, regarding the Comp Plan, proposed water and sewer rules for farmer worker housing; no vacation rentals on rural resource land; infill be done before expanding the Eastsound Urban Growth Area. After public hearings, the Council set the 2026 levies for land conservation futures, County roads and current expenses.
In a Comprehensive Plan public hearing, five SJI residents addressed the proposed amendment to the Roche Harbor masterplan with concerns about rural character, wetlands and the amount and type of housing. The Roche Harbor manager said the plan was to build affordable year-round rental housing for staff and county residents. A Lopez resident was concerned about utilities getting automatic essential public facility status. An Orcas resident asked that community transit be included in the transportation element. An Orcas resident asked that the parcel he owns not be annexed into the UGA. The long-range planner reviewed the proposed amendments to the current draft language, like expanding the buffer in the RH master plan, language on shoreline armoring, defining multimodal transportation, conforming the rural character definition in the document and adding tribal consultation in the governance element.
During a final review of the draft budget, all the Council members thanked the budget analysts, the auditor and department heads for all their hard work in identifying steps to close the budget gap for the 2026-207 biennium budget. Despite a hiring freeze, personnel reductions, revenue increases and cutting virtually all training and most travel and other cutbacks, there is still over a $1 million gap in the current expense fund in 2027.
The Council asked that a one-year balanced budget draft for 2026 be presented at the Dec. 2 meeting, at which they will discuss other potential proposals for addressing the budget challenges for 2027. They also had a first review of the third set of budget amendments for 2025, which will be reviewed again on Dec. 9.
The Council passed resolutions setting the 2026 legislative priorities, updating the attorney fee schedule for non-contract assigned attorney fees and authorizing an interfund loan from Clean Water Utilities to Environmental Stewardship. They set a public hearing for Dec. 16 for the sale of gravel on Waldron Island. The Council briefly noted the medical insurance issues facing county residents and discussed continued membership in a regional counties’ group. The 2026 fair theme will be “Red, White and Ewe.” Artificial intelligence will be banned from the fair poster design.
