Submitted by the League of Women Voters Observer Corps, 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 Dec. 12

Commissioner Gib Black was sworn in for another term. The Commission approved the sale of Hangar F3A from Sound Maintenance to Kenmore Air. The Commission approved the transfer of Airport Improvement Program funds to Orcas Island Airport and Lopez Airport to keep them in the local economy. This will increase the annual amount for Orcas and Lopez airports to $225,000. They approved updating the Community Economic Revitalization Board grant application resolution to comply with state-required formatting.

The Commission approved an additional $90,500 for civil, structural and geotechnical engineering services, along with regulatory stakeholder coordination by Leon Environmental MTCA for the upland haul-out pier redevelopment project at the boatyard. This will improve the upland infrastructure, raising the ground to harden against sea-level rise, stormwater impacts and shoreline structural work. The order covers permitting, engineering and some project management, but not construction.

The Commission held a meeting via Zoom call on Dec. 26 to approve the end-of-the-year payments. The December 2026 Washington Public Ports annual meeting will be called the Winter Meeting. The Personal Time Off gifting policy is now in place. Employees can donate up to 40 hours of PTO per year to colleagues facing medical or family emergencies.

The updated Airport History Panels and new electronic display covering 2010-2025/2026 will replace the Featured Pilot poster. The Pilots Association will store the posters. The Port is promoting its website updates and news releases. The Winter Newsletter will be published in January and could ask for input on the cannery redevelopment project if released in time. Public meetings will start in early summer.

Commissioners discussed future power needs at the Climate and Sustainability Roundtable, including solar panels that are needed to meet the island’s electricity demand. The Port may break ground on the new headquarters building in the southwest corner of the airport property this spring, with construction taking about a year.

SJI School Board regular meeting of Dec. 17

Superintendent Fred Woods, wearing a wonderful holiday tie, reported that he and directors TJ Heller and John Kurtz visited the Stuart Island one-room school for a day, observing the two sisters who are third and fourth grade students, one teacher and a very supportive community. The school held a Christmas performance attended by many Stuart Islanders. Alex, the teacher, gets the wood-burning stove going at 7 a.m. to warm the one-room school building and start the generator. The students are doing well, and the school is very appreciated by the parents and the community.

ASB Representative Vera Schoultz shared information about recent events at Friday Harbor High School, including field trips, club activities, band concerts, spirit week, and academic updates. Numerous students were recently recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in the arts, sciences, and academic achievement.

After an election of officers, with Heller taking over as president and Melanie Hess as vice president, the re-elected school board directors were sworn in.

SJI Library Assistant Director Anthony Morris brought the board up to date on progress toward a new library. A library steering committee was formed in September, followed by public meetings in October, November and December. The focus of these meetings was to present and listen to the public about what they want in a new library, what size would be needed and to clarify questions about the site on Spring Street. At a Feb. 12 meeting, they will present architectural drawings of what the library might look like and get further public feedback. The directors and staff were invited to attend.

Jose Domenich reported that student enrollment remains ahead of plan at 793 for all grades, and spending is on track. The board reviewed and approved a letter to the editor of the Journal of the San Juans.

This letter provides notice of and information on a ballot measure that will be mailed to voters in mid-January requesting a renewal of the Educational Programs and Operations levy. This is not a new levy; it is a renewal of an existing levy. San Juan Island voters have expressed their support for public education by voting for the EP&O levy for more than 20 years.