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.

SJI Fire District regular meeting of Nov. 14

The Board appointed and swore in Amy Taylor as the new Board Secretary. The chair then made a statement that with Chief Collins retired and Noel Monin as interim chief until a new permanent chief is appointed, that Chief Monin will have the full powers of fire chief during his tenure.

During the approval of payroll, commissioners asked about employee insurance. The current insurance plan has an Employee Assistance Program. To meet key financial deadlines, the Commissioners passed a 2024 budget, presented by Chief Monin that would spend both the projected 2024 revenue and the bulk of the projected $350k ending cash balance, leaving a projected ending 2024 cash balance of less than $3 thousand. They scheduled a budget workshop for Saturday, Dec. 2, to rework the budget to reduce the drawdown of cash reserves with the intention of passing an amended 2024 budget by Dec. 6.

The commissioners adopted the Fire District tax levy with the allowed one percent plus new construction increase. The interlocal agreement with the Town of Friday Harbor for the Fire District to do fire inspections of businesses has been completed.

The financial report showed that through October the Fire District had received 83% of budgeted revenue and spent 71% of budgeted expenses. The department has applied to acquire a surplus wildland fire unit from the Department of Natural Resources.

Staff from the Fire Department traveled to Seattle to testify in the Spring Street fire arson case. The administrative process of separating the retiring chief is proceeding. The Department is recruiting volunteers for the next training. So far, they have seven signed up and hope to get twelve. The greatest needs are at Cape San Juan, Eagle Point and Sunset Crest.

SJI School Board regular meeting of Nov. 29

Aaron Orozco, ASB Representative reported that the Eco Club visited the elementary school where they weighed food waste at the cafeteria, discussed better ways to not waste food and challenged students to practice this at home. Basketball season is underway.

Superintendent Woods reported applying to the state for a $500k grant for urgent siding repair. The district is looking at ways to serve the many new pre-K developmental students given staffing and space constraints. They are pursuing an Early Childhood Education Assistance Program, a state program that would help with support and funding. After a WASSDA conference session on AI, he sees AI as something the schools will need to be prepared for. The San Juan Public Schools Foundation provided $28,475 in grants for needed school supplies and materials.

The budget is on plan and enrollment is slightly higher than expected. The Board approved the Capital and Tech Levy to go on the February ballot to replace the levy from 2020 that will expire in 2024. The focus of the levy is safety, preventive maintenance and utility. An advisory committee will be established to ensure pro and con views will be presented in the voter guide.

Board members had attended the Washington School District Association conference and found it useful and something the board should attend each year. Meeting with other school boards both large and small helps board members learn about new approaches to common issues. The session on how AI is beginning to be used was helpful and eye-opening. All districts are struggling with financial issues.

San Juan County Council Dec. 4-5

On Dec. 4, the Council continued discussions on their legislative priorities for the upcoming short session of the Washington State Legislature. For education, specific asks would be for the other three school districts to get the same regionalization of 18% that Shaw has vs. 12%, for school buses to use ferries for free, and to support School Districts requests. For transportation, they are looking at requesting funds to study the impact of ferry disruption, and to research local transport options such as a passenger-only service between islands and local public transport. For housing, they will support existing bills and look at a possible specific ask for funding for the Argyle project. In marine resources, they will consider asking for state help to remove a boat recently sunk off Orcas and support for an Emergency Response Boat in the Salish Sea.

The Bureau of Land Management briefed the Council on the SJI National Monument which consists of 1021 acres of BLM-managed lands scattered throughout the county and includes several tiny islands, which are now protected for historical, cultural, scientific and natural resource purposes. Monument lands had 301,858 visits in 2022 and volunteers have contributed nearly two hours in 2023. An advisory committee was formed that helped draft the Resource Management Plan upon which its mandate expired. BLM is creating a new advisory committee under BLM authority to continue local public input into the implementation of the plan. Current activities include an invasive species inventory and tribal consultations.

On Dec. 5, during public comment, a citizen from SJI spoke of longstanding issues with the Land Bank leadership. A citizen from Orcas requested the Council to pass a resolution in support of Palestinians.

The County continued public hearings on the 2024-2025 budget and 2024, 2025, and Six-year Capital Improvement Plans. The preliminary budget meets the requirement for ending cash to be at least 10% of budgeted expenditures. The Council approved one additional request to be added to the preliminary budget, to increase the Court Facilitator Hours from 8 to 16 per week at a total cost of $11k. A motion to approve legal counsel for civil actions was not seconded. The hearings were further continued to Dec. 12 when the Council expects to adopt the budget and capital plans.

A public hearing for the cancellation of unclaimed warrants was set for December 12. The Council approved the extension of the Lopez Solid Waste Contract for one year while a new contract is negotiated. The new San Juan Island Contract will need to be negotiated in 2024 as well. Council Member Wolfe requested an update to the Council on the derelict vessel that recently sank off Orcas. Council member Fuller expects the Governor’s Office to send a response to the joint County-Town of Friday Harbor letter on the ferry disruptions.

The Council had a ceremony to recognize milestone years of County service and then attended a celebratory lunch.