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 promote public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.

Friday Harbor Town Council regular meeting of Dec. 4

Council member Anna Maria de Freitas chaired the meeting and was sworn on for a new term.

The Town gave Rachelle Radonski, Friday Harbor Food Bank director, a $15,000 check from the Friday Harbor Life Ring and spoke of the origin of the Life Ring Fund.

Katie Fleming, San Juan County Environmental Stewardship Solid Waste program coordinator, presented the draft Solid Waste Plan for San Juan County, which includes the Town of Friday Harbor. The Council approved sending this joint plan to the Washington State Department of Ecology for review.

Ryan Page, the San Juan County Affordable Housing coordinator, presented San Juan County’s five-year Homeless Plan. A plan must be adopted by Dec. 31, with a public hearing scheduled for Dec. 9.

The Council adopted an ordinance fixing salaries of elected and non-represented personnel. The Council approved a six-month moratorium on new transient accommodations, short-term rentals, timeshares or vacation rentals and scheduled a public hearing on Jan. 15 to discuss the transient accommodations moratorium.

Town Administrator Denice Kulseth reported that Mike Liptack, Public Works director, was appointed to one of 17 positions on Washington State’s Recycling Reform Act Advisory Council. She thanked the Street Departments for the town holiday decorations, including extending the snowflakes and tree wraps to new locations.

Finance Director Bethany Berry reviewed the utility-based and production fees. The continued Nov. 6 public hearing was reopened to consider proposed revenue sources and utility rates. The Council unanimously adopted to increase water rates by 13%, sewer rates by 3% and stormwater rates by 25%. Connection charges for water were raised by 13%, for sewer by 3% and for stormwater by 25%. They equalized consumption rates between in-town and out-of-town residents.

Berry provided an update on the draft 2026 budget expenditures. The Council opened a public hearing to hear public testimony on the preliminary budget and expenditures. No public comment was submitted.

A recording of Town Council meetings can be viewed at https://www.fridayharbor.org/2202/Agenda-Meetings-and-Video.

County Council regular meeting of Dec. 9

The Council convened as the governing body of the Lopez Solid Waste District and approved the 2026 budget, up 4.8% from 2025. The budget included increased tipping fees to cover higher costs for electricity, fuel and Skagit tipping fees.

After public hearings, the Council approved authorizing the Development Agreement for the Argyle Lots Property on SJI and adopted a Five-Year Homeless Plan. Two residents made comments supporting the implementation of a Host Home program for homeless teens in the county, which was included in the plan.

After a public hearing, in which comments were made about the Roche Harbor Master Plan Amendment, the Eastsound Urban Growth Area expansion and the inclusion of renewable energy generation and storage projects as essential public facilities, the Council approved the Comprehensive Plan update with an effective date of March 13. They excluded the proposed expansion of the Roche Harbor masterplan 2-1, with Paulsen opposing. After a public hearing with no public comments made, the Council approved the 2026 annual Capital Improvement Plan and the Six-Year CIP from 2026-2031.

In a public hearing on the 2026 budget, three residents opposed contracting for work previously performed by unionized employees. After deciding to retain a facilities position and restore the electronic monitoring program, the Council passed a one-year 2026 county budget.

The Council reviewed the proposed budget amendments for the 2025 budget and set a public hearing for the following week. It approved the Criminal Justice Treatment Account plan for 2026-2027. It established a Cultural Access Review Board. The Parks and Fair Director, Brandon Andrews, said the program was planned to open for applications in January 2026. A notice will be issued for residents to apply for positions on the five-member board. The Council approved awards for the 2025 historical preservation grant program recommended by the review committee. At the County manager’s request and with the passage of the 2026 budget, the Council agreed to lift the hiring freeze on filling County positions.

The Council discussed the many problems occurring with the current ferry service disruptions and how to improve communication with Washington State Ferries and to both get and provide timely information and give input.

Board of Health regular meeting of Dec. 10

The Accountable Communities for Health resumed its CEO search. The Community Collaboration Committee provided $100,000 for the dental access program. The North Sound Behavioral Health Organization is working on a behavioral health emergency co-response program with the Sheriff’s Office. The NW Regional Council is looking for state funding to extend the pilot program for home health care that saves money. Overall health funding is very challenged by federal cuts and state fiscal problems.

Dozens of youths from prevention coalitions on three islands described their programs. Orcas High Schoolers in Next Generation Youth did a confidential survey of students and used the data to help kids and the community understand that substance use is much lower than perceived. This helps lower the pressure kids may feel to fit in. For example, 87.5% of youth had not vaped in the last month. They run activities to strengthen connection and belonging. The Lopez Youth Health advocates surveyed kids to find out what activities they wanted to take part in and when, creating opportunities for youths to get together, hang out and get information from trained peers, who also provide training to middle schoolers. On San Juan Island, middle school kids themselves are taking the lead in helping kids feel a sense of belonging and learning tactics to withstand pressure. All three groups have been trained in peer-to-peer education.

The County health department runs a small countywide prevention program, but funding is now challenging. Federal grants are encumbered by unacceptable requirements impacting the LGBTQ community. The county will use opioid settlement funds to support some programs for next year, as prevention is an allowable use of the funds. Similar issues are impacting emergency management funding, and many are looking to the state to challenge the legality of these conditions.

San Juan County Health Officer Dr. Amy Harely briefed the board on avian flu in the county, where both wild waterfowl and at least one backyard flock have tested positive across the county. There have been no cases of human infection, though those exposed to infected birds could be at risk, which, for now, is deemed to be low. Dead domestic fowl should be reported to the State Department of Agriculture, and wild birds to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Council member Jane Fuller spoke to the challenges that are being felt in the county with the withdrawal of two insurers, leaving only one, which does not have contracts with all local providers or with many providers in nearby counties. That insurer has concluded a contract with Island Health so Orcas residents can get covered services at the Orcas clinic. She contacted the University of Washington to address this issue for the Lopez clinic and reached out to the State Insurance Commission and the Governor’s Office about the impact on county residents.