Submitted by the League of Women Voters.
League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to aid public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.
SJC Public Hospital District #1 Special Meeting on April 17
Commissioner Frazier presented a financial analysis looking at available cash, cash flow, working capital needs and reserves. The public hospital district has four service lines – emergency medical services, care provider subsidies, the Village at the Harbor, and the Village at Home. He noted that 53% of the district’s revenue is taxes collected twice a year. Other sources are ambulance billing, assisted living and home health care fees and miscellaneous, i.e., interest and donations. Beginning cash in 2025 was about $900 each for EMS and PHD, which is not all cash reserves; about half is working capital to cover expenses in months without tax revenue. The remaining cash constitutes reserves available to cover shortfalls in revenue and/or unexpected expenses, as well as new projects. There are capital reserves specifically set aside for a new ambulance. The general recommendation is that organizations have at least two months’ expenses in reserves for emergency spending, which would be about $1 million. With the current economic uncertainty, especially around Social Security and Medicaid, and expected high inflation, he cautioned that as the Commission makes decisions about what projects to fund, they keep these things in mind.
EMS capital needs are for a new ambulance and a new EMS building. Cash saved from 2024 would pay for a new ambulance, and the commission will likely approve that purchase. An ambulance will take up to a year to be delivered once an order is placed. The 13-year-old EMS building is not big enough for newer, larger ambulances, and current ambulances barely fit with highly exact parking. With new shift arrangements accommodations for EMTs are inadequate, with only two sleeping rooms, one bathroom and no air conditioning. Though the PHD could cover the interest on a bond from current revenue, Superintendent Butler recommended they put a bond out to voters, or to renew the current levy and add the 1-2 cent cost into the levy renewal. The commission discussed perhaps having a bond cover more than one building project.
The Village At Home is operating with seven to eight part-time employees instead of fewer full-time employees. Its fixed costs are $15,000 per month. It serves 216 patients a month, which is not enough to break even. The 16-month-old project needs a business plan with financial goals and milestones. There are many variables involved in moving forward with expansion plans for The Village at the Harbor, and the commission decided it is not a project to launch in 2025. Housing help and support for staff have a high priority. They need short-term, interim housing solutions. Plans to build housing is tied to partnership with PeaceHealth. Recently, PHD experimented with renting properties, starting with a small house for five months for traveling nurses working at Village at the Harbor. Another priority is health care collaboration.
Friday Harbor Town Council regular meeting of April 17
During public comment, County Council Chair Kari McVeigh said passenger ferry service would launch the following day, and she would be on the first run. Stephanie O’Day noted that at a previous meeting, public comment had been made about her project without her having a chance to respond. Michael McKinnon thanked the Town Council for taking up the issue of Nash Street lighting.
Danny Kenny of Odgen, Murphy and Wallace, the new town attorney, introduced himself and the firm to the Town Council. The firm has a large municipal practice. He also represents Gig Harbor. Mayor Ray Jackson proclaimed that the Town would be displaying two lights in its buildings for the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s Ride, the Two Lights for Tomorrow program.
SJI Fire District chief Noel Monin told the Council the fire district has addressed many of its budget challenges, reducing staff and EMS calls and passing the levy and increasing available cash. The district has extended service to outer islands and repaired the storm damage at the Roche Harbor station. They have maintained the insurance protection rating and could possibly improve it in the future. The commissioners are working on developing a strategic plan.
Planning director Ryan Ericson reviewed town lighting standards and shared newly created maps of town lighting and poles. The Council passed a motion to replace the current five-bulb fixtures with three-bulb fixtures and three poles on the seventh block of Nash Street. It will take several weeks to order and replace the lights. The removed lights can go in stock to be reused elsewhere.
The Council approved the amendment to allow an additional unit at 825 Argyle St. with the proviso to put a connection to a stormwater catch basin. The impact of stormwater on the neighborhood will be negligible. The Council approved a three-phase development plan for residential development at 1032 Guard St. The developer will be putting sidewalks and gutters along the street frontage, but these will not connect to other sidewalks. The town may want to look at getting rights of way for connecting sidewalks in the future.
The town clerk noted there would be two special Council meetings on May 5 at noon on local improvement districts and on May 8 at 9 a.m. on capital street improvement projects. There would also be special events to mark Arbor Day on April 25 including speakers and the giveaway of native trees and plants and children’s activities. The administrator reported that three water plant employees had gotten certifications. The Council went into executive session on labor negotiations.
County Council regular meeting of April 21
During public comment, the president of the San Juan Building Association spoke of improving the past adversarial relationship with the Department of Community Development. In addition to identifying and fixing problems, he wanted to acknowledge what was going right and to nurture it. He thanked three county employees who have been available and helpful. He welcomed a reconstituted Building Advisory Committee.
The communications director said the non-partisan America 250th Anniversary Celebration national and state committees asked the county to: join the Washington state committee; form a local committee; use the 250th Anniversary as the theme for the 2026 fair; and have Flag Day, July 4th and Constitution Day events in 2026. The state committee theme is connecting to our roots and supporting local history museums. The Council asked for consultation with Friday Harbor, Chambers of Commerce, tribes and local partners and to seek public input before bringing the issue back to Council.
The Council added two appointees for County Risk Pool roles. The Council reviewed proposed updates to the Transportation Element of the Comp Plan, including map refreshes and the inclusion of active transportation, noting the county has no roads that have good safety standards, i.e., pedestrians and cyclists. Council members asked for shortened and simplified language in specific goals and policies.
The Agricultural Resource Committee and the WSU Extension coordinator updated the Council on agricultural issues and programs. The County supports agriculture in extension services, the Land Bank, the county fair, Health Department food programs, affordable housing, and LTAC funding for farm tours. Farmers’ biggest challenges are finding farm labor, housing for farm labor, access to farmland and to USDA meat processing. The County could help with code updates for farm stands, and agrotourism, and improved code and permitting for farm infrastructure. The County needs WSU to fill the extension officer coordinator job, which also supports the Master Gardener program, 4H – now recovering since Covid – the agriculture summit, forest health, and food reservation programs.
Mark Thomkins, Health and Human Services director, updated the Council on the Department of Community Development’s first quarter permit processing. For most permits, issuances were nearly even with submissions, and they are reducing the backlog for land use permits. They are developing data and a process for vacation rental permits and are looking at how to reduce the backlog of docket requests. They have developed a shoreline planning guide for property owners. The Comp Plan update and other large projects are ongoing.
County Council regular meeting of April 22
The Council proclaimed May 1 Law Day and the month of May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. A new parks and fair employee, the new human resources director, two new assessors and a new superior court employee were introduced and welcomed to the County team. The Council set a May 20 public hearing to set a percentage of PFFAP funding for the Economic Development Commission. They approved a resolution to update the attorney fee schedule for hiring outside counsel, in line with neighboring counties. The Council approved a letter of support for federal funding of the Puget Sound Partnership.
During public comment, an Orcas resident said that a recently passed ordinance on Eastsound vacation rental permits as approved differed materially from the version published beforehand, so that he had not been able to comment on the elements of the ordinance as passed. He asked for another publication, comment period and approval.
The budget analyst reviewed the budget amendments that will be presented at a public hearing for approval on May 13. Under the proposed amendments, the beginning cash balance will increase by about $1 million; emergency and supplemental appropriations will add $26,580k to expenses. She reviewed first-quarter budget performance. Revenue was about $19.1 million or 21.3% of the annual budget, and expenses were $17.3 million running at 17.5% of budget. General fund revenue was $5.3 million, and spending was $6.82 million. That is normal for the first quarter when large annual transfers are made from the general fund. Interest income and planning and permit income were above budget projections, while tax revenue was running somewhat behind projections, especially for REET. The second quarter will provide a better picture for property tax revenue for the year, while sales tax and lodging tax bear watching in the second half given tourism impacts.
The County communications coordinator provided an update on the Language Access Program. This program includes developing a plan, issuing notices about language access accommodations, providing translation and interpretation services and establishing a feedback mechanism. The courts have had a program since 2011 which is a model, and both public works and the County health department have programs in place. The plan will extend the practices to all county functions.
The Department of Community Development laid out its timeline for public participation in the update of Critical Areas Protection, which is due February 2026. After initial public input, draft regulations will be posted for further public comment before final versions are published in advance of a public hearing and county approval.
