County Council conducts mid-year review of priorities

||| FROM SAN JUAN COMMUNICATIONS |||

At the beginning of every year, the San Juan County Council attends a multi-day retreat where they review programs and services, bring forth goals and ideas, and set priorities for the year. The 2024 Council retreat was held on January 22 and 23 and can be viewed online in the Civic Clerk Portal. During the Tuesday, July 9 meeting, the Council conducted a mid-year review of the priorities established at the beginning of the year.   

This mid-year review does not capture the breadth of services and programs delivered by the County – only the initiatives discussed during the Council retreat. San Juan County provides everything from dog licenses to vaccines, camping reservations to burn permits, law enforcement services to chip sealing roads, and much more.    

Led by Interim County Manager Mark Tompkins, the mid-year review focused on a variety of topics including the biennial budget, facility improvements and updates, communications initiatives, contracts of note, Comprehensive Plan updates, and other key initiatives and projects.  

See a short summary of topics discussed below. You can also watch the full review online here.      

Council Business 

Council-specific business included reviewing the 2024 committee assignments and 2024 council meeting calendar. Council members continue to represent San Juan County at the National Association of Counties (NACO) and the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) by participating in regional projects and attending meetings and conferences. Council also continues to update sections of the County code with the assistance of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.  

Biennial Budget  

Council reviewed the timelines, observations, and concerns regarding the biennial budget. The County’s budget team will continue to monitor the accounts and present updates to Council. All outstanding 2024 decision packages were reviewed during the first Amendment process in April with the second Amendment currently in progress. Since the beginning of the year, the Auditor’s Office conducted budget trainings for staff in an effort to improve the budget process moving forward.  

Policy & Plan Implementation Framework 

New Policy & Plan Implementation Framework was approved at the beginning of the year and has since been implemented for ongoing projects such as the Climate Element Policy and the Tribal Engagement Policy. Internal review of Tribal Engagement framework is underway, with the work building off the County’s Tribal Training conducted in February. Presented by the Whitner Group, the training was attended by approximately 40 County staff members and several partner organizations.  

Communications  

Ongoing communication efforts include a county-wide survey and resident interviews, review of the Social Media Policy, and the development of a Language Access Program to increase the County’s accessibility to the non-English speaking community. To that effort, the County has established Spanish-only social media accounts and a news flash distribution list, is integrating translation software into the website, and developing County-wide translation standards.  

Human Resources  

The department completed a six-month review of the 32-Hour Work Week Initiative, successfully recruited and hired a new County Manager, and implemented a new software to post job openings and guide applicants through the interview process. The department also developed an Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP) that was adopted in June.  

The department is currently working a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Initiative and continuing to work on collective bargaining agreements.  

Facilities  

The County completed the sale of the Public Works facility on Spring Street, is finalizing the sale of the Orcas Senior Center, and purchased the former Banner Bank building and a piece of property on Shaw Island. Other facilities projects under review include the Public Works shop on Lopez Island, the possible creation of a Justice and Public Safety building and an Administration building in Friday Harbor, and a Lopez Island Sheriff Substation.  

Land Bank  

The department adopted a strategic plan in April and is developing a subsequent communications plan. The Conservation Land Bank continues to publish press releases, engage followers on social media, publish an annual report, host public events (including guided tours, volunteer work parties, interpretive walks, and more), and present information at local community groups. 

The department is looking forward to opening several new preserves to the public later this year.   

Contracts of Note 

Council reviewed the status of key contracts including the Solid Waste lease agreements on San Juan and Lopez Islands and the Visitor’s Bureau contract. The Visitor’s Bureau contract has been discussed during the June 11 and July 8 Council meetings with a third discussion anticipated in August.  

Comprehensive Plan Update  

The Department of Community Development is managing the Comprehensive Plan Update process and is working with consultants to conduct code reviews, engage the public, and move the process forward within the required two years.  

Key Initiatives / Projects  

Council reviewed a list of key initiatives including regional items such as broadband access, transportation issues, and ferry studies.  

Councilmember Fuller has taken a coordinating role with the regional transportation subcommittee of SWISS (a group representing San Juan, Whatcom, Island, Snohomish, and Skagit Counties) with support from County policy staff. This group serves as a forum for cross-boundary transportation discussions. The County’s Transportation Working Group will continue to provide internal support for regional initiatives, and ferry studies (led by WSF with County support) will be kicking off soon.  

Council member Wolf continues to serve on the Energy, Environment and Land Use Committee of the National Association of Counties where she is collaborating on an effort to secure federal funding for USGS and other agencies to make groundwater data accessible to local governments to inform critical decision about land use and infrastructure.  She will continue to serve on the Federal Issues and Relationships Committee for WSAC for the time being where she has worked to include San Juan County’s needs for support of ferries, housing and marine safety in the WSAC federal lobbying priorities and has joined the group in the halls of Congress advocating for solutions to shared issues. 

County Councilmembers are leading regional conversations related to broadband access and funding (SWISS and WSAC) and staff continue to work towards forming local partnerships and strategies related to broadband service and equity.   

The Council reviewed legislative priorities, recent presentations from the County’s lobbyist, and the status of a NOAA grant submitted for sea level rise adaptation projects on Lopez Island.  

Council also reviewed the status of trail and culvert replacement projects and expects updates later this summer. Affordable housing projects are underway on Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan Islands and the Community Health Improvement Plan has been placed on hold while a Youth Community Health Assessment is in progress.

Work Groups  

The County has established several internal work groups to guide projects and initiatives and moving forward. Staff are holding ongoing meetings for the Comp Plan and Climate Element, transportation projects, Lopez Solid Waste, Sea Level Rise, and the 32-Hour Work Week. Each working group plans to bring findings and updates to Council before the end of the year.  

Interim Staff Plan 

Council reviewed the interim staffing plan that helped manage the transition of leadership roles. On February 22, Mark Tompkins was appointed as the Interim County Manager and Interim Director of the Department of Community Development, and Brandon Andrews was appointed as the Interim Assistant County Manager. Since the beginning of the year, the County’s fleet services program has been reintegrated into the Public Works Department.   

To listen to the entire mid-year review, please visit the Civic Clerk Portal for the meeting recording.  

About San Juan County’s Council   

San Juan County’s Council is composed of three members – one from each voting district. Members serve four-year, staggered terms. The council chambers are located at 55 Second Street N, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County Council, visit www.sanjuanco.com/341/County-Council.