Council meets today and tomorrow

On Monday, Dec. 15, The San Juan Community Council members will give updates on the areas of their particular concern:
. Council Retreat – Howie Rosenfeld
. Veterans’ Advisory Board Terms – Howie Rosenfeld/Alan Lichter
. Ferries/Ferry Advisory Committee/Ferry Subcommittee – Howie Rosenfeld
. Cell Phone Subcommittee – Rich Peterson
. Legislative Priorities and Lobbying Efforts – Bob Myhr
. General Government Subcommittee – Gene Knapp
. Budget Subcommittee – Howie Rosenfeld

Later County Administrator Pete Rose will give report to the council in a discussion of budget policy ideas and housing needs and changes, with County Development and Planning Director Ron Henrickson.

Tomorrow, Dec. 16, the Council will have a continued discussion of their lobbying efforts and San Juan Co. Legislative priorities which have been identified for the purpose of discussion as:

Washington State Ferries
Position: Washington State Ferries needs to maintain a level of service that supports the business, personal, and visitor transportation needs in Puget Sound.
1. Use federal government stimulus funds to support construction of ferries and improve island ferry terminals.
2. Prioritize capital expenditures to support safe and reliable new and existing vessels.
3. Fully fund the construction of at least two 144 car ferries and at least three 64-90-car ferries.
4. Authorize and fund an impact study of the economic significance and contribution of ferries for the Washington State economy.
5. Emphasize that San Juan Island’s run is unique because the ferry system is our highway that links our community together and is a major draw for state tourism.

Restoration/Allocation of CAPRON funds
Position:
1. Support the continuation of the statutory refund of Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Revenue to San Juan County (RCW 46.68.080) CAPRON ACT
2. Support the restoration of the portion of the CAPRON Act refund that was transferred to Washington State ferries in 2006 by the passage of ESSB 6839

Stormwater Regulations for Rural Counties
Position: Authorize and fund $200,000 for Department of Ecology to help prepare a new manual for stormwater regulations for rural counties.

Federal Funding for Year-round Rescue Tug at Neah Bay
Position: Support the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2007.
• Support State funding for the Neah Bay Rescue Tug if the federal legislation looks like it will fail.
• Support State funding for Oil Spill Advisory Council.

Cattle Point Road Relocation
Position: Ask the Washington State legislature, the Governor, and the Congressional delegation to provide transportation funding to relocate the Cattle Point Road on San Juan Island and to support a sustainable long-term funding source to meet the transportation infrastructure needs of Washington State counties.

Save Mitchell Hill
Position: Develop a private, local and federal partnership, and secure the necessary $4.5 – 8 million to preserve this natural and historical resource on San Juan Island. San Juan County and the Department of Natural Resources agreed to a three-year stay on logging and/or development of this property in order for the County to develop a process to preserve this unique natural and recreational resource.

Odlin South
Allocate $607,000 for Trust Lands Transfer Program to acquire 37 acres of the Odlin South 106-acre bloc for SJC Land Bank/Parks.

Position: 1. Work with legislature to get full funding for Odlin South transfer to San Juan County via the Trust Lands Transfer program

Fully Fund Public Schools
Position: Compel the legislature to meet Washington State’s constitutional requirement to equitably and fully fund basic education.

For more information on the Council’s meetings and agenda, go to www.sanjuanco.com and click on “Council.”