— from Minor Lile, Orcas Issues reporter —
Following yesterday’s decision by the County Council to request a closure through May 31 of transient facilities in San Juan County for public health reasons, this morning’s County Council meeting began with several updates on the status of the Council’s request. This closure would apply to hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, county camping facilities, B&B’s, short term boat slips and airport camping.
Deputy County Director of Administration Mark Tompkins began by saying that ‘everyone is still digesting’ the statewide ‘stay at home’ order that Governor Jay Inslee issued yesterday evening.
Tompkins then said that he is working with County Health Officer Dr. Frank James and Senior Deputy Prosecutor Jonathan Cain to draft an order that would implement the County Council’s request for a temporary closure of transient accommodations throughout the County. That temporary closure order will be considered at a meeting of the County Board of Health scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, March 25, at 12 p.m.
Discussion next turned to a meeting of the Visitor’s Bureau yesterday afternoon that Council member Bill Watson attended remotely. Watson said that the Visitor Bureau’s members were very supportive of the Council decision to request a closure order.
He noted that there has been some concern expressed on the length of the proposed closure. Some have suggested that the re-opening date be moved to April 30 rather than May 31, with an option of extending the date if necessary. April 30 is the same date that State Parks and other State facilities are currently scheduled to re-open. It was also mentioned that the earlier date would ease the initial repayment of reservation deposits for the industry.
Council member Hughes noted that ultimately the establishment of the initial time frame for closure, as well as the eventual re-opening should be based on what was best from a public health perspective. And that once the order were lifted, the attention of the County would have to turn to an economic stimulus plan.
At this point, Mark Tompkins said he wanted to remind everybody that the order to close transient facilities in the County is based on public health concerns and can only be issued by Dr. Frank James, the County Public Health Officer.
The Visitor’s Bureau members also raised questions about enforcement of the order for vacation rental owners, many of whom are not members of the Visitor’s Bureau. After some discussion, the council agreed to ask staff to prepare a letter that will notify Vacation Rental permit holders by e-mail and through the Post Office of the temporary closure and also establish rules for enforcement.
Watson also said that there was some discussion about the role that Washington State Ferries might play in encouraging compliance with the order. One possibility that was raised would be to provide relevant information about closures on the parking lot reader board in Anacortes. Councilmember Hughes said that he hoped to have more information from the State about the role of Washington State Ferries in supporting the closure order soon.
There was also discussion about the essential services and personnel that are referred to in the Governor’s order. It was agreed that this is a complex area, and that guidelines need to be as clear as possible. A significant complexity is that the guidelines have been provided by the State, but are then, at least to some degree, subject to interpretation by each individual county.
All agreed that some clarification is needed. Rick Hughes agreed to serve as the point person for interaction with the Governor’s office.
The meeting then turned to the other items on the agenda. These included an extension of the moratorium on siting licensed marijuana production facilities, review of the Utilities section of the draft comprehensive plan, and acceptance of a conservation easement deed on San Juan Island for the County Land Bank.
As of tonight, West Beach resort still has people staying in cabins and I saw at least one RV parked in the lot. Is there some “phasing in” of this order? or is it effective immediately? Please tell me the resort isn’t defying it?
A well-written, and informative article.
Thank you San Juan County, and thank you volunteers for all you’re doing. It’s obvious, even at this early stage, that the challenges before us are enormous, and that this is going to require a tremendous effort on behalf of many. Though intricately intertwined it’s a relief to see that in spite of the pressure from some to do otherwise the county recognizes, and is acting on the premise that this is a health crisis first, and an economic crisis second. I’m looking forward to seeing the results of Wednesday’s meeting.
No Michael, I do not believe you are correct. This is not a health crisis first and then an economic crisis second. Both need to be weighed equally. For many in this country, and in this county, the economic problems created by the health problem have become far more of an issue. Since my work is deemed essential, I am still out there everyday working. And during these days I have spoken with many of the working class residents of our community. They are very worried, and very uncertain, and frankly scared. But not about the virus. They’re afraid of how they’re going to keep their businesses open, and pay their rent or mortgages. These people don’t have the option of unemployment benefits or stimulus money, and they don’t have an employer who has agreed to continue paying them during this economic crisis. They also don’t collect a monthly retirement check. They live paycheck to paycheck, and missing one check, to say nothing of several, leaves them wondering how they will survive.
Part 2: And as one example, the idea of closing the hotels until June 1st. This is a heavy handed idea, based more on fear than facts. The closure makes perfect sense, but since no one knows what things will be like in four weeks, to say nothing about nine weeks from now, why would we choose such a long closure? It will have severe economic impacts, that must be weighed in the equation with the health impacts. Why not choose a four weeks closure, then reassess the situation in three weeks and choose to continue the shut down, if appropriate? What would we have to lose from that approach, as opposed to just shutting it down until summer?
I for one am glad that the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House recognize the economic problems that have been created by the virus, and that they are addressing those simultaneously with the health issues.
If the population is sick there won’t be an economy. Let’s keep people healthy first.
I agree with Buddy. Economic issues should be given equal weight with infection control issues. Let’s not overlook the adverse effects of business shutdowns and unemployment other than loss of income: losing a place to live, having a vehicle repossessed, businesses going belly up if the shutdown is prolonged, depression, increases in suicide and divorce. South Korea was able to limit the coronavirus epidemic without a blanket shutdown of bars and restaurants by testing 250,000 people and focusing control measures on the hot spots. I hope that increased testing in the U.S. can allow us to do the same.
And this is exactly why the county needs to act soon. It sucks, but you are ALIVE and can find new ways to support yourself. Go find a neighbor look them in the face and tell them your salary is as important as their LIFE, or what if it’s your wife or your kid…young children have already died of this….the numbers may be small but it Is happening.
Luther & Greg, I was not suggesting that the efforts to end the virus be lessened in anyway. My statement was specific to not deciding that we are shut down until June 1st, but rather set a shorter time span and then re-evaluate at that time. That is not in any way lessening the current quarantine, or putting people at greater risk. It is in fact just acknowledging that the situation is fluid, and no one knows what it will look like in four weeks. So let’s keep our options open and stay flexible. No one is suggesting that we let people get sick or die, in even the slightest way. It is possible to over react to this situation, and do economic harm, without making anyone safer or healthier.
The rate of increase is accelerating exponentially.* According to graphs charting various possibilities (no intervention, closing schools, closing events, shelter in place, etc), lately they are showing peak in mid-May on the no intervention curve, which we are on track for – crowded churches on Easter! No ventilators for New York until they play nice! No masks for anyone! Remembering that the other side of a peak lasts about as long as the uptake, which started in January, this thing is going to blow way past all our expiration dates.
* Suppose I put a drop of water on the ground at Yankee Stadium (stop me if you’ve heard this one). A minute later I add two drops, a minute later four, and so forth. How long would it take to fill the stadium all the way to the brim, bleachers and everything?
Pause…
50 minutes.
Now, how long to just fill the grounds to a depth of 5 feet?
Pause…
45 minutes.
As you can see, those last five minutes are – where we are right now.
PS The projected death rate on the no intervention curve is 1-10 million Americans. The sad thing is, the economy is going to tank anyway.