||| FROM MIA KARTIGANER for PORT OF ORCAS |||
My cup is 50.89% full, yet runneth over. I’m grateful to those who supported me in continuing to serve you all, non-supporters and non-voters alike.
At our last Port meeting I asked my co-commissioners to think about ways in which we might invest the Port’s share of our property taxes meaningfully back into the community. I believe many of us can agree that one of the greatest impediments to a stable economy here is a shortage of affordable housing. Housing isn’t really the business of the Port but there are ports with non-airport properties that have found the means. Robert Hamilton and I are both interested in further researching what’s possible.
I invite you all to offer us an opportunity to help.
Bruce Benton recently applied for state grant money to install EV-Charges across the island. The Port provides an umbrella under which he was able to do this. Huge thanks to Bruce for his work and planning.
Rick Fant has researched different solutions for tracking noise complaints. We are continuing to discuss our options. Thank you Rick.
We are not a wealthy Port. Our only income that we can use beyond the airport is our property tax revenue. Ideally any investment we consider would combine serving the greatest good with being ultimately self-sustaining.
I am also terribly fond of public-private partnerships, not just for the alliteration, but also for the possibilities they open up.
Some of us will head off to the Washington Public Ports Association conference in early December. It’s a wonderful opportunity to network and learn what other ports are creating.
I will be focused on RCW 53.08.295 to see if it is feasible here.
I think it’s time for the Ports of San Juan County to be called into service together, in partnership with the County, in support of commerce, education and healthcare. The Community Water Taxi has been an inter-island blessing to many and they need our support to become all they can be, all that we need.
Again, I thank you for allowing me to continue to serve as a Port Commissioner here on Orcas Island.
Thanks for your innovative thinking on these issues, Mia, particularly on the Port’s potential to facilitate public-private partnerships like Thomas Bridge’s Community Water Taxi service. It’s worth noting as an example that the privately operated Nantucket Hy-Line https://hylinecruises.com/nantucket-ferries/ has been providing passenger service for the 30-mile run between Hyannis and Nantucket since 1973, alongside the public Nantucket-Martha’s Vineyard Steamship Authority. If the Ports of Orcas, Lopez and Friday Harbor were to cooperate to facilitate such a privately run operation, we could have a real, local-priority service for Islands residents.
The only problem with passenger ferry operations throughout the greater Puget Sound area, which have been studied several times over the years, is that there are massive financial obstacles to be overcome. Even in Kitsap County, with its large population and commuter base, the passenger-only operations involve large tax subsidies to survive.
Trying to compete with WSF inter-island service, which is fare-free for passengers, would not work, and a private operator could never be found to make a go of it absent substantial subsidies.
Bob, I don’t think anyone is trying to compete with WSF. My read is there is such poor ferry service, especially the interisland route, that there is a huge need.
It’s a welcome sight to at least see the discussion starting.