||| FROM NECIA QUAST for LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS |||
The council recognized January 19, 2026 as Martin Luther King Day and a Day of National Service. The WSU Extension Service reviewed programs in the county including Master Gardeners, 4-H, Native Plant Sales, Agricultural and Forest management programs, and Agricultural Summit. They will be holding farmer listening session in February. 4-H operates on four islands and grew 71% last year.
County manager’s office will manage the Capital Improvement Plan and will add a narrative format with priority criteria to go with the spreadsheets. They will continue a consolidated plan for Facilities, Transport and Environmental Stewardship projects. They reviewed priority facilities projects. They will budget an annual percentage for maintenance. The auditor updated the council on the new Munis financial software; the vendor has agreed to provide support until the process is complete.
The Human Resources director reviewed training, risk management improvements, faster recruitment and lower turnover. In 2026 they will negotiate a new contract with the Sheriff’s Guild. The deputy county manager reviewed new standards for public defense and its impact on the county. The standards limit the cases a single public defender can handle. Felony cases are well below the limit, but misdemeanors are running 10-20 cases above the 120-case limit. A new behavioral health pilot project may reduce misdemeanor charges. Contracting services to handle the overage is costly.
The Land Bank reviewed activity in 2025 and 2026 plans. The sale of Land Bank parcels to the National Park Service has been delayed but is still funded. The Land Bank plans to sell ten acres on Bailer Hill Road and may acquire a conservation easement near Cascade Creek on Orcas, and one next to Cady Mt. on San Juan. They are writing management plans for Cady Mountain and Dolphin Bay. The Beaverton Valley Marsh Trail Project must go to bid by late August.
The community development director updated the council on the reduced backlog in permit processing; the average time to complete fell from 250 to less than 100 days. Permit requests have been stable. A first draft of an updated Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) is under review and will be out for public comment shortly. Code Enforcement is working through complaints. The department will review permit fees and adopt new ones in September. They plan to streamline the temporary use permit process and redesign their website. There is one new docket request and 1-2 more expected.
* The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to expand public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.
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Thank you Necia… this is such a valuable service that you are providing.
In your post you cite, “The sale of Land Bank parcels to the National Park Service has been delayed but is still funded.”
So, to the Land Trust guys I must ask– Why is it we see the need to sell our land to the National Park Service? Is this where all Land Bank parcels eventually go? What are the pros and cons of such?
MJ Johnson. a good question. My understanding is that the parcel is a few acres that abut the NW boundary of the American Camp unit of the historic park off Cattle Point Road on SJI. It is very unusual for the CLB to sell land from our collective public lands they steward. This parcel is where the Cutler Cabin – of the shooting of the potato-rooting pig fame stood that is central to the story of the unit but has no real importance to the County. I believe it to be a friendly public lands exchange for the betterment of both land stewards and residents. The trail through there will continue to be preserved on both sides of the parcel and no ruins of the cabin remain above ground as far as I know.
So, to the Land Trust guys I must ask– Why is it we see the need to sell our land to the National Park Service?
Agree the questioning of selling Land Bank lands to the National Park Service, given the current federal threats of seizing National Park Service lands for things like fossil fuel extraction and other extractive projects and development. National Parks nationwide are under threat and attack . There is an attempt underway to reverse the protected status of the San Juan Islands archipelago put in place by the Obama administration. Has this been fully researched? What happens if National Parks are defunded , dismantled. and up for sale to private enterprises? Then who owns that land and what can they do with it?