LWVSJ Observer Corps: County Council November 5, 2024

||| FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS |||

The Council reviewed the third set of 2024 proposed budget amendments and set a public hearing for December 3. The amendments appropriate additional revenues and expenses as well as changes to actual spending and funding sources. They reviewed and set a hearing for the 2025 budget mid-biennium review Expected revenue has increased by a greater amount than additional expenditures leaving the projected end 2024/ beginning 2025 cash higher than anticipated with an anticipated cash cushion of a little over $1 million. After approval of additional funding requests. An update on remaining ARPA funds (Covid era federal supplemental funding) was added to the December 2 agenda.

The Council reviewed and set a public hearing for the 2025 Capital Improvement Plan and the Six Year Plan for December 3. Most projects in the plan have been reviewed previously, but later in the meeting Council approved adding the Weeks Point Way Restoration project on Lopez to the plan. Environmental stewardship will work with a barge operator to ensure the area can still be used as a barge landing.

The Council approved the cancellation of unclaimed warrants from previous years. They clarified that this removes these payments from the books, but if a vendor should at some point request payment, they can reinstate their claim. The Council approved the 2025 clean water utility charge which will now be a flat rate for San Juan, Orcas and Lopez Islands of $124 per equivalent service unit and $92 for Shaw and other islands. Previously the rates varied slightly from island to island, so there are either small increases or drops for individual islands.

After a protracted discussion the Council approved grants recommended by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for all grantees except the Visitors Bureau. The Council previously directed that a new three-year contract with a flat fee was their preference, however, the LTAC recommended continuing a base payment and performance bonus. The Council learned at the meeting that they cannot enter a contract without funds already on hand for the entire contract term. The Council sent the recommendation back to the LTAC and will ask the Visitors Bureau to report on their performance measures at an upcoming meeting. The Council was concerned about constituent opposition to the level of tourism promotion, but also about the immediate need to replace the Visitor Bureau contract that expires December 31.

The Council postponed the scheduled consideration of the Tribal Engagement Framework to November 12. They added review and approval of the Department of Commerce emergency transportation funding contract to the November 12 agenda.

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.