— by Kimberley Kimple, Orcas Issues reporter, reprinted upon request —
Orcas Island residents gathered at the Senior Center Monday night [Dec 17, 2018] where San Juan County Councilman Rick Hughes reported on a successful year in 2018 along with anticipations for next year and beyond.
The presentation began with an overview of the 2019 Budget, which recently passed with a 3.3 percent increase, totaling $87 million.
Hughes conveyed optimism for the growth the county budget has achieved since the last recession; with an end-of-year fund balance that is pushing $4 million, and a collective county debt – including all levies – coming in at less than $10 million; citing as milestones reached for the first time in 15 years.
He cautions, however, “We may be looking at a recession coming up soon. A telltale sign is that the short term interest rates are now equal to or surpassing long term interest rates, which is a really scary thing in financial terms.”
Thanks to the diligent budgetary discipline exercised, the county is in a strong financial position to navigate through economic uncertainty.
It was a busy year, with several projects underway around the island.
Orcas Landing Improvements
- New floats installed
- Relocation of the terminal building complete
- Future ADA accessible ramp leading to a new waterfront park
Orcas Park and Ride
- 84 completed parking spaces, with space for 30-50 more
- Reached full capacity during the county fair
- Electric charging stations for vehicles installed
- Link to Skagit Transit coming soon
Orcas Road Safety and Realignment Project
The project, scheduled to begin in April 2019, will span Orcas Road from just after McNallie Lane through Nordstrom Lane. The realignment aims to provide better sightline, while softening up the corners. Also on the docket is changing the Nordstrom Lane/Orcas Road intersection from two access points to one.
“We just passed Complete Streets as an ordinance requirement for roads, which means we have to look at multi-modal solutions on any public works project we do in the future.” Hughes reported, “Our key thoroughfares, Orcas Road being one of them, need to be 70-foot right-of-ways with four-foot shoulders and a dedicated bike path.” The project will look similar to the work completed on Mount Baker Road.
Other items completed include the building of the Exchange as well as the acquisition of a larger hazardous waste storage container; the annual chip seal for roadways; sidewalk repair in Eastsound; a new pedestrian trail in Deer Harbor; installation of the shared reserve fuel supply at Public Works; and an automatic generator at the Senior Center.
Also in the works is a plan to streamline building permits:
- Online tracking system coming June 2019 with live updates
- Aiming for a 6 – 8 week approval window
- Over-the-counter permits to be issued for simple projects
- Pre-approved stock plans to be available
- Staff overtime or outsourcing when needed
Looking into the future, Hughes presented the potential for mooring buoys countywide; better access to water via county roads; parking additions in Eastsound and Deer Harbor; and improvements to A Street, Fern Street, and Prune Alley.
Washington State Ferry Draft Long Range Plan
With a projected increase of 36 percent ridership and a rapidly ailing fleet, Hughes shared components of the draft plan specific to San Juan County; which would involve replacing the Elwah and Yakima with two new hybrid vessels, electrifying terminals at each of the major stops for vessel charging; and completing terminal improvements including a larger terminal building and additional slip in Anacortes; an overhead passenger ramp and second drive-on slip in Friday Harbor; and expansion to the Lopez terminal to support reservations.
Expanding on the states plan to switch to an all-hybrid fleet in the next 20 years, Councilman Hughes commented on the positive impact the new reduced-noise propulsion systems will have on our marine life and urged the public to contact our representatives to advocate on the full funding of the $7 billion plan. The full draft of the long range plan can be found at www.wsflongrangeplan.com.
Councilman Rick Hughes welcomes the public to join him for conversations over coffee and invites anyone who has ideas and questions to reach out to him at rick@sanjuanco.com.
I’m glad to read of some good changes in the works…. but/and –
Why does Public Works keep taking state grant monies to widen rural roads to 70′ superhighways and invite more speeding and unnecessary tree carnage? Enough! Put the bike trails under the power lines beside the roads; it’s already cleared there, and it was suggested at the workshop several months ago. That workshop survey was “supposed” to be a test and just the beginning, but instead the results were given to the Planning Commission with no further dialogue with the people of Orcas. When we accept state and federal grant monies, we have to pay the piper. The “price” is ALWAYS the environment.
I’m extremely disappointed in commissioners Stephens and Watson for forcing a “one size fits all” streetscape plan here, and also for disallowing the FREE (gift!) County acquisition of the Zukan property, which would have helped to protect at least a little bit of what remains of Eastsound Swale. They don’t have to care, or feel the pain of seeing what we see daily with each new assault on the land and our watershed in Eastsound.
This place is not some cash-cow that can keep being milked for profits from tourist dollars, all to invite MORE air B & B’s 2nd and 3rd homes, and cars. Can’t we do better? Oughtn’t we?
Complete streets? The statute provides that “Urban main streets should be designed to provide safe access to all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, motorists, and public transportation users. . . . . [ 2011 c 257 § 1.2011 c 257 § 1.] Orcas has no “urban” main streets. Certainly, nothing applies to our rural roads. Has anyone seen what “complete streets” has done to Seattle? This sacrifice of rural character for the possibility of more grant funds is appalling. We’ve already learned all too well that grant funds come with strings that are very painful and often expensive. This is very very sad.
Go Sadie, Go Peg.
So pleased to see such honest concern. I’m sure it’s shared by many others but my vantage point is so far limited to the OI (my fault) and my Highlands’ neighbors— who are quite special.
There are so many caring and thoughtful people on Orcas. It’s a special place and as is often said there’s no time like the present to express my gratitude to all of Orcas’ residents.
I can only wish by keeping up this defense of rural and rustic and by voting for reps who best reflect the “keep it rural” agenda, it’ll pay off.
Please dont stop speaking up.
I attended this meeting with Rick Hughes on Dec. 17th, and I share Sadie and Peg’s concerns about adding more pavement to the island. There are many places on Orcas where a road remodel similar to the one on Mt. Baker Road is impossible without sacrificing a LOT of trees. And even though I love to ride, and get around most of the time on my bike, I am not excited about a dual-purpose bike and pedestrian path, which I have heard suggested often. If you want to ride over 10 mph, which most people do if they are trying to get from A to B, then you are putting walkers at risk.
There are places on the island where a slightly bigger shoulder would be great, and also places where OPALCO easements could accommodate a walking path. But I would argue that the biggest problem is not the roads themselves, but the way people use them.
Over the past few years I have noticed that it has become more and more acceptable for people to drive like total maniacs. This is a tough nut to crack, but if we don’t crack it then even the widest roads will not keep people safe. We need to deal with our tendencies towards aggression, distraction, over-busy-ness, and disregard for other peoples’ lives. We also need better law enforcement to make it clear what kind of driving behavior is not acceptable.
I want safe roads as much as the next person, but I think the solution has more to do with changing our collective behavior than with changing infrastructure.
Go Rick!
But not only do I echo Sadie’s concerns.. it’s time for Council, not just Rick.. to do some serious home work.
This is not a rant.. but a simple observation, there have been literally thousands of bours spent by individuals that our council either appointed or approved for counsitation.
I do appreciate the fact that the devil is in the details, but am looking forward to a grass roots movement.
As a nobody in the community, serving on multiple platforms, I have experienced opportunities sunset that both community and County governance would have mutually benifited from.
I recognize my shortsidedness, and lack of understanding of all the facts, but… I’m hopeing for some illustration of boldness, our community not only exudes this but frankly demands it.
So again I say.. Go Rick!!
And lets see substainable growth, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING.