San Juan County Auditor Milene Henley shares a detailed synopsis of the profound growth that several of the County’s key revenue sources experienced in 2021, along with insights into how those funds may (and may not) be used in the years ahead.

Spring is a time full of hope. Last spring, we hoped we would soon see the last of COVID. That didn’t turn out the way we’d hoped. But in many other ways, 2021 turned out to be a pretty good year.

The big surprise was how strong the economy was. Despite a few remaining weakened sectors and a frustratingly tight labor market, the economy thrived, both locally and nationally. Locally, San Juan County sales tax revenue grew 46% in 2021, after a small dip in 2020. With people traveling again, accommodations thrived, and lodging tax revenue (a subset of sales tax revenue) grew even more – a whopping 80% – after a 25% dip in 2020.

Strong state and national building and real estate markets also showed locally. Both the number of sales and the price of real estate in San Juan County rose dramatically in 2020 (51% in number of sales, 57% in dollars). In 2021, while the number of sales dipped slightly, the dollar volume rose another 21%, reflecting the increase in property values. Prices are driven upward, in large part, by the shrinking inventory of houses for sale. The number of properties available for sale shrank 45% from Jan. 2020 to Jan. 2021 and another 33% from Jan. 2021 to Jan. 2022. Continue Reading

Amy Vira’s campaign sends along the following announcement of her candidacy for San Juan County Prosecutor.

Attorney Amy Vira of San Juan Island announced her candidacy for San Juan County Prosecutor today.

“I came to San Juan County 10 years ago to work as a deputy prosecutor and built a life in a community I love. It has been a pleasure to serve the citizens of San Juan County and I look forward to continuing that service as your Prosecuting Attorney,” said Vira.

In addition to experience prosecuting both felony and misdemeanor crimes, Ms. Vira has broad civil experience in a variety of areas including land use law, public records compliance, contracts, and general liability. She also serves the County as a deputy coroner.

“Though challenging, it is an honor to assist families in navigating the difficult and often tragic circumstances surrounding the death of a loved one,” Vira said. Continue Reading

The San Juan Island Library District is looking for an experienced individual with strong attention to detail to conduct bookkeeping and payroll activities. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.

The Center for Whale Research published a report about their March 7 encounter with the J pod of Southern Resident killer whales in San Juan Channel. You can read the full report at their website.

Photo credit: Center for Whale Research

Living on a boat. Regularly speeding across the harbor in a skiff. Working part-time at Griffin Bay Bookstore. Taking relaxed walks through the streets and parks of Friday Harbor. Sailing to the outer islands for an afternoon hike. Sleeping soundly next to your favorite person each night.

It’s the kind of life to which many Islanders would aspire.

For Soot the cat, it’s just life.

Born last year in Moses Lake, Washington, adventure has been Soot’s destiny since he was three days old. McKayla Bower, his caretaker, lives aboard a 30-foot sailboat in Friday Harbor, and had rebuilt the interior of the boat last winter with a cat in mind, purposely blocking off areas where a furry friend might find itself too cold, too wet, or too dirty.

But while the boat was ready to go, McKayla had been waiting to find the companion who would call it home. That changed with a timely call to a friend last April. Continue Reading

The San Juan County Economic Development Council is hiring a Trades Coordinator to develop, promote, and review its workforce training programs. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.

The Friday Harbor Port Commission will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 9 at 12 p.m. Items up for discussion at Wednesday’s meeting include:

• FAA correspondence relative to hangar penetrations of controlled air space and the B2 Narrow standard
• Needed barge landing road repairs and desired County/Town participation
• Washington State Department of Ecology Model Toxics Control Act funding options
• High-level discussion of Jensen/Shipyard Cove vision and related consequences

You can view the live stream of the meeting online via Zoom or attend in person at the San Juan Island Yacht Club.

The live stream of the meeting operates in listen-only mode; comments are not accepted in real time unless you attend in person. To submit a comment for presentation to the Commission, you must send a message to [email protected] — with the subject line “Public comment” — at least 24 hours before the meeting.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council invites Island business owners to an upcoming workshop on improving their websites. According to the EDC:

Course leader Shannon Borg, business coach and Squarespace web designer, will show participants how to assess their business websites with a simple tool designed to evaluate sites. During the workshop, participants will learn ways to create the three most important pages on business website, attract more customers, better engage them, and simplify customer service.

The workshop takes place Tuesday, March 22 at 10 to 11 a.m. via Zoom. Advance registration is required.

Hui Wa’a Puget Sound North (also known as the San Juan Canoe & Kayak Club) shares an update on what the club has been up to for the past few years and what they have in store for the 2022 paddling season.

Back in 2003, Olympic kayaker David Halpern started a kayak and outrigger canoe club at Jackson Beach. The club flourished with around 30 islanders paddling 6-person outrigger canoes two or three times a week. Groups of kids paddled and families joined in. Informal races around Dinner Island earned successful participants a free dinner at one of the race series’ sponsoring restaurants.

There were lots of smiles and memories made, thanks in large part to Steve Simpson, then Port of Friday Harbor director, who made half the net shed at Jackson’s available for the canoe club and half for the sailing club.

Fast forward to today. With the canoe club relocated to Jensen Cove, canoe and kayak smiles once again abound. Thanks to the relocation by Port Director Todd Nicholson, the canoe club can access safe protected waters and is still close to town. “It’s such a great place to be, with so much potential for our community,” said Halpern, “It’s practically walkable from town and it’s the most protected waters with public access. Really it is a perfect place for kayaks and canoes.” Continue Reading

The San Juan County Council will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 8 at 9 a.m. The Council will hold two public hearings, including time for public comment:

• Approving resolutions to dispose of Sheriff surplus property — landing craft and drug-trained dog
• Considering an ordinance adopting amendments to the personnel policy manual

Items up for discussion or action include:

• COVID update from the Director of Health and Community Services
• Islands’ Oil Spill Association annual report
• A proposed ordinance amending the Lodging Tax Fund
• 2021 fourth quarter financial report
• Planning Commission’s findings and recommendations regarding a vacation rental permit cap
• Considering the addition of general office space to the Beaverton Valley Operations Center building
• Considering the process to revise the County’s Land Use Table to allow government offices in the Rural General Use designation
• Approval of a resolution in support of a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant to relocate MacKaye Harbor Road on Lopez Island

The meeting will also include a council and legislative update, an update from the County Manager, and an update from the Council Clerk. In addition, the Council will hold two non-public Executive sessions — one to discuss litigation with legal counsel, the other to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee.

You can view the live stream of the meeting online or attend in person at the Council Legislative Hearing Room. Masks are required for in-person attendance. To make a public comment, sign up prior to 9 a.m. on March 8.

San Juan County Public Hospital District shares the following update on its Community Paramedicine program.

2021 was a landmark year for Community Paramedicine and Outreach at San Juan Island EMS. The most significant change was hiring a new Community Paramedicine and Outreach EMT, Ryder Cuddington, to assist Director Lainey Volk.

Community Paramedicine is funded through a combination of grants and public funding. Volk describes Community Paramedicine as, “Working with our vulnerable population through care coordination and injury prevention, to minimize use of our 911 system for preventable problems. Paramedicine and outreach overlap at injury prevention. We have provided grab bars, safety poles, medication dispensers, walkers, and Files of Life along with other needs. In 2021 this included installing 25 car seats, providing 9 helmets to children, and assisting over 100 Community Paramedicine patients on a regular basis.” Continue Reading

I’m writing to express my support for ranked choice voting being on the ballot for San Juan County voters to vote on this November, along with the other three charter amendments put forward by the Charter Review Commission. While I support ranked choice voting as a concept, I’m not writing to make an argument for or against each of the amendments, but to advocate for voters of San Juan County getting the chance to vote on them. Continue Reading