Friday Harbor Port Commission January 9, 2026

For 2026 Gib Black was elected President and Barbara Marrett as Vice President. Rich Goodheart remains District 3 commissioner. The commission adopted the amended policy allowing employees to gift leave hours to other employees with certain restrictions. The new policy will be included in the employee handbook.

The commission approved a site plat alteration that allows four lots to be combined into three so that Saltwater Farm and Salty Paddle will stay separate entities with their own leases for the appropriate parcels.  This will allow the Salty Paddle project to proceed. They have conditional use permits and are waiting for building permits.

The commission approved to fixing improperly executed assignments dating back to 2008 to clear the title and allow the sale and transfer of a lease from Grand Aero LLC to Skytrails Condominium Association. 

The council approved a resolution addressing the incorporation of several port properties on county parcels into the Friday Harbor Urban Growth Area including more of the airport and the Jensen’s Shipyard Cove properties. This would provide those Port properties with access to town water and sewer and shift permitting processes to the town.

The Alchemy Arts Center gave a presented a proposed Eelgrass Mural project to the Commission that they asked to exhibit on Port property. The Commissioners approved the artwork idea and will entertain two options going forward: to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for public art in a proposed location or to refer the proposal to the Friday Harbor Art Commission for their review and recommendation. They plan to tour two to three proposed sites and will include a draft RFP on the agenda at the next meeting.

The Port will schedule a special meeting with the Town Council, preferably in February or March. The port will publish the annual newsletter in late May with the content finalized by the end of April.

The Port has updated Marina Rules and Regulations regarding reservations to accommodate new reservation software the port is using. Thel new regulations will be clearly noted on the Port website.

The Executive Director reviewed the Port’s various projects in the permitting phase awaiting approval.

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