Friday Harbor Port Commission January 23, 2026

A citizen’s comment raised the need for maintenance on Airport Center Road due to the increase in traffic from Amazon’s presence and use of the road and the lack of a water main for fire protection in that area. The Port will discuss the issues with the Town of Friday Harbor.

The commissioners approved updates to the Rules and Regulations. They approved the Sky Trails Condominium Association sublease to Grand Arrow LLC.  They approved a contract with Precision Engineering for pavement overlay at Shipyard Cove’s barge landing, parking areas and entrance.

The commissioners discussed the Request for Proposals (RFP) for artwork. Several places were photographed and presented as potential sites for decorative panels. They looked at structural integrity, weather exposure, and ease of maintenance. The commissioners decided to issue the RFP for durable designs that would reflect the marine environment. The process will seek public input.

The commission reviewed a proposal for a floating sauna and discussed the requirements for possible locations focused on insurance, safety and public accessibility. Adding cold plunges would make choosing a location more complex. An open question is whether the business would be classified as water-dependent or non-water dependent under DNR guidelines and state law. The Port will explore the idea with a single operator in one location in the commercial area of the marina.

The joint meeting with the Port and the Town of Friday Harbor has been set for May 21. There will be a special workshop meeting in the third week of February on ideas for the Comprehensive Plan for Harbor Improvements. The Executive Director reported the permit for the solar canopy and the launch of construction are expected in February.   

Kyle Gropp will attend the Chamber of Commerce quarterly lunch at Brickworks on January 28.  Todd Nicholson and Barbara Marrett attended an energy roundtable about the potential of solar energy to make the county energy independent during the summer months. The OPALCO board chair said there was a lack of funding to meet state carbon reduction targets.   

The Annual Newsletter will cover ideas for the recent Cannery acquisition, budget overview, boat night statistics and announce upcoming workshops. It will include a special supplement on Port’s 75^th anniversary.

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