Friday Harbor Town Council September 4 2025

Council Member de Freitas chaired the meeting in absence of Mayor Ray Jackson. A town resident said they had been confronted by and verbally abused by a resident of Coho Drive on more than one occasion when walking to Linde Park.  She feels unsafe walking this route.  She requested a camera be put on to monitor this situation.  She questioned the legal standing of the new no parking signs and 8’ fencing.  The San Juan County Manager invited the Town Council to join in the discussion of County’s 2026 legislative priorities and hear updates from the Environmental Stewardship Department.   

Council passed a motion to authorize a temporary sewer hook-up on Tucker and Harbor Street to support the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Improvement Project.

The Community Development & Planning (CDP) Director got a report about Rock Island installing a new aerial connection from Sunken Park to the Harrison Condos.  The Director told Rock Island that town code does not permit new aerial connections and that their variance request is still being reviewed.  The director presented the Draft Griffin Place Development Agreement to the council. The proposed development is for 49 units, 8 of which are to be work-force units located off Grover Street.  A public hearing is planned for October 2. The CDP director briefed the council on draft zoning regulations for new buildings in the Commercial, Shoreline Accommodations, Professional Service areas and Multifamily developments.

The council adopted an Interim Zoning Ordinance for lighting standards in the downtown core and historical overlay districts, landscaping requirements for subdivisions and separation between uses, historical preservation incentives and general building design guidelines.

At the request of the Finance Director the Council passed a motion adjusting the budget for the public restrooms, allocating $15,000 to replace the floor heating unit and $35,000 for an air purifier system.   The council passed a motion to add a part-time employee to the Finance Department for utility billing.  The Street Department is now fully staffed with the hire of two new employees.    

*The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to promote public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.