San Juan County Council April 21, 2026

LWVSJ Observer Corps*: San Juan County Council, April 21, 2026

The San Juan County Council approved $151,000 in rental subsidies from the county’s Affordable Housing Fund to 27 elderly or disabled tenants, most with incomes of less than $23,000/year.

The Council approved increases in some fees for county parks and the County Fair and fairgrounds. 

During public access time, one resident said ferries are continuing to break down and that ferry service is at risk of disruption, especially on the interisland route.

The Council awarded Cultural Access Grants of $384,000 to 19 local organizations to advance or preserve arts, culture, heritage or science with public programs. These grants are paid from a 2024 ordinance adopting a 1/10th of 1% county sales tax.

From a list prepared by Councilmember Fuller, the Council discussed ferry issues in light of even more recent service disruptions. Since each disrupted sailing can destroy a full day or more for county residents, the Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC), which includes Councilmember McVeigh, will look into properly tracking the frequency, nature and impact of service disruptions over the next month. Accurate incident reporting could also help inform local residents how better to anticipate and prepare for future WSF breakdowns. A recent crash in the reservation system caused regular commercial carriers to reschedule routes. Additional impediments to smooth operations included outdated priority boarding regulations and the complexity of mosquito fleet regulations.

The Council set a public hearing for May 26, 2026 at 9:15 to consider a Resolution Regarding Surplus Gravel on Waldron Island.

The Council discussed how to establish housing priorities, including facilitating construction of tiny homes, adoption of other affordable housing solutions, and revision of the land use tables.

The Council appointed or reappointed members to the Housing Advisory Committee, Civil Service Board, Climate and Sustainability Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, Lopez Village Planning Review Committee, the Northwest Workforce Council Board and the Human Services Advisory Board.

*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.