County staff briefed the San Juan County Council on an update to the Solid Waste Management Plan and on capacity limits at the San Juan Transfer Station, saying the county must plan capital improvements and funding to avoid summertime bottle‑necks.

Katie Fleming, solid waste program coordinator for the Department of Environmental Stewardship, told the council the solid waste plan is a required, joint county‑and‑Town of Friday Harbor document and will guide capital investments for transfer stations across the county. Fleming said the county currently meets service levels overall but that “San Juan Transfer Station is something that we need to pay very close attention to. It's expected to exceed capacity, in the next 5 years or so.” She added seasonal surges—roughly a doubling of summer waste volumes—drive the problem.

Fleming described the plan timeline and review requirements: staff aim to circulate a draft in October for council and town review, then submit to the Washington Department of Ecology for a preliminary review (the department’s review window can be up to 120 days), followed by final review and adoption in the spring and early summer cycle.

Kendra Smith, director of environmental stewardship, presented a concept plan and a cost estimate for expanding the San Juan Transfer Station footprint on county‑owned property adjacent to the town site (referred to in staff materials as the Sutton Road property). Smith said the county hired engineering consultants to analyze traffic, turning radii, slope and other site constraints; “So they've given us a cost estimate for this project, and I believe it's right around $7,000,000,” she said, adding the estimate includes roughly 10% for engineering and permitting (about $700,000).

Smith and Fleming outlined funding approaches under active consideration: use of county cash reserves, state public works assistance loans, federal and state grants where available, and bonding (staff noted current bond rates around 5.5%). Smith also flagged one local revenue lever: “our excise tax is 14.5%. On, Lopez, it's 16,” and suggested the county could consider an excise tax adjustment to raise local revenue. Staff noted a previous revenue source—Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) dollars—that had supported prior improvements is no longer available for this use.

Council members pressed staff on details and alternatives. Council member Paulson said composting and organics infrastructure (particularly on Orcas, which staff identified as having available space) should be part of long‑term planning to reduce hauled tonnage. Council members asked whether other properties had appropriate zoning for a transfer station; staff said the current Sutton Road parcel is zoned for the use and that finding another appropriately zoned parcel on San Juan Island would be difficult.

Staff reported the transfer station operator moves vehicles efficiently but that the facility’s small footprint creates long lines at peak times; Kendra Smith suggested short‑term operational changes (extra staffing, separate drop‑off bins for bagged loads during busy Sundays) can provide near‑term relief while capital projects and funding are pursued.

Next steps recorded on the meeting record included: staff will produce the October draft of the Solid Waste Management Plan for council review, continue coordination with the Town of Friday Harbor and Department of Ecology, refine the cost estimate and financing strategy for the transfer station concept, and pursue grants and loans while evaluating bond and excise tax options. No formal council vote on funding was taken at the meeting.