Council approves emergency transport contracts, appoints county health officer and signs letter supporting PPATCH federal funding request

San Juan County Council members voted on three separate items Monday: awarding emergency rapid‑response transportation contracts, appointing a new county health officer and signing a letter of support for a congressional spending request for a community land‑trust project.

What the council approved: - Emergency rapid‑response transportation contracts: Staff recommended, and the council authorized, negotiations and execution of three agreements funded by a state Department of Commerce emergency grant. Staff recommended Pinto Marine to provide barge services to move critical vehicles and freight in the event of prolonged ferry outages; Outer Island Excursions for an emergency inter‑island passenger water taxi; and San Juan Safaris for a passenger‑only vessel to provide a daily mainland (Anacortes)‑to‑islands route as part of a pilot. Staff said the contracts include standby and per‑use rates; a short startup timeline was a factor in selection. The county will negotiate final scopes and costs before contract execution. - Appointment of county health officer: The council adopted a resolution appointing Dr. Amy Harley as San Juan County Health Officer effective April 15, 2025. Dr. Harley was introduced to council members and to staff earlier in the month; the motion to appoint was made and seconded and the council voted in favor. - Letter of support for congressional directive funding (PPATCH): The council voted to sign a requested letter of support for a fiscal‑year 2026 congressional directed spending request for a community land‑trust campus project (referred to in materials and discussion as the PPATCH project). The motion carried with an affirmative voice vote.

Why it matters: The transportation contracts are pilot and emergency measures designed to keep people, goods and emergency services moving during significant Washington State Ferries disruptions — a recurring problem for the island county. The health‑officer appointment restores a permanent public‑health lead for the county after a year‑long interim period. The letter of support aims to help secure federal funds for a local community land‑trust project.

Council and staff notes: - Staff emphasized that the contracts are subject to negotiated scopes and final pricing; they recommended collecting passenger and usage data during operations to inform future decisions and possible extensions. - Council members asked staff to inquire with Commerce about flexibility to extend funding into the summer/fall if needed and to consider leftover funds for complementary programs such as transportation vouchers or last‑mile support for medical trips.

Ending: The council authorized staff to negotiate and finalize the contracts and directed staff to return with executed agreements and any required follow‑on budget or grant adjustments.