Council approves series of ordinances, sets hearings on leases and budget

San Juan County Council on April 15 approved a set of ordinances and agreements and scheduled public hearings on a lease request and the year’s first budget amendment.

The council unanimously approved an ordinance to amend San Juan County Code 2.10.09 to add additional members to the San Juan County Law and Justice Council, an ordinance updating code sections governing the Parks, Recreation and Fair Advisory Board (including a last-minute amendment specifying residency representation for District 3), and an ordinance requiring provisional-use permits for vacation rentals in the East Sound and Lopez Village commercial designations. The council also approved a lease and interlocal agreement updating operations at the San Juan Transfer Station and agreed to fund the annual senior-and-disabled rental-subsidy program. The council set separate public hearings to consider a direct lease with OPALCO for a solar array on Decatur Island and to receive testimony on the 2025 first budget amendment.

Why it matters: The ordinances change membership and permitting rules for advisory bodies and vacation rentals, affecting board compositions and the pathway for existing vacation rentals to continue operating under permit requirements. The transfer-station lease and landfill monitoring ILA formalize ongoing solid-waste arrangements with the Town of Friday Harbor. The budget hearing and public lease hearing establish the next steps for several major county actions.

Key votes and next steps - Ordinance amending San Juan County Code 2.10.09 (Law and Justice Council): motion moved and seconded; ordinance passes. - Ordinance amending Parks, Recreation and Fair Advisory Board code sections: council approved a staff amendment clarifying District 3 composition (two members from Lopez Island and one from Shaw Island) and passed the ordinance as amended. - Ordinance requiring provisional-use permits for vacation rentals in East Sound Village Commercial and Lopez Village Commercial designations: council passed the ordinance; staff said it brings those commercial designations into the county’s existing vacation-rental permitting caps and provides a path for existing units to obtain permits. - Resolution and interlocal agreement for the San Juan Transfer Station lease with the Town of Friday Harbor and an interlocal for landfill monitoring and reporting: approved unanimously; the town previously approved the lease. - Motion to set a public hearing on a direct lease with OPALCO for Decatur property (to site a solar array): council set the hearing for May 20 at 9:15 a.m.; staff will return with draft lease language. - Motion to set a public hearing on the 2025 first budget amendment: council set the hearing for May 13; staff will provide a second touch detailing amendment items prior to the hearing. - HOME Fund notice of funding availability (NOFA): council approved release of the NOFA for the 2025 round (draft guidance estimated $2.5 million available; final award amounts to be decided by council in the fall). - Senior and disabled rental subsidy awards: council approved full funding of the current applicant pool, $119,955.90 in total, with staff to process subsidies through the county housing assistance lines.

Council members and staff said they expect some of these items to return for follow-up touches (draft leases, budget detail, agreements and grant documents for HOME awards). The Decatur and budget public hearings are scheduled to give the public an opportunity to comment before final council action.