Council adopts emergency budget amendments, approves land-bank deed, PFAP awards and EFT policy

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — The San Juan County Council on Aug. 19 took several formal actions: adopting emergency and supplemental 2025 budget amendments, passing a resolution to accept a statutory warranty deed for the Cherry property on Orcas, approving Public Facility Assistance Program (PFAP) awards, and adopting an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) policy. Emergency and supplemental budget ordinances: County Finance staff presented the second budget amendment and emergency-appropriations ordinance to cover one-time needs and to increase appropriations. Finance reported the package reduces current-expense cash by about $187,405 while increasing appropriations collectively by just under $2 million when combined with other fund changes. After public testimony was closed, the council moved and approved the emergency-appropriations ordinance and the supplemental-appropriations ordinance on a voice vote. Land Bank acquisition (Cherry property, Orcas): Lincoln Borman, director of the Conservation Land Bank, described a prepared statutory warranty deed and a proposed amendment to the resolution. The amended whereas clause noted potential future boundary-line modification to provide a buffer between the public preserve and a neighboring residential use; Borman said any future sale or modification would return to council for approval. Council voted to adopt the resolution accepting the deed and authorizing the county manager and the director to execute related documents. PFAP awards: The Public Facility Assistance Program committee recommended roughly $815,000 in awards to five applicants including the Port of Friday Harbor, Lopez Island Library District, Lopez Solid Waste District and the county’s economic development council. The council approved the awards and authorized the county manager to execute agreements. Electronic Funds Transfer policy: Finance staff presented a new EFT policy, including internal controls, authorization procedures, positive-pay bank protections and vendor ACH forms. The council adopted a resolution formalizing the policy and the standard forms for vendor ACH payments, direct deposits and bank-account reporting by district partners. What’s next: Staff will post the adopted ordinances and resolutions in county records and proceed with grant agreements and deed acceptance steps handled by the Land Bank and finance teams. Council members said they were satisfied that staff will return with related documentation as required.