San Juan County adopts ordinance raising San Juan Islands Conservation District parcel fee

San Juan County Council on Oct. 21 adopted an ordinance raising the annual parcel fee for the San Juan Islands Conservation District, following public testimony from district supporters and a presentation from the district’s executive director.

The council held a public hearing on the ordinance, which the conservation district said is needed to provide stable, predictable core funding for wildfire mitigation crews, youth conservation programs and technical assistance for landowners. Paul Anderson, executive director of the San Juan Islands Conservation District, told the council the ordinance and implementing code changes had been drafted and reviewed by legal counsel and that the revisions would help sustain the district’s operations.

Speakers from across the islands urged approval. Vicky Heater, a long‑time district board member, said the district had grown in recent years but remained “very dependent on short‑term project grants” and needed a steady revenue source to maintain services. Kathy Wenning, a former conservation district staffer, said stable funding would allow the district to continue home‑visit wildfire preparedness and forest stewardship work.

Councilors discussed the budgetary and programmatic details before taking a voice vote. The ordinance was adopted during the same meeting in which councilors also advanced the county’s Transportation Improvement Program and the annual construction program with amendments.

The ordinance and related code sections were repealed and replaced as part of the council action; the new parcel rate takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.