Environmental & Citizen Action Committees

There are a number of committees within San Juan County that are dedicated to protecting our natural resources. Some committees are ad-hoc - which means that they are usually appointed by local agencies, often to solve a specific problem. A good example of this is the Septic Long Range Management Plan. Mark Tompkins of SJC Public Health invited various members of the community to join. These people represent environmental organizations, septic design and installation companies, the public and so on. When the final plan is adopted by the county the committee will be disbanded. Another good example was the Stormwater Utility Steering Committee.

Other committees have a longer life and are mean to deal with issues that are ongoing, such as protecting the marine environment, managing solid waste, and planning. Members are usually formally appointed by the county council to reflect a diverse range of interests, and serve a term, often lasting several years.

San Juan County subscribes to having all committee meetings open to the public. Major meetings may be announced by advertisement in the local papers, with many meetings announced only in the legal notices. They are easy to miss! Please contact the district office if you would like contact details or dates for upcoming meetings.

Agricultural Resources Committee (Appointed)

The ARC represents the concerns of the agricultural community to the county council. Ron Zee is the current chair. Call Ron at (360) 378 6621 for more information or email arc@sanjuanislandscd.org. Eliza Buck is the ARC Coordinator - you can contact her at 378 6621.

Critical Area Ordinances Committee (CAO - Appointed)

The CAO committee usually meets twice monthly: please contact Shireene Hale at shireeneh@co.san-juan.wa.us for more dates.

Eastsound Planning Review Committee (Appointed)

The purpose of the EPRC is to advise the planning department, the planning commission and the board of County commissioners on land use and development matters affecting Eastsound. Meetings are usually at the senior Center in Eastsound. Orcas resident Peter Fisher is the current chair. You can contact him at pcf@petercfisher.com

Marine Resources Committee (Appointed)

The San Juan County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) is a citizen-based advisory committee dedicated to the protection and restoration of marine resources in the San Juan Islands. Recently the MRC was incorporated into Community Development & Planning within the county. Steve Hussey is a member of the Education & Outreach sub-committee.

www.sjcmrc.org

512 Guard St, PO Box 947
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Phone: (360) 378-1095
Email: info@sjcmrc.org

Meetings are usually held at the Islanders Bank annex, in Friday Harbor.

Planning Commission (Appointed)

The Planning Commission is an essential part of the public process and community planning. State laws require each county to have a group of citizen advisors to address land use matters. The planning commission is a group of citizen volunteers appointed by the County Council who make recommendations to the Council on planning decisions. Workshops and public hearings of the Planning Commission are an important public forum where public opinion and advice becomes part of the County’s records and decision making process.

Meetings and topics are listed in the newspaper and on the County website and usually posted in the affected communities at least several days before the meeting is held. Study documents and proposed actions are available at Community Development and Planning Department office at 135 Rhone Street, PO Box 947, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, and may be found on county web site under Current Projects, or Planning Commission.

CDPD long-range planning staff provides support for the Planning Commission meetings by drafting and posting agendas, writing staff reports that review changes to plans and the development code and for taking Planning Commission recommendations to the County Council.

You can contact Lynda Guernsey (360) 370-2354 for more information or to forward letters and emails on to the commission, which comprises:

Larry Hendel, Lopez
Barbara Thomas, Lopez
Steve Adams, Lopez
Brian Ehrmantraut, Orcas
Bob Gamble, Orcas
Teri Williams, Orcas
Lovell Pratt, San Juan
Mike Kaill, San Juan
Karin Agosta, San Juan, Chair

Septic Long Range Management Plan Committee (Ad Hoc - Closed)

Mark Tompkins of SJC Public Health was the chair. The Conservation District was a member.

Solid Waste Advisory Committee (Appointed)

Orcas resident George Post is the current chair. Steve Hussey from the district is a member of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Meetings are held at the Islanders Bank annex, in Friday Harbor.

Water Resources Management Committee (Ad Hoc)

This committee is drafting recommendations to the county to deal with maintaining the adequate supply of potable water in the county. Meetings are usually held at the Grange Hall, in Friday Harbor. Please contact Vicki Heater at 360.378.4474 for more details.