Meeting Summary: March, 2026

Community Projects and Updates

The community discussed several key initiatives, including a community bulletin board project that requires approximately $2,000 in materials and $500 in concrete work, with plans to seek donations from members. The infrastructure committee presented a plan to document ditch work needs with photos and narratives for the county, with initial discussions held with Jessica Hudson. The outreach committee organized a garden tour for June 20th from noon to 3 PM, with potential additional stops including the golf course garden, and discussed plans for 4th of July events including a parade and fun run.

OPALCO Hearing

Jill and Charlie reported that the community's testimony at the hearing was well-received by the hearing examiner. Charlie provided an update on the OPALCO project, noting that a formal appeal to the SEPA determination of non-significance was concluded after a 6-hour hearing, with a ruling expected within a few weeks, which will affect the timeline for obtaining necessary permits.

Decatur Parking

The group discussed parking issues at the Decatur ramp, with Rob suggesting residents leave their keys in their vehicles to allow for better parking management during emergencies. Participants also raised concerns about vehicles being parked for extended periods near the ramp, and the group discussed the possibility of implementing a 3-day maximum parking limit. Charlie also provided an update on a separate parking issue near the airport, where the county has proposed designating two weeks in October for maintenance and enforcement of the parking area.

Fire District Discussion

The group discussed the need for a clear plan and objectives before considering a fire district ballot initiative, with participants emphasizing the importance of understanding fire response, medevac services, and insurance rating improvements. Angela suggested that Dicera or DEB should lead the effort, while Jill noted that a recent broadcast email from DEB may indicate her interest in pursuing a fire protection district. The group also discussed voter eligibility in San Juan County, with about 140 registered voters in the precinct, and considered Guemes's fire district as a potential model, though Decatur's unique challenges, such as multiple communities and property ownership issues, were highlighted as obstacles.

The group discussed fire protection services on the islands, noting that only four fire districts serve the main islands, with none on the outer islands. They examined examples from other areas, including small volunteer departments in eastern Washington, and discussed the feasibility of establishing a fire district on Decatur Island. The conversation included details about existing fire districts' levy rates, equipment, and volunteer staffing, with suggestions to conduct a feasibility study to determine requirements and costs for meeting insurance standards. The group also touched on the need for transparency in the process as well as the importance of not publicizing efforts toward establishing a fire district due to its potential impact on the OPALCO solar farm project.

Island Emergency Management Meeting Planning

Charlie reported on a meeting with Brendan Cowan, the San Juan County Emergency and Disaster Management director, who expressed willingness to address the Decatur Community Association annual meeting about emergency management services. Angela and Charlie agreed to organize an island-wide meeting in late July or early August at the school, with a barbecue, to maximize community attendance and allow for a presentation and discussion about county emergency response capabilities. They decided DIA would handle the logistics of reserving the school and publicizing the event, while Charlie would coordinate with Jane and Deb regarding the emergency management discussion.

Garage Sale and Event Planning

The group discussed organizing a "Mother of All Garage Sales" event, which Rob and Jill agreed to coordinate for July 11th. They decided to create a map with participating locations across the island, potentially tying it to the garden tour. Sarah suggested connecting the sale with the market, while Jill noted that previous rummage sales had low participation due to weather and timing. The group also briefly touched on planning a picnic for August 15th and finalizing a date for a DIA event.