Town of Friday Harbor touts 2024 achievements
Friday, January 24, 2025
FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT BY THE TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR
At the January 16, 2025, Town Council meeting, Mayor Raymont Jackson highlighted the Town’s 2024 achievements, significant projects, and programs serving the Friday Harbor community. “I’m proud of the Town’s community partnerships, initiatives, and other positive achievements over the past year that help make Friday Harbor an even better place to live,” said Jackson.
In 2024, the Town earned prestigious awards from the Department of Ecology for Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Washington State Department of Health for the Water Department (Silver Award), and the Association of Washington Cities for Risk Management Achievement.
For the seventh year, the Town was recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA. The San Juan Island Garden Club celebrated with a generous donation of plantings for Sunken Park.
The community supported renewal of the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) with a 68.52% vote of approval. TBD funds sidewalks, streetlights, crosswalks, and other infrastructure improvements including the Marguerite Place Improvement Project completed in November.
The Community Development and Planning Department engaged the public in updating the Town’s Comprehensive Plan through outreach at Market Place and the San Juan County Fair. The Council passed an ordinance to allow more ADUs within town limits.
The Mayor and Council hosted a mock council meeting with Friday Harbor seventh graders. “The students were engaged, and it was exciting to see their enthusiasm for learning how town government works,” said Town Administrator Denice Kulseth. “It’s important they know that their government is here to serve them, and while we might not be able to address every concern, we will do our best to address those that we can and explain the obstacles to addressing those we cannot.”
The Town’s Harbor Life Ring program continued to encourage monthly donations from utility customers to help community members in need of utility payment assistance. For the twelfth year, November donations were directed to the Friday Harbor Food Bank. These donations were matched by the Town, raising an impressive $15,000 for the food bank.
Town beautification projects included the installation of lighting in Breezeway Alley and additional holiday lights and decorations on Spring Street. The Sunshine Alley bathroom renovation began in late 2024 with completion expected by the end of January 2025. Downtown pocket park design guidelines were adopted by Council.
In 2025, the Town looks forward to launching a new website, digitizing Town records, completing the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, finalizing conversion to new utility billing and building permit software, commencing upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant with funding from the USDA and Department of Ecology, and completing repairs on Sunken Park funded by a state Recreation and Conservation Office grant.
“I take pride in the Town’s dedication, achievements, and continuous problem-solving accomplished in 2024, and I eagerly anticipate new opportunities in 2025,” Jackson commented.
A slide show of this presentation is available at www.fridayharbor.org. For more information, contact Town of Friday Harbor, ATTN: Town Clerk, 60 Second Street, PO Box 219, Friday Harbor, WA 98250; clerk@fridayharbor.org; (360) 378-2810, ext. 223.
