A
FORUM
HOSTED BY THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS COMMUNITY NETWORK
A collaborative working discussion on Vacation Rentals in the San Juan Islands.
forum session three
THURSDAY, JUNE 24
7:00-9:00pm PDT
Collaborative Action
With common ground established, and workable solutions identified, the goal is to hatch a commitment to action.
FORUM RECORDINGS
Click on YouTube at the bottom right of the video image after clicking on the video box.
It takes you to the YouTube site where you can watch on a larger screen.
Below the video window above the Comments section you will see "SHOW MORE" in gray.
Click on this and it gives you a list of time codes.
You can click on these to watch specific panelists or topics listed after the time code.
CO-FACILITATORS
MICHAEL SOLTMAN
Executive Coach • San Juan Island
Thirty-five years in education and executive coaching; Pacific Northwest native with a master’s from the University of Washington
KEY APPROACH
Thirty-five years in education and as an executive leadership coach, Soltman brings a strong background in collaboration and problem solving to the forum series. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Michael grew up in Seattle, and received his master’s degree at the University of Washington.
His executive coaching training offers a holistic and effective way to help people discover all that is within themselves, and open their view to new ideas and possibilities; that helps people and organizations develop new ways of seeing and experiencing opportunities.
DIANE CRAIG
Reporter, Sound Publishing • Orcas Island
Midwesterner by birth, Pacific Northwest by choice; writer, teacher, reporter; graduated from University of South Florida.
KEY APPROACH
Diane’s experience covers a variety of collaborative efforts. From co-creating a safe shelter that housed abused women and their children, to facilitating meetings that focused on creating team-driven technology startups in Silicon Valley in the ‘80s, to teaching adult college students writing skills, Diane believes that the best outcome to any challenge is one with the potential to benefit all parties.
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She hopes to continue writing about the area’s amazing people and their history and welcomes opportunities to be involved with the future care and well-being of the San Juans.
PANELISTS
JAN SCILIPOTI
Hosting on the Rock • Lopez Island
Hosting on the Rock representative, 20 year Lopez resident, Lead Gardener for a Lopez family.
KEY IDEA
As island hosts we want to serve our guests while preserving peaceful neighborhoods, our livelihoods and the beauty of the islands.
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We try to be data-based in our evaluations and not allow a few stories with emotional resonance to guide our conclusions. We believe there are ways to improve the current situation, and encourage well-considered and thoughtful solutions.
JAMIE STEPHENS
San Juan County Council • Chair
Eleven-year San Juan County Council Member and current chair, 25-year Lopez resident.
KEY IDEA
This year the Council instituted a moratorium on new VR permits in certain land use zones which expires in July. The purpose of the moratorium is to come up with caps on the number of permits issued. Additionally, the Council recognized the need for controlling the saturation of VRs in some neighborhood which will be addressed through the Comprehensive Plan process.
TOBY COOPER
4th generation Orcasonian • Orcas Island
The VR phenomenon has implications for our environment, our tranquil island lifestyle, and the valued sense of community we cherish.
KEY IDEA
My premise here is that VR business owners and their customers want nothing more than to be good neighbors on our islands. What business enterprise would want anything different? So my pledge is to sit down with all stakeholders and identify the parameters we need to fulfill that vision, and to restore trust, respect, and a vision for a better life on the shores of the Salish Sea.
DOUG WHITTAKER
Confluence Research and Consulting • Anchorage, AK
PhD from Colorado State University in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, 35+ years as researcher and planner.
KEY IDEA
Doug's recreation and tourism work is often focused on visitor capacities: How much visitation is too much, and how can agencies/counties manage use to reduce impacts?
DOCUMENTS
Breakdown of homes in the San Juans—Resident homeowners and full-time renters; Second homes—Seasonal residents and their friends/family with variable occupancy.
Part IV: Conclusions and Recommendations—solutions for tourism-related problems require a broad county-wide vision along with recommended coordinated management actions.
SJC Comprehensive Plan Update 2036 Housing Needs Assessment Briefing
Study of Socioeconomic Impacts of Growth Pressure in Selected Seasonal/Resort Communities to highlight concerns raised by the study and the information needed to anticipate the impact of planning decisions.
Short term rentals are a worldwide phenomena. As island hosts we want to serve our guests while preserving peaceful neighborhoods, our livelihoods and the beauty of the islands.
Vacation Rental Work Group Steering Committee’s recommendations for regulations that they believe would significantly reduce the negative impacts arising from the proliferation of vacation rentals in San Juan County, and their request for immediate Council action.
Hosting on the Rocks’s response to stated concerns about Vacation Rentals
VR rental owners respond to the Moratorium as being too impactful, recommendations of actions to be taken and request to be more actively engaged in discussions going forward.
Council approves VR moratorium but limits length and scope (The Orcasonian, March 11, 2021)
Council approves VR moratorium but limits length/scope (The Orcasonian, March 11, 2021)
San Juan County Council enacted a moratorium on new vacation rental permits effective 12:01am January 13, 2021. The moratorium prohibits any County department from accepting an application for a vacation rental permit within Urban Growth Areas, Hamlets, and Activity
Centers.
Whereas, the San Juans are in the heart of the Salish Sea where “Ecosystem decline has outpaced restoration and protection”, we invite elevated consideration of Nature’s well being in all aspects of community planning. The State of the Salish Sea report is brought to you for free and open access by the Salish Sea Institute at Western CEDAR.
Understanding vacation rentals – Overview of San Juan County housing stock
Members:On Saturday, June 5, 2021, Nantucket, Massachusetts, held a Town Hall meeting during which residents voted on a number of Articles. Among them, was Article 90, designed to place several restrictions on vacation rentals. Had Article 90 passed, the number of VRs in Nantucket would have been greatly reduced. It did not pass.
Housing Needs Assessment