Citizen surveys to inform council during retreat

Because it’s never too soon to prepare for the future, La Conner Town Council invested an hour in a special session last week studying factors and strategies that could define La Conner decades from now.

The 60-minute hybrid meeting, which featured online commentary from Seattle-based consultants, was a down payment of sorts ahead of a daylong July 24 council retreat.

The topics discussed and identified as either community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats (SWOT) – some of which overlapped into more than one category – were based on input received from a survey conducted earlier this year and distributed via doorhangers placed throughout town.

Nearly 90 households responded to the survey, which the consultants termed a “wonderful rate” for a questionnaire format.

Community strengths listed on several responses include La Conner’s quality of life, including its family atmosphere; utilities, streets and parks infrastructure; and the town’s overall positive appearance.

Councilmember Ivan Carlson, great-grandson of a past mayor, Bert Carlson, reinforced local volunteerism – starting with the fire department – as a key community strength cited in the survey.

“We’re very fortunate to have the volunteer force we have,” Carlson said. “It saves us a lot of expenses.”

A Town Hall staff able to serve in a variety of roles was also mentioned as a positive factor.

While geared toward the town proper, the discussion also drew on Shelter Bay, The Port of Skagit and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community as vital elements going forward.

“We have a good relationship with Swinomish, one that’s project-oriented,” Mayor Ramon Hayes told the consultants. “Building the new library and dredging the channel are examples of project collaboration with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.”

Among weaknesses listed by survey respondents are concerns with public safety, the lack of affordable housing and non-motorized transportation options; exposure to natural hazards such as flooding; and financial constraints.

Councilmember Rick Dole addressed public safety, saying it presents an opportunity for improvement – one he said is already being addressed under terms of the Town’s contract for law enforcement with the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office.

“We are paying for 320 hours of in-town and zone coverage,” Dole said, “and we’re getting 600-800 hours.”

Councilmember Mary Wohleb, citing available grant funding, said the time is ideal for stepping up the pursuit of solar energy initiatives.

“We have the opportunity,” she said, “to green up La Conner.”

Hayes said the Town faces a bevy of short-term and long-range expenses, including mandated upgrades to water and wastewater systems while having “only so many people to pay the bills.”

Carlson added that the fire department is looking at significant future cost outlays as well, listing needs for a fire boat, new ambulance and new ladder truck “especially if the Port expands.”

Planned Port expansion at La Conner Marina, which could include development of more retail outlets and housing, could represent both an opportunity and threat, noted Councilmember Annie Taylor.

She said additional retail ventures at the marina might adversely impact businesses in downtown La Conner and construction of a service road between North Third Street and La Conner-Whitney Road could likewise affect local farmland.

Town Administrator Scott Thomas said threats to local agriculture are among “the things that keep me up at night.”

“A lot of our character is wrapped up in the agricultural community,” said Thomas, “and there are a lot of risks in that industry. We don’t really have a backup for that.

“Staffing is another area,” he said. “We have employees creeping up on retirement age. Replacing them will be a challenge. And then, there are our schools. They are losing (student) population. If the schools leave, we would be in a very disadvantageous situation.”

Consultant Julia Tesch said the retreat will give Town officials time to delve more deeply into matters of chief importance.

“We’re thinking the overarching idea will be to talk about a vision,” she said. “To envision what La Conner will be like in 20 years.”