This is GIFC’s best effort at summarizing the list of concerns and topics from our group discussions at the GIFC meeting on December 12, 2024.

This list is not meant to be complete or exhaustive and it is not meant to represent any one individual’s point of view. Our hope is that these comments are a starting place for your own comments about the proposed 2025 fare schedule and that they help you clearly articulate your concerns to the County. This is your opportunity to tell the Skagit County Commissioners, Public Works Department, and Ferry Division Management how this proposal will impact you, your family, your business, and our community.

Links to Skagit County Draft Resolutions

Proposed resolution and 2025 ferry fare schedule
Proposed resolution suspending sale and limiting future use of paper punch cards

GIFC Summary of 2025 Ferry Fare Proposal

• All fares will increase although different categories increase by different percentages
• Multiride discounts will decrease significantly across all fare classes to an average of a 4% discount over individual tickets. Current discounts average about 20%.
• After hours (Emergency Services, extra runs – power repair trucks, Charter) and HazMat runs will all see dramatic increases in fare rates.
• New fares will be adopted 30 days after the Commissioners approve the proposed resolution
• The county will stop selling paper punch cards on December 31, 2024
• The county will honor existing punch cards until their expiration date.
• It is not clear yet how the county will handle the remaining un-dated punch cards sold during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Electronic ticketing system should start in spring 2025.

2025 Rate Proposal: 

What aspect of the county’s proposal is of greatest importance/concern to you and your family, friend(s), neighbor(s), small business ?

• We want rate increases that are reasonable & justifiable. There is a lack of ttransparency for why costs are going up. It is understandable that costs are going up for many things, however there also needs to be clarity and justification for increased costs across the board.
• We need to check the numbers – in the 2025 proposal the multi-ride senior/disabled is more expensive ($81), than buying single fare tickets $3 each x 25 = $75
• The major increase in cost will have a significant impact on daily life, especially for those who use the ferry daily and the most vulnerable populations in our community.
• We suggest continuing to have a discounted rate at the non-peak rate close to the current discount for frequent riders. Commuters, families, and businesses do not have the option to change the ways they ride the ferry. For all, but especially for those on fixed incomes, this will have a significant adverse impact on their daily lives.
• The increased rates for the HazMat run will translate directly to increased energy costs. There is no loss to revenue by continuing the current HazMat run process.
• We need consistent and reliable emergency services to the island to be available and affordable. We should not have to question whether or not we have access to emergency support.
• Other potential options to sustain the ferry system might be to create a ferry tax district or have Skagit Transit take over the ferry system.

Electronic Ticketing: 

How do you feel about electronic ticketing? What should be the goals it should achieve?

• What is the benefit to having an electronic ticketing system if it costs 7% of the fare revenue annually. What are the efficiencies and/or cost savings that the system will provide?
• The electronic ticketing system is not accessible for everyone.The system needs more alternatives for people to be able to access tickets, especially those who don’t have access to technology to purchase and print tickets.
• The current system with paper punch cards is an efficient system for loading cars and passengers. There is no need to change that part of the system.
• How will the new system accommodate those who don’t have access to technology to purchase tickets and acquire QR codes?
• How will customers with visual/auditory disabilities access the system for purchasing tickets?

Relationship: 

How do you feel about the relationship between Guemes Islanders and Skagit County? How could it be improved?

• We would like to see a productive, collaborative relationship with the County – Public Works staff, Ferry Division, and Commissioners. We don’t feel heard, respected, or valued. We do not receive responses to questions submitted, and we have no seat at the table.
• The County should work with the Ferry Committee to collaborate on ferry issues with regular work meetings and as a communications channel to the Guemes community.
• The County should consider existing models for collaborative community involvement with the County that could be applied to Guemes: Firewise, Skagit Conservation district, and County parks.
• Both parties need to work to repair the relationship between the County and the Islanders. Focus on the Skagit County Strategic Plan values: Collaboration, Communication & Customer Service to start the conversation with the County to work with the Guemes Island community.

Thanks to all of you for your support and action to attempt to create a productive conversation and working relationship with our elected Commissioners and Skagit County public employees!

Please submit your written comments by Friday, December 20th at 3:00 pm to both:

ferrycomments@co.skagit.wa.us and commissioners@co.skagit.wa.us

Groups Session Transcriptions: GIFC 12/12/24 Public Meeting

The following notes were transcribed directly (to the best of our abilities) from the handwritten notes taken from each discussion group that were given to the GIFC at the end of our meeting. We did our best to preserve your (anonymous) thoughts, opinions, and conclusions but also thought it would be useful to provide you all with the uncut conclusions of our group session. We truly appreciate your willingness to get to know your neighbors and have a conversation about how the operation of the Guemes Ferry affects your lives!

• Rate Proposal: What aspect of the county’s proposal is of greatest importance/concern to you and your family, friend(s), neighbor(s)? Small Businesses? Do you view the county’s proposals as reasonable economic suggestions, as an existential threat to your life on Guemes—or is there a middle ground?
  • Group 1: Rate increases are out of balance. We want verifiable, visible, justifiable, basis for fare increases. Use cost basis on past expenses, not future costs.
  • Group 2: Problem:Rate increases are not consistent, fair, or understandable. Rates need to be based on a consistent logic and take into account the prior 2010: R20100050 resolution that follows a 35%property tax contribution.
  • Group 3  – Proposed rate increases are not consistent. Other ferry systems seem to be doing rate increases better. It’s unclear what the rate increases are based on. We need to check their numbers.  Want to understand where the funds are going. The fuel contract is not at market price
    • Impact on life: People will pay it, but they will ride the ferry less, if they can. 
    • Assumed cost increases used to be tied to the increased cost of living.
    • This will impact everyone’s daily costs of living (comment from non-resident)
    • Create a residential rate, event fee (weddings, etc)
    • Greatest impact on the most vulnerable
  • Group 4: Commuter fare or resident fare based on non-peak rates pay most of the fares over the course of the year as compared to others. We add value to the County. HazMat run increase will translate to increased energy costs for us.  Want more consistent rate increases
  • Group 5: Check the math – Sr. multi ride is more expensive than buying single fare tickets $3 each*25 = $75 v. Sr. multi ride = $81!  Lack of transparency.  Stick with non-peak pricing for multi-ride tickets

• Ticketing: How do you feel about electronic ticketing? What should be the goals it should achieve? Are you comfortable with the cost of the system and the accessibility that it provides to all islanders? Do you think getting rid of paper punch cards will improve the system?
  • Group 1: What is the status of electronic ticketing? What are the remaining issues? There is no evidence that the issues have been resolved. What confidence do we have that it will work? What have you done for cost reduction? Is there a backup plan if it goes down? What about seniors who don’t have electronic capabilities?
  • Group 2: Going to an only electronic ticketing system is not accessible for everyone (at least as it was last described, is that still planned approach?) It could be seen as discriminatory and put the county at risk of lawsuit. The system needs more alternatives for people to be able to access. Need an option (that doesn’t need to be a paper punch card) for people to be able to buy more than one ticket at a time. And need a cash option.
  • Group 3: Greatest impact is on the most vulnerable who don’t have smart phones
  • Group 4: Not a hill to die on, if they can make the accommodation for people who don’t have the technology.  It will be less efficient than the current system
  • Group 5: Concerned about people who don’t use/have technology to use the e-ticketing system

• Relationship: How do you feel about the relationship between Guemes Islanders and Skagit County? How could it be improved? Can it be improved? What is the most effective way to get your message across to county leadership?
  • Group 1: We don’t feel heard or respected or valued. No responses to questions submitted in past. Commissioners have a duty to talk to our Ferry Committee.
  • Group 2: Relationship could be improved. Present models of good representation in other parts of the county and identify what works well in those models and recommend comparable actions for Guemes. Examples: Firewise, conservation district, county parks.
  • Group 4: Need transparency. Create a ferry district tax district.  Suggest that Skagit transit take over the ferry system. $300,000 (federal $) was given to Skagit county, where did it go? We need all options for emergency services – Helicopters can’t land in high winds. We deserve to not have to question our access to emergency support
  • Group 5: Need to have a way to have a conversation with the County and the GIFC.  Better communication and a seat at the table.  Need to repair our relationship with the Commissioners.

• Representation: What do you want out of a group that represents Guemes to the county on ferry issues? Do you even want this or would you prefer to represent yourself? What message would you like the Ferry Committee to convey?  Do they represent your interests?
  • Group 1: Keep fighting. Thanks committee for all you do. How can Ferry Committee get official standing?
  • Group 2: See above models. Facilitated group process worked well. Ferry Committee credibility could be improved with more objective, systematic input from the islanders.
  • Group 3: Citizens action committee, as per state law. Include community in on discussions. Not working with the audience – “solutions” are not appropriate to the community
  • Group 4: Want the Ferry Committee to be officially recognized with regular work meetings. 
  • Group 5: (goes w/ comments in ‘Relationship’) build connections based on the County’s Strategic Plan tenants – Collaboration, Communication & Customer service.