At the November 20th, 2025 JBWD Board of Commissioners Meeting, a Resolution was passed establishing a temporary moratorium on the acceptance of new water service connection applications and related inquiries to allow for the consideration, preparation and/or adoption of critical administrative and  policy revisions necessary to address issues resulting from Island County's limitations on the number of available district water service connections.  This moratorium is in effect November 20, 2025 until May 21, 2026.  The full text of Resolution 2025/11-3 is found below.

Statement on Moratorium and Need for Policy and Procedure Review Following Water Service Data Reconciliation

A recent review of the Juniper Beach Water District (JBWD) water service connection records found inconsistencies. The internal tracking spreadsheets were not fully synced with the data from online applications, and some older, manually entered data was incorrect. To fix these issues and improve clarity, we need to update and refine our records and administrative systems.

The Juniper Beach Water District (JBWD) will be updating its rules and procedures for water connections to ensure fairness and transparency.  This is necessary because Island County has limited the number of approved connections to 185 to prevent saltwater from entering the water supply.

During the moratorium (temporary halt) on new connections, which the JBWD Commissioners started on November 20, 2025, the District will develop new policies and administrative procedures.

The new processes should:

1. Clearly explain how many water connections are available. This will help everyone understand the fixed limit of 185 connections and an accurate number of current remaining supply of water connections.

2. Establish a Clear Connection Priority Process.

   1. Manage all connection requests (waitlist and new inquiries) through a transparent system.

   2. Require a valid Island County Water Availability Form before any new water connection is approved.

   3. The Juniper Beach Water District must confirm that the water application follows Island County zoning rules for the maximum number of dwellings allowed on the property.

These changes are necessary to manage the current waiting list and customer information, which will help us avoid future data errors.

The 'JBWD Water Service Requests and Tap Classifications' spreadsheet data will be updated to accurately reflect all transactions and classifications. Once the moratorium is over, a summary of water service applications and the categories of water service connections will be posted on the JBWD website.

RESOLUTION 2025/11-3 

RESOLUTION REGARDING THE MORATORIUM ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF

NEW WATER SERVICE CONNECTION APPLICATIONS 

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE JUNIPER BEACH WATER DISTRICT, ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON, ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF NEW WATER SERVICE CONNECTION APPLICATIONS AND RELATED INQUIRIES TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSIDERATION, PREPARATION AND/OR ADOPTION OF CRITICAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLICY REVISIONS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS ISSUES RESULTING FROM THE COUNTY’S LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE DISTRICT WATER SERVICE CONNECTIONS.

WHEREAS, the Juniper Beach Water District (“District” or “JBWD”) is an established water-sewer district operating under Title 57 RCW, among other authorities, providing water service to persons and property located within the District’s water service area in Island County, Washington; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to RCW 57.08.005(3) and related law, the District has power and authority to construct, operate and maintain a water system and facilities for the purpose of providing water service to persons and property within its jurisdiction and water service area, and the District has full authority to regulate and control the use and operation of its water system and facilities, including authority to regulate connection to its water system; and

WHEREAS, when acting under the authority granted in Title 57 RCW, the District exercises powers delegated to it by the State of Washington; and pursuant to such delegated powers, the District provides for public health, safety and welfare by supplying potable water; and

WHEREAS, the District conducted an "Analysis of JBWD Water Service Data Differences" following a comparison of records related to applications for water service connection, or requests for assigned tap status, and water service inquiries and related matters from October 27, 2025, and October 31, 2025; and

WHEREAS, this analysis and comparison revealed that the District’s internal tracking spreadsheets were not fully synchronized with the data submitted via the online application forms and other information regarding applications, requests and inquiries, and further review identified instances where some data was not correctly entered into the system; and

WHEREAS, these issues necessitate the need to update and refine the presentation of records and mandate a thorough review of administrative systems, policies and information; and

WHEREAS, the comparison of data snapshots indicated that the District’s queue and customer requests and status are actively evolving, evidenced by increases in Current Customers Residential, Assigned Taps, and Uncommitted Inquiries between the various documents and information reviewed; and

WHEREAS, the total capacity of the District is fixed at 185 Approved JBWD Connections, limited by the Island County Seawater Intrusion Code; while the District anticipates some increase in the authorized 185 water connections in the future, the County is not expected to increase the number of approved connections for the District by amending the County’s regulations or otherwise until Spring of 2026 at the earliest; and

WHEREAS, as of October 27, 2025 the District’s current usage was understood to total 150 Current Usage/Connections, which would leave only 16 Available Connections (ERU’s) remaining, if Assigned Taps, which are not committed nor active taps, are used in that calculation; and

WHEREAS, through April 14, 2026: The Board of Island County Commissioners adopted an emergency moratorium on the acceptance, processing, review, or issuance of any land use or building application or permit for the construction, use change, or land divisions in Mixed-Use RAIDs: Rural Center, Rural Village, and Camano Gateway Village zoned areas. The moratorium includes provisions for commercial property owners to make tenant improvements and emergency repairs during the moratorium; and

WHEREAS, due to this fixed regulatory limit and the small remaining capacity of available connections, the District needs to update its policies, rules and procedures to manage water connections fairly, openly and accurately; and

WHEREAS, the necessary procedural updates include the requirement to establish a clear system for prioritizing who will receive approval for a new connection(s), including managing the waiting list for connections and new inquiries; and

WHEREAS, delaying the acceptance and processing of new requests for a temporary specified period will provide the Board and District staff the necessary time to fully consider and implement administrative system revisions and to prepare, consider and adopt the new policies, rules and procedures required for equitable, transparent and accurate management of the limited connection capacity;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Juniper Beach Water District, Island County, Washington, as follows:

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF MORATORIUM. A moratorium is hereby established, effective immediately, on the acceptance of all new Applications for Water Service Connections and/or Water Availability Certificates, Applications for Water Service Connection Waiting List, Water Service Availability Inquiries, or any related applications or requests made to the District.

This moratorium does not apply to applications or transactions related to existing, valid Committed Connection types (Ready-to-Serve, Shut Off, Isolated, or Unconnected) where the connection fee has been paid. Additionally, it does not void applications or transactions, including but not limited to Applications for Water Service Connection or Applications for Water Service Waiting List that were properly on file and recorded as of the date and time this Resolution was passed.

SECTION 2. DURATION. This Resolution and the moratorium established in this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon passage of this Resolution, and the moratorium shall remain in full force and effect until May 21, 2026, or until such earlier date as the Board of Commissioners formally adopts new policies and administrative protocols detailing how the remaining limited connections will be prioritized and assigned.

SECTION 3. DISSEMINATION. The District will provide notice of this Resolution and moratorium to the public via the District’s official website and to any prospective applicant inquiring about water service.  In addition, this Resolution  shall be published on the District’s website at www.juniperbeachwaterdistrict.net.

PASSED and ADOPTED this 20th day of November, 2025 and signed in authentication of its passage by the Board of Commissioners of Juniper Beach Water District, Island County, Washington, at a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners.