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MINUTES
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC)
Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday July 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
Jefferson County Courthouse – Commissioners
Chambers, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port
Townsend, WA (hybrid)
Members: Chair Tom Thiersch, Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nollette, Nicole Gauthier, Steve King, and
Diana Grunow CALL TO ORDER: Chair Thiersch called the meeting to order at the appointed time. In attendance were Members: Gauthier, Grunow, and Dudley-Nollette. Also in attendance was WSF Community and Legislative Liaison Tally Teal. Member King joined the meeting at 10:34 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Chair Thiersch opened the floor for public comments, and no comments
were received.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Member Grunow moved to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of
May 13, 2026, as presented. Member Gauthier seconded the motion. The motion carried.
UPDATE FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES (WSF) STAFF: WSF Community and
Legislative Liaison Tally Teal provided the committee with WSF updates on the upcoming 2-day
route closure, now scheduled for March 23–24, 2027, to replace the vehicle transfer span at
Keystone Harbor (Coupeville). The Committee discussed the need for widespread, early, and
frequent notifications and advertisements of the dates of the closure.
Commissioner Dudley-Nollette committed to providing WSF with contact information for
numerous entities which potentially would be affected by the scheduled route closure, including
commercial interests and public agencies such as local/peninsula governments, schools, transit, and
emergency services.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
o Transit connections (Nicole): Member Gauthier updated the committee noting that
Sunday service and Route No. 11 are both doing well while staffing remains a concern.
o Tourism (vacant): FAC Clerk McKnight updated the Committee on the draft
resolution regarding unexcused absences for the FAC; it is under legal review.
o Ferry Rider (Diana): Member Grunow noted that the extra sailings on July 4, 2026
were very helpful, and the Coupeville routes were running smooth.
o Local Government (Heather): Commissioner Dudley-Nollette updated the
Committee on the County Comp Plan still being discussed and once it is approved
discussions will move onto transportation details.
o Road work affecting terminal traffic (Steve): Member King noted that the upcoming
road work should not impact ferry traffic and will provide updates when it gets closer
to the work beginning.
o FAC Executive Committee and FAC-T (Tom): Chair Thiersch noted that the
question of interaction between county lobbyists and FACs was raised during the
Executive Committee meeting, with mixed responses from various FAC chairs;
Jefferson County’s lobbyist has not been involved.
Commissioner Dudley-Nollette noted that could happen if direction came from the
County Commissioners. Chair Thiersch may reach out for lobbyist engagement if
upcoming legislation warrants. For example, while there is yet no further information
about the study being done by the Evans School which is due to the legislature in mid-
December, it is anticipated that legislation will be introduced to alter the structure of, or
entirely eliminate, the Ferry Advisory Committees.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No comments were received.
CLOSING REMARKS: Not discussed.
NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Chair Thiersch adjourned the meeting at 10:45 a.m. until the next
regular or special meeting as properly noticed.
Respectfully Submitted by:
___________________________________ ____________
Adiel McKnight/ FAC Clerk Date