The meeting...

Just back from the Port Commission meeting.  While there was other business on their agenda, the crowd was there to show their support for getting that building rebuilt AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and get the current lease-holders back in.  The place was packed - standing room only.

One gentleman in the crowd asked the commission point blank "if there were other plans being considered for that space?"  The commission was very non-committal.

Here's what I learned:

Fire investigators are in the building right now, working to determine the cause.  They hope to have answers by Friday, but that is not an absolute.

If it is determined that a particular piece of equipment was the cause of the fire, that manufacturer can ask that the scene be held so they can get investigators out.

The city government members said they will do everything they can to support the expeditious rebuilding of that building.

The Port Commission (3 members) have the final say.  It made me concerned that none of them threw their support into rebuilding as soon as possible.

When community members and business people spoke, it became very emotional - it is clear that Downriggers is a staple in this community.  Our boss let the commission know how many employees we have and re-iterated the impact of the number of visitors these businesses bring to the San Juan Islands.  A local bank officer stated that they will do all they can to support the rebuilding.  People cried when they spoke of Downriggers, and how it has employed local people.  Someone asked, "How many people here have received some sort of donation from Downriggers, San Juan Safaris, Friday Harbor Marine Center, and San Juan Excursions - almost every hand in the room went up.

NOT A SINGLE PERSON spoke in favor of anything but rebuilding and getting the current businesses back in there.  I think the Port Commission got the message.  They also made it clear that they intend to move on this quickly... followed by the concerns of permitting, hiring architects, getting construction bids, considering all alternatives (??).

I think this was the first of many public hearings.  The public has spoken: they want things back the way they were, and as soon as possible.  The building is an eye-sore in one of the busiest ports in the state.  Whether the commission will carry out what the public wants is yet to be determined.

We'll see where this goes from here.