EYE ON CLALLAM: Commissioners to eye Opportunity Fund grants Tuesday

Published 12:01 am Sunday, August 9, 2015

The three Clallam County commissioners will consider resolutions Tuesday that would reauthorize two disputed Opportunity Fund grants totaling $1.3 million.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in commissioners’ chambers (Room 160) at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

In May, the commissioners approved the Opportunity Fund infrastructure grants of $1 million to the Port of Port Angeles and $285,952 to the city of Port Angeles.

They rewound the approval process after county Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis rejected the warrants for the grants, asserting they should be considered as debatable budget emergencies with associated hearings and be subject to contracts.

Commissioners have held hearings, though not as debatable budget emergencies, and will consider proposed memos of understanding for the allocations.

Commissioners also will consider setting an Aug. 25 hearing date for a debatable budget emergency to allocate $93,764 in general fund reserves to Health and Human Services for costs associated with the measles outbreak earlier this year.

Other action items include:

■ Agreements with Concerned Citizens for case management services and rental subsidies, the Forks Abuse Program for bridge housing and other support for victims of violence, Serenity House of Clallam County for case management and other support services, and Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics for basic dental care for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.

■ Appointing members to the Homelessness Task Force.

■ Approval of a resolution calling for a 10:30 a.m. Aug. 25 hearing on 21 debatable budget emergencies totaling $107,944, of which 18 would cover the retirement contribution rate increases.

Commissioners also will meet at 9 a.m. Monday for their weekly work session.

Discussion items include the proposed Opportunity Fund grants to the port and city, recommendations from the county Charter Review Commission to form a Trust Lands Advisory Committee and a Salary Review Commission, and an increase of funding and adding a statement of work for the HIV client services program.

Port of Port Angeles

Port of Port Angeles commissioners will hear a state Environmental Policy Act report on demolishing its surplus wood chip-loading tower at Terminal 7 when they gather Tuesday.

The meeting will be at 9 a.m. in port headquarters, 338 W. First St., Port Angeles.

Other agenda items include:

■ A new lease for Vigor Industrial topside repair company and bond waivers for Rite Bros. Aviation and Westport Shipyard.

■ Design and bid assistance for the Apron 3 project at William R. Fairchild International Airport.

■ A professional services agreement for the Airport Master Plan.

■ Second-quarter financial, capital and investment reports.

■ Purchase of a new truck.

■ A strategic plan update.

■ Scheduling a workshop for Aug. 19 on restructuring bonds.

Sequim City Council

The Sequim City Council will discuss the creation of a broad-based metropolitan park district when it meets Monday.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St.

The council also will consider ordinances banning fireworks during periods of extreme fire danger, approving midyear budget amendments and maintaining current transportation and parks impact fees.

They will consider a resolution amending the speed limit on East Brownfield Road.

Forks City Council

The Forks City Council will consider appointing a council member to fill the position vacated by Kevin Hinchen when it meets Monday.

The council will meet at 7:30 p.m. at 500 E. Division St.

Hinchen resigned when he moved out of the city limits.

The appointee will serve through Dec. 31, when the term for Position 4 ends.

The council also will conduct a public hearing on a request to vacate an easement for C Street Northeast.

It will consider awarding a contract for demolition of a building at Quillayute Airport and for a groundwater assessment consultant.

Sequim schools

The Sequim School Board will conduct study session on board goals and the strategic plan Monday.

The special meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the library at Sequim High School, 601 N. Sequim Ave.

Board members also will review professional meeting norms and board standards.

No action is anticipated.

Clallam Conservation District

The Clallam Conservation District will consider Conservation Commission grant approvals and hear an update from the Washington Association of Conservation Districts on Tuesday.

The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. at Armory Square, Suite H, 228. W. First St., Port Angeles.

Other agenda items include a treasurer’s report, approval of a cost-share in-kind hourly rate and a resolution regarding Washington Association of Conservation Districts communications.