EYE ON CLALLAM: Board to review proposed county budget

Clallam County commissioners will review the administrator’s recommended 2019 budget in a work session at 9 a.m. Monday.

The meeting will be in the commissioners’ board room (160) at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

The recommended general fund budget shows $47.0 million in revenue and $49.3 million in expenses, leaving a “still robust” $9.7 million balance at year’s end, County Administrator Jim Jones said in a memo to the board.

Other discussion topics for the work session include:

• An update on the Shoreline Master Program.

• A letter to Gov. Jay Inslee to encourage fully funding salmon recovery and fish passage projects.

• A salmon recovery grant application to the state Recreation and Conservation Office.

• A grant application for the Forks off-road vehicle Calawah River bridge and trail project.

Commissioners will conduct their regular business meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Action items include:

• A letter to the state Department of Ecology regarding a Phase II municipal stormwater report for the unincorporated Port Angeles Urban Growth Area.

• A letter to Clallam County Public Utility District commissioners regarding follow-up to a joint meeting.

• An amended agreement with Robinson Noble, Inc. to increase the budget to complete tasks for a water right application for the Carlsborg Urban Growth Area.

• Agreement with Sunny Farms, Inc. for the property’s use as a ballot drop box site.

A call for Oct. 30 hearing for consideration of debatable budget emergencies.

Port Angeles city

The Port Angeles City Council will conduct a first reading and hold a public hearing on proposed changes to 2019 utility rates at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The meeting will be in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth.

No change for electric rates is being proposed. The staff proposal is to raise water rates by 5.4 percent and wastewater rates by 0.5 percent, according to a staff memo.

Existing rates provide sufficient revenue for electric, solid waste collections, solid waste transfer station and stormwater, city officials said.

Medic 1 rates, which were adopted in 2017 for three years, would increase by 1.8 percent.

The overall impact to residential customer bills is expected to be less than 1 percent, city officials said.

Action on the proposed utility rate changes is expected after a second reading Nov. 6.

Other agenda items for the Tuesday business meeting include:

• A public hearing on 2019 budget revenue resources.

• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommendations.

• A facility use agreement for Port Angeles Nature School.

• An ordinance to rezone a parcel near Olympic Medical Center.

Sequim city

The Sequim City Council will conduct a public hearing on revenue thresholds for licenses for businesses outside city limits when it meets at 6 p.m. Monday.

The council will meet at Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St. A workshop will preceded the regular meeting at 5 p.m.

The 5 p.m. workshop will provide updates on the community development department and capital projects.

At the regular meeting, the council will consider the 2019 budget and consider adopting its legislative agenda and policies for the coming year.

Port Angeles parks

The Port Angeles Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission will hear a presentation from a representative of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The meeting will be in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

Clallam Transit

The Clallam Transit board will consider a labor agreement with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 at 1 p.m. Monday.

The meeting will be at the Clallam Transit System administration building at 830 W. Lauridsen Blvd.

Other agenda items:

• Recognition of Mechanic Douglas Lorentzen as employee of the quarter.

• Recognition of Operations Supervisor Linda Bell and Mechanic Larry Latson for their years of service upon retirement.

• Approval of a procurement and budget appropriation from state sales tax equalization formula funds.

Sequim schools

The Sequim School Board will discuss a letter of support for a STEM grant when it meets at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

The special meeting will be at 503 N. Sequim Ave.

The grant would be for science, technology, engineering and mathematics curricula.

Marine Resources

The Clallam County Marine Resources Committee will hear an update on the MRC’s strategic plan at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

The meeting will be in Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse.

Other agenda items:

• A summary of a Salish Sea Shared Waters forum.

• Introduction of new Northwest Straits Commission Marine Program Manager Dana Oster.

• An update on an ecosystem improvement project.

• A summary of educational outreach at a Friday fundraiser.

• Project updates on Olympia oyster restoration, shellfish biotoxin sampling, pigeon guillemot surveys and forage fish sampling.

Board of Health

The Clallam County Board of Health will discuss a suicide prevention program at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The meeting will be in Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse.

Other agenda items include the introduction of county Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry Unthank and an upcoming discussion with the state legislative delegation.

Planning Commission

The Clallam County Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on the 2019-2024 Transportation Improvement Program at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The meeting will be in Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse.

The six-year Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP, lists funded and unfunded road and trail projects.

Other agenda items for the Planning Commission meeting include a public hearing on current use applications from the first half of 2018.

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