EYE ON CLALLAM: County to consider public defense contract

The three Clallam County commissioners will consider a one-year agreement with Clallam Public Defender to provide legal defense to indigent clients Tuesday.

The business meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the commissioners’ boardroom (160) at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. An executive session will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday for the board to discuss pending litigation.

Clallam Public Defender has provided attorneys to citizens who can’t afford to hire their own lawyer for the past 40 years.

Last month, an ad hoc committee recommended that commissioners seek bids from qualified law firms and award a three- to five-year contract for public defense services before the end of this year.

Other agenda items for the business meeting include:

• Resolutions establishing positions on the Quillayute Valley School District’s proposed replacement maintenance and operation levy, and the Sequim School District’s proposed replacement education programs and operation levy and capital projects levy.

• An agreement with the state Recreation and Conservation Office and Salmon Recovery Funding Board for the design portion of the lower Dungeness River levee setback project.

Commissioners will hold their weekly work session at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The board will discuss a proposed letter to U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell reinforcing that climate change and adaptation is important to the future well-being of county citizens and asking them to carefully vet President-Elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees.

The letter was drafted by board Chairman Mark Ozias.

Other discussion items for the work session include an agreement with the Peninsula Northwest Shooting Park Association for constructing a future shooting range within the county, an easement purchase for the Carlsborg sewer system, a land purchase for the Olympic Discovery Trail and an agreement with the state Department of Transportation for the McDonald Creek Bridge replacement project.

County/PUD

County commissioners and Clallam County Public Utility District commissioners and staff plan a joint session to discuss the water supply to the Carlsborg Urban Growth Area (UGA) on Thursday.

The work session, which is open to the public, will be at 10 a.m. in the Lake Crescent boardroom at the PUD’s office at 104 Hooker Road in Carlsborg.

County commissioners will return to the courthouse to meet with other elected officials and department heads to discuss budget issues at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Port Angeles city

The Port Angeles City Council will hear views on, and consider supporting, a proposed Port Angeles School District levy when it meets Tuesday.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St. A special meeting to hear about the street fund will begin at 5:15 p.m.

During the regular meeting, the council also will hear end-of-the-year reports on public records requests and the city work plan.

Sequim schools

The Sequim School Board will consider several policies when it meets Tuesday.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. at 503 N. Sequim Ave.

It will consider two policies for adoption: One that changes the regularly scheduled time for board meetings from 6:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and another that deals with the use of restraint and reasonable force.

Two policies will be considered on first reading: one dealing with homeless students and another with release of resident students.

The board also will be introduced to a policy revision on evaluation of staff.

Board of Health

The Clallam County Board of Health will discuss a community opioid epidemic plan Tuesday.

The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Room 160 of the Clallam County Courthouse.

Other agenda items include a health officer’s report on community opioid and community health summits and an environmental health director’s report on a state Department of Health reclassification of Pillar Point.

Planning commission

The Clallam County Planning Commission will hold a continued discussion on development standards and restrictions for vacation rentals and bed-and-breakfasts in single-family dwellings Wednesday.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Room 160 of the Clallam County Courthouse.

Other agenda items include the election of officers and an overview of current bylaws and administrative policies and procedures.

Port of Port Angeles

Port of Port Angeles commissioners will receive an award in a special meeting Wednesday.

Commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. at 338 W. First St.

The port will receive the Rear Admiral Richard E. Bennis Award for demonstrating outstanding achievements and contributions related to implementing Maritime Transportation Security Act practices.

Olympic Medical Center

Olympic Medical Center commissioners will hear an update on the Peninsula Children’s Clinic transition when they meet Wednesday.

Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. in Linkletter Hall in the basement of the hospital at 939 E. Caroline St., Port Angeles. An executive session is planned to discuss litigation and performance of a public employee.

They will consider resolutions in support of proposed Port Angeles and Sequim school district levies.

Sanctuary Advisory Council

The Sanctuary Advisory Council for National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary will hear an update on the Navy’s Northwest Training and Testing project when it meets Friday.

The group will meet from 9:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Clallam County commissioners’ meeting room, Room 160, at the courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St. Public comment periods are set for 11:45 a.m. and 2:20 p.m.

The Navy presentation will be during the morning session. It will be followed by a presentation on the draft Offshore Seafood National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permit.

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