Sequim City Council mulls being paid to attend civic events

SEQUIM –– The City Council will consider whether council members should be paid to attend civic gatherings.

Saying he had heard criticism that the City Council was not well-represented at the Sequim Irrigation Festival held May 3-12, Mayor Ken Hays brought up the question at Monday’s meeting.

“I think for one or two key events, the city should support us in attending and participating,” Hays said, “though I’m not sure where the appropriate lines are.”

Councilwoman Candace Pratt agreed, saying she attended every event she could last year and that the effort caused her to “spend more than I made.”

Sequim pays most City Council members $150 a month. The mayor pro-tem, who is now Councilman Ted Miller, is paid $200 a month. The mayor gets $250 a month.

Shelli Robb-Kahler, executive director of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, said business owners like to see city officials at such events as ribbon-cuttings and festivals.

Some council members said attending events can add a cost to their duties.

“It does, indeed, get expensive,” Miller said.

Councilman Erik Erichsen said appearing at such events is more a political activity than a civic duty, and the city should not pay for the council members’ attendance.

“I don’t think that it’s appropriate that we ask the ratepayers and the taxpayers of this city to fund us . . . so that we can walk around and shake hands and be seen,” Erichsen said.

Hospitality table

Hays agreed but asked whether it would be appropriate for the city to sponsor a hospitality table at the Irrigation Festival’s annual kickoff fundraising dinner.

“Can we find a way to support that? Because it’s a big part of the city,” he asked.

City Attorney Craig Ritchie advised the council that it should have a solid defense if it does sponsor such events.

“We can’t just give away public money,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie told the council he would write a policy proposal to present for further discussion at a future council meeting.

Paving project increase

Also, the council approved a $44,445.19 increase to the cost of paving West Sequim Bay Road.

Crews damaged a 14-inch reused water line while paving the road earlier this month.

City Engineer David Garlington said the pipe was laid too close to the road surface, which allowed it to be hit by a pavement grinder employed by contractor Lakeside Industries of Port Angeles.

The pipe has been replaced, Garlington said, but the additional cost likely will push the project $44,445.19 over its $383,723.25 budget, which included a $35,000 contingency fund.

The new pipe, which feeds water from the city’s wastewater treatment plant to Carrie Blake Park, was laid deeper in the ground, Garlington said, and should not be damaged by any future work to the road.

The council also Monday reduced the roster of the city’s Park and Recreation Board from eight members to seven, requiring four members to be from within the city limit.

The council also allowed the board to have county residents serve in non-voting advisory roles on the council.

Parks Superintendent Jeff Edwards said the board is having problems drawing enough members to meetings to have an official quorum.

The city increased the roster to eight members several years ago, Edwards said, when a large number of people wanted to serve on the board, but participation has since waned, and the board had trouble drawing the required five members to meetings.

A seven-member board requires only four members to attend to take official action.

________

Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann O’Neill, an employee of Angel Crest Gardens of Port Angeles at a temporary stand at First and Race streets in Port Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Rix said he wanted roses for his wife, Wendy Rix, for their 55th wedding anniversary. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Valentine’s roses

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann… Continue reading

Port Angeles-owned Lancashire Heeler “Ki” poses with handler and co-owner Chelsy Pendleton of Utah with their ribbon. Ki placed as Best of Opposite Sex at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
PA dog places at famous show

Lancashire Heeler wins ribbon at Westminster

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Poplars to be removed in spring

Boat Yard expansion part of larger project

Jeffco Aquatic Coalition launches pool survey

Results intended to inform design process

Voters approving all Peninsula school measures

Sequim bond passing with required supermajority

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few miles south of Port Angeles. While the Peninsula has seen temperatures below freezing this week, a warming trend is expected by this weekend with highs reaching the upper 40s and overnight lows in the 30s. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Winter snowscape

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few… Continue reading

JoAnn declares bankruptcy; Port Angeles store to close

The Joann fabrics and crafts store in Port Angeles… Continue reading

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris to her grandson, Damien Millet, 9, after it was located with a metal detector and dug from the sand at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles on Wednesday. They were combing the beach in search of whatever hidden treasures they could find. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Beach combing

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris… Continue reading

Six Peninsula school measures passing

Sequim voters approve bond, levy