PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has adopted the Economic Development Council’s strategic plan as its own high-level strategy for economic development.
Commissioners Jim McEntire and Bill Peach approved the action during a lengthy Tuesday debate, citing a need to kick-start the local economy.
Commissioner Mike Chapman voted no, saying the plan was “doomed” from the start because it was adopted without a proper public process.
McEntire, an EDC board member, wrote the original draft of the strategic plan. He was recently named the private nonprofit organization’s Individual of the Year.
Opportunity Fund
With Peach’s support, McEntire plans to draw $500,000 from the county’s Opportunity Fund to allow the EDC to hire 2.5 additional full-time staffers to help foster economic development in the region through 2017.
The EDC currently has 1½ full-time employees. The organization lacks the resources it needs to do its important work, McEntire said.
“The EDC needs to do a better job, or it needs to go away,” he said.
“It’s as simple as that.”
The mission of the EDC is to “’set the table’ for economic growth; to identify, understand and align the economic drivers throughout the county; and to be the advocate for Clallam County commerce,” according to the 2014-18 EDC strategy.
“Many of us are trying to get the EDC to do better, and I think we can,” McEntire said.
Last week, former Clallam County Commissioner Ron Richards filed a referendum petition on a recently adopted ordinance that allows the county to pay for EDC personnel.
The Opportunity Fund is a portion of state sales tax that supports public infrastructure projects in rural counties and personnel in economic development offices.
Richards needs 3,754 signatures — 10 percent of the number of Clallam County citizens who voted in the last gubernatorial election — to get his referendum on the ballot.
Clallam County already provides $30,000 per year to the EDC.
$500,000 sought
Several speakers testified against the move to adopt the strategic plan and McEntire’s aim to provide $500,000 to the EDC.
“This short-circuits the public input,” Chapman said.
“Secondly, I feel bad for the EDC because I think the EDC, by going down this road, is going to be opening itself up to a level of scrutiny that it doesn’t want.
“Half this community is now divided on this issue,” Chapman added.
“We’re tearing our community apart at a time when we should be coming together to build our economy. This plan has failed from the beginning because we’re not going through the proper public process.”
Janet Marx said she represented about 220 citizens who have signed a petition opposed to McEntire’s plan for the EDC and the recent elimination of the Opportunity Fund Advisory Board.
“They’re not happy with you giving Opportunity Funds to the EDC without a proper review,” Marx told McEntire.
“You are supposed to be representing the people of this county, not the EDC. I wish you’d just tell me, how many signatures will it take for you to hear the people?”
Marx added: “We want public oversight, not your personal, private projects.”
McEntire wants to replace the Opportunity Fund Advisory Board with an infrastructure council consisting of the various local governments in the county.
Kevin Russell, president of the North Peninsula Builders Association, said that board has voted to oppose the spending of $500,000 in Opportunity Funds for EDC staff.
Poor track record
He and others said the EDC has a poor track record.
“As small business owners, if we were going to approach a lending institution for funds, we would be required to have a very sound business plan with some measurable items,” Russell said.
“We haven’t seen that [from the EDC].”
Chapman said the public isn’t buying the need to “ram this through.”
Both Republicans and Democrats are opposed to the proposal, he said.
“It’s sad that we’ve lost 8,000 jobs,” Chapman said of the job losses since the recession began in 2008.
“Three jobs at the EDC is not the answer.”
Chapman questioned why EDC Executive Director Bill Greenwood has not appeared to testify and explain why the organization needs $500,000 in taxpayer funds.
He objected when Peach called for a vote on the resolution adopting the EDC strategy before the discussion was finished.
“It’s really sad when commissioners want to cut off debate and call for a question when the public and another commissioner still have things to say,” Chapman said.
“That’s a really bad precedent. That’s not good government, gentlemen. You know it.”
A motion to rescind Chapter 5.30 of the county code, which deals with the Opportunity Fund, died for a lack of a second.
Although McEntire put the item on the agenda, he did not second Peach’s motion to approve it in order to get legal advice from Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols.
Chapter 5.30 would be replaced by the recently amended Chapter 5.40, but Richards’ petition prevents that change from taking effect for 60 days.
McEntire asked Nichols to determine whether state law would allow the use of Opportunity Funds to staff the EDC independent of the code.
“You’re basically telling people you have no interest in their input,” Chapman told McEntire.
“You’re going to fund it.”
Commissioners will consider funding the EDC as a debatable budget emergency in late March.
After the two-hour meeting, McEntire said he appreciated the robust debate with Chapman and the public.
“That was government at its best,” he said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
