SEQUIM — More than two dozen political, business and tribal leaders gathered Tuesday afternoon in Sequim to contemplate and define a unified strategy for improving Clallam County’s economy.
Sitting at a U-shaped table at the John Wayne Marina meeting room, the 28 representatives — one of the 29 invited didn’t attend — of school districts, business associations, a broad swath of the business sector and top members of city, county and tribal governments hashed through five “key initiatives” presented by $24,000 consultant John White of BergerABAM of Federal Way.
White pledged to have a full report on the 4 ½-hour session by May 21.
The Clallam County Economic Development Council sponsored the meeting Tuesday, the third part of a three-stage process shepherded by White that began with an April 1 community workshop, continued in mid-April with private interviews with 23 “stakeholders” whose names were not divulged, continued with Tuesday’s meeting and will conclude with White’s report.
Borrowed from the past
In looking at the future, the group decided to borrow from the past.
For the initiative White called “connecting the chain,” members agreed to revisit how industry “clusters” — which were employed by the EDC from about 2003 to about 2007 — worked together to foster growth in various industries such as timber and agriculture.
Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty, who was among the some two dozen audience members observing the discussion, said that discussion was highlight of the session.
“The concept was that people in those businesses know them best, and if they expand, they know how to mix private and public efforts together,” he said.
The meeting was, he said, the largest one-time gathering of Clallam County community leaders in decades outside of regular EDC meetings.
The action plan developed by White will be considered for adoption this summer by private economic development groups, Clallam County and the cities of Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks.
‘Creative ideas’
Port Angeles City Manger Kent Myers, a round-table participant, left the meeting “pleased with the openness and creative ideas expressed,” he said.
“It will be interesting to see how the plan will build in some accountability features so at various intervals, we can determine how much progress we are making, so that if we are not making progress, we can go back to the responsible agencies and see what’s going on.”
The key, White said, was finding a way for disparate parts of the economy and various public entities to work together.
“Our wiring diagram is messed up,” he told he group in opening the session.
“What I’m hoping this will do is help us rewire the thing, and make it far more effective than it has been.”
Below are highlights of comments for White’s initiatives:
• “Bring on the tourists”
: Participants discussed the need for year-round tourism, while Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Chairman and CEO Ron Allen suggested the community should capitalize on such Native American-oriented projects as the planned Lower Elwha Klallam Museum along Marine Drive as a component of “community character.”
“Port Angeles could be a destination,” he said. “Port Townsend is a destination. They come, they stay, they mill [around]. If they stay, they drop money.”
Participants said that eco-tourism could draw visitors.
Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Russ Veenema lamented that the Olympic Discovery Trail has not been completed yet.
About 60 miles is finished, less than half of the intended 140-mile bicycle and walking byway that eventually will stretch from Port Townsend to LaPush.
The trail could be marketed nationwide, Veenema said, but “is moving along so slowly.”
Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger responded that “major chunks will be done in the next couple of years” and that complicated negotiations with landowners and the state Department of Natural Resources.
Myers added that the North Olympic Peninsula should capitalize on the removal of the Elwha River dams beginning in 2011, a project expected to draw scientists and other visitors.
• “Connect the links in the chain”
: Inventory existing supply chains for agriculture, industrial, marine and “green energy sectors” that may want to relocate to service the North Olympic Peninsula.
“We’re talking about making Sequim a green city,” City Council member Bill Huizinga said. “We need to be able to identify what we are going to need in a supply chain.”
“Clusters will be a key” to the county’s potential economic strategy, Myers said.
• “Knit the county together”
: Improving communication among communities with a regularly scheduled “electronic coffee talk” via Skype or other electronic media that is more developed and up-close than e-mail.
• “Build a bank”: The EDC will continue to pursue establishment of an Olympic Finance Development Authority, EDC Executive Director Linda Rotmark said.
Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap and Mason counties are working jointly on the idea.
• “Redefine educational achievement expectations”: The North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center Administrative Council comprised of area school districts would provide updates of efforts to “create a new vision of the community’s expectations of their educational institutions.”
White noted that praise given around the round table for local school districts was a high point of the afternoon, and encouraged more partnership between business and education.
Forks City Planner/Attorney Rod Fleck said the Quillayute Valley School District offered top technology, bio-energy and virtual-classroom programs.
“Sometimes it’s easy to take pot shots at the educational system and where it has its flaws,” he said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
