PORT ANGELES — An unsuccessful bidder’s attempt to halt fulfillment of the city’s tourism marketing and visitor center contracts through a temporary injunction was denied Friday by Clallam County Superior Court Judge Chris Melly.
Melly said Dale Wilson, whose visitor center proposal with Jessica Elliott was not recommended for City Council consideration by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, had no standing to be granted an injunction because the contract had already been signed.
The City Council on Tuesday approved 2015 contracts with the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce of $175,000 for tourism promotion and $78,000 for visitor center operations.
“The claims against the city are moot,” Melly said at Friday’s hearing.
“The court cannot grant the requested relief.”
The contracts were signed Wednesday.
Melly rejected Wilson’s contention that the agreements were public works contracts and required two days’ public notice before they could be signed.
Wilson had alleged bias, conflict of interest, negligence and breach of duty in the city’s acceptance of the chamber’s proposal.
“I respect the court’s opinion and respectfully disagree with it,” Wilson said Saturday.
Wilson would not comment on whether he will appeal Melly’s ruling.
“There’s a lot of research to be done,” Wilson said.
City Attorney Bill Bloor argued before Melly against the injunction request.
“The case is over, and from the city’s point of view, that’s a desired outcome,” Bloor said after the decision.
Wilson is the publisher of the free monthly newspaper Port O Call.
Elliott is the publication’s managing editor.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
