EYE ON CLALLAM: Port Angeles City Council to eye joining amicus brief on environmental cleanup

The Port Angeles City Council will consider joining an amicus brief in an environmental cleanup case when it meets Tuesday.

The council will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.

The regular session will be preceded by an executive session to discuss collective bargaining and potential litigation.

The council will consider joining Georgia-Pacific in an amicus brief in the appeal filed by Pope Resources of a Kitsap County Superior Court ruling that the state Department of Natural Resources cannot be held liable for contamination in Port Gamble Bay.

The city has committed funds as a potentially liable person (PLP) in the cleanup of Port Angeles Harbor. The state Department of Ecology also has named DNR as a PLP.

“The outcome of this case could have a significant impact on the city because, just as in Port Gamble, a significant amount of the contamination in our harbor is located on state-owned land that is managed by DNR,” a council memo said.

The council also will consider accepting a $399,999 grant from Ecology for harbor cleanup.

Also on the agenda:

■ Election of a mayor and deputy mayor.

■ Final acceptance of Phase 2 of the waterfront development project.

■ Consideration of rules for allowing cottage housing developments.

■ An update on work projects during 2015.

Clallam County

The three Clallam County commissioners will select a chair and a vice chair Tuesday.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the commissioners’ boardroom (160) at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

A work session at 9 a.m. Monday will preview items set for action Tuesday.

Among Monday’s agenda items is review of a proposal to raise the county optional sales tax rate from 0.3 percent to 0.5 percent as of April.

Consideration of approval of the resolution would be Jan. 12, and a hearing would be held Jan. 26.

Also on Monday’s agenda:

■ A recommendation for a bid award for professional contract collection services.

■ A request from Health and Human Services to return the disability case manager position to 32 hours.

■ An amendment to the 2015-17 Prosecutors Association labor agreement giving the prosecuting attorney discretionary ability to assign or remove deputy prosecuting attorneys.

On Tuesday’s consent agenda are approval of budget modifications for Dec. 14-31 and approval of workers’ compensation expenditures for the month of November.

Sequim City Council

The Sequim City Council will interview two candidates for an empty City Council position recently vacated by Ken Hays and possibly name an appointee Monday.

The special meeting will be at 5 p.m. at the Sequim Civic Center at 152 W. Cedar St.

The council also will elect the mayor and deputy mayor.

Brandon Janisse and Roger Wiseman will be interviewed for the vacant position. The term will expire Dec. 31, 2017. The salary is $250 per month.

An executive session, which is closed to the public, will be held following the interviews to review the qualifications of both candidates.

After returning from executive session, the council members can choose to name either candidate as the new City Council member.

Sequim School Board

The Sequim School Board will consider a new academic acceleration policy when it meets Monday.

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

Academic acceleration would mean that students who meet state standards in a particular area would be automatically enrolled in the next most rigorous level of advanced courses.

Board members also will consider policies on curriculum development and adoption of instructional materials, as well as a commitment to planning.

Clallam PUD

Clallam County Public Utility District commissioners will consider approving completion of the Bluffs Well replacement work by Harbor Pacific Contractors Inc. when they meet Monday.

The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Lake Crescent boardroom at the Carlsborg main office, located at 104 Hooker Road.

Other agenda items include contract completion for two trucks and resolutions authorizing the disposal of surplus real estate and property.

Olympic Medical Center

Olympic Medical Center commissioners will hear an update on the Peninsula Behavioral Health Crisis and Respite Center on Wednesday.

The meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. in Linkletter Hall in the basement of the hospital at 939 E. Caroline St., Port Angeles.

The board also will elect officers, recognize employees, gather public comment, consider endorsing a Sequim School District facility bond and hear updates on Olympic Medical Physicians, a 2014 state audit and focuses for 2016.

Planning commission

The Clallam County Planning Commission will elect officers, review bylaws and policies, and continue a review of a draft shoreline master program Wednesday.

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

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