PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles City Council approved the construction of a sidewalk on the north side of West Lauridsen Boulevard at Lincoln Park for this summer despite discussion of other high-priority areas and conflict with the city code.
The council also green-lit several public works projects during a four-hour meeting Tuesday night, including a nearly $1.2 million stormwater retrofit on 16th Street and the rehabilitation of more than 1,100 feet of sewer main on Francis Street.
The sidewalk project, estimated to cost $137,500, will include $46,750 from a New Improvement and Community Enhancement (NICE) neighborhood grant, available from a revolving city fund to support off-site frontage and public infrastructure facilities for future development.
Two-thirds of the project — $90,750 — will be privately funded by Sam Watson and Marianne Condrup, who are subdividing two parcels into three lots for the potential to develop affordable housing units.
“As city of Port Angeles residents and business owners, we have been hearing about the challenges with housing availability and affordability for years,” they wrote in their NICE grant application. “In an attempt to help create new housing stock, we are looking to develop a portion of our two parcels along Lauridsen Boulevard located in the western (Urban Growth Area) into three affordable lots for local residents to build their own homes. These lots were designed as dense as possible given the restrictions of having to provide septic.”
Watson and Condrup said initial review of the subdivision occurred last October.
“Then in February 2025, after the spectics and utilities had been installed and engineering plans created for driveways, stormwater, etc., we were notified by the city that we are subject to the installation of sidewalks along the entire frontage of Lauridsen Boulevard,” they wrote in their grant application.
Instead of a sidewalk on the south side of Lauridsen Boulevard, where their property exists, Watson and Condrup proposed moving it to the north side of the road to increase walkability to the disc golf course and dog park at Lincoln Park, according to their application.
It will run for 1,100 linear feet — the entire frontage of the two lots they own. They will fund two-thirds of the distance, or 725 feet, and the NICE grant will cover the remaining 34 percent, or 375 feet.
Construction would be completed by a licensed and bonded contractor registered with the city, and it’s expected to be completed before the end of the summer.
Before the council approved it, discussion centered on sidewalk requirements in city code in addition to high-priority locations.
Deputy City Manager Calvin Goings pointed to the city’s comprehensive plan, which requires sidewalks, and council member Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin said a bus stop on the same street drops riders off on the grass.
“Let’s stop requiring sidewalks in low-value locations,” Schromen-Wawrin said.
Another point of contention was that the sidewalk would terminate prior to reaching the intersection at South L Street, where the BMX track is located.
Watson, who attended the meeting, told council members his property ends prior to the intersection.
Council member Amy Miller, who said there’s a significant foot path that already exists in the area because people walk on the north side of the road, proposed that city staff research the cost of expanding the sidewalk to the corner so the council could consider additional NICE grant funding.
Once that proposal passed on a 6-1 vote, the sidewalk project was approved unanimously.
The city obtained a water quality grant from the state Department of Ecology to fund most of the stormwater retrofit project. The council accepted the grant for $1,667,250 in December 2023 and will match it with $87,750 from the 2025-2030 Capital Facilities Plan budget.
The improvements will be installed at the intersections of 16th Street and C, D and E streets to improve water quality in Tumwater Creek and Port Angeles Harbor, according to city documents. The contract was awarded to Interwest Construction, Inc.
“The goal is to reduce adverse downstream stormwater impacts by reducing total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved copper, dissolved zinc, and total phosphorus,” the council memo stated.
The sewer main replacement will rehabilitate 1,119 linear feet of 30-inch pipe and 1,617 linear feet of 24-inch pipe on Francis Street. The 30-inch pipe was installed in 1915, according to city documents. The concrete, brick-lined main serves more than one-third of Port Angeles.
“The sanitary sewer shows extensive grout failure, water infiltration, and is susceptible to damage during ground movement,” the council memo stated.
The Cure in Place Pipe (CIPP) process will provide a complete structural replacement and extend the life of that section of sewer main for a minimum of 50 years, the memo stated.
The $749,102.41 contract was awarded to SCI Infrastructure, LLC of SeaTac. Funding was approved in the 2025-2030 Capital Facilities Plan budget.
The council also approved the cleaning of a wastewater treatment plan digester for about $210,500, the repaving of Marine Drive between Hill Street and Mill Bridge for about $645,000 and the purchase of a backhoe for $262,800.
Recognition
Mayor Kate Dexter read a proclamation in support of the Juneteeth federal holiday, and she and Police Chief Brian Smith honored retiring Port Angeles Police Sgt. Kevin Miller with a proclamation.
Miller joined PAPD in 1989 and had a 36-year career, established the department’s K-9 program and became a statewide leader in the K-9 community, Smith said.
Miller also served as a youth baseball coach for 24 years, Smith said.
Police officers lined the back wall of council chambers as Miller was honored, and Miller fought back tears as he accepted congratulations.
“I’m really honored that all of you are here,” he said. “I loved working here. It’s been a big transition. Thank you all for your support. I appreciate it.”
Council member Brendan Meyer also was honored with a proclamation as he plans to resign at the end of the month for health reasons.
During their individual reports, several council members praised Meyer’s efforts during their five years on the council, including a stint as deputy mayor from 2022-24.
Schromen-Wawrin highlighted Meyer’s tenacity in pushing for zero fare for Clallam Transit, a board on which Meyer previously served as chair.
Miller and Carr spoke about Meyer’s penchant for humor, a quality they said they both appreciated even if they didn’t always agree on policy.
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Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-417-3531 or by email at brian.mclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
