PORT ANGELES — After voting in favor of the action unanimously last month, the City Council was split Tuesday when it reconsidered if it should participate in a lawsuit between the National Wildlife Federation and the federal government.
In a 2-5 vote, the council defeated a motion to back out of the litigation.
On Jan. 24, the vote was 7-0 to contribute $1,000 for lawyer fees.
The fees will be used by lawyers representing a coalition of Washington cities, 16 in total including Port Angeles, that are fighting an injunction proposed by the conservation group to halt the sale
of flood insurance for development
within floodplains in the Puget Sound region.
That would effectively halt development.
The group claims that the Federal Emergency Management Agency isn’t properly managing development in shoreline areas to protect salmon and orcas.
City staff said the injunction would punish cities, like Port Angeles, that they feel properly manage development in sensitive areas.
But council members Sissi Bruch and Max Mania, who voted to rescind the $1,000, said they felt the city was acting too hastily and without enough information.
Bruch, who made the motion, also defended the group’s lawsuit, saying the public relies on such organizations to do “what’s right for the general public.”
“I don’t think the city has any business in this one,” she said.
Several other council members said they share concerns for salmon and orcas but added they don’t believe the federal government should have more control over development regulations, as the staff said the group is seeking.
“I’m not against salmon and orcas,” said Councilman Dan Di Guilio, former mayor.
“I personally don’t like blanket regulations that come from the federal government and doesn’t reflect the uniqueness of our community.”
“We need to show that we are doing our due diligence,” he added.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
