PORT ANGELES — The three Port of Port Angeles commissioners voted Monday to adopt the county’s new commissioner district realignments based on last year’s Census.
But the board suggested that a shift to a five-member port commission might better serve Clallam County’s distinct communities in the future.
The three port commissioner districts are contiguous with those of the Board of County Commissioners, which were developed earlier this year by a county redistricting committee, based on 2010 U.S. Census data.
Because of population growth, particularly on the East End, the new district lines shifted east, adding more Port Angeles voters to District 3, which also includes Beaver, Clallam Bay, Forks, Neah Bay, LaPush and Sekiu.
The West End residents are outnumbered in District 3 by Port Angeles residents, leaving them increasingly disenfranchised, port commissioners said in July.
Parallel, by law
By law, the county and port must share district borders, according to port attorney Dave Neupert.
Commissioners asked Neupert to re-examine that law to see how the port agency can give more of a voice to West End residents.
Options for a five-member commission include three by-district and two at-large commissioners, or five smaller districts, Neupert said.
Commissioners immediately showed interest in a five-district split.
“There is some advantage to smaller port districts,” Commissioner John Calhoun said.
The process of adding two elected seats will take some work but there is a clearly defined legal path, Neupert said.
Port commissioners would not have to wait for a citizen-led effort for the change, he said.
“It can come from the public or the commission itself,” he said.
A redistricting committee would be called to form five districts of equal population.
The annual cost of adding two commissioners to the port board would be less than $20,000 per commissioner, Calhoun said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
