SEQUIM — The mayor pro-tempore is considering resigning from the City Council following a frustrating and contentious public hearing Monday night.
John Beitzel on Tuesday told Peninsula Daily News he will weigh his options after speaking to the council about its failure to comply with policies requiring multiple discussions on issues prior to taking action on them.
The council voted Monday to uphold permitting on a proposed large residential development, despite the fact that newly submitted material Beitzel thought might have an impact on their decision was not completely reviewed by all members.
The Highlands at Sequim, a 314-dwelling subdivision, would be situated in an area known as a travel path for Sequim’s celebrated elk herd.
It would also create a precedent for greater housing densities than has previously been permitted, Beitzel said.
“I was astounded that we weren’t going to have a second meeting to discuss this,” Beitzel said.
Councilman Paul McHugh moved to waive a second reading on the project, and the council voted to accept his amendment.
About four years ago, a council composed of mostly different individuals enacted a “three-touch” rule that would require members to deliberate specific agenda items three times before taking action on them.
The purpose of that was to block any given member from bringing an issue to council and gaining immediate approval, Mayor Walt Schubert recalled.
Schubert and Beitzel were both elected to the council in 2000.
Since then, newly elected members have shown less of an interest in observing the three-touch rule, Beitzel said.
