SEQUIM — A familiar face is once again leaving Sequim City Hall.
Sequim Assistant City Manager Joe Irvin recently accepted the same position in Healdsburg, Calif. His last day working in Sequim will be Tuesday.
This was his second stint with the city after first being hired in May 2005 as assistant city planner. He eventually served as interim planning director for about seven months before moving to Florida so his wife could pursue a graduate degree.
Irvin was rehired in March 2014 and was promoted to assistant city manager in January 2017.
“I have loved my 10 years working for the city of Sequim,” Irvin said in a news release.
“I am thankful that I had the opportunity to return four years ago, and I appreciate the organization’s support of my professional growth. I am excited for this new opportunity, but I will miss working with my co-workers and the Sequim community.”
Irvin said in an interview that he was offered the Healdsburg position June 15 and his contract was finalized the week of July 9.
“It’s a great opportunity to continue to grow my professional experiences,” Irvin said. “I feel like I’m leaving a great organization and going to another great organization. Professionally, it’s an exciting opportunity.”
Plus, Irvin said he and his wife return to California where they first met.
In Healdsburg, Irvin said he’ll work with staff on the city’s strategic plan and learn new offices such as Healdsburg’s fire department and community services/ parks and recreation.
In Sequim, Irvin oversaw the city’s Human Resources, Community Development, Economic Development, and Parks departments.
“When I look at the list of projects Joe has worked on, it’s a really impressive list,” said City Manager Charlie Bush in a news release.
“Joe has brought a positive energy to the organization. He has great people skills and knows how to engage people in a vision and lead them,” Bush said.
“He cares deeply about people and is a person of high integrity and Joe cares deeply about the profession of public service. I am excited for this new opportunity for Joe and his family and look forward to following his success in his new role.”
Sequim retrospect
Coming back to Sequim seems “highly unlikely,” Irvin said.
“I’m excited to go to Healdsburg and put some roots down there,” he said.
Through his time in Sequim, Irvin said he’s proud of a lot of projects and relationships, particularly with the Sequim Picklers and the partnership with the group and the city to bring new courts to Carrie Blake Community Park to fruition.
He’s also proud of his work with the Community Organic Gardens of Sequim and bringing the city into the partnership with the development of the June Robinson Memorial Park
“Somehow I keep coming back to parks. It’s one of those community aspects that people really love and I love,” he said.
Along with city accomplishments, he served as market manager for the Sequim Open Aire Market, now Sequim Farmers Market, as president of the Sequim Noon Rotary, and as a board member of the Sequim Food Bank.
As for Sequim’s assistant city manager vacancy, Bush said via email city staff will consider options over the next few weeks. Bush returns to Sequim at the end of the month after completing the Harvard Senior Executive program.
Irvin feels good about where Sequim is going.
“[It’s] doing a great job at becoming a leader in the region and it’ll continue efforts to build regional partners,” he said.
City staff will continue to foster neighborhood development and partnerships, he said, and give more attention to code enforcement.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
