[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6271434,"mediaKeyId","3028985-118905a6fa2ae09895f41e4ba863359c","parentId",3028985,"title","Sequim council directs staff to draft city letter affirming Clallam County’s outreach to federal lawmakers","audioSeconds",997,"startMs",7838000,"endMs",8835000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028985-118905a6fa2ae09895f41e4ba863359c&start=7838&end=8835","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028985-118905a6fa2ae09895f41e4ba863359c/thumbnail_7838000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6271434/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-council-directs-staff-to-draft-city-letter-affirming-Clallam-Countys-outreach-to-federal-lawmakers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271434-97c1721882b54ae1198a1b4bc8e3faa2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148845&Signature=JpMpnR~159lCy8h8hGOUYlNxneEMXq~J4DtyPvB3~512L-ZTqzBIR0lkE7H-75ah~HzcWytH1DD9XOm4JJHpjCBvuEccKDJaURb1YYnbYmjcBf7Dh3kiIx5jlpY1c7y-HVbxuyaH7wLWZ5jKYxJKNyFpHWqb1HR5S4DO1-oi7dd8Pz8XBP4e8KjSM2-8RjTSdBcEorTbMeHofDqcA3nOpYGvaVuNL4jn9wgoPtJsHnw2izGJoLzPo6DF1C3Gftg2IoqBJpRVB-GS-NBz5yP~tVOZ95BxUtLRuCbLyuPOXE5dI78XnGbt4RH8~QpnioL63sqAUdsVZk8sL~rXMLNqYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sequim City, WA","date","2025-04-17T00:52:30.987Z","article","The Sequim City Council directed staff April 14 to draft a Sequim‑centric letter affirming and augmenting a recent Clallam County commissioners’ letter to federal legislators about local impacts from changes in federal programs and funding.

Councilor Dan Butler introduced the item and invited Clallam County Commissioner Ozias to brief council on the county’s outreach to the city’s congressional delegation. Commissioner Ozias said county leaders had heard from the delegation that on‑the‑ground information from local governments is useful to federal lawmakers and that the county intends follow‑up outreach that will call out county‑specific impacts. He offered to coordinate with municipal governments and suggested a coordinated, community‑wide communication could be helpful.

Councilors discussed possible Sequim‑specific additions — including impacts on grants and projects flagged during earlier staff presentations — and asked staff to compile department‑level data and draft a letter that both affirms the county communication and details Sequim‑specific effects. Council directed staff and, if available, the mayor and deputy mayor to prepare the draft, and asked that it be returned to council for review at the April 28 meeting. The motion was seconded and no objections were raised; council did not take a roll‑call vote on the action and staff agreed to return a draft for consideration.

The council also approved, by separate action during the same meeting, the appointment of Councilor Kelly Berger as Sequim’s representative to the Clallam Transit System board (no opposition recorded).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session & Regular Session - April 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council instructed staff, with the mayor and deputy mayor if available, to prepare a Sequim‑specific letter with data supporting a November/April county letter to federal representatives about local impacts of recent federal policy changes; draft to return April 28, 2025.","taxTitle","Sequim, Clallam County, Washington","taxId",72051,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271439,"Sequim adopts FEMA‑required updates to flood damage prevention code (SMC 8.36)",516,6723000,7239000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028985-118905a6fa2ae09895f41e4ba863359c&start=6723&end=7239","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028985-118905a6fa2ae09895f41e4ba863359c/thumbnail_6723000.jpg","/articles/6271439/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-adopts-FEMArequired-updates-to-flood-damage-prevention-code-SMC-836","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271439-3e6d95754e98fe505d4cc62a7c93ada3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148845&Signature=YZZbijnpxlagM1D5cuoTIWxLzfDHzBSR4n4arsH6aBpaqP5CsgW2VwYeMM2jNd~q1OlawjNBldSqRaTRTCuuEc2Qsr-RLL0-UiBBgAS-e3-QHqBttu4GQcheXNYyUQY4XhGqDhhPmKzlSjAy9SM7ez2IqufeuQtKT1KIZSq3wzBKYPFBfRgxPHGXEXylYDcWZxbo~B16JtMPZGpjH49khKnzl0dFrzqb53VWvcm7jp591j7MHQKH8Hqq9oi6rn34ykZ0cZVcAuYeTxrfKCha7n0NDPbqTY5aP9bYXWEC8leBPO9sZqyWdZjmNlv1NTxlo4e2EAvTVwkb5jE9jmHL0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sequim City Council unanimously adopted amendments to Sequim Municipal Code (SMC) 8.36 on April 14 to remain compliant with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements and to preserve the city’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

City attorney Christina Nelson Gross and senior planner Travis Simmons presented the updates during a public hearing, explaining the changes are largely federally mandated and include updated flood maps, revised permit and variance language, development standards for high‑risk zones and updated definitions consistent with FEMA guidance. “The flood insurance program aims to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public structures by providing affordable insurance to property owners and by encouraging communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations,” Simmons read from FEMA background materials.

Staff said the updated code incorporates the most recent Clallam County flood insurance study and maps, clarifies regulatory floodway restrictions and adds standards for coastal high‑hazard and shallow flooding zones. The amendments are intended to preserve property owners’ access to federally backed flood insurance and to maintain or improve the city’s standing in the NFIP community‑rating system, which can reduce premiums for insured property owners.

No public commenters spoke at the hearing. Council moved to adopt the proposed amendments and approved them by roll call, 7–0.

Votes at a glance: Amendment to SMC 8.36 (Flood Damage Prevention) — adopted by roll call, 7 yes, 0 no.

The adopted changes must be incorporated into city permitting and code enforcement procedures; staff noted the statutory deadline to adopt the revisions was April 23, 2025, and that Sequim met that timeline.","Council adopted amendments to Sequim Municipal Code 8.36 to incorporate FEMA map and regulatory changes required for continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program; vote was 7–0 on April 14, 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271443,"Sequim council adopts $160 flat right‑of‑way permit fee; ordinance amends SMC 3.68",358,6260000,6618000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028985-118905a6fa2ae09895f41e4ba863359c&start=6260&end=6618","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028985-118905a6fa2ae09895f41e4ba863359c/thumbnail_6260000.jpg","/articles/6271443/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-council-adopts-160-flat-rightofway-permit-fee-ordinance-amends-SMC-368","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271443-0af38f9c03b370328335a2cfc4de969d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148845&Signature=jRrpVcOSIRsfbUIolTNSL8F8i0YjTARX~-~Zp9mHxEgEfSp2YRkt7fUdmK4~L6sWB3v5c-8XQbqmdbiPWhernXJ5K9jly3abG1PxeCKiWfUArT5tRkSXCoCNVQ0CHiNG~4dBm-VD53O1smc50mdp3SbU7DZpTe4fS~53Sq5~a1P65DZjOirYvZI1Ihpa0o1Cwo0vmvv~FPneeaTAbZulaZHnFt5C3lxrum-xDBQof3vHRv71jKMXx1SL-J2s7MOCC-YD~FscHep6oxB93~xkfLcje-2mCmxABYKfE25hFQed8ZrClQhI5BCw13CtRsWK3fpDysek~yNuGBx-HcNVPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sequim City Council voted unanimously April 14 to adopt an ordinance amending Sequim Municipal Code (SMC) 3.68 to set a flat $160 fee for routine right‑of‑way permits, following a staff presentation and public hearing.

The change standardizes a fee staff said reflects typical review and field time for common, short‑duration permits such as driveway connections or small encroachments. “To provide some consistency across the board, we looked at our review times and our field times specifically for those smaller right of way permits and came up with a cost of $160 per permit across the board,” City engineering staff member Nick Dossi told council during the hearing.

Staff said the $160 figure covers typical variable costs associated with review and inspection and that larger or more complex right‑of‑way permits would still be subject to additional time‑based charges. The fee was presented as consistent with the city’s goal to recover permitting costs while remaining lower than many peer jurisdictions’ right‑of‑way charges, staff said.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Following the presentation, a council member moved to waive further reading and adopt the ordinance amending SMC 3.68; the motion was seconded and carried in a roll‑call vote, 7–0.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance amending SMC 3.68 (rates and fees – right‑of‑way permit fee) — motion adopted by roll call, 7 yes, 0 no.

Council roll call recorded yes votes from Councilor Kelly Berger, Councilor Dan Butler, Councilor Vicki Lowe, Deputy Mayor Rachel Anderson, Mayor Brandon Janice, Councilor Harmony Redder and Councilor Nicole Hartman. The ordinance text and amended fee schedule are part of the council packet.","After a public hearing, council adopted an ordinance amending Sequim Municipal Code 3.68 to set a flat $160 right‑of‑way permit fee for routine permits; council vote was 7–0 on April 14, 2025.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271448,"Sequim public works outlines transportation and parks condition, funding and near-term projects",2878,116000,2994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028985-118905a6fa2ae09895f41e4ba863359c&start=116&end=2994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028985-118905a6fa2ae09895f41e4ba863359c/thumbnail_116000.jpg","/articles/6271448/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-public-works-outlines-transportation-and-parks-condition-funding-and-near-term-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271448-33c20fe8825631a829975bb004394c31/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148845&Signature=aPX~S-l7fpIoB01KQ6ZHxbGryBiJc7xwYj3ahdEGXf7ELAFfJjoYR~zmhievk2nwu3swXXIBVu7pYn2tPP6l0y2obL4ujRgGUZFehWjvkBoP9nfMZ43j99ELyU0t0sRLo3WSJ3cybpFpxDOVSWzj3fwSoUxDTAaFQxvCUPmqE7rE4eNLohTthEgBG3T9w1HbBJGCEh0kKanpX9Dx7I8M90aUOaLQ8HaWCg8Hj1rtg4j0ID4ksvTvdnbS1R9Oq0FIh~4HlmFbS~k2HHdIU6wHMKmJnGmcWnb5Nclor-tnnb4FDHNM~8Oak0GvvxuxWpXlnsEuNV68s0zZFrpbIv7uag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public works staff presented a 45-minute briefing to the Sequim City Council on April 14 about the city’s transportation and parks systems, how condition assessments inform maintenance and capital planning, and the funding sources the city uses to carry out projects.

The presentation summarized current asset inventories, condition measurement methods, planned pilots and immediate capital priorities. Paul (Public Works presenter) told the council the department manages the city’s largest operating and capital budgets and oversees multiple service areas including streets, water, sewer, engineering and parks. “There really isn't a formal agenda. The purpose of tonight is to have a dialogue about a specific topics. For tonight's meeting, we're going to be talking about transportation and parks,” Paul said.

The briefing matters because streets, sidewalks and parks account for most of Sequim’s public infrastructure spending and are funded largely through a mix of local revenues, developer fees and competitive state and federal grants. Staff emphasized that grant awards are often short‑term and that larger reconstruction projects depend on successful grant applications or other one‑time funding.

City engineer Nick Dossi walked through transportation classifications and condition assessments, explaining the city uses a pavement condition index (PCI) and annual average daily traffic (AADT) to prioritize work. “We as a city currently maintain five classifications for streets: arterial, collector, local, neighborhood and alleys,” Dossi said. He described how PCI scores (0–100) map to maintenance categories: routine maintenance (85–100), preventative maintenance (70–85), rehabilitation (50–70) and full replacement (below 50). Priest Road was cited as a recent low‑scoring segment slated for full replacement using grant funds.

Staff gave inventory numbers and maintenance facts: about 22 lane miles of roadway (122 directional miles of travel), 62.1 miles of sidewalks, 1.7 miles of shared‑use pathways in addition to 5 miles of the Olympic Discovery Trail, 12.2 miles of bike lanes, roughly 674 street lights (about four known outages at the time of the presentation), and 569 recorded pedestrian crossings (about 200 marked). The transportation maintenance and operating program totals about $1.2 million, with 85 percent supported by the general fund and the balance largely from the local Transportation Benefit District (TBD). The TBD collects 0.2 percent sales tax within city limits and yields roughly $1 million annually, staff said.

Staff also reviewed condition‑assessment inputs: consultant PCI inspections, citizen reports, crew observations and asset‑management software (Cartograph) that will feed operations, maintenance and capital planning. A chip‑seal pilot is planned for 2026 to extend pavement life, and street crews currently repair about 40 pavement patches a year. On ADA compliance, staff described a recently completed ADA transition plan for the public right‑of‑way and a separate ADA analysis contract for parks and facilities; the city plans to replace 61 curb ramps and is packaging some work to lower costs by doing more in house.

Parks manager Hannah Merrill summarized park inventory and usage: Sequim has roughly 34 acres of parks and open space (about 16 acres per 1,000 residents, above national guidelines), and crews perform frequent mowing, pruning, trash pickup, playground and restroom maintenance, event setup/cleanup and irrigation repairs. The parks maintenance and operating budget is about $700,000 (general fund). Identified parks capital needs total approximately $21 million in unfunded projects; grant funding historically pays for parkland acquisition, while construction projects often require mixes of REET, impact fees, general fund contributions and grants.

Staff listed 2025 transportation projects with secured or expected awards, including three pavement rehabilitations (about $1.9 million), a $1.2 million intersection project, a curb ramp program (~$55,000 listed in the presentation), Johnson Creek crossing design work and the completion of the transportation master plan. Staff said roughly 74 percent of the 2025 transportation program is expected to be grant‑funded. They also noted concern that a multi‑jurisdictional RAISE grant previously awarded is under administrative review and that funds for some pipeline projects may be delayed or frozen pending federal guidance.

Council members asked clarifying questions about project timing, the brownfield road realignment tied to a developer fee‑in‑lieu, winter‑weather impacts on pavement longevity and ongoing grant application timelines. Staff said some projects could be two to five years out depending on funding and right‑of‑way needs, but that staff are preparing a shorter, more actionable three‑year CIP window for planning and grant matching.

Staff closed by asking council to provide direction for topics they want emphasized in future water and sewer presentations and noted upcoming master planning for several parks (Gearhart, Keeler, Dr. James Standard, McChord) and capital items including the Margaret Kerner playground and resurfacing of pickleball courts.

The council did not take action during the briefing; staff said they will fold the presented plans and condition data into the formal CIP and budget process later in the year.","City public works staff gave a detailed briefing on transportation and parks assets, condition assessments, funding sources and planned capital projects, highlighting heavy reliance on grants and several sizable unfunded project lists.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sequim council directs staff to draft city letter affirming Clallam County’s outreach to federal lawmakers

Sequim adopts FEMA‑required updates to flood damage prevention code (SMC 8.36)

Sequim council adopts $160 flat right‑of‑way permit fee; ordinance amends SMC 3.68

Sequim public works outlines transportation and parks condition, funding and near-term projects