As Sequim’s city councilors work toward approving the city’s 2017 budget by Nov. 28, several staff changes are being planned to start in January.

Sue Hagener, administrative services director, went over the changes on Monday, Oct. 10, at the city council’s regular meeting. She said both Police Chief Bill Dickinson and Chris Hugo, director of community development, plan to retire next year with Dickinson’s date not determined while Hugo set a retirement date in April.

For the police chief’s position, they’ll open recruiting in-house and to the public, Hagener said. As for the Department of Community Development, Hugo’s position will be reclassified as a manager after his retirement, which pays about $11,000-$14,000 less annually depending on experience.

Hagener said they’d leave Hugo’s position open until needed and Joe Irvin, assistant to the city manager/parks manager, would begin overseeing the department.

Irvin also will shift up in responsibility, becoming assistant city manager starting in 2017. He’ll oversee the Department of Community Development, parks planning, Human Resources and a newly created administrative pool of 1.5 employees.

Hagener said the administrative pool would handle customer service and administrative functions on the second floor of the Sequim Civic Center.

Human Resources director Susanne Connelly will move to part-time next year and report to Irvin as well.

Other changes include shifting a few positions to the Sequim Police Department including Erika Hamerquist, the city attorney’s legal assistant, and Lisa Hopper, animal control/code compliance officer, from the Department of Community Development.

Hagener said Hamerquist would split her time between the police department and the city attorney’s office doing administrative work. After moving to the police department, Hopper would be given some capacity for creating crime prevention strategies, too, Hagener said.

City Manager Charlie Bush said to help with crime prevention across the city, police officers will be assigned specific areas to assist Hopper with any strategies.

Grants offsetting School Resource Officer Randy Kellas’ salary will finish this year so he will paid as part of the department’s budget now, too.

The city and schools are reviewing the process for cost-sharing for the position, Hagener said, and the police department expects to deploy the officer again throughout 2017.

In total, the police department’s budget increased $333,000 to account for the additional staffing, changes in salaries and benefits, and an increase in equipment reserves.

Hagener also announced deputy city clerk Bobbie Usselman plans to retire sometime in 2017.

In total, city staff proposes a budget for 76.78 employees, an increase of 1.24 full-time employees and a 1.4-percent wage increase from 2016.

Through the budget, two more jobs are proposed as well — a Department of Community Development specialist and a part-time temporary project manager.

Hugo said the specialist would assist in various capacities with permits, answer technical questions, prepare basic reports, provide information as needed and more.

In total, staff salaries tentatively would cost $5.4 million and $2.4 million for benefits as part of the city’s proposed $30 million 2017 budget.

The budget also includes proposed salary increases for non-uniformed bargaining unit at a ¾-percent increase, police sergeants at a 2-percent increase, police officers at a 1-percent increase and non-represented staff at a 1.5-percent increase.

Hagener said benefits went up 3.5 percent from 2016 because rising expenses including a 12.67-increase in PERS and 7-percent increase in health insurance.

For more information on the City of Sequim’s budget, visit www.sequimwa.gov.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.