by MATTHEW NASH
Sequim Gazette
City councilors drafted five goals and priorities for 2012-2013 at their March 9 retreat:
• Evaluate feasibility of Guy Cole rehabilitation
• Improve street maintenance
• Adopt updated Comprehensive Plan
• Develop financial and implementation plan for police station and City Hall
• Develop economic development plan.
These priorities go to council for final approval at 6 p.m. March 26 at the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St.
During the retreat, councilors gave the go-ahead for Mayor Ken Hays and Pat Johansen to work with city staff on their plan to remodel the Guy Cole Center and make it a center for food-related activities and special events in the city.
City Manager Steve Burkett said over the next year they plan to use their recent study on the city’s pavement to implement a priority list using a management system.
Burkett plans to show a proposed list of projects to councilors in late April.
The Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for approval at the end of 2012 by councilors. Its intent is to help create a vision for Sequim and development in the city.
One potential development option, a new police station, goes to voters in the Aug. 7 primary. If approved, a criminal justice sales tax worth one-tenth of 1 percent would fund most of the police building.
Burkett said if voters approve the tax, city staff would put together a financing plan to pay for a new city hall.
Council’s economic plan includes elements of funding tourism outreach, annexing the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, aka Battelle, utility extension and creating a light industrial zone within the city.
Burkett said support for tourism is ongoing and includes festivals.
City and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory officials continue ongoing discussions about the annexation, Burkett said.
At this time, the city doesn’t have any industrial zones.
“There is a need for it,” Burkett said. “The Comprehensive Plan includes this goal, too.”
Councilors completed some of their 2011-2012 goals: purchasing a city hall site from Serenity House of Clallam County, adopting the downtown plan, and conducting a citizens’ satisfaction survey and parks and recreation needs assessment.
One goal, to establish Sequim as a leader in renewable energy, was deferred for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan update.
A contract worth up to $100,000 was approved in February for a Transportation Master Plan update with Fehr & Peers of Seattle. It also is set for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan.
Burkett said city staff continues work to improve the building and land-use permitting process, and to determine the function of Sequim Speaks.
Contact the City of Sequim, 152 W. Cedar St., at 683-4139.
Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
