Following the departure of Joe Irvin as Assistant City Manager in the City of Sequim, City Manager Charlie Bush appointed Charisse Deschenes to fill Irvin’s role.

She currently serves as Assistant to the City Manager for Bush and takes on the new role Sept. 1.

“I’m excited for the new challenge,” Deschenes said. “I look forward to the new role and responsibilities.”

Deschenes was appointed to Assistant to the City Manager in 2017 after serving four years as Senior Planner in Sequim. She holds 16 years of municipal experience here and in Kent, and Olathe, Kansas.

Part of her new responsibilities include parks planning, overseeing the city clerks office, administration and office pools, neighborhood revitalization, special projects, arts and interns programs, and more.

Human Resources will shift under administrative services, Deschenes said.

Deschenes said she started looking into a shift because “I’ve always been someone interested in more than just planning.”

“I am delighted to appoint Charisse to this position,” Bush said. “She is accomplished, with a diverse background; she will serve our small city well in this role.”

Deschenes holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Park & Resource Management from Kansas State University, and an Executive Master’s of Business Administration degree from Benedictine College. She also studied in the Masters of Urban and Regional Planning Program at Eastern Washington University and has an AICP Certification through the American Planning Association.

She was recently honored by peers throughout North America by being appointed to the NextERA Advisory Group with the Alliance for Innovation. (https://transformgov.org/nextera-advisory-group-membership)

Deschenes moved to Sequim with her husband Scott, former Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center director, who now runs Des Moines, Washington’s parks district.

In 2019, city staff propose making changes to some existing positions in the proposed budget including the Assistant to the City Manager position by converting it to a Management Analyst position realigning certain duties to drive special projects. This will also lower the position’s pay scale, city staff report.

Contact the City of Sequim, 152 W. Cedar St., at 360-683-4139 or visit www.sequimwa.gov.