by Matthew Nash

A new volunteer program through the City of Sequim allows citizens to take on a multitude of assignments from the basic to technical.

City Clerk Karen Kuznek-Reese said city staff couldn’t perform many of the needed tasks because of limited resources.

Department heads submitted initial requests for volunteers that include positions such as safety coordinator, recreation coordinator, photographer and stream-cleaning teams.

City Manager Steve Burkett said the program platform follows some ideas of Sequim Police Department’s VIP program and they’ll need a volunteer to coordinate others.

“It’s not something the city council just adopted and expects it to work,” Burkett said. “There is some extra work involved.“

Public Works director Paul Haines said some of the positions are technical and require some expertise but in his previous community he found an array of responsible residents looking for things to do.

“If we don’t ask, then they won’t show up,” Haines said. “We’re going to have to think about the ways we engage volunteers. They don’t work 8-5 like the rest of us. Focus on those things. Be smart about how we use these folks.”

Burkett said there are a lot of possibilities for the program, including creating a subset group such as friends of the park and reaching out to high school students for volunteer opportunities. There will be more to come on the program as it develops.

Contact Kuznek-Reese to volunteer at 683-4139.

Market and city offer free music together

City councilors approved a formal agreement with the Sequim Open Aire Market to continue offering free music outside of Sequim City Hall, 152 W. Cedar St., during market hours.

Kuznek-Reese said the Saturday event expands the city’s music offerings, including the Music and Movie in the Park program during the summer.

The market agrees to schedule performers and equipment while the city provides electricity. The market will pay an additional fee of $315 per year for the agreement, with the city paying licensing fees worth $309 each to American Society of Composers and Broadcast Music, Inc.

Sequim Open Aire Market continues 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays between Second and Sequim avenues on Cedar Street through Oct. 22, when reduced hours of 10 a.m.-2 p.m. go through December.

Contact the Sequim Open Aire Market at 460-2668 or visit www.sequimmarket.com.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.