Clallam County is seeking volunteers to fill 185 vacancies on 28 advisory boards and committees.
The deadline to apply is the close of business Monday, Nov. 1.
To apply, call the commissioners’ office at 360-417-2233; visit their office at the Clallam County Courthouse, Suite 4, 223 E. Fourth St.; or download an application from the county website, clallam.net.
Descriptions of the advisory panels — and the application form itself — are available under the “Boards, Committees and Groups” link on the county website.
Current members with expiring terms who wish to retain their position are asked to provide a written statement to the commissioner’s office: fax at 360-417-2493; mail at 223 E. Fourth St., Suite 4, Port Angeles 98362; or email to mhalencak@co.clallam.wa.us.
Vacancies exist on the following advisory panels, with specific categories listed where applicable:
• Agricultural Commission (7 vacancies) — Openings for representatives of Farmer in Commissioner Districts 1, 2 and 3; an at-large farmer, and three non-farmers at-large.
This commission acts in an advisory capacity to research agricultural issues, provide information, and convey the interests and desires of farmers and others in the agricultural community to the Board of Commissioners.
• Behavioral Health Advisory Board (8) — Openings for representatives of city law enforcement; hospital district; tribal; agency delivering subsidized mental health services; agency delivering subsidized substance use disorders services; private provider of mental health services not contracting for funding; services for homeless, and at-large.
This board was established to act to advise the Board of Commissioners on implementation and future funding, from the one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax authorized by RCW 82.14.460.
• Board of Health (1) — Opening for hospital district commissioner.
This board is responsible for all matters pertaining to the preservation of the life and health of the citizens of Clallam County, including community health assessment, health status, preventable health risks, availability of resources; enacting rules, regulations, and policies to preserve, promote, and improve the health status of Clallam County residents; assure high quality and effective public health services including control and prevention of any dangerous, contagious, or infectious diseases; prevention, control, and abatement of nuisances detrimental to public health; enforce public health statutes of the state and county; establish fee schedules for issuing and renewing licenses and permits or for other services authorized by the law and rules of the Washington State Board of Health.
• Boundary Review Board (4) — Openings for two governor appointees; county appointee, and special district appointee.
This is an autonomous board that, upon request by any jurisdiction affected by a boundary change such as an annexation proposal, reviews the proposal and has broad powers to determine logical boundaries, transfer of services, and other matters operating under the authority of RCW 36.93.
• Building Code Board of Appeals (4) — Openings for representatives for two alternates; an an ICC-certified fire marshal, fire inspector, or fire plan examiner, and an ICC-certified building official, building inspector or plans examiner.
This board hears and decides appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Building Official relative to the application and interpretation of the codes adopted in Clallam County Code 21.01, Building and Construction Code.
• Carlsborg Community Advisory Council (6) — Openings for representatives of resident within UGA exclusive of any manufactured/mobile home community; resident of a manufactured/mobile home park community with in Carlsborg UGA; business or real property owner within the U.S. Highway 101 commercial zone; business or real property owner within the Carlsborg Industrial Zone, and two at-large member who are real property owners within the UGA boundary.
This council acts as a liaison between the citizens in the Carlsborg UGA and the Board of Commissioners for gathering and analyzing information, and making recommendations regarding community and growth management issues.
• Clallam Bay/Sekiu Community Action Team (4) — Openings for two at-large members; a senior community representative, and a business owner (Clallam Bay/Sekiu Chamber of Commerce).
This group assists in gathering and analyzing information, making recommendations, and advancing the orderly growth and development of the area.
• Clallam Bay/Sekiu Sewer Advisory Committee (2) — Openings for two committee members.
This committee is responsible for gathering accurate information regarding Clallam Bay-Sekiu sewer operations, rates and billing procedures, and making recommendations to the Board of Commissioners.
• Crescent Community Advisory Council (5) — Openings for representatives of grange; area business owner or individual who owns commercially zoned property; Crescent School District Student Body alternate, and two at-large positions.
This committee acts as a liaison between the citizens living in the Crescent School District area and the Board of Commissioners on issues that may include land use, economic development, transportation and pedestrian improvements, capital projects and services, and community projects and activities.
• Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee (6) — Openings for six committee members.
Volunteers on this committee act in an advisory capacity to plan and make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners and the Department of Health and Human Services regarding programs and services for persons who have intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, other neurological impairments, or developmental disabilities and their families through service contracts with provider agencies.
• Fair Advisory Board (2) — Openings for representatives of at-large and Community of Forks/Western Clallam County.
This board assists Clallam County in delivery of Fair services to its residents and visitors. Under the direction of the Board of Commissioners through the Director of Parks, Fair, and Facilities, the advisory board holds public meetings as necessary, advises and assists the County in developing reasonable rules, fees, and regulations for the operation of the County Fair; and program development strategies.
• Heritage Advisory Board (5) — Openings for a representative of District I; two from District II, and two from District III.
The Board is responsible for advising the Clallam County Commissioners on various matters related to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the County.
• Homelessness Task Force (38) — Openings for representatives of Health and Human Services Department; Health and Human Services Department alternate; city government of Port Angeles; city government of Forks; city government of Forks alternate; city government of Sequim alternate; tribal government of Jamestown S’Klallam; tribal government of Jamestown S’Klallam Alternate; tribal government of Lower Elwha Klallam; tribal government of Lower Elwha Klallam alternate; tribal government of Makah; tribal government of Makah alternate; tribal government of Quileute; tribal government of Quileute alternate; healthcare providers alternate; Peninsula Housing Authority; Peninsula Housing Authority alternate; mental health/substance use providers; mental health/substance use providers alternate; Department of Social and Health Services alternate; West End service providers; West End service providers alternate; Olympic Community Action Programs; Olympic Community Action Programs alternate; United Way alternate; WorkSource; WorkSource alternate; law and justice system alternate; faith community alternate; business community alternate; homeless or formerly homeless; three homeless or formerly homeless alternate; at-large; at-large alternate; advocate for youth issues, and advocate for youth issues alternate.
This group advises county commissioners on various matters related to the issues regarding homelessness in Clallam County.
• Lake Sutherland Steering Committee (3) — Openings for three committee members.
This committee is comprised of property owners within the district who reflect various lake use interests and geographic distribution within the Lake Sutherland Management District.
• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (5) — Openings for three collector of the tax representatives and two potential user of fund representatives.
Statute requires an advisory committee to review all proposed changes to expenditures from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund and to make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners.
• Marine Resources Committee (13) — Openings for representatives of Sequim City Council alternate; Port of Port Angeles Commission alternate; Makah tribe; Makah tribe alternate; Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe; Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe alternate; at large; at-large alternate; marine related recreation and tourism alternate; conservation/environmental alternate; academic community; District III, and District I alternate.
This committee advises the County Commissioners regarding issues related to the marine resources of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and its bays, estuaries, and inlets within the borders of Clallam County.
• North Olympic Library System (1) — Opening for one representative.
The North Olympic Library System provides public library services to Clallam County and is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees.
• North Pacific Coast Marine Resources (3) — Openings for representative of Clallam County; Callam County citizen (scientific community), and Clallam County citizen (recreational groups).
This group assists in understanding, stewarding, and restoring the marine and estuarine ecological processes of the North Pacific coast of Washington within the boundaries of Clallam and Jefferson Counties in support of ecosystem health, sustainable marine resource-based livelihoods, cultural integrity, and coastal communities. Members represent conservation/environmental groups, recreational groups, economic groups and the scientific community.
• Noxious Weed Control Board (2) — Openings for representatives of Geographic Area 3 and Geographic Area 4.
This board oversees the control and eradication of noxious weed infestations in the county.
• Olympic Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council (2) — Openings for two representatives of Clallam County.
Olympic Area Agency on Aging (O3A) coordinates aging and long-term care services for seniors and adults with disabilities in Clallam/Jefferson/Grays Harbor/Pacific. Contact Carol Ann at 360-379-5064, laaseca@dshs.wa.gov for more information. Monthly meetings are held in Shelton; mileage reimbursed and lunch are included.
• Opportunity Fund Board (3) — Openings for City of Sequim, District I and District II.
The State Legislature authorized rural counties to retain a portion of the sales and use tax to finance public facilities to result in new jobs through business expansion and recruitment. Funds from the Opportunity Fund Program are used to improve the base economy in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Clallam County through the attraction of businesses with grants and low interest loans for public facilities. Decisions regarding the use of the funds for public facility projects are made by the Opportunity Fund Board who is responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Commissioners who has the final authority to approve or deny an application.
• Park and Recreation Advisory Board (2) — Openings for two committee member positions.
This group assists Clallam County in delivery of park and recreation services to its residents and visitors. Under the direction of the Board of Commissioners through the Director of Parks, Fair, and Facilities, the advisory board holds public meetings as necessary, advises and assists the County in developing reasonable rules, fees and regulations for the operation of County Parks and other recreational facilities, and reviews park acquisitions and development strategies.
• Permit Advisory Board (12) — Openings for representatives of architect; building designer; building trades; certified septic designer/installer; Economic Development Council; engineer category (structural/civil); environmental consultant; homebuilders association; propane/wood stove contractor; Manufactured Homes/Mobile Home Association; ex officio-Environmental Health Division manager, and ex officio-planning manager.
This group makes recommendations to the Board of Commissioners and Director of the Department of Community Development for changes in the building code and permitting.
• Planning Commission (2) — Openings for a representative of District Ib and IIIa.
This commission assists the Clallam County Board of Commissioners, through the Department of Community Development (DCD), with review of land use policy and related issues such as comprehensive land use plans and planning ordinances. Commissioners must have the ability to listen to diverse viewpoints and consider long-term interests of Clallam County.
• Port Crescent Pioneer Cemetery (1) — Opening for one committee member position.
The Board was established in 1974 to operate the Port Crescent Pioneer Cemetery.
• Sheriff’s Citizens Advisory Committee (9) — Openings for representatives of City of Sequim; Clallam Bay/Sekiu; Forks and unincorporated area; Quileute Tribe; Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe; Joyce; law and justice,and two at-large.
This group serves as an advisory to the Sheriff’s Office to provide an open link of communication between the Sheriff and the community.
• Solid Waste Advisory Committee (10) — Openings for at-large alternate; solid waste industry (West Waste Recycling); solid waste industry (West Waste Recycling) alternate; solid waste recycling (Waste Connection); tribal governments; tribal governments alternate; City of Forks alternate; business community; business community alternate, and agriculture community category alternate.
The committee assists in the implementation of programs and policies concerning solid waste handling and disposal, and reviews and comments on proposed changes to the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan.
• Trails Advisory Committee (15) — Openings for representatives of Sequim area trails advisory group; Port Angeles trails advisory group; Western are trails advisory group; Straits area trails advisory group; Olympic National Park; Department of Natural Resources; large private forest company; City of Port Angeles; City of Sequim; backcountry horsemen; backcountry horsemen alternate; off-road motorized user groups; U.S. Forest Service (ex-officio member); City of Forks, and Clallam County Road Department/ex-officio.
This group makes recommendations to the Board and other appointed bodies of Clallam County government regarding non-motorized transportation and trail-related issues.