The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council hears a presentation from the U.S. Navy about the impact of its EA-18G Growler aircraft flying over the area in a closed meeting at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, in the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center, 1033 Old Blyn Highway, Sequim.

Sequim city councilors will be in attendance for a public, joint meeting from 5:30-6:30 p.m. discussing the wastewater connection between Blyn and the City of Sequim.

Both entities seek input from the Navy with city councilors voting unanimously on Feb. 9 to seek an informational meeting regarding the aircraft’s electromagnetic warfare training program after this meeting.

However, the Tribal Council’s meeting with the Navy is not subject to the Open Public Meetings Act and city councilors are allowed to attend on the condition to not comment or ask about the Tribal Council’s concerns about the aircraft.

City Attorney Craig Ritchie said any information received won’t be considered for any city purposes.

Several residents spoke against the aircraft to Sequim city councilors on Feb. 9 and asked for a public meeting saying the aircraft shake their homes and effect the environment and future tourism.

Councilors agreed but will only hold the meeting if the U.S. Navy presents. No date has been set on the city’s public meeting.

Parks Master Plan

The Sequim City Council also will hear public testimony in a hearing about its proposed Parks Master Plan at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, in the Clallam Transit Center, 190 Cedar St.

Parks manager Joe Irvin said the plan is meant to look out at the future of parks over 20 years.

He said the plan does not appropriate any funds but shows the city’s parks’ needs, how to obtain those needs, prioritizing those needs and addresses funding sources.

Tennis players told the Gazette they plan to attend to advocate to city councilors they want new courts at Carrie Blake Park. Currently, Sequim’s only public courts are at Sequim High School with three open and two closed for safety concerns due to cracks in the courts. Plans have been in past proposals for years with the city but funds went to other projects.

Irvin said tennis courts are in the plan as part of the six-year capital improvement plan to build in 2017-2018.

Currently, funding for City parks come from the general fund, Irvin said, and compete with other general fund needs.

A Metropolitan Parks District is mentioned in the plan “as a reliable source of funding,” Irvin said, and is a recommended option the city council should investigate. For more information, visit www.sequimwa.gov or call 683-4139.