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Home My WebLink About01062026 CC Minutes CITY OF PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL Port Angeles, Washington January 6, 2026 This meeting was conducted as a hybrid meeting. CALL TO ORDER SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Dexter called the special meeting of the Port Angeles City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. Members Present: Mayor Dexter, Deputy Mayor Carr, Council Members Hamilton, Miller, Schwab, and Suggs. Members Absent: Council member Hodgson. Staff Present: City Manager West, Deputy City Manager Goings, Attorney Bloor, Clerk Martinez-Bailey, Clerk Martinez-Bailey,C.Delikat,B. Smith, S. Carrizosa,D. Sharp, S. Curtin,A. Fountain and M.Young. SPECIAL MEETING—SWEARING IN OF COUNCIL MEMBERS At 5:30 p.m. City Clerk Kari Martinez-Bailey conducted a ceremonial swearing in of Council members Kate Dexter, Drew Schwab, and LaTrisha Suggs. The Mayor invited attendees in the Chambers to stay and enjoy refreshments in the hall. Council members spent the remaining time of the special meeting visiting with attendees until the Mayor adjourned the meeting to begin the regular meeting. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Dexter adjourned the Special Meeting at 5:59 p.m. CALL TO ORDER-REGULAR MEETING Mayor Dexter called the regular meeting of the Port Angeles City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Mayor Dexter, Deputy Mayor Carr, Council Members Hamilton, Miller, Schwab, and Suggs. Members Absent: Council member Hodgson. Staff Present: City Manager West, Deputy City Manager Goings, Attorney Bloor, Clerk Martinez-Bailey, C. Delikat, B. Smith, S. Carrizosa, D. Sharp, S. Curtin, A. Fountain and M. Young. It was moved by Suggs and seconded by Hamilton to: Excuse Council member Hodgson from the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Dexter led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. CEREMONIAL MATTERS, PROCLAMATIONS& EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS Mayor Dexter moved to the next item of business and opened the floor for nominations for Mayor. PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEETING—January 6, 2026 Miller nominated Dexter for Mayor. Suggs nominated Carr for Mayor. Carr and Dexter each accepted the nominations. Miller and Suggs spoke to their nominations and then each nominee took a moment to speak to their interest to serve as Mayor. Mayor Dexter asked to have each Council member speak to the way they planned to vote. After each member identified their first and second choice, Manager West addressed the appearance there would be a tie vote and offered the suggestion to defer the conversation to the January 20''meeting and reminded Council they had the option to create their own procedures if they preferred. Council discussion followed. It was moved by Miller and seconded by Schwab to: Address the election of Mayor during the January 20th meeting when there are 7 members in attendance. Miller withdrew her motion, hearing no opposition, the motion was withdrawn. It was moved by Suggs and seconded by Carr to: Elect Carr as Mayor. The motion failed 3-3 with Hamilton, Carr and Suggs voting in favor. It was moved by Suggs and seconded by Hamilton to: Address the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor during the January 20'meeting, when there would be 7 members in attendance. Motion carried 6-0. PUBLIC COMMENT Susie Blake, city resident, spoke in opposition of adding the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, and spoke of interactions in Port Angeles that made her feel unsafe, and read a passage from a book. Jamie Michel, residing outside the city and representing Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe spoke in favor of the Ennis Creek Restoration on the proposed list of the City's 2026 Legislative Agenda. John Worthington,residing outside the city,spoke in opposition of the Ennis Creek Restoration item on the proposed list of the City's 2026 Legislative Agenda. Steven Pelayo,city resident, suggested three priorities Council could prioritize. Mike McHenry, spoke in favor of Ennis Creek Restoration. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 1. Olympic National Park Update Olympic National Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs spoke about an upcoming open house to hear from members of the public to gather input on what should be built in place of the former Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center and the Bear Gulch active fire. 2. 2026 Legislative Priorities Manager West provided background on the agenda item, spoke to the need to adopt the list as it will be shared with representatives during the Association of Washington Cities City Action Days conference,and spoke to the specifics of the ask in the list of items and the differences to the version presented in the Council packet. Page 2 of 4 PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEETING—January 6, 2026 It was moved by Suggs and seconded by Miller to: After the motion was made and amended To adopt the amended list of legislative agenda items as presented during the meeting,to include: Top Priorities • Adequate and Non-Regressive Tax System • Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Sewer Project • Ennis Creek Restoration Additional Priorities • Trust Land Transfer Program • Solid Waste Compactor Baler • Rayonier Mill Cleanup • Legislative Agendas of WLIHA and AWC • Expansion of funding for street medicine programs to include established and active programs in Port Angeles and Clallam County • Successful completion of the waterfront Marine Discovery Center And allow staff to make minor modifications as necessary. Motion carried 6-0. The Mayor recessed the meeting for a break at 7:26 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 7:33 p.m. 3. 2026 Association of Washington Action Days Manager West presented the agenda item, spoke to the opportunities the conference offers attendees, and spoke to an upcoming Association of Washington Cities Annual Conference during the summer.By a show of hands, Council members interested in attending raised their hands, expressing their interest in participating. It was moved by Suggs and seconded by Carr to: Select Dexter, Carr, and Hamilton to attend the 2026 Association of Washington Cities City Action Days conference. Motion carried 6-0. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Council member Suggs reflected on events that took place on January 6, and spoke to her interest of safety for the officers guarding the Capital. Council member Schwab spoke to the addition of board opportunities for entities not currently part of the Council assignments list. Deputy Mayor Carr spoke to the William Shore Pool Board and spoke to employee health care and spoke to time away on vacation over the winter break. Council member Miller thanked Dexter and Carr for their willingness to serve and spoke to updates from the Waterfront District on downtown and spoke to interest of intentions of the ARC committee. Council member Hamilton spoke to work done during his break and a wastewater treatment facility tour by Director Curtin and a meeting with the director of Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic. Mayor Dexter spoke to her upcoming Council assignment meetings. Page 3 of 4 PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEETING—January 6, 2026 No other reports were given. INFORMATION Manager West spoke about the Council assignments list in the information section of the packet and he added some details to consider during their January 20`" meeting, spoke about two potential committees that could be added to the list of assignments, including consideration of ad hoc committees and that staff would be reaching out on preferences, engagement opportunities, to add or remove, hoping via email, interests in positions to keep or vacate, interest in future engagement opportunities, or additional assignments that could or should be added to the list. The Mayor asked that Council report any corrections to the Clerk. Council members spoke to adjustments needed for the final assignment list. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT John Ralston, city resident, spoke to safety features added at Third and Oak Streets, roundabouts, and stoplights downtown. James Taylor, city resident, spoke about a Council action taken on November 18. Glenn Barbiari, city resident, spoke about a friend facing personal challenges. John Worthington,residing outside city limits, spoke about creeks and government relations. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:16 p.m. Kate Dexter,Mayor Kari Martinez-Bailey, City Cl Minutes were approved on: rt.)0� r 2 0.,(0 Page 4 of 4