Sequim city staff are hoping citizens can help brainstorm ways to build a better Sequim.
That’s the idea behind the Neighborhood Visioning Meeting set for 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, in the Guy Cole Convention Center at Carrie Blake Park. Residents, business owners and churches in city limits can meet to discuss an array of ideas and issues from affordable housing to code enforcement to roads.
“The City wants to be approachable and meet at a safe place,” said Assistant City Manager Joe Irvin.
He said residents will break off into their respective areas to focus on naming seven regions within the city for hyper-local projects, identifying what service projects are needed, and how to increase engagement among neighbors.
For the event, the City of Sequim partners with Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County who hosts Tad Monroe, organizational development consultant, to speak. After discussions, a spaghetti dinner is offered by First Federal.
The event stems from a 2015 partnership with Habitat for Humanity to map Downtown Sequim for Neighborhood Revitalization projects along with city councilors’ goal to holistically address needs.
In late July, Sequim city councilors agreed on the new neighborhood map that places the city into seven regions based on various factors such as physical barriers, the Urban Growth Area and more as a way to more directly address needs in certain areas. Other agencies such as Clallam County Fire District 3 and Sequim Police Department may use the regions for Community Emergency Response Teams and Neighborhood Watches too.
Vision for service
Irvin said city staff set a goal for 200 people to attend on Saturday.
“It takes champions to get things rolling,” Irvin said.
City staff also identified ambassadors as points of contact for each region but there will be many more ways for locals to become involved later. At the meeting, Irvin said they plan to create a mailing list so city staff and residents can stay in touch.
Discussion groups will be led by trained facilitators among the city staff and names for regions will be given to Sequim City Councilors for approval at a later date.
The meeting is a precursor to Service Fest in June 2018 where work parties partner with Habitat for Humanity volunteers on improvement projects pinpointed by residents.
City staff plan to propose $20,000 in the city’s 2018 budget to support projects for the special event.
Habitat for Humanity leaders also announced this summer that Clallam County is participating in a Quality of Life Framework study to measure neighborhoods to better help them.
Irvin said after the events, his hope is to “make neighborhood revitalization a sustainable practice in Sequim.”
For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County, visit www.habitatclallam.org or call 360-681-6780. Contact the City of Sequim by visiting www.sequimwa.gov or calling 360-683-4139.
Seven new regions in the City of Sequim will be used by residents and city staff to pinpoint issues for code enforcement, affordable housing and other issues. Map courtesy of the City of Sequim
