Council to consider letter of support for schools’ bond, levy

Following a request from Sequim School District officials to write a letter of support for its proposed construction bond and levy proposals, Sequim city councilors plan to hold a special public meeting to hear from residents before making a decision tentatively that night.

The meeting is slated for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St. A virtual option will be available at https://www.sequimwa.gov/319/Attending-a-Council-Meeting and via phone by calling (253) 363-9585 and using Webinar ID# 496912152#.

Under new council policy, individuals who want to make a remote public comment, must register at https://sequimwa.gov/1219/Submit-Public-Comments.

Written public comment can be sent to clerk@sequimwa.gov and will be distributed to the council before the meeting.

Councilors may limit the amount of total pro/con speakers allowed for the evening.

They’ll hear comments on Sequim School District Proposition 1 (Replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy) and Proposition 2 (Bond to Replace and Upgrade Deteriorating Schools and Improve Safety), according to the city’s meeting notice.

Mayor Brandon Janisse called for the special meeting after a council discussion on Jan. 13 as they awaited word from the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) on whether the council could proceed.

Councilor Vicki Lowe said that fellow councilor Dan Butler, who was excused from the Jan. 13 meeting, asked the council to consider suspending its own council rule and show support for Sequim School District’s bond and levy renewal.

Deputy Mayor Rachel Anderson said she had reached out to the commission at the suggestion of city attorney Kristina Nelson-Gross about the process for and legality of writing a letter of support.

Nelson-Gross said contacting the PDC was not about the merits of the bond/levy but making sure they weren’t “running afoul” of the PDC.

She said the commission is looking to ensure fair input from the public for both sides of a proposal, whether or not there are organized opposing viewpoints.

Councilors and city staff agreed they’d have to suspend council rules, not state law, to have the special meeting and to approve a letter of support.

Ballots are slated to be mailed on Jan. 22 for the Tuesday, Feb. 11 special election.

Note: Matthew Nash has family employed and enrolled in Sequim School District.