Sequim Gazette staff
The City of Sequim is hiring back its former senior planner and interim planning director Joe Irvin as its new special projects manager.
City Manager Steve Burkett announced the decision on Tuesday, March 4.
Irvin worked for the City of Sequim from 2005-2011 before moving to Marco Island. Fla., in April 2011 while his wife worked on her master’s degree. He was hired by the City of Marco Island’ in Oct. 2011 as its zoning administrator before becoming the interim community affairs director earlier this year.
Irvin said he’s been looking to make a career change. “One of the hardest decisions I had to make was to move from (the Olympic Peninsula),” he said. never.”
Irvin begins with the City of Sequim on March 31 on a temporary contract through Dec. 31.
Some of Irvin’s duties may include preparing the city parks’ master plan update and the parks and recreation aspect of the comprehensive plan update, coordinating seasonal special events, and assisting with the new Civic Center.
Irvin’s position was funded through a vacant Public Works Department manager position left by retiring Parks Manager Jeff Edwards and funds to develop a Parks and Recreation master plan.
The salary range for the position is $57,960-$75,600 over a 12 month span.
Burkett said city administrators have considered restructuring Edwards’ position upon his retirement but there hasn’t been a plan to refill it but change it in some way.
“We’ll evaluate what we do in the next several months,” Burkett said. “If we do create a new permanent position, then we would recruit and there will be some proposal in the 2015 budget about how we restructure.”
He said he’s excited about a multitude of things in Sequim particularly working the parks master plan.
“(If feels good) to have a chance and come and work for an organization I truly respect and feel I definitely blend in with the management and staff team,” Irvin said. “Many people there I still communicate with. I look forward to coming back to a great organization.”
Irvin’s wife and daughter will back to their Port Angeles home in June once school is complete.
