Port Angeles City Council

Port Angeles City Council concluded a weeks-long leadership transition by formally electing Kate Dexter as Mayor and Navara Carr as Deputy Mayor for the 2026-2028 term, ending the uncertainty that began with a tied mayoral vote at their January 6 meeting when one member was absent. With all seven members present, Dexter secured four first-choice votes to three for Carr, while Carr won the deputy mayor position with four votes to three for Drew Schwab. The evening's substantive work focused heavily on housing development initiatives, with Council approving procedures to accept donated permit-ready building plans that could significantly reduce construction costs for local builders. The resolution establishes formal criteria for donated engineered plan sets that would be made freely available through the City's online library, with automatic eligibility for permit fee waivers. Staff emphasized this builds on an already successful program that has produced multiple completed housing units using pre-approved designs. Council also accepted a major $1.988 million federal housing grant for predevelopment work at 935 West 10th Street, continuing the City's ambitious multifamily housing pilot project. The Commerce Department grant will fund design, engineering, and developer selection for what staff envisions as a demonstration project for higher-density housing in commercially zoned areas. Some council members raised concerns about the grant's promissory note requirements, though staff indicated they would continue negotiating those terms. Other significant actions included accepting a $120,000 stormwater capacity grant from the Department of Ecology, approving professional services agreements for employee benefits administration, and continuing merchant services with NCR. The meeting also featured an extensive presentation from Senior Center Manager Carmen Geyer highlighting the facility's impressive community impact, including 9,804 volunteer hours and service to over

& Actions **Housing Pipeline Grant (Consent Agenda):** Unanimous approval to accept $1,988,500 Washington State Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund grant for predevelopment at 935 West 10th Street. No city match required. **Donated Permit-Ready Plans Resolution (H-1):** Unanimous approval of resolution establishing procedures for accepting donated engineered plan sets into the City's Permit-Ready Plan Program, plus authorization for staff to enter donation agreements. **Stormwater Capacity Grant (Consent Agenda):** Unanimous approval to accept $120,000 FY2025-2027 Biennial Stormwater Capacity Grant from Department of Ecology for NPDES permit implementation. **Biosolids Transportation Contract (moved to Consent):** Unanimous approval to add Class B biosolids transportation and beneficial use service contract to consent agenda. **Berg Benefits Professional Services Agreement (Consent Agenda):** Unanimous approval for $59,400 agreement for employee health benefit administration services. **NCR Merchant Services Extension (Consent Agenda):** Unanimous approval to continue existing agreement with National Cash Register for up to three additional years for online payment processing. **Mayor Election:** Kate Dexter elected mayor with 4 first-choice votes vs. 3 for Navara Carr (4-3 final vote). **Deputy Mayor Election:** Navara Carr elected deputy mayor unanimously (5 first-choice votes vs. 2 for Drew Schwab). **Council Assignments:** Approved Mayor Dexter's assignment slate, removing Aligned Response and Care (ARC) team for discussion on February 3rd. #