Port Angeles City Council

**Amy Hamilton, on Kate Dexter's leadership:** "Mayor Dexter has never appeared to be part of any voting block and has remained guided by independent thoughts and not emotions or personal offense." **Latricia Suggs, on leadership development:** "I think it's important that we as council, promote leadership amongst each other and I really have admired and appreciate Mayor Dexter's six years of mayor with the city, and I, by nominating Navara I'm not undercutting what she's done." **Navara Carr, on her mayoral vision:** "Fundamentally, I believe in term limits, and I believe in the importance of having leadership transitions to ensure that different and diverse people have the opportunity to serve and lead." **Kate Dexter, on continuing as mayor:** "I feel like things are not getting more simple in the world, and having someone with the experience that I have continue to be in this position is useful." **Drew Schwab, on voting philosophy:** "I want a formal record of there being a ti

# An Evening of Swearing-In, Ties, and the Awkward Arithmetic of Democracy The Port Angeles City Council opened 2026 with all the pageantry and parliamentary puzzles that come with a new term. On a January evening that mixed ceremony with the realities of governance, the council swore in returning members, attempted to elect leadership, and discovered that even numbers don't always divide evenly in democracy. ## Meeting Overview The January 6, 2026 meeting began with a ceremonial swearing-in at 5:30 p.m., followed by the regular council meeting at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers. Present were Mayor Kate Dexter, Deputy Mayor Nevara Carr, and Council members LaTrisha Suggs, Drew Schwab, Amy Miller, and new member John Hamilton. Absent was Mark Hodgson, the other returning council member, who had a work conflict and would need a ceremonial swearing-in at a later date. The evening would prove notable not for what got decided, but for what didn't — the election of mayor and deputy mayor ended in a tie, forcing a postponement until the full seven-member council could convene. ## The Ceremonial Beginning Kerry, presumably the city clerk, administered the oath of office to the three council members present: Kate Dexter, Drew Schwab, and LaTrisha Suggs. In alphabetical order, each raised their right hand and pledged to "support the Constitution of the United States, the laws of the state of Washington, and the ordinances of the city of Port Angeles" and to "faithfully and impartially perform and discharge the duties of the office." The ceremony was brief but warm, with congratulations exchanged and promises of cookies and refreshments. By 6 p.m., the council had transitioned into regular session mode. ## The Mayor and Deputy Mayor Elections — A Study in Democratic Deadlock What should have been a routine leadership transition became the evening's main drama. The council operates under a council-manager form of government where the mayor serves as an appointed position — essentially the chair of the board — rather than a separately elected executive. ### The Nominations Amy Miller opened the nominations by putting forward Kate Dexter for mayor, praising her six-year tenure: "Mayor Dexter's record makes her the clear choice to continue leading our city. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated remarkable leadership in her ability to facilitate multi layered discussions, amendments upon amendments, and navigate complex legislative processes with some steady clarity and sometimes even some humor." Miller emphasized Dexter's independence: "Perhaps most telling is the respect that she earns even from those who may disagree with her politically as one constituent recently noted despite different views... mayor Dexter ran a great meeting. She was respectful and stayed on track." LaTrisha Suggs then nominated Nevara Carr, focusing on growth and leadership development: "I think it's important that we as council, promote leadership amongst each other... one of the things that we did hear from people in the community is that in the past, they've rotated mayor positions amongst the different council members and and we haven't done that." Suggs highlighted Carr's qualifications: "I've watched Nevara at our William Shore Memorial Pool and how she's led through some tumultuous times recently on that and how she's led on the lodging tax advisory committee... even while on council, she obtained her juris after a degree." ### The Candidates Speak Nevara Carr accepted her nomination with a comprehensive vision for the role: "Fundamentally, I believe in term limits, and I believe in the importance of having leadership transitions to ensure that different and diverse people have the opportunity to serve and lead." She outlined specific policy positions, including better meeting planning: "If elected I will strive to ensure that meetings end in a timely manner and work with Nathan to plan the year in advance to balance the need for adequate time for deliberation and discussion while also ensuring that meetings end at reasonable times." Kate Dexter, accepting her nomination, acknowledged the change argument but emphasized continuity: "I feel like right now the reason I'm accepting the couple of reasons why I'm accepting the nomination one I'm interested in continuing to serve, I enjoy this role, and feel like I have done, done it well. I also was asked by a number of people in the community about my continued participate... things are not getting more simple in the world, and having someone with the experience that I have continue to be in this position is useful." ### The Question That Changed Everything Before voting, Amy Miller asked Carr a pointed question: "I've had some concerns that some of your actions or votes were more based on sort of group think, and not necessarily independent thinking." Carr's response was detailed and thoughtful: "I think when we're in a body of seven with, I think you know we've had a, I think a progressive, group of three over the last six years. That some of the decisions where many of us have agreed I think can maybe feel like that... I think there are many instances where there are times when, you know, we are voting differently." She emphasized her record of fair chairing on contentious boards: "During the time, my time on the board of health, one of the, one of the my like proudest moments was hearing from folks kind of on both sides saying, you know, you really gave us equal time and really allowed people to talk and to give their opinions in meetings where people were literally banging down the door of the courthouse." ### The Deadlock When the council finally voted using ranked choice (first and second choices), the result was a perfect 3-3 tie. LaTrisha Suggs, John Hamilton, and Carr herself voted for Carr first, while Drew Schwab, Amy Miller, and Dexter voted for Dexter first. City Manager Nathan West advised: "In the scenario of a tie... the most prudent thing to do is to recognize we have a 7th council member and that it is probably most appropriate to delay the modifi or the change or transition to both mayor and deputy mayor until such time as we can have a full compliment of all seven council members present." City Attorney William Bloor confirmed this approach: "When NO one is elected, then the general rule is that the person who is holding the office will continue until another person is elected and confirmed to hold that office. So if if there's NO one elected tonight, then Kate would continue to be the mayor until the next meeting." Drew Schwab wanted "a formal record of there being a tie," leading to a formal vote on Carr's nomination, which failed 3-3, officially creating the deadlock that would postpone the decision to January 20. ## Olympic National Park Update — Looking Ahead After Loss The meeting's highlight was a visit from Olympic National Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs, who brought both exciting news and sobering reflections on the challenges facing the peninsula's crown jewel. ### Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center Planning Jacobs was particularly enthusiastic about an upcoming public meeting: "Next Wednesday, four to 06:30 at the field hall. Upstairs it is not a presentation. You just come when you're able to... there's going to be different. The boards... what you want to see in that building up there." The questions for public input reflected the deep community connection to the site: "What makes Hurricane Bridge special to you? What do you remember most about the old visitor center? What do you want to share with future generations?" Jacobs emphasized the emotional significance: "That building is not just a building hurricane bridge means a lot to a lot of us and what we want to do is make sure that whatever we put up there is proper. Right? It's, it's not too big, it's not too small, we really gotta like you know get it just right." ### Fire Challenges and Changing Conditions The superintendent spent considerable time discussing the Bear Gulch fire: "Bear Golch really started off right after your life work weekend as a very small fire on our sister agency, the firest service land, but a buttding the park in the staircase area. It obviously took a little bit, it took a little while, but eventually grew into the park." The fire's behavior was concerning: "When we started to think we were in the downhill, it's gonna be over soon, it almost doubled in size within a few hours... It is actually still an active fire. It is still burning." Jacobs highlighted the broader implications: "Wildfire on the peninsula has and is changing. We've had since I've been here three and a half years, we've had two wildfires that have done a little bit unusual activity." ### Staffing and Community Partnership Council member LaTrisha Suggs raised concerns about staffing impacts, and Jacobs acknowledged the challenges while praising community support: "We all wear multiple hats all the time and. The way that we survive... is that we rely very heavily on our external partnerships... Without it, it really is hard when we need help, we ask for it, and it is so, I feel very privileged to say that Port Angeles is always saying yes." ## Legislative Priorities — Balancing Local Needs with Broader Agendas City Manager Nathan West presented the revised 2026 legislative priorities, explaining changes made since the initial draft. The revision process reflected the council's recognition that "this is a short legislative session and there's not a lot of opportunity for new legislative asks from a monetary perspective." ### Top Priorities Reshuffled The most significant change was elevating Ennis Creek restoration to the top three priorities, swapping places with the solid waste compactor project. West explained: "We have a funding gap for construction. We've had an amazing partnership thanks to the Lorawa column Tribe that moves forward the success of the restoration of Nis Creek, which is absolutely the most valuable Creek when it comes to Salmon restoration in our community." The tribal partnership had secured substantial funding: "The tribe has secured 1.6 million in funding for this project in partnership with the city. 1.4 million of that. Will be passed through to the city for the construction." ### Public Input on Priorities The public comment period revealed differing views on the Ennis Creek project. Susie Blake opposed the addition of language about criminalizing homelessness, sharing disturbing personal experiences in the neighborhood but arguing the legislative priorities didn't reflect local realities. Jamie Michelle from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe strongly supported the Ennis Creek funding: "This is a multi benefit project that would establish fish passage and movement upstream... Those are 2024 federal dollars that are at risk of going back if the city's not able to find a source for the remaining funding ask." John Worthington opposed the project from Sequim, arguing "the grade is too steep. It has absolutely NO chance of providing Habitat for Coho and Shanuk," and advocating instead for Valley Creek restoration. Tribal habitat manager Mike McKenry countered: "It has the best potential for restoration of the five streams that Port Angeles urban Streams that Port Angeles manages or has land on... About half the watershed is an Olympic national Park. It's a snowfed stream." ### Debate Over Broader Organizational Support Amy Miller questioned the inclusion of support for the Low Income Housing Alliance and Association of Washington Cities priorities, expressing concern about "very strong language that was being used there that I don't necessarily think represents our city and our residents." Nevara Carr defended the approach: "While again, people might not support everything in either one of them, I'm confident I don't, that, this is the 1st year that I've been on council that we haven't specifically talked about housing, and if we were to take off the legislative irvalue income housing alliances. Support for their legislative priorities. I would wanna have some very specific asks around housing." LaTricia Suggs emphasized the flexibility this approach provides: "It gives us the ability to really put in our legislative priorities, focus on what our community. Any needs while also supporting the bigger picture... it helps us to focus on local issues while also addressing the bigger picture." ## City Action Days Selection The council needed to select three members to attend the Association of Washington Cities Action Days conference January 21-22. With only three volunteers — Mayor Dexter, Deputy Mayor Carr, and John Hamilton — the selection was straightforward. Amy Miller noted she was staying away intentionally, understanding "typically you don't get to go to both" the winter Action Days and the summer annual conference. ## Council Reports — Learning and Growing The council reports section revealed the ongoing work and learning happening behind the scenes. John Hamilton described his educational tour with Public Works Director Scott: "We spent a joyous 3 h in a truck that we had hard time getting started, and, he was gracious enough to take me to the. Wastewater treatment facility and I got a great tour on learn about what's going on there." Hamilton's commitment to learning was evident: "I've also just in an effort to learn more about some of the stuff that impacts, you know, multi jurisdictions in our community. I've I'm gonna go down to the HRAC HRHC facility to get a tour of. What that is and what they're doing." Nevara Carr shared a sobering experience from her hometown in California, where she witnessed "an entire block in the downtown burned to the ground, a historic building from the the 1850s." The experience reinforced her appreciation for Port Angeles' emergency preparedness: "It makes me extremely grateful for the work that our city has done, chief Sharp has done to make sure that we also have those kinds of regional partnerships." LaTricia Suggs used her report to reflect on January 6th's historical significance, honoring "capital police officers that were attacked" five years earlier and emphasizing local unity: "We do have some challenging times ahead of us, but I think locally we are a strong community, and we stay focused instead fast and support. What's going on here." ## Second Public Comment — Concerns and Criticisms The evening's second public comment period brought more contentious issues to the forefront. John from the audience criticized traffic infrastructure decisions, comparing roundabouts unfavorably to stop signs: "I probably took two people one day. Good job. Of course I wanna bring that up in comparison to roundabouts at $200000 a pop and nine of them proposed in the city of Portu Angeles." James Taylor raised concerns about comprehensive plan processes, alleging violations of Washington Administrative Code: "On 18 November we had a violation of WAC, which is Washington administrative code... rather than addressing the fact that this body had violated watching State law. And we continued the discussion of, you know, what we wanted the comp plan to be changed to, rather than following Washington with st. law." A resident named Barbara spoke emotionally about ongoing concerns with a friend's disability case and healthcare access, expressing frustration and fear: "I am not. Afraid to die... I am upset, I am offended, I am scared. And this is hitting me harder than just my own dad, every funeral I've ever been to, and 09:11 combined." John Worthington continued his criticism of salmon restoration priorities, repeating his preference for Valley Creek over Ennis Creek and alleging interference by tribal interests. ## Looking Ahead — Assignments and Engagement City Manager West outlined the upcoming council assignments process, noting the need to reappoint various committee representatives and consider new opportunities, including a potential joint task force with the Public Utility District. West also hinted at renewed public engagement efforts: "One of the things that I committed to during my campaign... is getting back to our public outreach opportunities that we used to have so people could come and talk to us at times other than our council meetings." ## Closing and What's Ahead The meeting adjourned with the understanding that the January 20 meeting would feature another attempt at electing mayor and deputy mayor, hopefully with all seven council members present to break the tie. The evening captured the essence of local government: the ceremony and tradition that bind communities together, the practical challenges of consensus-building, the ongoing tension between continuity and change, and the persistent questions about how best to serve residents while navigating broader regional and state priorities. Despite the leadership deadlock, the meeting demonstrated a council committed to thorough deliberation, respectful disagreement, and the messy but essential work of democracy at the local level.

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** POA-CON-2026-01-06 ### Meeting Overview The Port Angeles City Council held its first meeting of 2026 on January 6th, starting with a swearing-in ceremony for three returning council members. The main agenda items included electing a mayor and deputy mayor (which resulted in a tie and was postponed), Olympic National Park updates, 2026 legislative priorities, and AWC City Action Days appointments. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Council-Manager Form of Government:** Port Angeles uses a system where the mayor is an appointed position (like a chairperson) rather than separately elected. The mayor is chosen by fellow council members and serves primarily as the meeting facilitator and city representative. **Ranked Choice Voting:** The method council used to try to determine mayor preference, where each member ranks candidates in order of preference rather than voting for just one candidate. **Legislative Priorities:** The annual list of issues the city wants state legislators to focus on, ranging from tax reform to specific local infrastructure projects like Ennis Creek restoration. **Association of Washington Cities (AWC):** A statewide organization representing municipalities, offering training, advocacy services, and policy coordination. Their "City Action Days" conference allows local officials to meet with state legislators. **Trust Land Transfer:** A state program involving the Department of Natural Resources transferring certain lands to tribes, wildlife areas, and conservation, which affects local jurisdictions. **Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center:** The Olympic National Park facility that burned down and is being rebuilt, with community input sessions planned for the replacement design. **Ennis Creek Restoration:** A fish habitat restoration project requiring removal of barriers to allow salmon to reach upstream spawning areas, involving partnership between the city and Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. **Street Medicine Programs:** City-funded programs like paramedicine and the rediscovery program that provide healthcare and services to people experiencing homelessness. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kate Dexter | Mayor (continuing), Position 4 | | Navara Carr | Deputy Mayor, nominated for Mayor | | LaTricia Suggs | Council Member, Position 1 | | Drew Schwab | Council Member, Position 2 | | Amy Miller | Council Member | | John Hamilton | Council Member (newest) | | Mark Hodgson | Council Member (absent, work conflict) | | Nathan West | City Manager | | Bill Bloor | City Attorney | | Sula Jacobs | Olympic National Park Superintendent | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a transition period with newly sworn-in council members beginning their terms. The mayor and deputy mayor positions are appointed by fellow council members every two years, creating an opportunity for leadership change. The tie vote between Kate Dexter (the incumbent mayor for six years) and Navara Carr reflects different philosophies about leadership rotation versus continuity of experience. The legislative priorities discussion shows how local governments must advocate for their needs during state budget processes. With a short legislative session ahead, cities compete for limited state funding while also positioning themselves on broader policy issues. The city's relationship with tribal partners, particularly on environmental restoration, demonstrates the complex inter-governmental coordination required for major projects. The Olympic National Park update highlights how federal infrastructure affects local tourism and recreation, while also addressing climate change impacts like increased wildfire risk on the Peninsula. ### What Happened — The Short Version Three council members were sworn in to continue their terms. When council tried to elect a mayor, Kate Dexter and Navara Carr were nominated. Each gave speeches about their qualifications, and voting resulted in a 3-3 tie. On advice from the city attorney, they postponed the decision until the January 20th meeting when the absent seventh member can break the tie. Olympic National Park Superintendent Sula Jacobs updated council on the Hurricane Ridge visitor center planning process, summer wildfire impacts, and upcoming road projects. Council approved 2026 legislative priorities focusing on tax reform, tribal sewer project funding, and Ennis Creek restoration. They selected three members to attend the AWC conference in Olympia. ### What to Watch Next - **January 20th council meeting:** Final mayor and deputy mayor elections with all seven members present - **January 14th Hurricane Ridge community meeting:** Public input session on visitor center replacement design at Field Hall, 4:00-6:30 PM - **January 21-22 City Action Days:** Three council members will meet with state legislators about city priorities - **Legislative session progress:** Track funding decisions on Ennis Creek restoration, LEKT sewer project, and trust land transfers ---

## MODULE S2: FLASH CARDS **Meeting ID:** POA-CON-2026-01-06 **Q:** Who were the three council members sworn in at this meeting? **A:** Kate Dexter (Position 4), Drew Schwab (Position 2), and LaTricia Suggs (Position 1). **Q:** Why was Mark Hodgson absent from the meeting? **A:** He had a work conflict and could not attend the swearing-in ceremony and council meeting. **Q:** What happened when council tried to elect a mayor? **A:** Kate Dexter and Navara Carr were nominated, but voting resulted in a 3-3 tie, so the decision was postponed. **Q:** Why did the city attorney recommend postponing the mayor election? **A:** With seven council members, one absent member should be present to break ties, and the current mayor continues serving until a successor is elected. **Q:** What are the city's top three legislative priorities for 2026? **A:** Adequate and non-regressive tax reform, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe sewer project ($3.25M), and solid waste compactor opportunities. **Q:** How much funding does the city need for Ennis Creek restoration? **A:** $1.3 million to complete the fish barrier removal project (they already secured $1.7 million in grants). **Q:** When and where is the Hurricane Ridge community meeting? **A:** January 14th from 4:00-6:30 PM at Field Hall upstairs, to gather input on the new visitor center design. **Q:** Which council members will attend City Action Days? **A:** Mayor Kate Dexter, Deputy Mayor Navara Carr, and Council Member John Hamilton. **Q:** What is the Bear Gulch fire status according to Superintendent Jacobs? **A:** It is still technically an active fire that hasn't been declared completely out, despite being 100% contained. **Q:** What road closure will affect Olympic National Park visitors? **A:** Mora Road to Rialto Beach will have a complete closure June through August for road work. **Q:** What is the council-manager form of government? **A:** A system where the mayor is appointed by fellow council members and serves as the meeting chair and city representative, rather than being separately elected. **Q:** Who spoke during public comment about homelessness criminalization? **A:** Susie Blake, a Port Angeles resident, opposed language in legislative priorities about criminalizing homelessness. **Q:** What percentage success rate does Jenny Burton's prison program have? **A:** 97% success rate according to Susie Blake's comments. **Q:** What did Jamie Michelle support during public comment? **A:** The Ennis Creek legislative priority, noting the tribe secured $1.6 million in funding with $1.4 million going to the city. **Q:** What criticism did John Worthington raise about Ennis Creek? **A:** He opposed it due to steep grades that won't support Coho and Chinook salmon, preferring Valley Creek instead. **Q:** How many AWC conference opportunities are there in 2026? **A:** Two - City Action Days in January and the Annual Conference in June in Spokane. **Q:** What did Steven Pelayo identify as the three main priorities? **A:** Economic development as top priority, decisions grounded in quantified data and benchmarks, and accountability in all decisions. **Q:** What tours did John Hamilton take during the break? **A:** Wastewater treatment facility and water treatment facility tours with Public Works Director Scott. **Q:** When will council assignments be finalized? **A:** At the January 20th meeting, after council members submit their preferences via email. **Q:** What did Navara Carr mention about her hometown during vacation? **A:** A downtown block with historic buildings burned down, including a bookstore and artist studio where she had childhood memories. ---