Port Angeles City Council

**Courtney Bornsworth, on lodging tax administration:** "Prior to this year, staff had been requesting support for administering L tax funds based on a business as usual model resulting in a request that was artificially low." **Stephen Pelayo, on lodging tax methodology:** "When the city staff compares, you know, this proposal to so called normal grant administration costs that range between 15 to 30 %, that comparison just simply doesn't hold. That percentage would apply to organizations that are actually operating programs. That's not what's happening here." **Kelly Johnson, on public safety and ARC:** "What I witnessed watching the homeless tax Force committee in December was to me kind of horrifying to often the conversation centered on how to navigate around HUD guidelines." **Susie Blake, on homelessness response:** "Those of us who live and work and walk in this neighborhood every day know these are drug and crime camps. There maybe unhoused people there, but they are drug c

# Port Angeles City Council Meeting - February 3, 2026 ## Meeting Overview The Port Angeles City Council convened for its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., following a closed session that began at 5:30 p.m. for collective bargaining discussions. Mayor Kate Dexter presided over the meeting with all seven council members present: Deputy Mayor Nevara Carr, and Council members John Hamilton, David Hodgson, Amy Miller, Drew Schwab, and LaTresia Suggs. The meeting featured significant discussions on lodging tax administration, homelessness response strategies, and a presentation on the new Feiro Marine Discovery Center. The evening proved contentious, with heated public testimony about homeless encampments and city enforcement policies. Citizens voiced frustration with what some called inadequate responses to camping and drug activity, while others supported a more measured approach. The council addressed two major policy items: reforming how lodging tax funds are administered and determining the future of the city's Aligned Response and Care (ARC) team for addressing homelessness. ## Lodging Tax Administration Reform The most substantive debate of the evening centered on Resolution No. H-1, which would allocate 12 percent of lodging tax revenues—approximately $134,000—to fund city staff administration and oversight of the lodging tax program. The proposal sparked sharp criticism from multiple speakers during public comment. Deputy City Manager Calvin Goings introduced the item, asking the council to avoid "name calling as well as impugning the motives of staff." He explained the resolution directly supports citywide resource optimization by ensuring sustainable use of lodging tax revenues. Natural Resources and Grant Administrator Courtney Bornsworth presented data showing the dramatic expansion of the program's scope. In 2015, staff managed 16 contracts worth nearly $600,000. By 2026, if all applications are approved, staff will manage nearly 50 contracts worth over $2.1 million in awards. "The sheer increase in funds and number of contracts now being managed clearly demonstrates the need for administrative and fiscal oversight by city staff," Bornsworth said. She noted that 12 percent administrative costs are reasonable compared to other grant administration practices, where 15 to 30 percent have become common. The proposal faced fierce opposition from the public. Stephen Pelayo, a local homeowner, delivered a blistering critique: "When the city staff compares, you know, this proposal to so called normal grant administration costs that range between 15 to 30%, that comparison just simply doesn't hold. That percentage would apply to organizations that are actually operating programs. That's not what's happening here." Pelayo accused staff of circumventing the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC): "Instead of coming back with a better supported, more defensible request at the next LTAC funding cycle, city staff chose a different route. They chose to circumvent to go around LTAC committee and come directly to city council to try to hard code a permanent transfer." John Worthington echoed these concerns, calling the proposed costs "excessive by a long shot" and questioning whether the city was circumventing the LTAC process. "There's absolutely no reason why somebody why we need to spend or potentially spend a hundred and $12,000 or some number like that," he said. However, the proposal found strong support from council members. Council member LaTresia Suggs made the motion to approve, arguing the increased administrative burden justified the costs. She emphasized that lodging tax funds come from tourists, not local taxpayers, and that the general fund needed protection from subsidizing tourism programs. "We use them for parks and rec, for fire, for police, and just tonight, you know, we've had this discussion about addressing homelessness, and how do we do that and working with code enforcement, working with our police department, we need to up those general funds so we can focus on those other issues that do impact our city," Suggs said. Deputy Mayor Carr, who chairs the LTAC, provided crucial context about the committee's evolution. She detailed how staff now provide extensive training sessions for new applicants and have implemented legal review of applications. "What this came out of, there was so many, we were getting so many new applications," she explained, noting how staff help first-time grant applicants navigate the process. Council member John Hamilton opposed the motion, arguing it was premature. "I think it's premature to pass a resolution tonight if we're going to consider it anyway in April," he said, preferring to let the LTAC process run its course. Council member Drew Schwab also voted against the measure, stating he had questions about the process that couldn't be addressed during the meeting format. Mayor Dexter offered perspective from her experience processing applications in her day job: "I feel like I have a particular, which I hadn't thought about and actually makes me maybe qualified for this committee in a way that I hadn't considered but I also think gives me some appreciation for the amount of time that it can take that other people can't see." The resolution ultimately passed 5-2, with Hamilton and Schwab voting in opposition. The approval sets policy for future lodging tax administration but does not immediately change the 2026 budget. The LTAC will review a second round of funding applications in March, where this administrative allocation will be considered alongside other proposals. ## Feiro Marine Discovery Center Update In a lighter moment, the council received an enthusiastic presentation from Melissa Williams, executive director of Feiro Marine Life Center, about progress on the new Marine Discovery Center project. The $24 million facility will dramatically expand the organization's capacity for education and exhibits. Williams, who has been with Feiro since 2014, explained that the new building represents a major upgrade from current facilities. "We have more than 8,000 square feet of exhibits by comparison, current Feiro is about 1,200 square feet of exhibits. We also will have three classroom spaces, two indoor and one outdoor classroom, and that is about 2,400 square feet, and by comparison the current Feiro is about 600 square feet of classroom space." The facility will feature a life-sized humpback whale sculpture visible through the building's front window, serving as a beacon for visitors. Inside, exhibits will tell the story of the Olympic Peninsula from the mountains to the deep ocean, interpreting the Northwest coast in partnership with the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Williams highlighted several unique features, including an entire exhibit about local maritime heritage and working waterfront, plus a new seabird collection featuring tufted puffins, common murres, and harlequin ducks. The facility will also include professional life support systems, moving equipment out from under the city pier where it has operated for 45 years. Council members expressed enthusiasm for the project. Council member Nevara Carr asked about the facility's regional context compared to other marine centers. Williams explained that Feiro offers different community investments, including free admission for SNAP EBT cardholders and free family passes available through the library. Council member John Hamilton inquired about educational partnerships with local schools. Williams noted that environmental club students already volunteer at Feiro and mentioned plans to restore the underwater robotics after-school program once the new facility is complete. The ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, at 3:00 p.m., followed by a community celebration from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Field Hall. The project represents a significant addition to the city's waterfront Arts, Science and Culture campus. ## Homelessness Response Strategy The council unanimously approved staff recommendations for the Aligned Response and Care (ARC) team, agreeing to postpone broader policy discussions until after the state legislative session ends on March 12. City Manager Nathan West explained that while the ARC team has successfully coordinated specific efforts to improve city-owned sites like Veterans Park and Peabody Creek corridor, broader strategic goals remain unaddressed. "Council has yet to formally discuss the myriad of issues around camping and sanctioned encampments that are the precursor items needed in order to develop those larger strategic and long-term planning goals," West noted. The decision to delay came as the legislature considers bills that could directly impact the city's options regarding camping and sanctioned encampments. Staff recommended that the full council weigh in on these issues through a work session scheduled for April 7, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The homelessness issue dominated public comment, with residents expressing frustration about enforcement and safety concerns. Ellen Adams, who lives near the Serenity House shelter, described her daily experience: "There were campers, cars, RVs, tents, people sleeping on the ground, on both sides of the roads, on the sidewalk, blocking the sidewalk with dogs, with all garbage and all of their belongings. And they would wander out in the street and on two occasions I almost hit someone." She credited the city with recent improvements but worried about losing ground: "My concern, and I only just saw this a few days ago, is that by not allowing our local government to continue to do the things that they're doing, which I think you're doing a really good job now of trying to address both sides of the issue." Susie Blake delivered pointed criticism of the city's approach: "You need to stop gaslighting the public about what's going on. Those of us who live and work and walk in this neighborhood every day know these are drug and crime camps. There maybe unhoused people there, but they are drug camps. Let's call them what they are." Council member Amy Miller, who chairs the ARC team, expressed frustration with the delay: "I think that there is some more urgency to the topic that does not necessitate some waiting." She questioned Police Chief Brian Smith about what tools the city needs to respond more quickly to environmental issues caused by camping. Chief Smith provided a sobering assessment of current limitations: "Based on the tools that we have right now, there's really no fast way to do most of what you're talking about. I mean things have to be deliberate. We have limited tools in our toolbox and some things that we would like to do, you know, it's capacity like getting a city municipal code case into court if that's something we want to do right now, that's really difficult." Deputy Mayor Carr emphasized the need for broader community input: "It's clear to me that because of that, the rest of the people who work every day with our unhoused population or recently housed, really haven't had that seat at the table in the way that I had thought that we had intended it to be." She called for involvement from organizations like Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic, the health department, housing authority, and various service providers. The work session scheduled for April will allow time for the legislature to conclude its deliberations and for the council to hear from a wider range of community stakeholders about potential solutions. ## Criminal Justice Services Consultation The council unanimously authorized up to $75,000 for criminal justice consultant services to assist with ongoing negotiations with Clallam County over service costs. City Manager West explained the need for independent analysis of financial data as the city and county work toward a new long-term agreement for prosecution, court, indigent defense, and incarceration services. The current six-month extension runs through June 30, 2026, while negotiations continue. The county believes the city should pay $3.67 million annually for services, compared to the $1.13 million the city paid in 2025—a 225 percent increase. Council member Amy Miller made the motion to include Mayor Dexter as the council's representative in negotiations, noting the importance of having the mayor's authority in these discussions. "I also think that it's important for the appointee, the representative to this board on council's behalf really have the weight of that title of mayor," she said. The authorization passed unanimously, with council members emphasizing the need for transparent analysis of the dramatically different cost estimates between the two jurisdictions. ## Consent Agenda and Routine Business The council approved consent agenda items including meeting minutes, expenditure reports totaling $3,646,281.72, equipment purchases, and various grant acceptances. Notably, they accepted a $109,000 salmon recovery planning grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan and assess tree canopy conditions and local stream corridors. ## Committee Assignments and Appointments The council addressed several organizational items related to committee assignments for 2026-2027. They approved recommendations for ad hoc appointment committees that will review applicants for the city's permanent boards and commissions. Council members Carr, Miller, and Schwab will serve on all five ad hoc appointment committees, continuing the successful approach used in previous years. The council also clarified procedures for permanent committee liaisons, noting that under current ordinances, council liaisons are appointed on an as-needed basis when specific policy work is directed to a permanent committee. ## Closing and What's Ahead The meeting concluded with council reports on various activities, including attendance at Association of Washington Cities events, participation in Point-in-Time homeless counts, and updates on committee assignments. Several council members noted the volume of emails received about license plate readers, indicating this will be a future discussion topic. Manager West reminded the council of upcoming meetings, including a strategic plan work session on February 24 and the State of the City presentation at Field Hall on March 11. He also announced the need for an additional closed session following public comment. The meeting demonstrated the council's ongoing efforts to balance fiscal responsibility with community needs, particularly around tourism promotion and homelessness response. The lodging tax debate revealed tensions between administrative efficiency and community oversight, while the homelessness discussions highlighted the complex challenges facing the city in addressing camping and public safety concerns. With major decisions deferred until after the legislative session concludes, the April work session promises to be a pivotal moment for setting the city's direction on these critical issues.