### Meeting Overview The Port Angeles City Council held a special hybrid meeting on March 17, 2026, beginning with council photos and mandatory training on the Open Public Meetings Act, Public Records Act, and ethics. The regular meeting focused heavily on homelessness and housing issues, featuring extensive public comment and presentations from seven organizations involved in addressing these challenges. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA):** Washington state law requiring that government business be conducted transparently with proper public notice and access, with specific requirements for what constitutes a "meeting" (quorum + action). **Serial Meeting:** A violation of OPMA that occurs when a quorum of council members discusses city business through a chain of private conversations, even if they never meet together in person. **Public Records Request:** A formal request for government documents under Washington's Public Records Act, which must be responded to within five business days and covers most city-created documents. **Executive Session:** A closed portion of a public meeting where council can discuss limited topics like litigation, real estate transactions, or personnel matters, but must still be publicly noticed. **Ethics Violations:** Illegal activities by elected officials including accepting gifts related to their position, having direct financial interests in city contracts, or using their position for personal gain. **Coordinated Entry:** The centralized system that manages homelessness services in Clallam County, determining who gets access to housing programs and support services. **Point-in-Time Count:** An annual count of people experiencing homelessness, conducted in January, used by federal and state agencies to determine funding allocations. **Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8:** Federal housing assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families afford rental housing in the private market. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Kate Dexter | Mayor | | Deputy Mayor Carr | Deputy Mayor | | Drew Novara | Council Member | | Amy Hamilton | Council Member | | John Hodgeson | Council Member | | Scott Miller | Council Member | | Mike Schwab | Council Member | | Latricia Suggs | Council Member | | Nathan West | City Manager | | Calvin Goings | Deputy City Manager | | Bill Bloor | City Attorney (retiring) | | Kari Martinez-Bailey | City Clerk | | Jane Roberts | Senior Legal Assistant (training presenter) | | Sarah Martinez | Executive Director, Peninsula Housing Authority | | Sharon Maggard | Executive Director, Serenity House | | Susan Hilgren | Executive Director, TAFY | | Sam Grello | Executive Director, Port Angeles Waterfront District | | Scott Brandon | Chief Executive Officer, Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic | | Bennie Grace Nabua | Pastor, First United Methodist Church | | Viola Ware | Director of Housing and Community Development, Olympic Community Action Programs | ### Background Context Port Angeles is grappling with a significant homelessness crisis, evidenced by the extensive public testimony and multiple presentations from service organizations. The city has been conducting a series of informational sessions with various agencies to better understand the scope of available services and identify gaps. This represents part of a broader strategic planning process focused on housing and community resilience. The meeting occurred against the backdrop of potential policy changes, including discussion of camping ordinances and ongoing state-level regulatory changes affecting permanent supportive housing. Multiple speakers emphasized the need for coordinated regional approaches rather than city-by-city responses to what they characterized as a regional problem. The lengthy public comment period revealed deep community divisions, with some residents and business owners expressing frustration about safety and cleanliness issues downtown, while advocates for unhoused individuals emphasized the need for compassionate, evidence-based solutions rather than enforcement-focused approaches. ### What Happened — The Short Version The meeting began with required annual training for council members on open meetings, public records, and ethics laws. Senior Legal Assistant Jane Roberts explained the rules around what constitutes a meeting, how to handle public records requests, and ethical requirements for elected officials. The main portion focused on homelessness and housing issues. Twenty-five people spoke during public comment, representing both unhoused individuals (through advocates reading their statements) and business owners expressing concerns about camping, safety, and cleanliness downtown. Many speakers opposed potential camping restrictions, while others called for stronger enforcement. Seven organizations then presented their work: Peninsula Housing Authority (affordable housing development), Serenity House (homeless services and shelter), TAFY (youth and family services), Port Angeles Waterfront District (downtown business advocacy), Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic (mobile healthcare), First United Methodist Church (food and safe parking programs), and Olympic Community Action Programs (regional coordination and specialized needs like dementia care for homeless seniors). The presentations highlighted both the extensive network of existing services and significant gaps, particularly in permanent housing options and regional coordination between Clallam and Jefferson counties. ### What to Watch Next - April 7 work session on homelessness and housing strategies starting at 4:30 PM - Potential action on camping/encampment ordinances based on the strategic plan discussion - Updates on Peninsula Housing Authority's 24-unit Eklund at Gales project seeking additional county funding - Progress on safe parking program at First United Methodist Church - Regional coordination efforts between Clallam and Jefferson counties on specialized care needs ---