[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6123758,"mediaKeyId","2688411-2ef38589692d846151bb91de3f09253d","parentId",2688411,"title","Sequim council renames skate park for local skater; consent agenda and code cleanups advance","audioSeconds",169,"startMs",1200000,"endMs",1369000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2688411-2ef38589692d846151bb91de3f09253d&start=1200&end=1369","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2688411-2ef38589692d846151bb91de3f09253d/thumbnail_1200000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6123758/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-council-renames-skate-park-for-local-skater-consent-agenda-and-code-cleanups-advance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123758-f051cb1b9681642e8dc2ddc39e795e70/orig.mp4?Expires=1771120197&Signature=OPo5GvdVq7KhCvPAvZDN1wFgRfGafb1ojy3LF8eYtRzQtpK3-49obrx3WW7FiBwA-wumbATE6MV9oa8ZdsjtUPwprxRkCUByIFmwvcG0pVM23THIniMeUOFAdI7z58y-5e3C5W-UV8qQND3ysgpb3deeCd~3xn-9bDJVmtegN3o056rIjNeWy7hznw~aq6Ict96Zg21FoP-dhFOcI4LpPG4uOOReP2n8QXkbOaUiQ6J4fT1dykWIkB15QvKLB7ozkQyXlawe6nSu5h3phw0mujBJaMcnnSAZLAfDJGkBpY3UkZ9ti0NoVU-I6pW4jygr3oodBoZlW7C52A586QWePA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sequim City, WA","date","2025-03-17T16:19:57Z","article","The Sequim City Council on March 10 approved renaming the city’s skate park at Carrie Blake Park to the Marky Mark Simpson Skate Park.

Speakers, including longtime community members, praised Mark Simpson’s contributions to the skate community. The motion to adopt the proposed name change passed in a roll-call vote recorded as 6–0.

Council also approved the meeting’s consent agenda, which included claims vouchers totaling $743,441.22, meeting minutes from Feb. 24, lodging-tax advisory committee minutes and a public-notice posting code amendment (SMC 20.01.140). The consent agenda was adopted with no recorded opposition.

Other administrative items advanced by motion during general business included staff direction to prepare an ordinance repealing Sequim Municipal Code (SMC) 3.46 (payroll funds and claims fund) and to present it on a future consent agenda, and a code-scrub revision to SMC 2.4 (Civil Service Commission) for placement on a future consent agenda. Both motions to waive second-touch review and present ordinances were approved by the council without recorded opposition.

Gary Barce and other local residents spoke in support of the skate-park renaming, describing Mark Simpson’s local involvement. The council heard the public remarks as part of the name-change item before taking the vote.

No additional policy changes were adopted in these matters at the March 10 meeting; staff will prepare ordinances and return them on a future consent agenda for formal adoption when appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Session - March 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Sequim City Council approved renaming the skate park at Carrie Blake Park to the Marky Mark Simpson Skate Park and advanced several administrative code updates; the consent agenda and name change were adopted with no recorded opposition.","taxTitle","Sequim, Clallam County, Washington","taxId",72051,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123763,"Sequim affordable-housing project delayed by wetland review; city, Habitat press to preserve $2 million CHIP grant",1897,3856000,5753000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2688411-2ef38589692d846151bb91de3f09253d&start=3856&end=5753","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2688411-2ef38589692d846151bb91de3f09253d/thumbnail_3856000.jpg","/articles/6123763/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-affordable-housing-project-delayed-by-wetland-review-city-Habitat-press-to-preserve-2-million-CHIP-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123763-f42c0cb877cf957a9db7af16af23e691/orig.mp4?Expires=1771120197&Signature=fZU1KmSLch1CDICwdjL4jhmHBXYc8NA3u878G7fzpKAzKzwLjwHnnov-GPYhwO7hXlKAKKvwO7HPHDsojmH1KJ3iRyBSkd1GBpaRt8F7f0p0rkHaDvL6CjE8XY5XxPU~9~sD0v1SoiELH1t8~apWbtAiQt3HYVWWEeNtPLmY28c33C2ap4XpKWpQypKg3xGbxm8SGH5rtrtcSr6KhZJsqxlrlT083nmrp3bdmCy0uuak7Cpu2bxCLs-vezRVU8Lv9FpEj9mcz65mew787saJeUCXbb04eOdWdmI9OPpG1YzQn2sfU62T5QVx4tIVk~aeDVjzrWMU~XSFlSnSNWckPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Habitat Clallam’s proposed affordable-housing development on Sequim Avenue is advancing through Sequim’s review process but has been slowed by a wetland study that reduced the project’s unit count and prompted extensive resubmittal requirements, city and Habitat representatives said March 10.

Colleen (Habitat Clallam) told the Sequim City Council that Habitat submitted the grant application for the project on Oct. 31, 2022; the city learned of the award July 1, 2023. Washington State Commerce ultimately awarded $2,000,000 toward sewer, electrical and permitting costs through the state’s Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP). After contract activation in November 2024 and Commerce’s ratification Jan. 14, 2025, project permitting proceeded in the city’s development-review pipeline but encountered a wetland study that, Colleen said, reduced the project by at least four units.

Colleen said Habitat resubmitted responses to 11 pages of city comments on March 6 and that those responses are now under city review. Megan Uecker, public works project manager, said the Commerce contract end date is listed as June 20, 2025 and is “subject to reappropriation” to June 30, 2027; she said Commerce had not yet issued formal guidance about extensions but indicated the program is popular and extensions may be possible. City staff and Habitat both urged that showing permitting progress—particularly an issued permit or clear movement toward construction—improves the project’s chances of preserving revenue from the CHIP program.

Christina Nelson Gross, representing the city for the record, said many of the items in the November comment letter were within Habitat’s control and could be corrected quickly; she added the city remains a willing partner and will continue outreach to help Habitat navigate the review steps. City Manager Matt Hewitt noted the city had engaged Commerce staff early in the process and emphasized the council’s interest in seeing the project move to construction.

Habitat described a multiyear timeline: purchase of the Sequim Avenue parcel (the record indicates Habitat’s acquisition was finalized in 2022), project planning and design work in 2022–23, award of the CHIP grant in 2023 and contract activation in November 2024. Colleen said losing the four units reduced the expected number of affordable homes on the site and that a separate community-impact grant from Representative Derek Kilmer is likely not available, increasing reliance on the CHIP award.

City staff outlined the remaining procedural steps: the city’s code requires a complete conditional-use application for the proposed multifamily use, followed by review, noticing and a hearing-examiner date (if required). Staff estimated that, if resubmittals are complete, the application could proceed to a hearing date in April or May, subject to noticing timelines and the hearing examiner’s schedule. Staff cautioned that timelines vary and additional changes could be required during the site-construction phase, which finalizes street, utility and grading plans before building permits are issued.

Council members asked whether advocacy at the state level might help protect the CHIP funding; staff said the city has been in touch with state representatives and will notify lobbyists and Commerce contacts as needed. City staff and Habitat said they will continue to coordinate closely, prioritize completing resubmittals and seek to demonstrate progress to Commerce before the current contract end date.

No formal council action was recorded on the project during the March 10 meeting; councilors and staff emphasized continued partnership and pledged staff assistance to help bring the project to a hearing and, ultimately, to construction if possible.","Habitat Clallam’s Sequim Avenue affordable-housing project has lost at least four units after wetland review. Habitat and city staff say they have resubmitted permit materials and are working to demonstrate progress so Washington State Commerce will maintain the $2 million CHIP award.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6123768,"Sequim Council raises cap on municipal grant indirect costs to 25%",1186,1954000,3140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2688411-2ef38589692d846151bb91de3f09253d&start=1954&end=3140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2688411-2ef38589692d846151bb91de3f09253d/thumbnail_1954000.jpg","/articles/6123768/Sequim/Clallam-County/Washington/Sequim-Council-raises-cap-on-municipal-grant-indirect-costs-to-25","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123768-9c7d79a187a545f13e353da7e27b47bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771120197&Signature=dM9oij7M5PR7aNmss22C38Mo8XvI-SUTNlgG09J5Wrmbd65JSEulwKSLbk7-DlyWdrVMQjhcpPdYDVVxEex-1HA-8WGDVw4zBTEaYeQJmkTSTZ0HdKnv9WcexqmG7YYEiupSqIJ~2iEdJqP5uypc4mM3gjeoENQNJdtcPcp4Wg9rz7EnLQuOriRGIn4udw41zX-oeWNERwZuUt5BmQg-HRBbZi2j-mi88gkFwBImS8kQ7OvDe~9l8ql9Uku-CBPF-09vLAav6L4nkVgDVjWajkv63Lg9U0FQlSWC7~KMv9pQVbAuuhmUfUSJnXgLNxtws~F5PGqTUrM8NvijXF~3Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sequim City Council on March 10 directed staff to update the city’s municipal funding policy to allow indirect expenses of up to 25% of an awarded grant, a change from staff’s earlier draft that capped indirect costs at 15%.

The motion, moved by Councilor Kelly Berger, directs staff to revise the municipal funding policy and requires applicants to track personnel costs under updated guidelines. Councilor Kelly Berger made the motion; it was seconded and adopted without opposition.

Council members and staff said the change is intended to balance the city’s interest in funding direct services with the operational realities of local nonprofits.

Maren Packer, executive assistant in the city manager’s office, told the council staff used the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations definition for the 15% de minimis approach when drafting the earlier policy language but brought forward the item with council direction to set a firm cap. Public commenter Dale Jarvis urged the council to permit a two-option approach that would allow organizations with higher documented indirect costs to request a negotiated rate; Jarvis said federal grant practice recognizes both a de minimis 15% option and an alternative based on actual cost accounting.

City Manager Matt Hewitt and staff described how the change would work in practice: a grant award remains the same total amount, and higher indirect rates simply shift more of the award to administrative costs and less to direct services. Staff said applicants would submit budgets that separate direct and indirect costs and that city staff will meet with applicants on the front end to clarify budgets and reporting.

Several council members voiced concerns that a higher indirect rate could reduce the proportion of funds going to direct services, especially for smaller organizations that need administrative overhead to operate. Councilor Vicki Lowe and others said they preferred language and processes that encourage most dollars to reach direct service delivery while allowing for reasonable documented administrative expenses. City finance staff, including Sue, the city’s finance director, described the mechanics: the grant total is fixed and indirect-rate changes shift the internal allocation within that total.

After discussion, Councilor Kelly Berger moved to direct staff to update the municipal funding policy to state that indirect expenses may not exceed 25% of the total municipal funding amount and that personnel costs must be tracked according to the updated guidelines. The council approved the motion with no recorded opposition.

The council and staff said they will implement clearer application forms requiring direct-versus-indirect budget breakdowns, meet with applicants before funding decisions, and maintain reporting requirements so the city can review actual expenses. Staff also noted the June 15 application deadline for the current municipal-funding cycle and said they will meet with applicants before that deadline to review budgets and reporting expectations.

Questions and follow-up: staff said they will return the revised policy and any draft application changes to council for final approval and will continue front-end meetings with applicants to reduce surprises during budget review and invoicing.

","The Sequim City Council voted to direct staff to update the municipal funding policy to allow indirect expenses up to 25% of a grant award, after discussion about nonprofit administrative costs, direct-service funding and implementation details.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sequim council renames skate park for local skater; consent agenda and code cleanups advance

Sequim affordable-housing project delayed by wetland review; city, Habitat press to preserve $2 million CHIP grant

Sequim Council raises cap on municipal grant indirect costs to 25%