Clallam County MRC narrows priorities as staff capacity falls; HAZWOPER training draws mixed views

Clallam County MRC members spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing project priorities for the next biennium and how work should be adjusted as county MRC staffing drops from 1.3 full‑time equivalents (FTE) to 1.0 FTE later in the budget year. Staff and members framed priorities around finding “time wins” — projects that require less staff administrative time — and reducing "time sinks" that consume staff hours.

Staff described a simple scoring shorthand (1 = low staff time, 2 = medium, 3 = high) to estimate administrative burden, and members reviewed a spreadsheet showing roughly nine active projects that already tax staff capacity. Kathy Weir and Amelia Calliger (MRC staff) said that even routine grant administration, periodic contract work and quarterly reporting demand substantial staff time; committee leads are expected to take on volunteer recruitment, event coordination and timely responses to staff requests so staff can focus on high‑priority tasks.

Budget and scope questions came up during the discussion. MRC member Jeff Ward pointed out a budget line that should read $30,000 per year rather than the $15,000 figure shown in the spreadsheet; staff said they would correct and circulate the updated figures. Members also confirmed that some projects — for example the abalone work — have lower staff demands while others (large restoration agreements, contracts) carry a higher burden.

HAZWOPER training (hazardous waste/oil spill response training) prompted a lengthy exchange. Some members, including Bob Reut, expressed reluctance to have volunteers do hazardous materials or oiled‑wildlife work, saying responsibility should lie with responsible parties and professional responders. Others — including a retired Coast Guard responder who spoke during public comment and Ed Boldy — argued that local volunteers with HAZWOPER training both reduce community risk and can fill a critical gap for a rural county that may be a lower priority for state or federal emergency response. The committee did not take a formal vote to add or drop HAZWOPER from the work plan during this meeting but agreed the discussion should continue at future meetings and that training content should emphasize responder safety and limits of volunteer roles.

Members also agreed to pursue outside funding for two lower‑cost stewardship activities — Pigeon Guillemot nesting monitoring and Ella River stewardship work — by asking the regional Ecosystem Recovery Network (straight ERN) about available funds. The rationale: if an external partner or funder administers the award and reporting, county staff time is reduced. Staff will follow up on possible ERN funding and report back.

Finally, the committee agreed informally to limit festival and outreach table commitments to two events this year (one youth‑focused and one adult/community festival), to reduce repetitive staff setup/teardown and staff time spent supporting events. Leads and co‑leads were asked to sign the project spreadsheet to indicate direct member support for projects and to reduce staff follow‑up.

Why it matters: With an imminent staff reduction and multiple active projects, the MRC must prioritize projects that offer the most environmental benefit per staff hour, clarify member responsibilities for volunteer recruitment, and seek outside partners for administrative support to preserve core monitoring and stewardship work.