Charter review commission advances proposal to add county water resources specialist after heated public comment

The Clallam County Charter Review Commission voted to advance a proposed charter amendment that would require the Department of Community Development to retain a contracted water resources specialist, a nonregulatory position to collect and share water data, moving the measure to the next stage for public comment and further hearings.

The commission moved the proposal to step 3 after commissioners debated scope and budget. Commissioner Richards, who proposed the amendment package, framed the measure as a “technical” role, not regulatory: “We’re talking about a contract employee such as you would hire an architect,” he said during debate, adding the position would be flexible and bid competitively.

Why it matters: Commissioners and residents said the county faces growing pressure on water supplies from development, climate shifts and competing users, and that shared technical data may be necessary to inform decisions. Opponents said the charter is not the proper place to create an ongoing county position and raised concerns about cost and governance.

Public commenters at…