Port Angeles council sets timeline to fill vacant seat; applications to open July 2 and close Aug. 4

Port Angeles — Council members on July 1 directed staff to begin the public notice and application process to fill the vacancy created by Council member Bridal Meyer’s resignation effective June 30, 2025. Under the Revised Code of Washington, the council has 90 days to appoint a replacement.

Deputy city attorney/staff presenter Nathan (city staff) summarized state requirements and recommended the timeline in Table 1 of the staff memorandum: public notice and web posting on July 2; application deadline Aug. 4; selection of finalists and interview question development at the Aug. 19 meeting; and candidate interviews and appointment on Sept. 2. Council adopted that timeline by unanimous consent.

Eligibility and process: staff noted the appointee must meet the same qualifications as an elected councilor, be a registered voter and a city resident (code cities require one year residency). Nathan said council had used a similar open, public appointment process in 2023 and recommended keeping public deliberations rather than closed deliberations.

Next steps: staff will publish the notice in the Peninsula Daily News (the statutory newspaper), post the application on the city website and publicize via local radio (KONP), social media and other channels. Council and staff discussed interview formats; one member preferred individual private interviews while another recommended a single session with applicants answering the same questions in sequence. Council will revisit interview format details at a future meeting.

Outcome: Motion directing staff to initiate the vacancy notice and application process with the dates above passed by unanimous consent.