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Sequim council authorizes 30-day public comment period, schedules hearing for renaming Cary Blake skatepark
Summary
Council voted to direct staff to start a 30-day public comment period and put a name-change item on a future agenda to consider renaming the Cary Blake skatepark to honor Mark Simpson, following family support and public remarks.
The Sequim City Council on Jan. 13 voted to direct staff to open a 30-calendar-day public comment period and schedule a council agenda item to consider renaming the Cary Blake skatepark to the Marky Mark Simpson Skate Park.
Council members presented a written rationale describing Mark Simpson’s fundraising and volunteer work to renovate and maintain the skatepark, his founding of a 501(c)(3) to support the park and his role organizing cleanups and mentoring youth. A family member read a message from a close friend and spoke in support; the family indicated they authorized the proposed name change.
City Attorney Kristina Nelson Gross advised the council that the city’s guideline language requires an advertised 30-day open public comment period and that council could treat the event as a less-formal public forum rather than a formal, statutory public hearing. Council then moved, seconded and approved a motion directing staff to begin the 30-day comment period and schedule the name-change item for a regular council meeting agenda.
Council also asked staff to make the conceptual skatepark design materials publicly available during the comment period. The motion was approved as announced by the chair; council did not make a final decision on the renaming at the Jan. 13 meeting.
