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Port Angeles council reviews strategic plan, asks staff to return resolution with changes
Summary
Council reviewed progress on the two-year strategic plan, accepted staff additions (including criminal justice services and homelessness response), asked staff to return a resolution in March or April with proposed modifications, and signaled consensus to deprioritize neighborhood-association work.
Port Angeles officials spent a work session reviewing the city's two-year strategic plan and the administrative steps staff have taken to implement it, and directed staff to return a resolution this spring proposing targeted changes.
Nathan, a staff member who led the presentation, told the council the plan adopted in October 2024 covers 2025'26 and centers on four strategic focus areas: community resilience; citywide resource optimization; housing; and infrastructure development, maintenance and connectivity. "we are very excited to talk to you about the strategic plan this evening," Nathan said as he opened the briefing.
Why it matters: Council uses the two-year plan to translate the 20-year Comprehensive Plan into near-term work items. Tonight's session asked members to indicate additions or removals so staff can balance workload across departments. Nathan identified six items staff suggests adding or formally recognizing in the strategic plan: a camping/encampment (homelessness) response; enhanced tribal consultation; a review of Council rules of procedure; joint public safety facility work; criminal justice contract negotiations; and the Lower Elwha sewer project. Staff also noted senior center memorandum-of-understanding work as an item for inclusion.
Council members discussed whether any current plan items should be deprioritized to make room for the additions. Multiple members recommended deprioritizing the neighborhood-association initiative because it has not generated sustained engagement, while leaving community-solar and other climate actions on the list. Councilmember Drew Navarro and others urged caution about large staff undertakings without clear Council direction; Navarro said council discussion should precede substantial staff work on government-surveillance technology.
Council direction and next steps: Staff told the council, "Based on the consensus of a majority from this evening, we will bring back a resolution for action in March or April relative to adoption of any modifications to the strategic plan," and will follow that with an updated administrative work plan for Council review. The Mayor asked for a show of consensus on deprioritizing the neighborhood-association item; several members agreed. Staff confirmed they will return the resolution and the updated work plan for formal consideration.
Context: Presentations from department directors highlighted many active projects that staff proposed incorporating into the plan to reflect work already underway. The council emphasized the need for staff to identify sequencing or items that could be delayed so departments can absorb the additional workload without compromising existing commitments.
The council adjourned after the direction to staff; no formal votes were taken during the session. The expected procedural next step is a staff-prepared resolution and accompanying work-plan update to be presented at a regular meeting for possible adoption.
