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Clallam commissioners hold public forum; residents press on short‑term rentals, DCD oversight and timber sales
Summary
At a commissioner forum following the Jan. 27 meeting, residents asked about town‑hall scheduling, oversight of the elected Department of Community Development director, short‑term rental limits and declining timber sale revenue; commissioners outlined engagement channels and county advocacy steps.
After the formal agenda, the Board of Clallam County Commissioners held a commissioner forum where residents pressed officials on community engagement, the elected Department of Community Development (DCD) director’s authority, short‑term‑rental rules and timber‑sale revenue affecting junior taxing districts.
Several residents urged regular evening town halls in each district and criticized inconsistent responses from county offices. Eric Fairman (S11) said he had offered to pay for a hall and asked whether commissioners would attend such events; commissioners said they will participate when schedules permit and staff will coordinate community meetings tied to the county’s charter‑review outreach.
A resident who identified as a short‑term rental operator (S17) asked why the county limits short‑term rentals to one per parcel when long‑term rentals can be multiple. Commissioners explained that DCD is an independently elected office accountable to voters, not the board, and that planning‑commission and code rules (including bed‑and‑breakfast or safety standards) affect how short‑term rentals are regulated. The board encouraged constituents to engage at planning commission meetings and use public forums to ask questions.
Citizens also raised concern about a long decline in timber‑sale revenue that funds many junior taxing districts (fire, school and special districts). Commissioners described a county Revenue Advisory Committee, ongoing engagement with Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff, planned legislative advocacy and a proposed JLARC (Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee) study request to review state management of transferred trust lands. The board said Commissioner Johnson serves on the statewide board of natural resources and the county is coordinating with local taxing districts to make a collective case to the legislature.
Commissioners recommended practical engagement steps: attend planning commission meetings, submit public‑records requests for contracts, apply to serve on advisory bodies, and sign up for county briefings (for example, a weekly 'Coffee with Colleen' series that will feature DNR staff and the DCD director in upcoming sessions).
