Sequim council unanimously agrees to send letter supporting Jamestown S'Klallam land-transfer application after heated public comment

The Sequim City Council voted unanimously Monday to submit a letter of support for the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe's application under the federal Land Transfer Act that would affect portions of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge.

Mayor Rachel Anderson opened the discussion by recapping prior presentations and public comment on the item and by noting the council had considered the matter previously. Councilor Jennifer Rosato Perelman moved "that we submit the letter of support as presented," and Councilor Dan Butler seconded. A roll-call vote followed; the council recorded a 7-0 vote in favor.

The vote concluded a lengthy public-comment period in which a dozen speakers — many from Sequim and nearby communities — urged opposing positions. Rick Marshall told the council: "The Dungeness Spit is an international destination. It must not become an oyster farm for the S'Klallam Tribe," and asked the council to withdraw its letter of support. Theresa Miller said she opposed the transfer and raised concerns about tax effects, saying land placed in tribal trust "will not be in the tax pool," and cited recent land sales she said would remove property from the local tax base. Rose Marshall said she had attended a Klallam commissioners meeting where a tribal representative could not commit to keeping refuges in a natural state.

Opponents also alleged broader governance and jurisdictional concerns. John Worthington told the council he feared the transfer would expand tribal jurisdiction and said he had provided written documents and requested legal review. Ron Richards said he had prepared a letter identifying 12 concerns and urged the council's attorneys to examine the materials before supporting the transfer.

Supporters who spoke at the meeting and council members backing the letter emphasized the tribe's recent stewardship and said the application process remains preliminary and subject to additional review and public participation. A council member who spoke in favor noted that the tribe "have the resources and the volunteers to keep up with maintenance" and that the transfer could allow the tribe to act more quickly on management needs. Jennifer Rosato Perelman told colleagues that the letter represented "one very minor step" in a longer process: "It's not our — we're not the decision makers. This is just a minor step in moving it along." She said moving the application forward preserves public opportunities for later comment.

Clerk-recorded roll call at the vote listed Councilor Kelly Berger, Councilor Dan Butler, Councilor Pete Chimslin, Mayor Rachel Anderson, Councilor Brandon Janisse, Councilor Harmony Rudder and Deputy Mayor Nicole Hartman as voting in favor. The clerk reported the motion passed 7-0.

The meeting materials and staff presentations cited no binding immediate change in management of refuge lands; council members and supportive public speakers repeatedly noted that federal and county processes and additional public hearings remain ahead. Several public commenters said they had circulated petitions (speakers cited figures of about 540 and 1,584 signatures) opposing the transfer and asked the city to withdraw its support; proponents said the state and federal review would provide further opportunities for public input.

The council recorded no specific conditions or amendments to the letter at the meeting. According to the agenda staff recap, the letter seeks to support the administrative step of the tribe's Land Transfer Act application and does not itself transfer title or change refuge management without subsequent federal processes.

The council moved on after the vote to other agenda items, including proclamations and staff reports; the city clerk closed public comment before the vote and the council made no additional formal changes to the letter at Monday's meeting.