Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – The Port Angeles Council Tuesday revisited a proposal to make changes to the rules of membership of the Public Safety Advisory Board.
Members of the Board advise and make recommendations to the City Manager, Chief of Police, and Fire Chief concerning policies and procedures, among other things.
The proposed changes include requiring that the Board include two Tribal members, one resident who has experienced homelessness or a substance use disorder, or someone who has worked with people who have experienced those issues, and calls for staggered term limits for Board members of 1-5 years.
On August 4, city staff were directed to draft an ordinance to be brought back to the Council. A first reading of the draft was heard Tuesday, and City Manager Nathan West opened the discussion with a statement.
“I think it’s extremely important that while we recognize those changes, we do not want to do anything to disrespect the numerous hours of volunteer work and the great effort that we have seen from our standing Public Safety Advisory Board members.”
Changing Board membership rules requires making changes to the City’s Municipal Code. City Attorney Bill Bloor addressed possible sticking points to requiring the Board have two Tribal members and then propose some solutions.
“But the law still is that the City is prohibited both by federal law and by state law from establishing selection criteria on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender. We’re just not allowed to do that. What we can do is recognize that the City, in fact, already has existing government-to-government relationships with the local tribes, especially the police department and the fire department. So I think, on that basis, I do think it is proper for the City to say that we are going to have two board seats that are reserved for enrolled Tribal members.”
Three alternatives were suggested by Bloor. One was to have the Lower Elwha or other Tribe recommend candidates for the Board.
Option B would be to have the City Council consult with Tribes on making appointments, a less formal arrangement.
“And finally, we could designate no seats, formally, for the Tribal members. That is, there would be nothing in the ordinance that says two seats are reserved for Tribal members. But at the same time, the City could notify local Tribes to solicit interest, and those Tribal members who are interested would be encouraged to apply. They would use the same process as everybody else.”
Tribal members would be the only members of the Board not required to live within city limits.
After a public comment period the Council voted 4-2 with one abstained to direct City staff to revise the ordinance to include Bloor’s option B.