Port Angeles City Council Comes Clean — NOT!

A few days ago the city council promised to make a public statement and “come clean” about that mystery scandal that led to Mark Madsen’s resignation. Referring to information about Madsen’s resignation, Mayor Gary Braun said “That is something that would have to be handled in open session.”

Riiight. All we got instead was “it wasn’t me,” “mistakes were made” “no laws were broken so we don’t need to tell, neener neener neener,” and “let’s move on now.”

The whole charade sounds like a grade school classroom where the teacher says “All right, everybody has to stay after school unless I find out who wrote these dirty words on the blackboard.” For a few minutes nobody budges, and then finally a hand gets raised and a sheepish little voice says “I did it.”

I was expecting at least that much candor from our new improved city council. What was I thinking?

There’s a new sheriff in town Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Growth in Clallam County

As you’ve probably read in the PDN (the articles aren't available online), there's been a showdown over growth between Clallam County and the City of Port Angeles.

Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman is in favor of rural growth zones known as Limited Areas of More Intensive Rural Development (LAMIRDs). Some of these rural growth zones include Deer Park Road at Rt. 101; Bell Hill near Sequim; and the Hungry Bear Café in Beaver.

Port Angeles City Planner Nathan West and City Manager Mark Madsen are opposed to any new urban development outside of incorporated cities. Mayor Karen Rogers is in favor of preserving the current LAMIRDs but is against enlarging them (according to what Mike Chapman said.)

To make everything even more complicated, a Seattle-based environmental group called Futurewise is suing Clallam County for failing to comply with Washington’s Growth Management Act.

Where is all this going? What do YOU think?