By Lois Krafsky-Perry and Staff
September 27, 2019
Sequim, WA – The Sequim City hall again lacked adequate seating for about 100 citizens who attended the bi-monthly meeting, on September 23, 2019. Many people gathered to give testimony about the projected Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Clinic. Approximately 20 acres has been purchased on South 9th Street, near the Costco store, as well as many other businesses.
T
he plans by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, are being questioned not only by local citizens but by their hired attorney, Michael A. Spence, a Seattle attorney who has owned property in Sequim for 17 years and hopes to retire in Sequim.
“You need to have a very rigorous and robust public process,” announced Spence. He reminded the planners, city attorney and city council members that the essential public facility, would need to be granted by the city council.
Spence ended by saying, “This is the wrong location for the wrong facility.” (See video of his presentation.)
Jodi Wilke, chair of Save our Sequim (SOS), said the planner should have known better, as she addressed the matter of safety. “There are complex problems,” she said. Wilke reminded the board that Sequim is not the appropriate location for such a facility.
Rose Marschall addressed the recent plans for a poll and said, “If you want a vote—a paper ballot vote—is the only way to do it.”
Roger Sonneberg said he was not against the tribe, but against the location. He urged the council to listen to the people.
Troy Tenneson, who is running for the City Council, shared his discussion with a local citizen. She showed him a bus ticket from a homeless person, who told her he was given the ticket in Seattle, and encouraged to come here.
Karen Hogan accused Sequim citizens of having a mob mentality, by opposing the MAT.
Jenna Rose reasoned how it is difficult for the elderly to have a voice as in a poll, in that many are not on the internet. Rose works with elderly clients and said “they have opinions and they count, too. These are people you represent.”
Wendy Goldberg stated that impact is important. She believes there would be no control of addicts or drug dealers. Police would not stop them from sleeping in store fronts, “as you told me Mayor [Dennis] Smith.”
“Heard it many times and will continue to note what concerns are,” said Mayor Smith at the conclusion of public testimony.
Later in the meeting the Polco, as slated on the agenda, [poll] was discussed by council members. Councilman Brandon Janisse made a motion to table the matter until the next meeting, which was passed.
In other actions, a Proclamation for Indigenous Peoples Day, which was read by Mayor Smith and apparently signed by him. There was no signature space for the council to sign. According to the Proclamation, the idea of Indigenous Peoples Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native nations to the United Nations – sponsored by International Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous populations in the Americas.
Visitors from Shiso Japan ceremonial was scheduled. The council welcomed chaperones and students from that city. Some gave a note of thanks to the town of Sequim.
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