About the Council

representing sequim

The City Council is Sequim's legislative body, and Councilors are the elected representatives of people living in Sequim. The city operates with a Council-Manager form of government, a structure established by state law, RCW 35A.13. The Council's principal job is making policy. Councilors appoint a City Manager who is the head of the administrative branch implementing policy. The Council elects a Mayor from among its membership, and the Mayor's primary duty is presiding over Council meetings. City Councilors authorize the Mayor to act as the Council’s ceremonial representative at public events and functions.

Sequim’s seven Council positions are non-partisan. Sequim's voters elect Councilors to four-year terms on a citywide basis, and not from districts. City Council elections are held during odd-numbered years. Councilors serve staggered terms so that about half of the Council positions are on the ballot every two years.

THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL

Councilors primarily accomplish their work during open public meetings held regularly the second and fourth Mondays of the month starting at 6 p.m. Councilors take final action at these meetings by at least a majority vote, so the Council acts as a body and speaks with one voice. No member has any extraordinary powers beyond those of other members. While individual members may disagree with majority decisions, those decisions obligate the Council to a course of action.

Members of the Sequim City Council are collectively responsible for establishing policy, adopting a budget, and providing vision and goals to the City Manager. The following outline is a brief description of the various duties of Councilors. This isn’t comprehensive, but is an effort to summarize primary responsibilities.

Establish Policy

  • Adopt goals and objectives
  • Establish priorities for public services
  • Approve/amend operating and capital budgets
  • Approve contracts consistent with adopted policy

Enact Local Laws

  • Adopt ordinances codified in Sequim Municipal Code

Supervise Appointed Officials

  • Appoint City Manager
  • Evaluate performance of City Manager
  • Establish advisory boards and commissions
  • Make appointments to advisory bodies
  • Provide direction to advisory bodies

 Provide Public Leadership

  • Relate wishes of constituents to promote representative governance
  • Mediate conflicting interests while building a consensus
  • Calling special elections as necessary
  • Communicate the city's vision and goals to constituents
  • Represent the city's interests at county, regional, state and federal levels

 Decision-Making

  • Study problems
  • Review alternatives
  • Determine best course of public policy

Youth Liaisons

In an effort to obtain youth input, the City Council created two youth (PDF) liaison positions in 2016.