The City of Sequim is releasing the final version of its first stormwater management plan for public review and comment. A draft of the plan was released nine months ago and presented to public decision makers and community organizations over the summer and fall of last year.
The Storm & Surface Water Master Plan key goal is to attain compliance with existing local and state requirements through capital and programmatic activities. In general, recommendations involve capturing and infiltrating rainwater and runoff into the ground while preventing property damage and protecting water quality in our region’s surface waters and groundwater aquifers.
The staff recommendation is to implement a partial list of recommendations (“Tier A”) over the next three years using existing resources without adding new revenue. Staff will continue to seek grant and other outside funding to supplement these activities and capital projects, while ultimately aiming toward Tier B levels of service.
The Plan helps the City practice its adopted “Stewardship” and “Integrity” values by instituting activities that protect and improve important natural resources while reducing risk and liability.
The City’s engineering and environmental consultant, Herrera, Inc., prepared the plan with assistance from city staff. Staff will present the Master Plan at the Sequim Planning Commission Public Meeting on Tuesday, March 1, at 6:00 p.m., at the Civic Center located at 152 W. Cedar Street. The Planning Commission will take public comment and consider forwarding the plan to City Council for adoption. Following Planning Commission review the Plan will be presented to the Sequim City Council later in March.
City of Sequim Resource Manager Ann Soule will host an Open House each week on Thursdays from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. (or by appointment), at the City’s Interpretive Center, located at 500 N. Blake Avenue.
The public may access the Plan at the Sequim Library, at the Civic Center 2nd floor front desk, or from the Stormwater Stewardship page of the City’s website: http://www.sequimwa.gov/index.aspx?nid=646
To learn more or to comment on the Plan, contact Ann Soule, Resource Manager, City of Sequim Public Works, 152 W Cedar Street, Sequim, WA 98382. A dedicated phone number and email address may be used: 360-582-5710 and waterinfo@sequimwa.gov. Visit the City’s website at www.sequimwa.gov for information, and sign up to receive News Flashes on project updates at http://www.sequimwa.gov/list.aspx (choose email or text notifications for the “Surface Water Management” list).