The results of the People’s Project, a Participatory Budgeting process, were announced at the Sequim City Council meeting on Monday, May 13. The Sequim community cast the most votes for the nine water stations to be installed in City parks. The water stations have water bottle refilling stations and drinking fountains and three of them have an additional pet fountain feature. The stations encourage sustainability by promoting water bottle re-use and keep our community healthy by providing hydration in recreation areas. The total cost of the stations is $62,800.
The Bigbelly Automated Trash and Recycling Stations came in with the second highest votes. The original proposal was to purchase 13 of the smart, solar-powered, sensor equipped, large-sized stations. Because the overall budget for the People’s Project was $150,000, staff recommended that the City purchase five to seven of the Bigbelly stations to test them in 2020. Both projects will be included in the City of Sequim 2020 budget to be presented to the Sequim City Council in the fall of 2019 and approved by the end of the year.
The pet waste stations had the third highest votes. The pathway through Pioneer Park fourth and the holiday bells fifth.
951 City residents, county neighbors and visitors voted in the first year of the program. A full review of the vote statistics will be presented to the City Council at the May 28 meeting.
The People’s Project! is intended to be an annual program. Sequim residents are encouraged to come to the Sequim Civic Center, 152 West Cedar Street, and fill out a Dare to Dream card with their ideas and suggestions for future projects to be considered for the program.