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PENINSULA DAILY NEWS June 16, 2016 | 75¢
Port Angeles-Sequim-West End
Fireworks changes fizzle in Sequim
Downtown PA fence blocks panhandlers
Council seeking consensus, direction BY MATTHEW NASH OLYMPIC PENINSULA NEWS GROUP
SEQUIM — Any possible changes to the city of Sequim’s fireworks policies for next year fizzled out after recent talks to ban and/or limit them in city limits. City Council members Monday discussed options for possible changes to policies for the Fourth of July beginning in the summer of 2017. But they couldn’t reach consensus on what direction to take. The council’s discussion stems from an update to the city’s municipal code from August 2015 that goes into effect Aug. 14. It prohibits sky lanterns, which already are illegal in Washington, and allows the city’s fire marshal or city manager to ban fireworks in times of high or extreme fire danger. The updated ordinance doesn’t ban fireworks in the city limits. But that was not known to opponents and proponents of fireworks who spoke prior to council discussion. Pastor David Westman of the Sequim Worship Center said he’s part of a group that has sold fireworks for more than 40 years and found it disconcerting that fireworks would come up as an agenda item when the group possesses permits for this season. “We’re trying to get on board,” he said. “We just want to know what we’re getting on board with.” Proponents spoke about the benefit of fireworks stands supporting youth activities, saying they create a sense of community, while opponents felt fireworks are disruptive for humans and animals, and can be dangerous. The Rev. Randy Hurlbut of Sequim Valley Foursquare Church said he’s been selling fireworks for 14 years and they promote safety. “I’m a pyro and I’ve always loved the Fourth of July,” he said. “I stand before you with all my toes, all my eyebrows and my hair . . . I can tell you we promote safety, safety, safety.” Hurlbut said banning fireworks could lead good people to becoming criminals. TURN
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JESSE MAJOR/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
A man, who declined to provide his name, panhandles on the corner of Front Street and Lincoln Street on Wednesday, near where the city of Port Angeles installed a fence to keep panhandlers off a private property.
Structure blocking loiterers at busy city gateway BY PAUL GOTTLIEB PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT ANGELES — A newly erected downtown fence has helped keep panhandlers and loiterers from congregating on a concrete pad near the busy Front Street-Lincoln Street intersection, Interim Police Chief Brian Smith said Wednesday. The barrier at 208 E. Front St. was planted on a city right of way June 8. “It’s a big improvement,” Smith said. He said it is dangerous for panhandlers to solicit near the corner where drivers often slow for a traffic light as they enter downtown Port Angeles.
“It’s not perfect, but we’ve been able to mitigate some of the issues associated with that space,” he said. Smith said the fence also blocks Front Street sidewalk access to a flat area on a bluff above the paved area where some homeless sleep — but which is still accessible by an adjacent alley. Deputy Mayor Cherie Kidd also said the barrier is an improvement. “People have been consistently complaining,” she said. “This is a public safety issue.” Even a 46-year-old man who was panhandling on the sidewalk side of the fence Wednesday afternoon was glad the fence was up.
“I didn’t like people over there drinking and bumming money off me,” the man said while standing in the rain. Holding a sign with “Need A Little Help God Bless” written on it, he said he made between $25 and $40 a day in three to four hours of panhandling. Identifying himself as Jon, he said he has a condition that prevents him from walking much and is under court supervision for driving under the influence. Not that the fence will help assuage the overall problem of homelessness, Kim Leach, a homeless services provider, said Wednesday. TURN
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State revenues look rosy — but still short Wash. expects $308 million surplus BY RACHEL LA CORTE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OLYMPIA — State lawmakers will have a little more money than expected heading into their next two-year budget cycle, but the state budget director warned Wednesday that it’s not enough to address a mandate by the state Supreme Court related to education funding. Numbers released by the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council and Office of Financial Management showed that the current two-year budget that ends in the middle of 2017 will have a surplus of about $308 mil-
lion, putting it at $38.1 billion. The council also adjusted its forecast for the following two-year budget projection that shows an additional $127 million than originally expected. The 2017-19 state budget is now expected to be at $41 billion. “It certainly helps a little bit,” said David Schumacher, director of the Office of Financial Management. “We still have plenty of work to do.” The state Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that lawmakers were not meeting their constitutional responsibility to fully pay for
basic education. umbers released by They gave the Legislature until the 2017-18 school year to the state Economic fix the problem and ultimately and Revenue found the Legislature in contempt in 2014 before sanctioning them Forecast Council and Office last year. of Financial Management The sanctions assessed at showed that the current $100,000-a-day since last August are supposed to be set aside in an two-year budget that ends education fund, something that in the middle of 2017 will lawmakers have not yet done, have a surplus of about though there’s enough in state $308 million, putting it at reserves to cover the amount. Since the ruling, lawmakers $38.1 billion. have spent more than $2 billion to address issues raised in the lawGov. Jay Inslee will release a suit. supplemental budget proposal in Schumacher said the costs December. related to that court mandate are at least $3 billion. Last week, the Office of Finan-
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cial Management sent state agencies a letter telling them to limit their requests for new funding and not expect restoration of previous cuts because of the necessary focus on education funding. “Competition for available resources will be intense,” Schumacher wrote. “While agencies should always strive to reduce costs and find new ways to save resources, these efforts will be especially important over at least the next two biennia.” Lawmakers will return to Olympia in January, and the House and Senate each will present their supplemental budget proposals during the 105-day legislative session.
INSIDE TODAY’S PENINSULA DAILY NEWS 100th year, 143rd issue — 2 sections, 16 pages
BUSINESS CLASSIFIED COMICS COMMENTARY DEAR ABBY DEATHS HOROSCOPE LETTERS NATION/WORLD
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*PENINSULA SPOTLIGHT
PENINSULA POLL PUZZLES/GAMES SPORTS WEATHER
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