The Sequim City Council voted to amend the city code during a special meeting Saturday night to allow hearing examiners to hear appeals to the issuance of certain building permits. Saturday’s special meeting came after land use hearing examiner Phil Olbrechts concluded he did not have jurisdiction over the process to hear 6 appeals to permit applications to build a medication assisted treatment facility, or MAT clinic, in Sequim.   Olbrechts cancelled a three day hearing that had been set to begin today because of issues with the city’s municipal code. He said it had conflicting language that barred him from going forward. The Council was presented with two choices to modify the city’s code. One was an emergency ordinance that would go into effect immediately, or a standard ordinance which would go into effect 5 days after publication in the newspaper.  City staff recommended the emergency ordinance before a hearing examiner’s decision was made which was expected at any time. City Attorney Kristina Nelson-Gross told councilors once the order comes from the examiner it would be too late for them to change the process.

During debate over the proposed changes, Deputy Mayor Tom Ferrell said it was a curve ball for him when he learned of the jurisdictional issue.

FERRELL:  “I still think right now the examiner is the best way to continue. I think that there’s a lot of bias and anger and such throughout this community and I think this is the most efficient way. I also think it’s important to not forget the applicant. I mean we have a responsibility to basically continue a due process. They have a right to get a decision on this in a reasonable amount of time. So I don’t want to use this curve ball as an opportunity to bring this back to the council. Because my assumption is that the examiner would handle it.”

The council voted to approve the standard ordinance.