A motion to allow Gig Harbor Mayor Chuck Hunter to approve and authorize a contract with the Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association turned into a minor battle over who should be allowed on the GHHWA Board of Directors.

Hunter included new language Monday night in this year’s contract with the association to limit board membership to one representative designated by the city administrator as an active member of the board, and a maximum of one city council member.

The city’s contract with the GHHWA is not to exceed $35,000.

Hunter said his concern is with city council members being “on both sides of the equation” and the lack of apparent objectivity. He said he believed GHHWA’s lobbying work is best served by community representatives who do not also serve on the city council.

The mayor’s proposed change to the contract provoked reaction from several council members, including Paul Kadzik, who serves as the vice president of the GHHWA board.

Kadzik said he doesn’t believe it’s the city’s job to restrict outside extracurricular activities of council members.

“I just don’t think that’s appropriate,” he said.

Kadzik added it isn’t fair to single out a single organization — in this case, the GHHWA.
Hunter responded by saying something needs to be done to be careful of how the public’s money is spent.

The city has others who serve on the GHHWA board — council member Jill Guernsey and Historic Preservation Coordinator Lita Dawn Stanton — who watch out for how taxpayer dollars are spent, Kadzik said.

Yet council member Ken Malich said he could see how a conflict of interest could be perceived.
“I don’t see how we could put that in the contract,” he said.

Council member Derek Young agreed, noting it would only become a problem if the board was stacked with council members.

City Attorney Angela Belbeck said she didn’t know of any requirement in state law that would require Gig Harbor to limit council members who would be appointed to the board in a recommendation from the mayor.

“That’s more of a policy decision,” she said.

“So, the state sees no problem with this,” Kadzik added.

The council voted to modify Hunter’s language in Section 3T of the agreement to include at least one representative from the city as designated by the city administrator but not to cap the number of board members from the city.

The modified version, which passed 5-0, read: “GHHWA Board membership shall include one representative designated by the City Administrator as an active member of the GHHWA Board.”
Council members Guernsey and Kadzik abstained from voting.

In other business, the council held a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to make permanent the city’s decision to go with a permit-by-permit demonstration of compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

For Gig Harbor to maintain its eligibility in the National Flood Insurance Program, the city must comply with one of three options: adopt the Federal Emergency Management Act-developed ESA, meet the FEMA checklist for ESA compliance with current regulations, or the aforementioned permit-by-permit method.

The current interim measure that was approved by the council on Sept. 24 is set to expire March 23.
Senior Planner Peter Katich said the method is a “very straightforward, cost-effective way” to proceed.

Jennifer Kester, a fellow senior planner, agreed, saying codifying this into law will get rid of uncertainty.

The council approved a request that the city’s parks commission initiate a visioning process with input from Gig Harbor for the recently purchased property known as the Ancich Waterfront Park.

Finally, outgoing Planning Director Tim Dolan, whose last day on the job is Friday, was recognized by the council for his more than six years of service to the city.

“It’s been a delight for me to get to know him,” City Administrator Denny Richards said.

“I did want to take some time to say some things,” Dolan said as he stood at the podium in front of the council.

He unfurled a sheet of paper with printed text that was at least as long as he is tall. That elicited a laugh from council members and the audience before he got his real, one-page speech.

“From my perspective, you guys (city council) have done a great job,” Dolan said of managing Gig Harbor.

“It’s hard to leave,” he said, but he added that knowing the city is in good hands makes it easier.


Reporter Brett Davis can be reached at 253-358-4151 or by email at brett.davis@gateline.com. Follow him on Twitter, @gateway_brett.