For the first time since last October, the Clallam County Board of Commissioners is hosting a real, two-way dialogue with the public. They’ve heard the calls for transparency and accountability — and now they’re responding.
At the conclusion of this Tuesday’s regular meeting, the Commissioners will launch a new “Commissioner Forum” session. This is not just another presentation or scripted report. It’s a designated time for us, the people of Clallam County, to ask direct questions and get direct answers about county business.
How It Works
The forum will be the final agenda item of the meeting.
Each resident may ask one question at a time, with the chance to ask more once others have had their turn.
The session will last up to 45 minutes or end sooner if there are no more questions.
It will wrap up no later than 11:45 a.m. so Commissioners can attend their noon commitments.
This new format is exactly what many residents have been asking for: open dialogue, real-time answers, and accountability from our elected leaders.
Meeting Details
📍 Clallam County Courthouse, Room 160
223 East 4th Street, Port Angeles, WA
📅 Tuesday, August 26, 2025
🕙 10:00 AM (Forum begins after other agenda items, which could be closer to 11:00)
Virtual Options:
Zoom Audio: Call 253-215-8782, Meeting ID: 836 9266 4344, Passcode: 12345 (press *9 to raise your hand).
Zoom Video: Click here to join, Meeting ID: 836 9266 4344, Passcode: 12345.
Livestream: Clallam County Meetings
Community Power Starts Here
This is huge. For too long, public comment has been limited to three minutes at the podium — now there’s a chance to press for answers, follow up, and hold a real conversation.
Everyone is encouraged to show up, speak up, and learn about the future of our county. If you can’t attend, drop your questions in the comments below. Others in the community may carry your concerns forward.
Let’s make this a true community dialogue, not a one-time event.
👉 What questions do you want answered at the first Commissioner Forum? Drop them below — let’s build this list together.
OKAY, Ya'll, what do you think of this comment/question?
I have officially coined a term that in governance, commissioners "can’t not, not" ask taxpayers for money. It’s built into your role, and I’ve even started keeping a running nickel jar (aka retirement fund) for each time one of you uses my phrase, Commissioner Ozias already owes me a nickel, and I’d welcome the other Commissioners to join in.
But here’s my serious question: as we look at things like the proposed Clallam Conservation District $5 parcel fee, how do we balance the unavoidable reality that taxpayers will always be asked to contribute with the responsibility of private industry and nonprofits to also invest in our county’s foundational infrastructure?
Commissioner French has said in the past that the purpose of counties is to get smaller while cities and towns grow into the responsibility of building out the much-needed infrastructure, like water and sewer systems. Those systems are exactly the kinds of structural solutions that better protect the environment in the long run, sometimes more effectively than the piecemeal projects NGOs are striving to deliver.
So my question is this: when the county authorizes fees or taxes to fund NGOs, are we incentivizing or de-incentivizing that broader vision of smaller county government and stronger municipal infrastructure? How do we ensure that new fees don’t undermine the long-term governance balance, where cities and towns are building sustainable systems and counties are right-sized to their role?”
Wow Jeff, this is fantastic!!!!!! What a step forward!!!! Thank you so much for all you have done.