Jon Hamilton - Port Angeles City Councilmember

09/14/2026

Tomorrow is going to be a full day for the Port Angeles City Council, and it starts well before our regular 6:00 PM meeting.

There are several conversations on the agenda that connect to issues we have been working through over the past few months, including public safety, how Council conducts its work, homelessness, environmental stewardship, and the continuing data center discussion.

In this week’s Monday Council Preview, I walk through what I’ll be watching and a few places where I think tomorrow’s conversations could shape what comes next.

If you have been following Council recently, this is a good week to tune in.

09/09/2026

My latest Utility Advisory Committee recap is now published: “Balancing Affordability, Stewardship, and Sustainable Utilities.”

Tuesday’s meeting covered Peabody Creek stormwater planning, solid waste disposal fees, utility arrearages and disconnections, customer assistance, and the City’s transition to a new utility billing system.

The common thread was how we balance affordability, environmental responsibility, customer service, and long term financial sustainability.

I also explain the City’s current disconnection process, the proposed $500 hardship option, and why the new billing system could improve customer access when it goes live next year.

A recap of the September 8 Port Angeles Utility Advisory Committee meeting

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day, Port Angeles.

There is no regular City Council meeting this week, but there is still important work happening. In this week’s Monday preview, I talk about Tuesday’s Utility Advisory Committee meeting, some of the infrastructure and utility issues I am watching, and the 25th anniversary of September 11 this Friday.

I also briefly touch on the work ahead following last week’s data center moratorium.

Here is this week’s update.

09/05/2026

My latest City Council recap is now published: Pausing to Get the Data Center Question Right.

The September 1 meeting included a six month moratorium on new applications where a data center would be the principal use. I supported that pause, but I am not advocating for a permanent ban.

I want Port Angeles to use this time to develop stronger rules for large resource intensive development that protect utility customers, water, electrical resources, shoreline, and our environment while still leaving room for good paying jobs and innovative economic opportunities.

I also reflect on the 25th anniversary of September 11, the Science of Hope work session, and several other Council actions from the evening.

Read the full recap:

A recap of the September 1 City Council meeting and the standards I believe Port Angeles should develop for large resource use

08/31/2026

It’s Monday, which means another Port Angeles City Council preview.

We have a full evening ahead Tuesday, beginning with a 5:00 PM work session and followed by the regular Council meeting at 6:00 PM.

In this week’s video, I share some of what I’ll be watching and thinking about as we head into those discussions.

Have a good week, Port Angeles.

08/27/2026

Tuesday’s Port Angeles City Council work session focused on the City’s Critical Areas Ordinance update.

We discussed wetlands, aquifer recharge areas, geologic hazards, fish and wildlife habitat, restoration, enforcement, and the balance between environmental protection and responsible development.

I wrote more about what I learned, the questions I asked, and where I am leaning as the ordinance continues through Planning Commission and Council review:

A recap of the August 25 Port Angeles City Council work session

08/24/2026

A new week means another Monday Council preview.

This week, the Port Angeles City Council will hold a work session on Tuesday at 5:00 PM focused on the City’s Critical Areas Ordinance update.

In this week’s video, I talk a little about what I’m watching as we head into that discussion and the work ahead.

Watch the full update below.

08/20/2026

Tuesday’s Port Angeles City Council meeting covered a lot of ground: long term electric utility planning, housing and development code changes, affordable senior housing, economic development, public safety equipment, and the City’s emerging Science of Hope work.

A common thread ran through much of the evening for me: planning for growth also means planning for the infrastructure, finances, and organizational capacity needed to support it.

I wrote more about the decisions we made, the questions I asked, and the work I reported doing between Council meetings in my latest recap:

A recap of the August 18 Port Angeles City Council meeting

08/18/2026

Last night’s Clallam County Marine Resources Committee meeting included a helpful discussion about derelict and abandoned vessels, the cost of removing them after they become a problem, and the role prevention can play through vessel turn-in and recycling programs.

I also asked what a future Clallam County effort would actually require from the MRC and how our committee could contribute without duplicating work already being done by DNR, ports, Tribes, and regional partners.

I wrote more about what I learned, a possible Clallam–Jefferson partnership, and how residents can report suspected derelict vessels:

A recap of the August 17 Clallam County Marine Resources Committee meeting

08/17/2026

Happy Monday, Port Angeles.

This week’s Council preview includes a quick look back at a couple of community events from the weekend and a look ahead to tonight’s Marine Resources Committee meeting and Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

There are several opportunities for public participation over the next two days.

Here is this week’s update.