The Hoquiam City Council, in a 9-1 vote Monday night, passed a moratorium on future oil facilities within the city, but has plans to review the ordinance’s language within the month.
The moratorium, which acts as a precursor to changing the city’s zoning code and preventing oil facilities indefinitely, is good for 30 days. Within that period, the city must hold a public hearing to collect feedback on the moratorium, said Brian Shay, the city’s manager.
The public hearing on the moratorium is scheduled for the council’s next meeting on March 23.
The vote comes five days after Mayor Jack Durney announced the moratorium in a memorandum and implored the council to pass it. The moratorium only prevents future oil projects from coming to the city, and doesn’t include the three planned facilities at the Port of Grays Harbor by Westway Terminals, Imperium Renewables and U.S. Development.
Port Director Gary Nelson was the first to speak during the meeting’s public comment and asked that the language in the ordinance be revised to be more specific. As proposed, he said, “liquefied petroleum storage and sales facilities” could refer to facilities housing more than just crude oil — under the North American Industry Classification System.
“What I would ask as you consider this moratorium is that you consider a few of the implications,” he said, adding that the ordinance could inadvertently prevent gas stations, as well as facilities for lubricating oils and greases. “I would encourage you to be very specific and make sure the proposal meets your intention.”
Durney responded by saying he was interested in making any changes to the ordinance that would clarify its intentions.
“Revisions can be made if it makes sense,” he said. “That’s certainly what we will do and the city of Hoquiam will continue to be an active partner with the Port on economic development as we have been for years and years.”
Several members of the council agreed with Nelson, adding that they were hesitant to vote on the moratorium with its current language. Shay told the council that the moratorium allowed time for public hearings and changes to be made to the ordinance.
Ward 1 Councilmember Paul McMillan was the single vote against the moratorium.
“I think it needs to have some more research and background information,” McMillan said. “It’s not that I was against the moratorium in any way, shape or form, it’s just that when it comes before the council, it should be done rather than in a working form.” Still, McMillan added that he was confident the council would tighten the ordinance in further hearings to make it more specific.
Councilmembers Jasmine Dickhoff and Ron Tibbetts were absent for Monday’s council meeting.
Oil opponents also commended the mayor’s ordinance, mentioning Thursday’s derailment near Galena, Ill. and another on Saturday in Ontario, Canada. Though the ordinance sets the tone for the future of the city, some said the three planned facilities need to be addressed.
During the public comment portion of the meeting Diane Wolfe, a Hoquiam resident, praised Durney for the ordinance and later called it “a step in the right direction.”
“The cons of the whole idea of bringing petroleum products into this harbor are overwhelming,” she said. “I was disappointed that there was no mention of the current projects, but still it seems like a real sea change in the way that the mayor and the council are finally coming around to understand that growth at any cost is not good for the city of Hoquiam.”
Shay said the city, in a best-case scenario, could pass the ordinance within 60 days. He added that he hadn’t heard of any additional applications for oil facilities since the moratorium was announced.
Kyle Mittan, 360-537-3932, kmittan@thedailyworld.com. Twitter: @KyleMittan
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