HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 2014From Mayor David King
The long Thanksgiving weekend required an earlier newsletter deadline this month and with the
2014 Budget and Comp Plan amendments plus projects at Fort Worden and Mountain View still
before us - and Growlers overhead - I had to choose between doing the Mayor’s job and writing
about it. So not much from the Mayor in the newsletter this month.
Even so I have a holiday sentiment I wish to share. Since I long ago settled tensions between Baptist and Meth-
odist grandparents by declaring myself an agnostic I’m already more comfortable with “holiday” than something
more sectarian, and as I have led a fortunate life thus far my spirituality is mostly driven by how grateful I feel.
Along with this, I believe the inconvenient truth that our entire world is no longer a limitless buffer for human am-
bitions and disputes. Our sense of responsibility for its care is strengthened by projecting local experience onto a
global context - particularly in our kids - as in “the sea connects us all.” Port Townsend is unique. But there are
many other unique places to treasure on our world and many communities like ours working to pre-
serve their local treasures. We are unique. But we are not alone. The holidays are an annual oppor-
tunity to share the renewal of gratitude and care.
I am thankful to be here: my family, this place, this community, this portion of the world. I wish for us
all a peaceful and joyous holiday.
December 2014
City introduces new Public Comment System
The City has launched a new method for citizens to provide feedback to City Council. ECom-
ment is designed to generate public input and provide a convenient method of participation for
those unable to attend meetings. The new system is now accessible through the City’s website
at www.cityofpt.us.
Once agendas are posted online (Thursday of the week prior to Council meetings), residents can open the eCom-
ment link and sign up to comment on Council action items. Comment is open until 3 p.m. the day of the City
Council meeting. Comments are then posted in a report format as an attachment to the City Council agenda
packet and become part of the public record. If citizens want to provide more commentary than the designed
space allows, or submit attachments, a link is provided under the comment form. In addition to online City
council agendas, residents are able to watch portions of Council meetings related to agenda items. Council
business meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month, with a workshop usually scheduled
on the second Monday.
This feature gives citizens another way to voice their opinions about City Council issues. The Citizen Partici-
pation Suite is an expansion of the Granicus software used to manage meeting content. In 2009, the City began
posting all agenda packet materials and broadcasting City meetings live over the Internet. Archived videos,
meeting materials, and minutes are accessible in a searchable archive.
While this new tool provides a convenient method of participation, it does not replace other options for
reaching City Council. All meetings are open to the public and public comment is solicited at most meetings.
City Council members can be contacted by telephone, seen in-person during scheduled office hours at City
Hall, or receive correspondence through U.S. Mail or e-mail at citycouncil@cityofpt.us.
In 2015, the City plans to expand this technology and offer an easy-to-use interface where residents can
offer ideas, vote on the ideas, or provide feedback on current City projects and initiatives. Within a few
clicks, residents will be able to easily offer suggestions on how to improve the way the City does business.
Contact the City Clerk Joanna Sanders for more information or questions. jsanders@cityofpt.us,
360-379-5083.
Wondering what to do with your tree after the holidays?
Residents have two options:
#1. City of Port Townsend curbside recycling customers can place their trees out for regular yard
waste pickup the weeks of January 5 and 19, 2015. If your tree is over 4 feet tall, please cut it in
half before you place it out for pick-up. Trees need to be clean - no flocked trees will be accepted;
all tinsel, ornaments, and wood stands must be removed prior to recycling of the tree. Otherwise
they will be collected as garbage at the standard fee.
#2. You can self-haul your trees to the City’s Biosolids Composting Facility, located at the Jefferson
County Waste Management Facility off Jacob Miller Road. There is a minimum charge of $5.00 or
$48/ton if over 200 lbs. to drop off yard debris at this site. It is open Monday through Saturday, 9
a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Garfield Street Rain Garden
Pilot Project
What does the pilot project involve?
Two rain gardens were constructed in
November along Garfield Street to treat
roadway stormwater runoff.
This pilot project has two main objectives:
To improve the water quality of storm-
water runoff through treatment and cap-
turing contaminated sediments before
traveling downhill and flowing into the
marine waters of Port Townsend Bay.
To evaluate the level of maintenance
required by adjacent homeowners to keep
rain gardens functioning and looking good.
The project is funded by the Jefferson County Ma-
rine Resources Committee (MRC) and sponsored by
WSU Jefferson County Extension, the City of Port
Townsend and the MRC. For more information,
Contact Liz Kanieski with the City of Port Townsend
at (360) 390-4039 or Bob Simmons with WSU Ex-
tension at (360) 379-5610 ext. 207.
What is a Rain Garden?
A rain garden collects,
absorbs, and filters stormwater
runoff from roof tops, drive-
ways, roadways, patios, and
other impervious areas. Rain Gardens are
shallow depressions which:
Can be shaped and sized to fit your yard.
Are constructed with soil mixes that allow
water to soak in rapidly and support
healthy plant growth.
Can be landscaped with a variety of
plants to fit the surroundings.
Can treat pollutants in stormwater runoff
through soil mix and plants.
City Public Works and WSU Extension staff excavate
rain garden on Garfield Street
City offices will be closed
December 24 & 25
and January 1, 2015
Take care if you are travelling and we hope
you enjoy the warmth of the holidays
with friends and family.
December 2014
Enjoy Victorian Port Townsend in December
Saturdays December 6, 13, 20, 1-3 p.m. Holiday Open Parlor
Saturday, December 6, 4:30 pm - Community Treelighting & Santa Visit at Haller Fountain
Saturday, December 6 - First Saturday Gallery Walk
Saturday, December 13, 1-4 p.m. - Victorian Yuletide Festival
Saturday, December 20, 1-3 p.m. - Caroling in the Streets
1-4 p.m. - Kiwanis Choo-Choo Rides and Tree Decorating
Monday, December 22, 6-10 p.m. - Main Street Quarterly Pub Crawl.
Wednesday, December 31 - First Night Celebration. An alcohol-free event for all-ages with fireworks.
The Victorian Holidays in Port Townsend are sponsored by Port Townsend Main Street Program,
City of Port Townsend, First Federal, Henery’s Hardware, and participating merchants.
Events subject to change. www.ptmainstreet.org www.enjoypt.com/holidays
WATER – 2015 MONTHLY FEES
BASE RATE - (Residential and Commercial) USAGE FEE - Charge is per 1,000 gallons
Meter Size Inside City Outside City Type of Account Inside City Outside City
5/8” to 3/4” (Low Income) $9.77 $11.72 Low Income Residential $2.59 $3.10
5/8” to 3/4” $18.29 $21.95 Residential (including duplexes) $2.59 $3.10
1” $45.75 $54.90 Multi-Family (3 or more units) $2.01 $2.41
1 ½” $91.49 $109.79 Commercial A Meter < 2” $2.98 $3.57
2” $146.40 $175.68 Commercial B Meter ≥ 3” $4.48 $5.38
3” $274.49 $329.39 Government $3.88 $4.66
4” $457.48 $548.98 Irrigation – Winter (Nov - April) $3.10 $3.72
6” $914.97 $1,097.97 Irrigation – Summer (May – Oct) $5.44 $6.52
WATER CAPITAL SURCHARGE (NON-TAXABLE)
Inside City $18.00
Outside City $21.60
2015 Utility Rate Increase
The work on improvements to our water system has begun. The September 2014 newsletter
discussed water quality and some of the steps that are being taken to ensure safe drinking water
for our community. The September 2013 newsletter discussed the planned rate increases that
were adopted to fund the necessary improvements to our water infrastructure. As mentioned, there
are significant financial obligations to make the improvements to our aging water and sewer systems.
Effective January 1, 2015, rate increases will result in an additional 53 cents for a standard residential
meter (larger size meters will have a slightly higher increase) and an additional 8 cents per thousand
gallons used. Also, the capital surcharge to support these required water infrastructure improvements
increases by $6 per month effective January 1, 2015. The surcharge is a temporary rate set in place
to pay for the mandated water filtration and necessary storage. The City has obtained favorable
financing and is scheduled to complete the $26,000,000 investment mid-year 2016. Sewer and storm
water rates are not changing in January 2015. To view previous newsletters explaining the State and
Federally mandated water projects and the detailed utility rate charts, see “What can I help you find?”
at the top of the City website and go to “Newsletters” or “Utility Information,” “Utility Rates.” The 2015
rate schedule is also available under the “Utility Rates” link.
NIXLE NOW “You’ll know as soon
as we know.”
NIXLE is a text and email notifica-
tion service that allows agencies including
emergency management, fire departments,
law enforcement, city and county govern-
ments to notify citizens of incidents in pro-
gress.
Notifications may deal with weather-related
incidents, accidents blocking roads or other
potential threats to public safety.
SIGN UP NOW to receive local text alerts.
Log on to www.jeffcoeoc.org and click on the
cell phone. Follow the simple steps and be
sure to complete the final step by replying to
the confirmation message you will receive. It
will be identified as 888777.
There is no cost for this service. Normal text
message fees your phone service charges
may apply.
TYPICAL MESSAGE CONTENT:
ALERT level: Urgent information; significant in-
progress events; the highest priority. ALERT level
will be used for emergencies requiring immedi-
ate attention.
ADVISORY level: Important information where
vigilance and awareness are necessary; does not
have the immediate importance or time sensitivi-
ty of an Alert. May include major road closures.
Michael Bartkus Receives Wastewater
Treatment Plant Oper-
ator of the Year Award
On October 28, 2014 at
the Pacific Northwest
Clean Water Association
Conference in Vancou-
ver, WA Michael Bartkus
was presented with the
2014 Western Washing-
ton Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of
the Year Award from the Pacific Northwest
Clean Water Association. Michael has been
an operator with the City of Port Townsend
since 1996 and is one of three operators that
operate and maintain the wastewater treat-
ment facility and sewer lift stations.
City Wastewater Treatment Plant and Bio-Solids
Wastewater Treatment Plant receive
Department of Ecology 2013 Awards
The Department of Ecology evaluates wastewater
treatment plants in Washington for compliance with
the effluent limits, monitoring and reporting require-
ments, spill prevention planning, pretreatment, and
overall operational demands of the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. It
takes diligent operators and a strong management
team, working effectively together, to achieve this
high level of compliance. Our thanks go out to:
John Merchant, Operations Manager
Jim Freitas, Biosolids/Compost Operator
Bliss Morris, Biosolids/Compost Operator
Mike Bartkus, WWTF Operator
Bob Mackey, WWTF Operator
Dave Rodia, WWTF Operator
Historical Society’s 135th Birthday
The Jefferson County Historical Society is celebrat-
ing its 135th birthday this year. Founded in 1879,
JCHS has grown into one of the largest historic
preservation organizations in the state. JCHS oper-
ates five heritage facilities - the Jefferson Museum
of Art & History, the Rothschild House Museum, the
Commanding Officer’s Quarters, the Historical Re-
search Center and the Olympic Peninsula Gateway
Visitor Center.
County-wide programs include oral history, travel-
ling teachers’ trunks, West End Weekend, First
Night New Year’s Eve celebration, summer history
camps, publications, historical walking tours, and
First Friday lectures.
The society is not a governmental agency. It is
funded by memberships, donations, grants, special
events, and gift shop sales. Over 40,000 people
participate in society programs annually and some
2,000 school children visit the museums.
The Historical Society’s programs are open to eve-
ryone. Visit www.JCHSmuseum.org for program
information and come visit the Jefferson Museum of
Art & History at 540 Water Street for a glimpse into
Jefferson County’s past.
FILL THE BUS!
December 6, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. toy donations
can be dropped off at the Jefferson Transit bus parked at
the old Visitor’s Center