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Home My WebLink About01-January 2015January 2015 eComment A convenient method of participation is now available for City meetings. eComment allows you to sign up and make comments on matters coming up for discussion and decision. See online Agendas and Packets at http://www.cityofpt.us/video.htm The Council or Planning Commission will receive your public testimony on agenda items before they discuss and/or deliberate on the topic. If there is a desire for more commentary than the designed space allows, or submit attachments, a link is provided under the comment form. While this feature gives citizens another way to voice their opinions about City Council issues, other options remain for reaching City Council: all meetings are open to the public and public com- ment is solicited at most meetings. City Council can be contacted by telephone, seen in-person during scheduled office hours at City Hall, or receive cor- respondence through U.S. Mail or e-mail at citycouncil@cityofpt.us. The Citizen Participation Suite is an expansion of the Granicus software used to manage meeting content. All agenda packet materials are available and City meetings are broadcast live over the Internet. Ar- chived videos, meeting materials, and minutes are accessible in a searchable archive. Contact the City Clerk for more information or questions (Joanna Sanders 379-5083 or jsanders@cityofpt.us). Library Director Melody Sky Eisler The City is happy to welcome our new Library Director, who will begin her new position on February 9. Melody is currently the branch manag- er of the Silverdale Branch of Kitsap Regional Li- brary in Kitsap County, and has held management librarian posts at the Boise Public Library and the Garden City Public Library, both in Idaho. She has also worked as an arts professional in Idaho and currently serves as the chairwoman of the Kitsap County Arts Board. She has a history as an innovative public librarian, arts professional and community leader. The City conducted a nation-wide recruitment process which resulted in a strong and diverse field of library professionals. Individual pre- screening of applications was done by individuals representing city staff, the Library Foundation, school district, Jefferson County Library, the Uni- versity of Washington I-School, Library Advisory Board, and City Council. Six finalists were chosen and four participated in a day of interviews with three panels (city staff, stakeholders, elected and appointed officials). Comments from the public who attended an evening gathering at the Carne- gie Library were also reviewed. All panels recom- mended Ms. Eisler as their first choice to City Man- ager David Timmons. According to Mr. Timmons, “I selected Melody on the basis of the panel recommendations as well as a comprehensive interview. She brings the City a fresh perspective, a true dedication to libraries, and experience in building teams and community partnerships. She is a visionary and a passionate leader, someone who will be an excellent ‘face’ of the Port Townsend Library.” According to Ms. Eisler, “I am deeply honored to serve the City of Port Townsend as your new Li- brary Director. The City and Library of Port Town- send are at a beautiful moment in time to honor your incredible past and to start envisioning a vi- brant future. I strive to make a difference every day for my community through servant leadership.” She plans to relocate to Port Townsend. MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Citizen Advisory Board Recruitment The City of Port Townsend is seeking interested citi- zens to fill volunteer positions on the following advi- sory boards/committees/commissions. All commit- tees have either vacancies or members with terms expiring on December 31, 2014. Appointments are for three years. Arts Commission Historic Preservation Committee Park Recreation and Tree Advisory Board Planning Commission Applications are available in the City Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 250 Madison Street. Call 379-5083 to request an application form or download from www.cityofpt.us (Council/Boards & Committees). City residency or employment within the City is a requirement for most positions. Digital Skills Training Through the Washington State Library 2014 Digital Skills Training Grant, the Port Townsend Public Library will be offering classes to develop skills for digital literacy among youth and adults. The project will involve classes focused on digital skill competencies with tablet and laptop computers and provide instruction in Windows-based computer programming and cod- ing. Classes will be held in the Library Learning Center and taught by the library’s technical services manager and youth services librarian. All classes are free, but space is limited. Call the library or sign up in person or on the library’s www.ptpubliclibrary.org. Classes will be held on Thursdays in the Library Learning Center (Charles Pink House), 1256 Lawrence Street with the exception of the 2014-15 National STEM Video Game Challenge Hands-On Workshop for kids, which will be held on Sunday, January 25 at the Cotton Building, downtown Port Townsend. For information on adult classes, contact Keith Darrock at 360-390-4061 or email kdarrock@cityofpt.us. For information on youth and teen classes, contact Kit Ward-Crixell at 360-344-3059 or email kwardcrixell@cityofpt.us. Classes made possible by grant funding from the Washington State Library and by the generosity of the Smith- sonian, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, E-Line Media, the Entertainment Software Association and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Center for Quality Communities scholarship fund is offering young leaders a chance to compete for one of six $1,250 scholarships to be awarded next spring. One Jefferson County high school student who plans to pursue a post-secondary degree in the 2015-16 aca- demic year and who has been actively engaged with their community, city government, or school leadership activity will be nominated by the City of Port Townsend. Applications are available by visiting or calling the City of Port Townsend (360) 379-5047. Criteria will be ranked on a scale of 45 total points. The top ranked candidate will then be nominated by the City to go on to the AWC Center for Quality Communities for evaluation and potential award. To be considered for nomination, you must:  Complete an application form, along with;  One letter of recommendation from a non- relative; and,  Complete a personal essay on your qualifications. Applications will be reviewed by the Council General Services Committee. Have your completed packet into Joanna Sanders, City Clerk, City of Port Townsend, 250 Madison St., Suite 2, Port Townsend, WA 98368, by February 13. National STEM Video Game Challenge Workshop Comes to Port Townsend Public Library Do you know a child or teen who wants to create video games? Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help them? A free workshop pre- sented by the Library on January 25, featuring profes- sional game designers from E-Line Media, will intro- duce kids, parents and teachers to the National STEM Video Game Challenge, presented by the Smithsonian in partnership with the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media. Our Library is one of 14 sites in the US where kids, teens, and par- ents can learn video game design together in a hands- on workshop. In this interactive workshop they will also learn how to enter a game in the challenge. Now in its fourth year, the National STEM Video Game Challenge will be accepting entries from youth in grades 5 – 12 through February 25, 2015. The workshop will be held at the Cotton Building and will feature an information session for teachers who want to start school teams, a hands-on game design workshop for families, and a special presentation for parents. For more information or to sign up, please contact the Library at 360-385-3181. Port Townsend Public Library presents in the Learning Center 1256 Lawrence St.: Wednesdays, January 7, 14, and 21 at 6:30 p.m. - The Great War: End of a Civilization presented by former diplomat and National Defense University lecturer Lawrence Kerr. Thursday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m. - Best selling author and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist William Dietrich will speak and show slides on A Writer's Life and his most current book North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby.