HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-August 2015August 2015
Port Townsend Water Resources Update
The City is asking our customers to conserve water and minimize outdoor watering now.
A multi stage Drought Response Plan was adopted by the City Council on July 20th.
Drawdown of the Lords Lake reservoir began on July 16th, a month and a half earlier than
normal, due to declining stream flows. Flow in the Big Quilcene River is about a third of
normal for this time of the year.
Weekly updates of the water supply status are available at the City’s website:
www.cityofpt.us
On the main page, scroll down to the bottom and click on:
Drinking Water Supply Status Reports
What a confusing summer. An abundance of fine summer weather to enjoy, but drought, fire danger
and water use issues to worry about. Improving business and real estate activity to celebrate, but a
critical shortage of affordable housing, particularly rentals. Our bustling downtown and popular sum-
mer programs have brought traffic and parking problems and have renewed concerns that our small
town character will be lost to a local economy too dependent on tourism.
Citizens advocating for a particular change may try to bolster their case by downplaying the benefits
of what they oppose – minimizing the economic benefit of tourism for instance. Elected officials do not
have that luxury and must try to consider all consequences. As there are only a few newsletters remaining in my
term on Council I thought I’d share how I consider and try to balance conflicting values.
For me, a sustainable community operates like a biological system that is able to remain diverse and pro-
ductive indefinitely. We can no longer rely solely on the concept of economic growth because endless consumption
and production without regard to environmental degradation is not, well, sustainable. But “sustainability” implies
there is a steady-state of human affairs to which we can aspire. Everything will be OK if we just get the mix right. But
everything’s never OK for long. Adaptability is key to all biological systems and resilience, as the community’s ca-
pacity to absorb and recover from shocks helps evaluate our ability to achieve sustainability in a complex and uncer-
tain world. Three basic metrics constitute a “triple bottom line” for community resilience:
Economic resilience - The financial strength and stability of the community, including our economic vitality and
diversity, our internal economic performance, and our connections to the greater community that surrounds us
locally, regionally and nationally.
Social resilience - The “human capital” of the community, our personal and social relationships, institutions,
and alliances, and the political and cultural cohesion of our society.
Environmental resilience - The operation of the community in terms of resource utilization and waste minimiza-
tion, as well as its ability to protect and nurture the natural ecosystems in which it operates.
As not all efforts to improve resilience are sustainable, I try to consider the total effect of any change from
these three perspectives, favoring existing conditions and institutions that I feel already contribute, and diversity gen-
erally.
As if the slowly unfolding natural disaster of human caused climate change is not enough, now the New
Yorker Magazine tells us we are a hundred years overdue for a major earthquake. I strongly recommend attending
the All County Picnic at H.J. Carroll Park on August 23rd to learn about what our community is doing, and what you
can do, to prepare for such an event. The picnics have been wonderful community gatherings the last two years -
preparedness is easier when accompanied by food and music. And optimism is essential for resilience.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PORT TOWNSEND DRINKING WATER
Purpose of this notification.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has determined that the City’s watershed control program does not meet cur-
rent Department expectations for being a permitted unfiltered drinking water system. While water quality has not changed, fo r
regulatory purposes, the water system is considered to be out of treatment compliance. Chlorine disinfection continues to provide
protection from microbial contaminants, which generally is more than adequate for safe drinking water treatment.
Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that
can cause symptoms such as, nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.
What is being done?
The City has chosen to build a new membrane filtration water treatment facility to meet federal drinking water standards. Bidding
is underway for the construction of the new water treatment facility and work on the associated site preparation and utility exten-
sions is expected to begin this month. The filtration plant is scheduled to be operating by October 2016. Until the treatment
plant is operational customers will receive a notice similar to this every three months.
What should I do?
This situation does not require that you take action, however people with severely compromised immune systems,
infants, and some elderly may want to seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. More infor-
mation is available through the City’s web site http://www.cityofpt.us/waterquality.htm or from the Port Townsend
Department of Water Quality (360-379-5001).
POST your ideas. SUPPORT what you like.
JOIN the discussion SpeakUpPT
How do I access Speak Up? Either click on the Speak Up icon on the City’s website home page or
go to www.SpeakUpPT.us
What is going to happen with my Idea? On Ideas for which there appears to be broad user support,
the mayor and city manager will decide whether to elevate the idea to city leadership for further discussion
or consideration. In the system, this progress will be shown as “Under Review, Planned, In Progress, or
Completed.” Several times a year, Council reviews legislative priorities and whether and what to add to its
calendar for possible action.
Where can I see survey results? Results will be reported as an extension of staff reports presented
to Council. Comments posted will go to policy makers and department leadership. The Clerk’s office is also
happy to provide a specific report or results. Just ask.
How do I sign in to submit my idea and do I need to sign up to participate? While some surveys do
not require you to log in to complete a survey, those wishing to make comment would need to sign in.
Signing Up and Signing In to SpeakUp
If... Do This...
You have not yet registered on the site Click Sign up in the right sidebar, and create an account: enter an email
address, password (you will need to confirm your password), your name
and address, and click Sign Up. Confirm your account when you receive a
confirmation email.
You have previously registered on the site Click Sign in in the top right corner of your screen, enter the email ad-
dress and password you used when you created your account, and click
Sign in.
You’re a Facebook user and Facebook login is acti-Login using Facebook connect.
August 2015
Upcoming Port Townsend Public Library schedule changes:
The library will open late on the last Friday of each month to allow time for staff training. We will be open from
1:00-5:00pm on the following Fridays: July 31, August 28, September 25, and October 30.
The city library wants to ensure we provide exceptional service to our community through continuing education
for the library staff.
News from the Port Townsend Library Youth Services Programs
With summer reading in full swing at the Port Townsend Public Library, children's book checkouts are up
33% and teen book checkouts are up a whopping 77% over this time last year. This is great news for our com-
munity! We know that summer reading increases students' success throughout their school careers. A land-
mark study by Dominican University found that children who complete summer reading programs at public li-
braries not only do better in reading when they go back to school in the fall, but also are more motivated and
better prepared to learn. Children who don't read in the summers during their elementary school years start
middle school up to two grade levels behind their peers who did. All it takes is for kids to read or be read to for
at least ten hours in the summer.
In the spring, library staff made multiple visits to hundreds of students at Grant Street and Blue Heron schools
to talk about children's books and programs and find out what kids were interested in reading. The library pur-
chased over 200 new children's and teen books for summer, including popular series and stand-alone titles.
Children have said there is "really good stuff," "so much good stuff," and "lots to read" at the library.
The summer reading programming has brought many kids into the library. Our popular "Book Camp" program
let kids experience popular children's and teen book series from the characters' point of view. Every Saturday,
children gather to create art, play games, and eat snacks inspired by different book series, including Harry Pot-
ter, Percy Jackson, Narnia, and more. We were especially lucky to have Bainbridge author Suzanne Selfors
come to visit and talk about her Imaginary Veterinary series on Imaginary Veterinary day!
Did you know that children can check out nontraditional library materials? The library offers five American Girl
doll and book kits that teach families what life was like in different periods in America's past. From Kaya, a Nez
Perce girl living in the Pacific Northwest in 1764, to Rebecca, a Victorian girl in New York City, to Julie, a girl
growing up in 1970's San Francisco, these dolls and books teach children about issues and events that were
important to kids like them at different times and places.
The library also has three Wonder Workshop robots to check out. These durable robots use free apps for Apple
or Android to teach computer programming. Once the robot is checked out, children pair the robot with a family
phone or tablet via Bluetooth. They use a computer programming language called Blockly to write programs
that make the robot perform various tasks. In a New York Times article, Marina Behrs, professor at the Tufts
University Eliot Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, says, "Programming teaches
skills that are an important educational foundation. If you want children to be able to learn how to read and do
math, they need to understand order, sequencing, and problem solving in a systematic way." We know that 4
out of 5 college students majoring in science or technology fields decided on their careers in high school
or earlier. Making this learning opportunity available is one way the library can fulfill the city's goal of advancing
technology and innovation in Port Townsend. The library hopes to offer a telescope to check out soon too.
The mission of the Youth Services department at the library is to power learn-
ing with materials and hands-on programs that bring subjects to life. Our goal
is to build literacy and developmental assets in every child who has contact
with the library. There is lots in store, and we are always interested in ways to
serve you better. Please feel free to contact us at 360-385-3181 or come by
to see us!
www.ptpubliclibrary.org
The 3rd Annual All County Picnic is Sunday, August 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at HJ Carroll Park in Chimacum
This free, all-ages community celebration is designed to inspire and strengthen resiliency
as well as heighten awareness of local emergency resources in neighborhoods throughout
Jefferson County.
Presented by Local 20/20 and Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management, and with support
from a variety of community organizations, the All County Picnic includes: live music, free corn on the cob,
informative speakers and demonstrations, a play zone and group activities, food vendors and plenty of
room to connect.
Jefferson County is susceptible to earthquakes, tsunami, forest fire, extreme weather and volcanoes, po-
tential disasters that local communities are aware of. Over the last seven years, more than 125 neighbor-
hoods have prepared together in order to be more resilient to natural or man-made disasters and, in the
process, become a friendlier place to live. “Talking about and preparing for disaster is difficult – it’s not
something that you want to talk about with your family, your neighbors – but it is crucial,” said Bob Hamlin,
Director of the Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management. “The
beauty, the dichotomy of the All County Picnic is that we can have this difficult
conversation in an environment that is fun, welcoming and supportive.”
Learn more at allcountypicnic.com.
Port Townsend Main Street Program
“Fostering economic vitality and preservation of place within our historic
business districts, while maintaining our small town quality of life.”
Celebrating 30th Anniversary Year in 2015!
August 15th 9 am—5 pm—Annual Uptown Street Fair—family fun!
August 30th 5:00 p.m.—The Port Townsend Family Photo Town Photo
Concerts on the Docks continues Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. through August 20th
For more details about Main Street Program events: www.ptmainstreet.org