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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 - April NewsletterApril 2016 From Mayor Deborah Stinson Like many of you who are participating in this year’s Community Read, I notice that climate change is a topic of interest more frequently and in more venues. For instance, Commissioner Phil Johnson and I had the opportunity to address 25 excited 4th - 8th grade students at Blue Heron as they became Climate Ambassadors as part of Plant for the Planet. PFTP is an inter- national organization, so far impacting 193 countries, started by 9-year-old Felix Finkbeiner in 2007 after a climate change presentation in his classroom. Our students have now joined a group of 33,000 Climate Ambassadors who are working to make their world healthy and sustainable. The new Ambassadors gave an impressive presentation to their parents after a day of engaging activities involving tree-planting basics, information on climate science and climate justice, and how to engage others in making a difference. Ongoing projects will be planned and im- plemented by the students, but not before they got their “Stop Talking, Start Planting” photo op with an elect- ed local official. That’s me with sixth grader Jeannette Patric. Looks like now is the time to plant those trees that last year’s drought discouraged. The topic surfaced again as we work with Jefferson County’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM) to update our Hazard Mitigation Plan. The findings from the recently published Climate Change Prepared- ness Plan for the North Olympic Peninsula (see www.noprcd.org) will be included along with all other data coming from the various agencies across Jefferson County. The first draft of the Hazard Mitigation Plan is currently under review and you can provide input at www.jprephazmitplan.org . Speaking of the DEM, have you heard about the upcoming ‘Cascadia Rising 2016 Exercise’? This national level drill provides federal, state and local organizations the opportunity to test a coordinated response to a worst-case scenario of a 9.0 earthquake off the northwest coast. The City of Port Townsend is participating along with the multiple agencies coordinated by the Department of Emergency Management. The exercise will take place June 6 -10. The most visible part of the exercise in our community will be the possible increased Navy presence as they exercise at Indian Island to test their capability to deliver aid and resources. The bulk of the local exercise will have the Incident Management Team testing alternative com- munication tools, inter-agency coordination, logistics planning and much more - all while working from tents since the scenario assumes our Emergency Operations Center is inaccessible. You can learn more by read- ing the very informative newsletters that are being posted on the DEM website – www.jeffcoeoc.org/current. While on that page, also check out the locally produced document, Think Plan Do Repeat, to help you pre- pare your own household and/or neighborhood for any emergency. None of what I have mentioned here happens without a robust and engaged core of volunteers. The City of Port Townsend benefits from our own bounty of volunteers who contribute through our various advisory boards and commissions. I’m enjoying the opportunity to meet with each of these boards to craft new oper- ating procedures that can keep them at their most effective while also adhering to the changing regulatory landscape. Each board is enthusiastic about their mission and all have mentioned they always welcome the fresh perspective of new participants. Please read the related article elsewhere in this newsletter to learn more about what they do and consider contributing your own unique skills and insights. Finally, the council retreat mentioned in earlier newsletters has been scheduled for April 25. Please watch the newspapers or check our home page at www.cityofpt.us for details as the date approaches. MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Citizen Advisory Board Recruitment The following committees have either vacancies or members with terms expiring at the end of April. Appointments are typically for three years. The Arts Commission promotes and encourages public programs to further the development and pub- lic awareness of and interest in the arts, and to act in an advisory capacity to the City government in connection with the artistic and cultural development of the City. Members are selected based on their knowledge and expertise with respect to the performing, visual and literary arts. The many activities sponsored by the Arts Commission include an annual one -act play contest and juried art exhibitions. The Library Advisory Board advises the City Manager and City Council concerning the operations of the Port Townsend Library. The board offers advisory opinions concerning the supervision, care and custody of library property; the annual operations budget; purchase of supplies and materials for li- brary patrons; and hours of operation for public use of the library. The board also develops policy for the selection of books, periodicals, maps, materials, and information services for the library's opera- tion. In addition, the board may make recommendations to the City Council regarding long -range planning of facilities and funding-based proposals. The Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board advises the City Council on the planning, funding and maintenance of the City's non-motorized transportation facilities, including implementa- tion of the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan and promotion of walking and bicycling for both recrea- tion and transportation throughout the City. The Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board advises City Council on issues related to the City's parks, open spaces, trees and recreational opportunities. The board provides review, advice and rec- ommendations on the implementation of the Port Townsend Parks, Recreation and Open Space Functional Plan and other topics that are important to maintaining and expanding the City's commit- ment to conservation and legislation regarding the City's parks and trees. The board organizes com- munity efforts to maintain and protect the City's recreational assets. The Historic Preservation Committee is comprised of local citizens who serve as a review board for proposals regarding historically significant resources within the city. They advocate for historic preser- vation and provide recommendations to the Department of Development Services regarding proposed projects. The committee prepares and proposes revisions to design review guidelines for evaluating development proposals. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is authorized to engage in tourism planning and promotion ac- tivities; the committee reviews applications for tourism promotion and tourism -related facility project and makes recommendations to the City Council regarding the projects the city should fund through lodging tax receipts. Membership consists of one elected official of the city, four representatives of businesses or entities required to collect the lodging tax, four representatives involved in activities funded by the lodging tax, and two at-large members. Applications are available in the City Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 250 Madison Street. Call 379-5083 with questions and to request an application form, or download the form at the www.cityofpt.us/council/boards.html City residency or employment within the City is a requirement for most positions. April 2016 Prohibited Posting Of Signs The PT Municipal Code 17.76.070 L. prohibits “Signs attached to utility poles or traffic signs.” This includes garage sales, announce- ments, advertising, etc. Please contact the Develop- ment Services Dept. 379 - 5095 with questions about sign regulations. News from the new Water Treatment Facility At the new reservoir, the 11 exterior core con- crete walls being placed are 40 feet high and 60 cubic yards of concrete each. At two per week and weather holding, the walls will be complete by the end of March and be ready to post ten- sion the vertical strands. Roof shoring will be moved into the structure prior to the last wall closure. Work on the reinforced masonry walls for the treatment building is complete and roof joists are being set. The longest joists are 80 feet in length. Most of the pre-purchased filter equipment has been delivered to the site. Next month the major filter array skids will ar- rive. The Offsite contractor for water, sewer and communications feeds to the plant has re- started operations along Rainier Street and has completed the sewer line extension to the plant. CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATES For current information on our capital projects please visit our “Current Project/Map” link on the City of Port Townsend website Home Page at www.cityofpt.us SPRING CLEAN UP REMINDER: During the week of April 11 – 15, 2016, DM Disposal will pick up 3 extra cans/bags of garbage and/or yard waste at no additional charge for customers inside Port Townsend city limits. DM Disposal will also be picking up one appli- ance per customer. There will be a $20.00 Fre- on removal fee for refrigerators and freezers, other appliances will be picked up at no cost to the customer. For further information please call DM Disposal at (360)-385-6612 The City is conducting a "periodic update" to the Comprehensive Plan and development regulations. In 2015, we asked for sug- gestions, reviewed changes in State law, and assessed popula- tion and employment growth forecasts. On November 16, 2015, City Council considered all the information and approved a scope of work (aka the docket). In 2016, we will draft the revisions in accordance with the approved docket. The update must be adopted by June 30, 2016, to en- sure compliance with the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA). How can I get involved? Attend meetings & provide input: Check the City’s meeting calendar at: http://www.cityofpt.us/ Check the dedicated webpage at: http://www.cityofpt.us/dsd/compplan.html Use the links at the top of the webpage to view past meetings and documents related to the GMA Periodic Update. Submit written comment to: 2016Update@cityofpt.us Participate via SpeakUp: www.speakuppt.us As we progress through the update process, we will periodically post questions on the SpeakUp Port Townsend site to gather feedback from citizens via this interactive online tool. Please check in frequently to give your input on the each of the five Comprehensive Plan elements (i.e., Housing, Transportation, Land Use, Capital Facil- ities and Utilities, and Economic Development). Join the Discussion on SpeakUp Port Townsend! Capital Facilities & Utilities Element discussion featured through April 14th. Economic Development Element discussion featured through April 28th. April 23 from 9 am – noon, Earth Day Spring Clean-Up! It's time to spruce up storefronts, order flower baskets, sweep sidewalks and beautify our corner of the world. The Port Townsend Main Street Program is painting the Tyler Street staircase and the fence next to The Green Eyeshade, as well as working in Adams Street Park. Earth Day Spring Clean-Up is sponsored by The Boiler Room. Would you like to help us beautify Port Townsend? Contact the Main Street office at 385-7911 to find out more.