The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About04 April NewsletterNewsletterNewsletter April 2017 A Note from the Mayor: Over recent months I have mentioned the many projects that are or will soon be underway in the City. These projects are the result of significant process and planning. It is very exciting when we can see ground broken for something that was envisioned for years, sometimes decades. You’ll see updates on these projects in this newsletter as the year proceeds. In the meantime, we are activating the early steps required to make possible the future projects envisioned in our various adopted plans. The first step in this process was taken in early 2015 when we identified objectives and goals for a three-year horizon. Many of those goals have been completed or are underway. It is now time to embark on the goals to achieve Objective 4 of our 2015-2018 Strategic Plan: “Ensure sustainable future for public services and facilities”. I know this seems obvious since it is at the core of everything we do day in and day out. This is simply our way of identifying and tracking the major facilities and services in need of a fresh approach to ensure their long-term viability through reliable funding mechanisms. We are asking staff to study the following elements at the same time to help us find opportunities where the solution to one could help provide the solution to another and to avoid one solution from cancelling out another. At this stage, it presents a rather complex puzzle. By the end of this process we expect to see how the pieces can fit together, or perhaps a variety of ways to arrange the pieces, to get the best result for what we collectively defined in our Comprehensive Plan and various functional plans. For instance, the Comprehensive Plan calls for parks and recreation facilities, programs and opportunities that are in response to the needs of the City’s residents. The City’s 2014 Parks and Recreation Functional Plan expands on this guidance. The current funding source for parks sunsets in 2018. Our streets and transportation system is another piece of the puzzle that today has no reliable funding source. The Comprehensive Plan recommends that the City “should study and consider setting level of service (LOS) standards for pedestrian and bicycle facilities” and states that “this element seeks to assure the continuation of LOS that the community can afford, while meeting its vision for the future comprehensive transportation network.” The City’s Transportation Functional Plan expands on this guidance, suggesting a reassessment strategy that includes balancing improvement costs with available revenues, and exploring different funding mechanisms. There is a dedicated funding source for our Library that was approved through a 2008 levy approved. Despite the best efforts of the Library Director and Administration, the levy has not kept up with inflation. Additionally, our strategic objective to “Foster a strong education community culture” calls for collaboration on the new elementary school library services. No funding source has yet been identified to provide these additional services. Since 2006, Jefferson County Fire Protection District No. 1 (“East Jefferson Fire District” or “EFJR”) has provided fire service operations to the City under an interlocal agreement. While this agreement has generally worked out well for both parties, the inherent funding disparities associated with the differing levy authorities has required the original agreement’s financing provisions to be modified several times over the last decade. This is an opportune time to explore the different options available to the City for the provision of fire and emergency medical services. Over the coming months, staff will work with community stakeholders and related Advisory Boards to research the specific funding alternatives for each of the above elements. The findings will be reported to City Council to guide us as we define the next steps. For opportunities to participate in this phase of the process, keep an eye on our calendar (found on the homepage of www.cityofpt.us) and click through to the agendas of the City Council, Council Committee and/or Advisory Board meetings. 360.379.5047 • citycouncil@cityofpt.us • www.cityofpt.us The City recently had the opportunity to refinance its 2008 Limited Tax General Obligation bonds through an advance refunding of these bonds. The City applied to S&P Global Ratings for a rating on these bonds. The City Manager and Finance Director participated in a rating call with S&P analysts covering the local economy, City policies and practices, management and finance. After the call, based on the overall strength of the City, S&P upgraded the City’s bond rating from A+ to AA-. This rating upgrade helped keep the interest rates low on the refinanced bonds.The original 2008 bonds carried an aggregate interest rate of 4.64% and the refinanced bonds have an aggregate interest rate of 3.29%. The refinancing of the 2008 bonds produced net present value savings of $980,000 over the life of the bonds. This savings and the lower interest rate environment allowed the City to borrow an additional $3.2 million while maintaining approximately the same amount of annual debt payments. The City will use the additional $3.2 million to make improvements at the Carnegie library, fund matching dollars for sidewalk and street improvement projects and other general capital projects. The bond sale was handled by Seattle firm D.A. Davidson on February 22nd, with a final closing date of March 8th. MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Citizen Advisory Board Recruitment The following committees currently have vacancies or members whose terms may expire soon. Appointments are for three years. Library Advisory BoardPark Recreation and Tree Advisory BoardNon-Motorized Transportation Advisory BoardHistoric Preservation CommitteePlanning CommissionLodging Tax Advisory Committee Applications are available in the City Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 250 Madison Street, Port Townsend, WA. Call 379-5083 with questions and to request an application form or download from www.cityofpt.us (Boards & Commissions). City residency or employment within the City is a requirement for most positions. FM Hearing Assistance Devices Available Assistance is available in Council Chambers for those with hearing impairments. The wireless listening assistance system includes pocket size receivers with adjustable volume control. In-ear buds, earphones, and a mono neckloop are available and those with “around the neck” loop systems may be able to plug those directly into the receiver. The FM receiver will not interfere with pacemakers. More information on the system is available through the City Clerk’s office and printed instructions are available in Council Chambers. If you are planning to use an assistance device during a meeting in Chambers, please come a little early or call ahead if possible so we can be of greatest assistance prior to the start of the meeting. Staff from the Clerk’s office are also happy to make appointments at any time if you would like to drop by and try out the equipment to see what will work best for you. If you have questions or would like to make an appointment please contact the Clerk’s office at 379-5083 or jsanders@cityofpt.us. Bond Refinance 360-385-POOL(7665) • www.cityofpt.us/pool • 1925 Blaine St 360.379.5047 • citycouncil@cityofpt.us • www.cityofpt.us My Old Man and the Mountain with Leif Whittaker Port Townsend Public Library Friday, Apr. 7, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Join Leif Whittaker for an author talk about his memoir, My Old Man and the Mountain, which is his engaging and humorous story of what it was like to "grow up Whittaker" the youngest son of Jim Whittaker and Dianne Roberts, in an extended family of accom- plished climbers. He shares glimpses of his upbringing and how the pressure to climb started early on. With wry honesty he depicts being a recent college grad, still living in his parents' home and trying to find a purpose in life digging ditches, building houses, selling t-shirts to tourists until a chance encounter leads to the opportunity to climb Everest, just like his father did. Leif Whittaker was born in Port Townsend, Washington, at the foot of the Olympic Mountains. He reached his first major summit when he was 15 years old; he has since climbed many of the world's tall mountains. A writer and a photographer, Leif's work has appeared in Powder, The Ski Journal, and Backcountry. Leif lives in Bellingham, Washington, and is a seasonal USFS climbing ranger on Mount Baker. Visit him online at leifwhittaker.com. Earth Day SPRING CLEAN-UP, SATURDAY APRIL 22nd — Sweep Sidewalks, Wash Windows, Tackle a Painting Project, Weed Whack & Spiff up Storefronts Volunteers are invited to help on several downtown cleanup/weeding and painting projects from 9 am - 12 noon. Meet at Adams Street Park next to Nifty Fifty’s. Please bring hand tools, gardening gloves and wear work clothes. Merchants in the historic districts are asked to give special attention to their storefronts, attack sidewalk litter, and fix up planters or order flower baskets for their stores. To order a colorful hanging flower basket, merchants may contact Henery’s Garden Center at 385-3354. To sign up for the Port Townsend Main Street watering/maintenance program, contact Main Street: admin@ptmainstreet.org or call 360-385-7911. Additional Port Townsend Main Street beautification and maintenance projects include year-round maintenance of the Cotton Building Restrooms, Tyler Street portolettes, Adams Street Park, rain garden maintenance, and streetscape design-related projects. The Port Townsend Main Street Spring “LENT” (Light at the End of the Tunnel) Microloan application deadline is April 3, 2017. The LENT Fund is a tool to offset some of the financial impacts businesses in the commercial historic districts endure from emergency situations, though business development proposals will be considered. Examples: equipment failure, water/fire damage, construction impacts, theft recovery, moving expenses (within the Port Townsend historic districts). Business growth projects also considered but only in deference to emergency projects. The Port Townsend Main Street Program Mission: To preserve, promote and enhance our historic business districts. Visit www.ptmainstreet.org or call our office at 360-385-7911 to learn more It's time to get your kids ready for Summer with swimming lessons at Mountain View Pool. Registration for April's session opens March 22, and classes start April 10th. To sign up, call, visit our website, or stop by the pool. Thanks to donors who this past month contributed $1600 to support Mountain View Pool swim lesson scholarships, and to the JeffCo Aquatic Coalition for their Be A Lifesaver campaign. Marie Dressler Mike Kenna Olympic Art & Office Port Townsend Brewery Port Townsend Masonic Lodge #6 SOS Printing Sunny’s RV Swan Hotel Toland Home Garden Velocity Coffee Bayview Restaurant Bishop Victorian Hotel Glow Natural Skin Care Evergreen Fitness Ferino’s Pizza Frederickson Electric Hanson Electric Networks Hasse & Co. Port Townsend Sails Haven Boatworks Kayak Brinnon Lynne Stryker The Port Townsend Main Street Program Mission: To preserve, promote and enhance our historic business districts. Visit www.ptmainstreet.org or call our office at 360-385-7911 to learn more. STOP Prohibited Posting of Signs PT Municipal Code 17.76.070 L. prohibits “Signs attached to utility poles or traffic signs” This includes garage sales, announcements, advertising, ect. Please contact the Development Services Dept with questions about sign regulations: 360-379-5095. 360.379.5047 • citycouncil@cityofpt.us • www.cityofpt.us Capital Projects Update, Water Treatment Facility Although the water treatment filters have been on line since the middle of January, the new 5 million gallon reservoir was formally placed on line the middle of March. The inside of the tank was pressure washed and then disinfected for service. Other site activities included backfilling the perimeter of the reservoir and excavating a half million gallon detention pond for storm runoff. The old, existing reservoir was drained and ready to be demolished in early April. At the water treatment facility site, concrete foundations for the security gate were set. Preparations were also made for installing the security fence, paving the access road and providing landscaping. The paved trail along the east side of Rainier Street from Discovery Road to the intersection of Howard Street and 20th Street remains open There has been a lot going on with the Howard Street Extension over the past month. Seton Construction finishished wrapping up the irrigation sleeving on Howard Street and will start road grading at Park Ave. and Howard Street. They did work on the utilities that included testing and flushing of the water, as well as started the demo of the sidewalk and grinding the asphalt. They have also installaed power vaults and the joint utility trench. Capital Projects Update, Howard Street Extension