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November 2017
A Note from the Mayor:
Mayor Deborah Stinson
Ten years ago, Port Townsend teamed up with Jefferson County to jointly adopt a goal to decrease our greenhouse gas
emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. To that end, in 2011 we adopted the Port Townsend/Jefferson County
Climate Action Plan (CAP) that is being moved forward by the Climate Action Committee (CAC) made up of appointed
stakeholders representing most sectors of our community.
(details can be found at www.co.jefferson.wa.us/637/Climate-Action-Committee)
The preamble to our CAP states “We are aware that our city and county represent a small fraction of this earth’s surface
and population. Our contribution to global climate change is small, but we recognize our responsibility as global citizens
to do what we can to protect this fragile ecosystem now and for those who follow.” As we continue to chip away at our
contribution, we realize more can be accomplished by joining forces with other jurisdictions. Our participation in creating
a Climate Preparedness Plan for the North Olympic Peninsula is a recent example.
Another action called for by several residents resulted in Council’s agreement that Port Townsend join the Climate
Mayors – a network of 362 U.S. Mayors representing 66 million Americans spanning the political spectrum. Members of
this network pledge to work together to strengthen local efforts for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and support
efforts for binding federal and global-level policy making. Since joining this network, I have signed letters opposing the
U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Accords and the repeal of the Clean Power Plan.
Moving forward, I will be learning from other mayors how and if various measures work and to explore helpful tools that
could help expedite our local efforts. But just as it will take cities large and small, this challenge requires individual effort
as well. It all adds up! Click on Related Links on the CAC website noted above to find local tools you need to save
energy, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint — at home, at work, and on the road.
Thank you for speaking up Port Townsend!
This summer, hundreds of you shared input on how the City can keep you better informed about the issues you care
about. In our continuing efforts to improve how we serve you, we’re grateful for the feedback.
The City’s communications consultant, Pyramid Consulting, will be presenting their findings and recommendation to the
City Council at Council’s October 30 meeting. While this meeting will happen after this writing, we expect that Pyramid
will recommend incremental steps that the City can use to improve the ways we communicate with you.
Council will have this report in time to balance these recommendations against all other budget priorities. We are excited
at the opportunities ahead, because this work will help us to become more efficient and keep you better informed.
There will be much more on this in coming newsletters. In the meantime, you can read the report or view the presentation
by clicking on the link for the October 30 Special Meeting at http://cityofpt.us/video.html.
360.379.5047 • citycouncil@cityofpt.us • www.cityofpt.us
NOV • Page 2
Upcoming Library Events
Tellabration
Port Townsend Public Library - Carnegie Reading Room
Saturday, Nov. 18, 6:30p.m.-8:30p.m.
Join local tellers for an international night of storytelling for all ages. Sponsored by
Quimper Storytelling Guild & Friends of the Port Townsend Library
Langdon Cook - Upstream: Searching for Wild Salmon, from River to Table
Port Townsend Public Library - Carnegie Reading Room
Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Drawing on research from renowned chefs and tribal fisherman to environmentalists and government bureaucrats, UPSTREAM
illuminates the important role that salmon plays in society and offers an engrossing account of how salmon—one of the last wild
foods on our table—nourished humanity through the ages, and why we need them in the future.
About the Author: Langdon Cook is the author of The Mushroom Hunters, winner of the 2014 Pacific Northwest Book Award and
Fat of the Land: Adventures of a 21st Century Forager. Cook’s writing appears in numerous publication and has been nominated
for a James Beard Award (2016) and a Pushcart Prize. He lives in Seattle with his wife and two children.
Klee Wyck Journal
Port Townsend Library - 1220 Lawrence St.
Thursday, Nov. 2, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Join author Lou Mckee for a discussion of her book, Klee Wych Journal. "This is western Canada's rain coast, where we finally
claimed a home beach after years of kayaking and camping in Washington and British Columbia, exploring new areas each trip
out. We named this beach Klee Wyck, Laughing One, the name that the young artist Emily Carr earned from the coastal native
people. Many days were pristine fresh and sunny but, when that coastal rain came, we were captured under drooping tarps and
breathing smoky fires, sometimes for a week. "Let's build a better shelter in the woods!" So the story begins.
Teen Movie Night
Charles Pink House - 1256 Lawrence St.
Friday, Nov. 10, 7:00pm-9:00pm (Every second Friday of the month at 7pm)
Teens ages 12-18 enjoy blockbuster movies and gourmet popcorn.
The City of Port Townsend Water Department will be conducting its annual water system flushing beginning in November
and continuing through December.
Flushing water from fire hydrants removes mineral and sediment deposits from the distribution system pipelines, preventing
water quality problems. This may cause short term changes to the appearance of the water, however it is still safe to drink.
If your water is discolored from nearby flushing, run the water at a tap for two to three minutes to see if it clears. If the
appearance does not change, wait an hour and try again. When the water runs clear, flush any taps where discolored water
is present. For problems that continue more than a few hours please call Water Resources at 360-379-5001.
Water System Flushing
Starting November 1st, the convenience fee for online transactions using 3rd party vendor Official Payments will
increase from $3.95 to $4.95 for all transactions up to $500.00. This does not affect customers using the Doxo system.
Utility Online Payment System.