HomeMy WebLinkAbout06 June NewsletterNewsletterNewsletter
June 2018
A Note from the Mayor:
Mayor Deborah StinsonCon�nuing the Fire Annexa�on Topic
The first outcome of the late April mee�ngs on this topic was confirma�on that the City could not be ready to put the
annexa�on ques�on on the August 2018 ballot. We then met with the East Jefferson Fire Rescue (EJFR) Commissioners to
discuss a way forward. We agreed that the goal is for the City to annex into the EJFR District, but more work is needed to
ensure we present the best op�ons for how that would be achieved for tax payers in both the City and the District. To
that end, the exis�ng Joint Oversight Board of EJFR has been tasked to further study the issue and make a recommenda�on
back to City Council. The City calendar that is published in the local papers and on the home page of www.cityofpt.us
will provide no�ce for those mee�ngs. I will con�nue to use this newsle�er to provide updates as they occur.
On the Affordable Housing Front
The big news this month is that you will soon be seeing a lot more ac�vity at what has become known as the “Cherry
Street project”. Most of you will recall that the City took a leap of faith when a solid, 40’s era, 4-unit apartment building
in Victoria, B.C. was offered up for the cost of moving. It took an incredible amount of vision, talent and alignment of
mul�ple factors to bring the building to our shore, through town and to its new loca�on on Cherry Street. But that was
only the beginning. The same level of effort has since been applied to do much of the work that would normally be done
on the front end of such a project.
The land has been cleared of old and unused water lines, architectural designs completed to include four addi�onal
one-bedroom apartments at garden level, and all permits have been filed and processed. The City-owned property has
been transferred to the newly-recons�tuted local Community Land Trust, Homeward Bound. At our first mee�ng in May,
City Council approved issuing a bond to cover the construc�on costs and loaning the proceeds to Homeward Bound. In
return, they will be responsible for comple�ng the buildout – star�ng soon! - and managing the property at HUD-compliant
rent levels for a minimum of 40 years, the same length of �me it will take to pay off the loan from the City.
I will be the first to admit that this was a higher risk project than we usually take on. Our decision was buoyed by the
fact that this project addresses many of the well-ve�ed strategies defined in our Comprehensive Plan to achieve Housing
Goals and Policies: Pursue crea�on and funding of a Community Housing Land Trust , encourage development of affordable
housing demonstra�on projects, and ac�vely encourage public/private partnerships for affordable housing.
This is only one of many housing-related ac�ons that are either underway or completed. Affordable housing is currently
our highest priority, but we have not lost sight of the fact that the overall housing market needs s�mula�on. Reports
from all economic sectors indicate that lack of suitable employee housing is the lynch pin that is holding us back from the
meaningful economic development that our community is otherwise primed to enjoy.
Council’s Ad Hoc Commi�ee on Housing has been mee�ng for some months. Several code and zoning revisions have
been recommended by the commi�ee and are on the Planning Commission’s docket for review before being considered
by full Council. There has been a good deal of ci�zen par�cipa�on in the commi�ee’s mee�ngs, with all sugges�ons
being discussed. One thing we know for sure is that City and County government cannot solve this alone. As Michelle
Sandoval, commi�ee chair, recently put it, “It will take all of us working together to adequately address our housing
challenge. But I know we are up to it!”
You’ll be seeing more about the Cherry Street project in the coming months in this newsle�er and other news sources.
You can also follow or contribute to the work of the Ad Hoc Commi�ee on Housing by a�ending their mee�ngs or voicing
your feedback via eComment. Mee�ng schedules, agendas and videos can be found at www.cityofpt.us/video.html.
Thank You and Farewell
We are missing two familiar faces in Council Chambers. City A�orney Steve Gross and Deputy Clerk Josh Stecker are
advancing their careers and sharing their talents with other Washington ci�es. We thank them each for their dedicated
and professional service and wish them only the best in their new ventures.
STOP
360.379.5047 • citycouncil@cityofpt.us • www.cityofpt.us
JunE• Page 2
Water Street Enhancement Project in the Final Phase
The Pedestrian Walkway Project is Currently in Design Review
The last month of the Water Street Enhancement Project is underway.
Final phase includes:
• The bollards for the pedestrian plaza at Tyler Street have been placed
• Paving Polk Street to the Ferry Terminal (last week in June)
• Street tree plan�ng and landscaping
• Joint U�lity Trench installa�on between Polk and the Ferry Terminal
• Sidewalk construc�on between Polk and the Ferry Terminal
• Power poles will be removed as part of the PUD’s downtown undergrounding project by Spring of 2019
Traffic will con�nue to be one lane at varying loca�ons along the project length with flaggers direc�ng traffic and
available to help pedestrians cross the street.
Everyone is invited to a construc�on wrap up party on Saturday June 30th from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the new
Tyler Street Pedestrian Plaza. The party will include provided food from the restaurants within the project area,
family ac�vi�es, music, and a display by Urban Sketchers (drawings of the construc�on project).
Contact Project Manager Laura Parsons, P.E. if you have any ques�ons: 360-385-3000 X2191.
The project is to provide a sidewalk network which
connects Logan Street and Hancock Street on the south
side of Sims Way. This is a much-needed connec�on as
the south side of Sims Way crosses a ravine and currently
pedestrians are forced to walk in the bike lane on Sims
Way. The City’s consultant, PND Engineers, have provided
for city review, six poten�al op�ons for the ravine crossing.
The project is currently in preliminary design; permi�ng,
final design and construc�on are all pending addi�onal
funding. The next step in preliminary design it to
select one of the six ravine crossing op�ons to move
the project forward.
Once construc�on starts check the Capital Projects page
on our website to get project updates.
www.cityofpt.us/dsd/capitalprojects.html
360.379.5047 • citycouncil@cityofpt.us • www.cityofpt.us
Jun • Page 3
Did You Know
Library History Then and Now
The Port Townsend Public Library was established in 1898 by a group of "leading community ladies." In a le�er
dated in 1907 to Mr. Andrew Carnegie, James Anderson of Port Townsend wrote, “Owing to the fact that the
town (of over 5,000 people) is isolated and removed from the touch of modern impulse and current life, a
condition of narrowness exists among us which is quite visible, and in my humble judgment which could be at
least partly removed by the addition to our community of a library and reading room combined.” At that �me
the library was in a room of the high school with a collec�on of 3,000 “volumes.” By 1913 they had acquired the
land, secured City funding, and received a grant from the Carnegie Library Founda�on to construct a new
building in keeping with Carnegie architectural design standards of the period.
The Port Townsend Carnegie Library served its community so well that a 4,500 sq. �. addi�on was added in
1990 to accommodate the high volume of use that con�nues to increase significantly each year. In 2014 a
major renova�on was completed. Last year, 148,404 people visited the library and checked out 146,463 items
including books, movies, cra� kits, robots, magazines, music and much more. Our collec�on size has grown
from 3,000 volumes to over 49,000 items including “unusual items to borrow.”
We have been serving our citizens and visitors with alacrity since 1898!
Low Income U�lity Discount Program Update
Don’t forget that renewal of our low income u�lity program is now in progress. The program runs from
June 1st through May 31st, or for as long as the applicant con�nues to be eligible. Recently, the City
Council approved the expansion criteria (Ordinance 3199) to the low income u�lity program, raising the
qualifying income threshold for Low Income Households from 125% to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
The Senior and Disabled income thresholds remain at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Please visit our
website www.cityofpt.us/finance or call the Finance office at 360-385-2700 for more informa�on.
Poli�cal Signs Have Been Showing up in the Public Right-of-way
The City has regula�ons for placement of signage within City limits. Poli�cal signs may be erected on private
property with owner’s permission, but these signs are not permi�ed to be placed within street right-of-ways or
on public property, such as:
• City parks
• Golf course
• Kah Tai Lagoon
• City roundabouts
The City will remove any signs that do not meet our regula�ons. If your sign has been removed, you can contact
the City Code Compliance Officer, Ka�e Quesada at 360-379-5094 to pick it up. All poli�cal signs must be taken
down within 10 days a�er the final elec�on.
If you have any ques�ons about placement of signs, size/height requirements or number of signs
permi�ed please contact Suzanne Wassmer in Development Services at 360-385-0644.
360.379.5047 • citycouncil@cityofpt.us • www.cityofpt.us
JunE • Page 4
For more informa�on on these events please visit www.ptmainstreet.org
Outdoor Burning Guidelines
Join us Saturday June 16th at the Port Townsend Community
Center (corner of Lawrence & Tyler) 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
There will be lots of great books and crates of classic CD’s
Taste of Port Townsend
Sample ~ Sip ~ Mingle…It’s going to be delicious!
Thursday, June 7, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Northwest Maritime Center - 431 Water Street.
Join us for an Evening of Local Tastes of Port Townsend Food, Beer, Wine, Cider and
Desserts! This is an amazingly tasty fund raiser for the Port Townsend Main Street Program, a 501c3 nonprofit.
$50 for Food & Alcohol Tastes or $35 for Food Only Tastes. Purchase �ckets at www.Eventbrite.com or at
Safeway. Tickets purchased by June 1st get early entry at 5:00 p.m. Tickets sold at the door beginning at 6:00
p.m. (space available basis). This is a 21+ event, please bring your ID.
Party at the Plaza
Saturday, June 30th, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Port Townsend has amazing retail, non-stop arts events, restaurants and lodging for every taste. We are in the
home stretch of the Water Street Construc�on Project and your support means everything to our local busi-
nesses. We look forward to celebra�ng the end of construc�on with you at the Plaza.
Food, music and fun on the brand new Tyler Street Plaza—with the priceless waterfront view!
Recrea�onal Fires
According to Washington Administra�ve Code 173-425-050, recrea�onal fires are outdoor burning of charcoal or
firewood (not debris or rubbish). Recrea�onal fires are limited to 3’x3’ in size. Recrea�onal fires are for pleasure,
religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes. Fires used for debris or rubbish disposal are not
considered recrea�onal fires and are illegal. Charcoal and wood-fired grills are allowed whenever recrea�onal fires
are allowed. Recrea�onal fires are allowed throughout Jefferson County unless there is a total burn ban.
Residen�al Burning
Burning small branches and brush is considered to be a yard debris fire. Yard debris fires are never allowed within
the city limits of Port Townsend or the UGAs of Irondale and Port Hadlock. They are allowed elsewhere in Jefferson
County unless the summer burn ban is on.
Land Clearing Fires
Land clearing fires include burning of large piles of trees, branches, brush, etc.
Land Clearing Fires are never allowed within the city limits of Port Townsend or the UGAs of Irondale and Port
Hadlock. They are allowed elsewhere in Jefferson Countywith a permit frm East Jefferson Fire Rescue unless the
summer burn ban is on.
You can check EJFR’s website for up-to-ate burn ban informa�on, or more informa�on about outdoor burning:
www.ejfr.com
Friends of the Port Townsend Library is Having a Book Sale