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Home My WebLink About12 December Newsletter2018 in Review This year seems to have flown by. I’m not sure if that is due to the busy schedule maintained here in City Hall or if, like my parents warned, the years do get shorter as we get older. What I know for sure is that I am si�ng here wri�ng the December newsle�er ar�cle while an�cipa�ng a Thanksgiving feast later this week. And with that comes the wave of gra�tude for all that life offers us in our corner of the world, the good and the challenges alike. I con�nue to believe those challenges pale significantly when held up against all that is good going on here. That said, we made headway this year on some of the challenges we face as a City while recognizing we have more to address in the years to come. Previous 2018 newsle�ers covered big capital projects like the Water Street Enhancement and complex topics like the upcoming Fire District Annexa�on ballot measure. We also covered the work of Council’s Ad Hoc Commi�ee on Housing, the City’s partnership with Homeward Bound, a roll-out of a new Communica�on Plan, the upcoming search for a new City Manager and our efforts to date to address Climate Change. There was a lot more accomplished that did not make it to these pages, so here’s a brief list of other significant items. (Due to space limita�ons, please use the provided dates to find more details by clicking on the agenda bill and/or watching the video for the related topic on that date’s mee�ng at www.cityofpt.us, click on City Council then on Agendas, Packets & videos) • Adopt the mandated Cri�cal Areas Ordinance and Related Shoreline Master Plan Amendments (5/21/18) • Adopt a policy ensuring the confiden�ality of library patron transac�ons and records (6/18/18) • Ini�ate a level of service study for the library (6/18/18) • Adopt code changes in support of housing such as a Mul�-family Tax Exemp�on program (8/20/18) • Update Council Rules in support of resident par�cipa�on on boards and commissions (9/17/18) • Proclama�on in support of Indigenous Peoples Day (10/1/18) • Join the City of Olympia and Associa�on of WA Ci�es on an amicus brief in support of Sea�le’s income tax authority case at the WA Supreme Court (10/15/18) • Adopt a renewed interlocal agreement with Jefferson County to support Affordable Housing and Homeless Housing Programs (11/19/18) We are expec�ng to hit the ground running early in 2019 to address several important and �me-sensi�ve ma�ers that I will cover in the January newsle�er. In the mean�me… Happy Holidays to all! December 2018 Newsletter The mayor’s update Christmas Tree Pick-up DM/Olympic Disposal will pick up Christmas trees at each eligible single-family residen�al customer address during the first two-scheduled yard debris pick-ups immediately following December 25th. For any ques�ons regarding tree pick-up please contact DM/Olympic Disposal: (360)385-9007 City Library in the New York Times! Business owners: have you installed new signage? City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360)385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us JOIN US AT THE LIBRARY! Whether you moved into a new space or added signage to your exis�ng space, a sign permit is required. Is your business in compliance? The following list may help you determine if you have current sign code viola�ons: • Feather Flags – large perpendicular banners are not permi�ed. • Sandwich Boards – are not permi�ed outside the Historic District, with few excep�ons, and not permi�ed for businesses with street level windows. • Flashing LED signs - signs may not flash or move. • Neon or LED signs within the Historic District – require Historic Preserva�on review. • Window signage with le�ering over six inches in height – six inches is the maximum height for window le�ering without a sign permit. • Off-Premise Real Estate Signs – are only allowed during Open Houses. For assistance or ques�ons regarding the sign permit applica�on process, please contact Suzanne Wassmer, in our Development Services Department at (360) 385-0644 or swassmer@cityofpt.us. More informa�on regarding signage can be found in the Port Townsend Municipal Code sec�on 17.76, online at www.cityofpt.us. Adult Programs: Living Wilderness with Kevin Ebi Port Townsend Library - 1220 Lawrence St.Thursday, Dec. 13, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Kevin’s images are used regularly by major calendar and gree�ng card lines, and by a wide range of publishers including Na�onal Geographic, Na�onal Wildlife, Smithsonian, BBC Earth, Lonely Planet and Moon travel guides, and Outdoor Photographer. He has authored or co-author four photography books. He lives near Sea�le, Washington, and has photographed more than half of the United States, as well as Canada, Mexico, Iceland, and New Zealand. Sponsored by Friends of the Port Townsend Library. Art in Ac�on Kate Sullivan Demonstra�ng Chain Maille Port Townsend Library Friday, Dec. 21, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Youth Programs: Learn to Code Robots Port Townsend Library Tuesday, Dec. 4, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. We’ll spend the session learning to code a trio of robots: Dash, Dot and Q. We’ll also have some zippy Ozos on hand for some code-free programming fun. PT STEM Club Showcase Port Townsend Library Wednesday, Dec. 5, 3:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. Ella Ashford from the Port Townsend STEM club will be presen�ng ac�vi�es that her team put on at the Mini Maker Faire at this year’s Kine�c Sculpture fes�val. Sing-a-Ling with Keeth Apgar from Harmonica Pocket Port Townsend Library Thursday, Dec. 13, 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Sing-A-Ling gets toddlers, preschoolers, families and the greater community into our bodies and singing together. Port Townsend Public Library was featured in the New York Times in October. Pulitzer Prize winning author Annie Proulx was one of twelve authors asked by the New York Times to write about a library they love, and she chose Port Townsend’s Carnegie Library. The ar�cle �tled “12 Authors Write About the Libraries They Love” can be read online: www.ny times.com/2018/10/15/books/review/public-libraries.html City Meetings Holiday Closures City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360)385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us All City offices, the Library and the Pool will be closed on the following days: Monday, December 24, 2018, in observance of Christmas Eve Tuesday, December 25, 2018, in observance of Christmas Tuesday, January 1, 2018, in observance of New Year’s Day City Council Business Mee�ng December 03, 2018 - 06:30 PM City Council Workshop Mee�ng December 10, 2018 - 06:30 PM Council Ad Hoc Commi�ee on Commi�ees December 11, 2018 - 01:30 PM Planning Commission Mee�ng December 13, 2018 - 06:30 PM Council Ad Hoc Commi�ee on Housing December 20, 2018 - 03:00 PM CANCELED - City Council Finance and Budget December 25, 2018 - 03:00 PM CANCELED - Planning Commission Mee�ng December 27, 2018 - 06:30 PM The following City mee�ngs are coming up in December. Mee�ng dates are subject to change. Visit our website for a complete list of mee�ngs and the most current mee�ng dates and �mes, and loca�ons. www.cityofpt.us Commi�ee Mee�ng Community Events/Happenings City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360)385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us JOIN US AT THE POOL! December 21, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Come swim in a winter-themed pool with games, snowflakes, and icebergs. Only $5.00 per person. Main Street Treeligh�ng Celebra�on and Santa Visit! December 1 There’s caroling in the streets with the Wild Rose Chorale from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., in-store refreshments and many shops will be open later. Come to Haller Fountain for the annual community treeligh�ng at 4:30 pm. Santa arrives by the Kiwanis Choo Choo Train to light the community tree. A�er the Treeligh�ng, Santa visits with children at the Co�on Building, 607 Water Street. Main Street/Kiwanis Choo Choo Rides for Families December 8 & 15, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Suggested dona�on of $5 per person benefits the arts in the schools program. Meet between Pope Marine Park and the Northwest Mari�me Center. Escape to Port Townsend The Port Townsend Main Street Program is working with partners on an the Lodging Tax Advisory Board (LTAC) subcommi�ee to implement the marke�ng plan to promote Port Townsend from November 2018-February 2019. The partners include Mari Mullen, the Port Townsend Main Street Program; Chris�na Pivarnik, City of Port Townsend Marke�ng Director; Arlene Alen, Chamber of Jefferson County; Denise Winter, Key City Public Theatre; and Fort Worden represen- ta�ves Erin Jonsson and Natalie Maitland. In addi�on to earned media through press releases, PSA’s and online lis�ngs for events and ac�vi�es, we plan to use a combina�on of print/digital ads and marke�ng opportuni�es on the ferries and at Sea-Tac to bring visitors to Port Townsend from the I-5 corridor and beyond. We have found some beau�ful photographs from local pho- tographers Gary Romjue and Steve Mullensky to illustrate the beauty of our town at this �me of year. Campaign Tagline: Escape to Port Townsend—Relax. Refresh. Renew. For more informa�on on any of these events visit www.ptmainstreet.org WINTER WATERLAND