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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08 August NewsletterA COUPLE OF TIME SENSITIVE ISSUES Ballots have been delivered in Port Townsend and the only ques�on is related to the recent annexa�on of the City of Port Townsend to East Jefferson Fire Rescue (EJFR). The par�es agreed to ask voters to consider increasing the number of fire commissioners to provide equal representa�on to all members of the district. Thank you if you have already voted. If not, please find more informa�on at www.ejfr.org and be sure to get your ballot in by August 6. Speaking of our fire service, I am reminded that, despite the cool and wet start to July, weather condi�ons have led to a Stage 1 Burn Ban described elsewhere in this newsle�er. Port Townsend is not immune to wildfire due to our wildland-urban interfaces. A link to a recent King 5 News segment about wildfire featuring EJFR has been added to Latest News on the City’s website www.cityofpt.us. I encourage everyone to view this story to get a very comprehensive picture of our fire exposure. Recent earthquakes in California and Washington served up reminders that we too live in earthquake country. I know, summer is all about ge�ng out to fully enjoy all that this corner of the world has to offer and not think about poten�al hazards. But there is an opportunity to prepare at a fun and engaging event the en�re family can enjoy. This year’s All County Picnic, an Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Fair, will be held on August 18th (11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) at HJ Carroll Park in Chimacum. CITY MANAGER UPDATE I am very pleased to confirm that John Mauro will be our next City Manager! We are all looking forward to his arrival on November 1st and I know he is anxious to get acquaint- ed with and working for his new community. In the mean�me, we are in great hands with Interim City Manager Nora Mitchell. Nora has been a very strong contributor to the City’s success over the past five years while serving as the Finance and Administra�ve Services Director. I hope you will join me in expressing apprecia�on for her willingness to step up to this important posi�on. AND NOW A FEW WORDS FROM NORA MITCHELL: I appreciate the City Council’s faith in my ability to serve as Port Townsend’s Interim City Manager. I have been the City’s Finance and Administra�ve Services Director for just over five years and have enjoyed my work here at the City. My previous work experience was in non-profit and healthcare financial management, working for both small organiza�ons and larger healthcare systems. The “interim” role is not new to me; I was called on before to serve as an Interim Execu�ve Director for Hillside Communi�es in McMinnville, Oregon in 2000-2001. Over the next several months I will work with the other City Department Heads to con�nue a number of ini�a�ves that are already underway – the Parks and Recrea�on Open Space plan, the Rainier/ Howard Street subarea plan, the City’s 2020 budget plan, and Shoreline regula�on updates, among others. Addi�onally, we will begin planning for John Mauro’s arrival at City Hall to ensure a smooth transi�on occurs. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me by phone or email between now and November 1st. August 2019 Newsletter The mayor’s update Make A Difference! VOLUNTEER ON A CITY BOARD OR COMMISSION Consider applying today for vacancies on the following Council Advisory Boards and Commissions. Visit our website for descrip�ons, applica�ons, and mee�ng schedules or contact the City Clerk’s Office at (360)379-5083 for more informa�on. www.cityofpt.us/bc/page/boards-and-commissions Parks, Recrea�on and Tree Advisory Board Ac�ve Transporta�on Advisory Board Lodging Tax Advisory Commi�ee (collector posi�on) Planning Commission It’s a beau�ful �me of the year to get out and enjoy one of the many parks and trails to be found in and around Port Townsend. The Port Townsend Parks Department is asking for residents’ coopera�on and support in keeping the City’s trails clean and accessible for all residents and visitors. Parks staff are rou�nely finding yard debris and lawn clippings from adjacent residen�al and commercial proper�es dumped against City trails. Dumping yard debris and lawn clippings alongside trails can damage natural flora and fauna already established in these areas. In addi�on, private use and dumping of yard waste or materials on City property, on or adjacent to Parks, unopened rights-of-ways, and trails is a viola�on of the City’s municipal code and re-directs staff �me and resources. Port Townsend Municipal Code (PTMC) Chapter 6.12 – Unlawful Deposi�ng of Garbage 6.12.020 Unlawful deposi�ng – Where prohibited: “The prohibition on placing or depositing garbage or refuse contained in PTMC 6.12.010 shall apply to public or government lands, streets, alleys, parks and other public areas, as well as to privately owned lands.” The City encourages residents and commercial businesses to responsibly remove yard waste. More informa�on regarding yard waste removal op�ons available through DM Disposal and the Jefferson County Transfer sta�on can be found on the Jefferson County Transfer Sta�on’s website. Port Townsend has a myriad of trails and parks for the enjoyment of our residents and visitors. We very much appreciate your assistance in keeping those trails and parks clear of yard waste for the enjoyment of all. Water Supply Outlook City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360)385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us Help Keep our City Trails Clean of Yard Debris Summer Street Striping CITYWIDE STREET STRIPING IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 12-13 The Public Works streets department will begin on Monday August 12th at 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m repain�ng the striping on the streets. The following day they will be working 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. They will be star�ng at Kearney Street and working their way downtown. The center lines are striped first, then the white fog lines. Traffic will not be stopped, but there will be cones set up for temporary lanes of traffic. Please try to avoid crossing over the wet paint lines. Cones will be up un�l the paint is dry and it is ok to drive over. It has been an unusually wet July for our region, which has moderated the effects of the current drought. Even with the recent rains, overall precipita�on for the year is 79% of average and drought condi�ons persist in the Olympic Peninsula region. Stream flow in the Big Quilcene River is 61% of average as of mid-July. If dry condi�ons persist, it may be necessary to start drawing upon Lords Lake reservoir by mid-August, three weeks earlier than usual. Summer water use is nearly double that of winter�me consump�on. The increase can be a�ributed primarily to outdoor water use. Being water-wise with landscape maintenance not only saves you money, it supports healthy wildlife habitats by leaving more water in the rivers and lakes. Conserva�on �p: Sprinklers typically lose 25-50% of the water through evapora�on, wind, and surface run off. Cliff Mass, University of Washington Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, explains the science of spray at www.cliffmass.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-reduce-water-waste-from.html. Addi�onal water conserva�on informa�on is available at on the City website, Water Resources page. City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360)385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us JOIN US AT THE LIBRARY! Jennifer Haigh Author TalkThursday, August 29, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jennifer Haigh is a novelist and short story writer. Her most recent book, the novel HEAT AND LIGHT, won a Literature Award from the American Academy of Arts and Le�ers, and was named a Best Book of 2016 by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR. Her previous books include FAITH, THE CONDITION, BAKER TOWERS, and MRS. KIMBLE, winner of the PEN/Heming- way Award for debut fic�on, and the short story collec�on NEWS FROM HEAVEN, winner of the Massachuse�s Book Award and the PEN New England Award in Fic�on. Her short stories have been published in Granta, Electric Literature, The Best American Short Stories, and many other places. A na�ve of western Pennsylvania and a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she is a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow. For more informa�on about Library events visit www.ptpubliclibrary.org Burning regulations & Burn Ban Information from EJFR It is against the law to burn garbage. Specifically “Household garbage or trash (including paper and cardboard), dead animals, asphalt, petroleum products, paints, rubber products, plas�cs, treated wood, construc�on/demoli�on debris, metal and any other substance, which normally emits dense smoke or noxious odors when burned.” Metal burn barrels are NOT permi�ed ever. Countywide burn ban info: As agreed upon by the Fire Chiefs of East Jefferson County, in the best interest and safety of the public, a countywide burn ban limi�ng all land clearing burning will be set into effect beginning July 1 through September 30, 2019 or un�l further no�ce. The burn ban will be in effect for all land clearing burns within Jefferson County, as recommended by the Jefferson County Board of Fire Chiefs and the Jefferson County Fire Marshal, established under Jefferson County Resolu�on No. 43-05. All countywide burning is subject to immediate closure at any �me if Department of Natural Resources (DNR) declares an unusual fire danger index or when the County Fire Marshal declares an extreme fire danger. What is allowed: Recrea�onal fires Recrea�onal Fires include cooking fires, campfires, and bonfires using charcoal or firewood that occur in designated areas or on private property for cooking, pleasure, or ceremonial purposes. Fires used for debris disposal purposes are not considered recrea�onal fires. Recrea�onal fires do not require a permit. Fires in approved containers not less than fi�een (15) feet from any structure. Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruc�ons and shall not be operated within fi�een (15) feet of any structure, combus�ble material, or standing �mber. Condi�ons that could cause the spread of fire must be eliminated prior to igni�on. Beach fires These are allowed with permission of the land owner. All established condi�ons and guidelines shall be followed with regard to residen�al burning. Only seasoned dry fire wood shall be u�lized for beach fires. Beach wood or dri� wood shall NOT be burned. Open-flame cooking devices. Charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combus�ble balconies or within 10 feet (3048 mm) of combus�ble construc�on. Open burning, recrea�onal fires, bonfires, beach fires or the use of portable outdoor fireplaces shall be con�nuously a�ended by a reasonable person un�l the fire is ex�nguished and cold to the touch. A shovel and connected water hose or a minimum of one portable fire ex�nguisher with a 4-A ra�ng or greater. (shall be on site and immediately available) If any fire creates a nuisance from smoke or from flying ash, the fire must be ex�nguished. East Jefferson Fire Rescue or any other fire suppression agency is authorized to ex�nguish or order any fire to be ex�nguished if found to be a nuisance or a hazard. More informa�on about outdoor burning can be found on East Jefferson Fire Rescue’s website www.ejfr.org Administra�on for City of Port Townsend facility rentals for the Co�on Building, Pope Marine Building and Chetzemoka Kitchen Shelter & Gazebo has moved out of the Finance Department at City Hall down to the Mountain View Commons and in to the brand new Parks, Recrea�on and Community Services office. Should you have an event or a mee�ng and wish to rent one of these City facili�es, you may stop by Mountain View Commons to inquire or call and speak with staff at (360)344-3064. These facili�es may be reserved up to 12 months in advance, and reserva�ons may be placed directly through the City of Port Townsend website reserva�on calendar. Anyone who pays u�li�es in the City of Port Townsend will receive a locals’ rate on a rental, or if you are a non-profit you may receive a discounted rate as well. Visit the City of Port Townsend website for pictures and further informa�on about any one of these venues. www.cityofpt.us/parksrec Should you wish to have an outside event on Pope Marine Plaza or Tyler Street Plaza or if you have any large event invoking poten�al for crowds or need for traffic control, a special events permit may also be obtained at Mountain View Commons but will be done through the Police Department rather than the Parks, Recrea�on and Community Services Department. We are all in the same building now, so we are able to conveniently serve the needs of Port Townsend residents in this capacity. Be sure to bring cash or your checkbook if you are ren�ng a facility or picking up an event permit – we do not accept credit card payments at this �me. City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360)385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us Facility Rentals have moved to a new office/Location Construction for the Visitor Center Project Starting Soon! Construc�on for the Visitor Center Project is scheduled to begin in August. The construc�on contract was awarded to Interwest Construc�on from Sequim, Washington, which is the same contractor that constructed the Water Street Project. The project improvements include enhanced Visitor Center access, addi�onal parking, new stormwater facili- �es, landscaping, and 275 feet of sidewalk (on the south side of Sims Way). Addi�onally, the project will construct a new landscaped public plaza, adjacent to the Visitor Center. The plaza will be the site of a large-scale sculpture by the late ar�st, Russell Jaqua, �tled “For Willene.” Jaqua also created the City Hall handrail and fire doors located at the library. There will be a dedica�on ceremony for the “For Willene” art piece on November 2, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at the new Visitor Center plaza. For project updates visit the Capital Projects Directory on our website at: www.cityofpt.us/publicworks/page/engineering Or you can sign up for email updates on this and other projects on the City website, and click on the “stay informed” large orange bu�on on the main page. “For Willene” Sculpture Concept image of the Visitor Center Project.