HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 January NewsletterNewsletterNewsletter
City of Port Townsend
250 Madison Street
(360)385-3000
www.cityofpt.us
JANUARY CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS:
January 2021
01/04/21: Business Mee�ng
01/19/21: Business Mee�ng
Mee�ngs are subject to
change. Please view our
website calendar for an
up-to-date mee�ng schedule.
www.cityofpt.us/calendar
A Note From Mayor Michelle Sandoval
Consider applying to be on a
Ci�zen Advisory Board or
Commission. Visit our website
for descrip�ons, applica�ons,
and mee�ng schedules:
For more informa�on contact
the City Clerk’s Office at (360)
379-5083.
The following Boards and
Commissions have vacancies:
• Arts Commission
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY!
www.cityofpt.us
• Lodging Tax Advisory
Commi�ee (collector)
• Parks, Recrea�on and
Tree Advisory Board
• Planning Commission
Happy 2021!Gree�ngs for a new year! While we hope for posi�ve change as we enter a new year,
much will stay the same at least for the foreseeable future. There is much we don’t
know in terms of when our City government returns to a normal style of doing business.
For the present we will be con�nuing to operate virtually as the pandemic necessitated.
The Council will con�nue to do business via virtual mee�ngs, reaching out to our
cons�tuents through Engage PT and KPTZ radio shows. All of our mee�ngs are open
to the public and available to see or listen to online. We welcome you.
The Council will con�nue to work on much of the 2020 workplan that was
sidetracked this last year and will look at new ini�a�ves during a 2021 planning
retreat soon.
What I do know is that despite the difficul�es of this past year, including staff and budget cuts, City departments con�nued to operate at commendable levels. City
staff remained diligent, keeping the proverbial lights on, all the while con�nuing to
work on plans for the future. Some highlights:
Our City wastewater plant received a State award (its 23rd year) for perfect
performance. A rarity, as only one other city in Washington State has this type of consistency.
Our building department processed record high building permits and worked with
Council on changes to modify building codes in an effort to ease barriers to
affordable housing, in addi�on to a myriad of other projects.
Our public works department responded with speed and grace to a massive water
main break in November and successfully applied for and was awarded a $2.6 million
dollar grant for Discovery Road improvements, con�nuing the 2016 capital
improvements as part of the Howard Street (now Rainier) extension.
Main Street lit up our downtown! While it may not seem like a big deal, few don’t
know that none of our buildings or tree wells in our historic downtown had exterior
electrical outlets, as they were built prior to electricity. It made it challenging to
create winter ligh�ng. This project was a mul�-year effort jointly with Jefferson County PUD and LTAC (Lodging Tax Advisory Commi�ee) a final step in the Water
Street construc�on project that started in 2018.
Every department came together to make difficult decisions for this year’s budget.
Our City Manager and finance department moved swi�ly mid-year to take steps and
put us in a much be�er posi�on for 2021.
Our police department con�nues to do so much more than simple policing. The social safety nets have been worn thin by decades of our country’s budget cuts and
our officers wear too many hats that our society has relegated to them. I thank them
for their work, I applaud interim Chief Surber for working with Council on the Law
Enforcement and Public Safety Commi�ee to make improvements for our en�re
community.
Much like our personal improvement projects, changes in our small city can take
years for planning, budge�ng and then implementa�on. While most of us like to see improvements quickly, I want to take the �me to thank our incredible civil servants
that keep the water flowing when the taps are turned on and winning awards for
their outstanding work, all the while working on projects that may take years to
see completed. It’s a team effort.
If you’re reading this now, that means we’ve made it to 2021. What a
relief! I know we’re not out of the woods yet, but it’s worth no�ng that
our community has worked very hard to get through an unfathomably
tough year and things will improve. They have to – both because
there’s new hope emerging and because I know many of us are ac�vely
working to make it happen.
We start the year with a fresh blueprint for COVID Recovery and Resilience – a joint ac�on plan passed unanimously
in December by the City, County, Port and PUD. The work of that group will con�nue into 2021 and I’m very eager
to keep the spirit of collec�ve ac�on and partnership thriving in this �me of need.
We also start the year with a 2021 budget, passed late last year. It’s not my dream budget and not nearly what I
expected to advise Council and the community when I started about a year ago, but it will move us forward to fill
basic needs and keep us on a path toward greater financial sustainability into the future.
City services are funded from a variety of sources, o�en determining how we spend that funding. For instance, we
cannot legally take the money from the property tax levy that supports the Library and repair streets with it or fund
our police team. Second, COVID has impacted revenue forecasts for a few key funds. For instance, sales tax revenue
is not likely to recover fully next year, meaning we’ll need to adjust and reduce some services.
Over a decade ago, our incoming president said: “Don’t tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I’ll tell
you what you value.” I’ve always loved and used that quote. So what do we value in 2021?
A few key points in our tough choices this year:
• The budget does not significantly draw from reserves to patch our gaps. This means that we hold our
reserves, in line with our strong financial policies, and stand able to weather an addi�onal unpredictable
storm on top of COVID if we need to.
• We drew together and ra�onalized all administra�ve support (including my assistant), re-purposing a
smaller team into a broader role. Three new Public Experience Liaisons have replaced five previous
posi�ons and will provide a more coordinated, more responsive and be�er customer service interface with the public.
• Our Public Works budgets show a decrease in some services like street maintenance and street striping
and the freeze of our streets lead operator posi�on. That said, Public Works budgets take a step forward
in achieving greater financial sustainability by reducing overstretching funds and capturing the cost of
service billing.
• Pool opera�ons remain in our budget, albeit at lower levels than past years. Since we’ll be opera�ng
with limited staff, we’ll have limited hours but we’re commi�ed to opening as soon as possible.
• Support of parks and open space will con�nue but alloca�on is spartan as seasonal parks workers are
not included in the budget and there is s�ll no direct capital funding source, as has been the case the
last several years.
• The Library con�nues to deliver services due to the stability of the dedicated property tax levy. A strategic
plan passed this year will help us get the most from our investment and live within our means, recognizing
reduced purchasing power of that levy over the long-term.
• Public safety remains a priority and 2021 will not see any major changes aside from the recruitment of
a new police chief and, hopefully, the ability to fill a few currently vacant officer posi�ons.
• We did not levy over $300,000 of banked capacity from the Fire Annexa�on or tap the other $150,000
half of the Mountain View bond, believing this was not the year to ask for more.
• We hope to con�nue being agile and crea�ve in iden�fying outside grants and funding sources, like our
successful 2020 and recently-awarded State Transporta�on Improvement Board (TIB) grant for $2.6
million and over $400,000 in Federal CARES Act money.
A Note From City Manager John Mauro
City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360)385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us
-- con�nued on next page --
City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360)385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us
I’ll boil all that down to values, as per the quote: honesty, adaptability, crea�vity, equity, intelligent restraint, resilience, forward-thinking, fiscal sustainability.
To that last bullet point above, we’d like to be�er understand the range of possible revenue sources to sustainably
fund agreed-upon community needs. I an�cipate the appointment of a financial sustainability task force this year to
begin evalua�ng op�ons and working with City Council and our partners to think wisely about our future into 2022
and beyond. Stay tuned and let’s collec�vely raise awareness about how important the budget is in reflec�ng our
community’s values.
Discovery Road Project Update
The Discovery Road Project survey is now complete and received 208 responses. Results of the survey were
presented to the Transporta�on Commi�ee on 11/18/20. The majority of survey respondents noted that lack of
bicycle and walking facili�es as the biggest areas of concern for the sec�on of Discovery Road between the Rainier
Street roundabout and Salish Coast Elementary School.
In re-imagining this sec�on of Discovery Road, respondents’ design preferences included sidewalks on both
sides of the street, with physically separated bicycle facili�es: either 1) two one-way cycle tracks on each side of
the road or 2) a single two-way cycle track on one side of the street. With the recent announcement of an
addi�onal $2.6 million in funding for the project, the next step will be to evaluate these op�ons against the key
principles objec�ves for the project. Survey respondents had the op�on to provide their email address to receive
future updates about the project.
If you would also like to receive updates, please contact the Discovery Road Project Manager, Laura Parsons, P.E.
at lparsons@cityofpt.us.
The Public Experience Liaisons are excited to greet you at the new front
desk lobby, when City Hall is able to open back up to the public again.
The Port Townsend Main Street Program was successful in its grant applica�on to the
Washington State Arts Commission for a Crea�ve Districts Capital Project Grant to fund
the Port Townsend Crea�ve District Wayfinding Infrastructure Project. Submissions from
ar�sts who live or show primarily in Jefferson County are strongly encouraged, but any
Washington State ar�st(s) will be considered.
The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2021. The project is a commission for
designing and fabrica�ng five large-scale Art Markers and designing a crea�ve sign
template for wayfinding signs to signify that people have arrived in the Crea�ve District. There is an op�onal element
of crea�ng a logo design for the Crea�ve District. The signs and Art Markers will connect Downtown, Uptown and Fort
Worden State Park. Review the RFP on the Crea�ve District page at www.ptmainstreet.org, click on Special Projects.
Ar�sts may apply via the Submi�able pla�orm at bit.ly/ptwayfinding.
Generous local businesses, property owners and nonprofits contributed to the required cash match to secure the
grant: The Port Townsend Main Street Program, Centrum for the Arts, The Port Townsend Public Library Foundation, the
Port Townsend Food Coop, 1st Security Bank, Northwind Arts Center, Port Townsend School of the Arts, KPTZ 91.9 FM
Port Townsend Radio, The Kuhn Building, and Key City Public Theatre. The City of Port Townsend has committed to
in-kind services for assistance with this project.
Creative District Project Update
City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360)385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us
Utility Rate Increase For 2021
Permit Fee Increase For 2021
Rates for City u�lity customers will increase effec�ve January 1, 2021 and will be reflected in the January 31 billing.
For an average residen�al customer:
The monthly fixed rate for all services (combined) will increase from $113.65 to $117.11 for 2021 plus usage
charges. This is a 3% increase over last year.
The monthly water base rate increases from $20.80 to $21.42. Water usage charges increase from $2.94 per
1,000 gallons used to $3.03 per 1,000 gallons used. The water capital surcharge remains $22.00 to fund
ongoing capital improvement projects.
The monthly sewer base rate increases from $34.87 to $35.91. Sewer volume fee increases from $8.24 to
$8.49. The sewer capital surcharge increases from $8.00 to $9.00.
The monthly stormwater base rate increases from $7.98 to $8.33. The stormwater capital surcharge remains
at $6.00.
Rates will vary for each class of water customer and water meter size.
The City an�cipates addi�onal u�lity rate and surcharge increases over the next several years to fully fund
u�lity requirements. For addi�onal details and projected rates through 2023, see the Port Townsend Municipal
Code (www.codepublishing.com/WA/PortTownsend/#!/PortTownsendNT.html) - Chapter 13.5.030
Star�ng on January 1, 2021, the fees for land use and public works permits will be increasing slightly. In 2020, City
Council adopted an ordinance that calls for permit fees to increase annually, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Permit fees are calculated based on the hourly rate charged for staff �me. The hourly rate for 2021 is increasing by one
dollar, to $84. The small increase allows current fees to keep pace with infla�on. The fee increase does not include building permit fees.
The updated fee schedule is available on the City’s website: www.cityofpt.us/development-services