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Home My WebLink About090121 PTAC Meeting Packet with screenshare documents from meeting ARTS COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA September 1, 2021 | 3:00 p.m. | Remote Meeting ****The State of Emergency declared by Governor Inslee temporarily prohibits in-person contacts with the public required by the Open Public Meetings Act and the Public Records Act. The May 29, 2020 Public Health Order by Jefferson County Health Officer Thomas Locke also states no in-person meetings are allowed. The Commission will be participating by teleconference**** Submit public comment emails to be read aloud (up to three minutes per person) to: publiccomment@cityofpt.us or join in person via computer or tablet at http://joinwebinar.com enter the 9 digit Webinar ID 539-393-595 or listen by phone only (listening mode only) United States: +1 (415) 655-0052 access code: 155-675-573# Local Dial In – (360) 390-5064 access code: 155-675-573# I. Call to Order and Roll Call II. Approval of Agenda III. Approval of Minutes from the August 4, 2021 Meeting IV. Public Comment (3 minutes per person) V. Commission Business A. Chair’s Update B. Budget Update C. Request to Amend 2021 Workplan D. Proposal for 2022 Workplan E. 2022 Budget Request F. Mission Statement Proposal VI. Correspondence VII. Set Agenda for Next Meeting VIII. Next Scheduled Meeting – October 6, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. IX. Adjourn Work Plan Item Advisory Body: _______________________Date: ___________________________ If a modification to the work plan, this will □ add □ delete □ modify an item. Explanation:___________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ City Work Plan Item:____________________________________________________ If an addition or modification, estimated staff time:___________________________ Budget Impact:________________________________________________________ Chair Signature: _______________________________________________________ Staff Liaison Comments:_________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Council Liaison Comments:_______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Council Committee Comments:____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ City Manager Comments:________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ City Manager Action: □ Forward to Council □ Table for next year Request included in Council Packet Date:____________________________________ Council Action: □ Approve □ Table for next year □ Table indefinitely Port Townsend Arts Commission Budget Proposal: 2022 By now, there is no need to educate City Council members about the importance of the Arts Commission. It is our duty to help promote and encourage public programs to further the development and public awareness of and interest in the arts. We take this responsibility seriously and do all we can to forward our city’s identity as a community that honors and supports the arts. What is different from our M.O. in the past is that current arts commissioners see our role in a proactive light. Deeply aware of the impact of the ongoing pandemic on artists and the arts, we have reached out to the community via press releases, interviews with the press, and posts in social media and newsletters in an effort to inform more people about our work and the funds we have available to support artists. We’ve also altered our grant process to make it easier for individual artists and smaller groups that lack the resources for advance planning to access support via microgrants of up to $500. That’s only the start of it. We’ve sent City Manager John Mauro a proposal to establish the position of Port Townsend Poet Laureate. If accepted, this position will further elevate Port Townsend’s reputation as an Arts District and increase focus on the arts among residents of the City and County. We’ve also reached out to various organizations to highlight the need for more artist house and workspace. Last (for now) but not least, we’ve suggesting updating our descriptor on the City website to better reflect our mission and goals. Everything we’ve done has been guided the principle of inclusivity, diversity, equality, and access, aka IDEA, that is central to building a vital community in which all are residents and visitors are honored, respected, and nourished. The grant money that we’ve awarded in 2021 so far is a poor indicator of how much we will need once the COVID-19 crisis abates (in 2022, we hope). We need to not only prepare for a major resurgence in artistic activity, but also for the new expense of a Poet Laureate position that would conceivably be co-managed by the Arts Commission and the City. With this in mind, we propose: 1. Carry over all unused funds from 2021 into the next budget cycle. 2. Add to this “local” artists have been forced to move farther out to Chimacum, Port Hadlock / Irondale, and even Port Ludlow due to housing realities, and that these community members regularly attend and create arts events in Port Townsend, using the word “community” accurately describes whom we serve. We await your word. Happy to discuss with you at our next regular meeting or beforehand. FYI, once we receive forms the new forms from Heidi, we will hold a special meeting on August 18 at 3pm at which we’ll strive to amend our current workplan to include the Poet Laureate proposal, and also work to put together a 2021 workplan and budget. Thank you so much for your consideration, Jason Victor Serinus Chair, Port Townsend Arts Commission Draft Committee Structure as Part of Strategic Framework Strategic Plan Comprehensive Plan City Plans Budget 2020 Priorities Workplan & Priorities Community Outcomes Future-State / Vision: A Thriving Community for All City Council Council Committees WHO WHAT & HOW WHY Advisory Boards City Manager & Staff Infrastructure Finance Culture & Society •PRTAB •Focused, time-bound task force (Disco Rd) •LTAC •Focused, time-bound task force (Fin. Sust.) •LAB •Arts •Civil Service •Focused, time- bound task force (Equity) Community Interagency Committees Development Commissions Housing PIF RPTO ICG JeffCom EDC CAC BOH… Planning Commission Historic Preservation Goals: 1. Enhanced efficiency and simplicity 2. Clarity, predictability & common delivery of workplan 3. Stronger coordination between Council, staff, advisory boards 4. Elevating multi-jurisdictional issues to multi-jurisdictional agency Liaison Liaison Screenshare documents from 9/1/21 PTAC meeting (9 pages total) Interdepartmental City Workplan 2022 (High-Level Overview) Draft 5 - 8/3/21 TASK LEAD PROGRESS START END KEY METRICS MAIN STRATEGIC PLAN LINK RELEVANT COMMITTEE (IF APPLICABLE) RELEVANT EXTERNAL (IF APPLICABLE)BUDGET IMPLICATIONS January February March April May June July August September October November December PARTNERSHIPS - strong strategic partnerships and investment across agencies Implement ICG COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Action Plan CM 75%2/1/21 12/31/21 Project delivery, enhanced partnership Quality of life ICG Ongoing and reintegration into ongoing ICG work ICG Initiative - phase 3 (unknown topic/focus)CM 0%2/1/21 Project delivery, enhanced partnership Quality of life ICG Review previous year Develop scope ICG meet and agree Staff work/research/engagement ICG meets Ongoing work/development ICG meet/finalize Leverage NOLA and other partnerships to advance City's legislative agenda CM 0%5/1/21 9/1/22 Success in Olympia Infrastructure NOLA Steering Group 2022 (short) session starts (60 days)Session ends Prepare internally Align with NOLA SG SG discussions Decisions Discussions w/ leg 2022 legislative agenda development CM 0%5/1/21 1/1/22 Success in Olympia Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development 2022 (short) session starts (60 days)Session ends Preparation of legislative agenda for 2023 (long, 105-day session)Pass agenda at CC Discussions w/ leg Deliver on new EDC model CM 0%1/1/21 12/31/22 Economic development indices; per ILA Economic development EDC Board $30k/yr total City contribution TBD: will include regular Public Sector Cabinet meetings and EDC Board meetings Relaunch new HTF/JOB approach for better, clearer and fairer collaboration with County in housing CM 0%Clear funding decisions, tangible projects Affordable housing Infrastructure & Development Launch (latest)HFB meeting HFB meeting HFB meeting HFB meeting Envision and recalibrate Chamber relationship CM 0%11/1/21 4/1/22 Visitors increase, experience enhanced Economic development LTAC TBD: will include LTAC, partner engagement and revised agreement/contract with stingent reporting requirements PARTICIPATION - positive & productive public participation, education, communication and engagement Relaunch Engage PT for 2022 FIN 0%1/1/21 4/1/21 EngagePT Relaunched City organization Launched Ongoing updates Ongoing updates Events/surveys Events/surveys Publish 2021 Annual Report FIN 0%1/1/22 3/30/22 Annual Report Published City organization Publish State of City Presentations Prepare 2022 Report "How the City Works" initiative LIB 0%1/1/22 12/31/22 Profiles of all departments/facilities City organization Culture & Society Volunteer program 0%# Trained, active volunteers City organization Culture & Society Est. $100k Launch enhanced program. Call for volunteers...Training Work parties Work parties Work parties Work parties Evaluation Prep for 2023 Dashboard project (see integrated software below)FIN 5%5/17/21 12/31/22 Project completed and live City organization Finance & Budget Est. $250k Implementation (Q2)Go Live & Departmental Training (Q3)Refine Dashboards & Reporting (Q4) Update Strategic Plan (2023 - 2026) - Shape PT project?CM 0%7/1/22 Complete, supported, adopted plan City organization Est. $100k Scoping Kickoff Engagement Engagement Engagement Refinement Draft Plan Engagement Final Plan Adoption PROACTIVE (FINANCIAL) SUSTAINABILITY - long-term sustainability and viability of services & operations Financial Sustainability Project FIN 20%6/1/21 12/31/22 Public support, proposal to CC City organization Finance & Budget TF#3 WS#3 TF#4 WS#4 TF#5 TF#6 Final report/recommendations Investing in Trails, Parks and Streets: Round 2 planning PW, FIN 0%3/1/22 12/31/22 Public support, proposal to CC Quality of life Finance & Budget PRTAB Workshop w/ CC and PRTAB (dev. criteria)Eval. projects screening Public outreach Present CM proposal Adopt levy ARPA - second stage proposal for spend before 12/2024 FIN 5%6/1/21 12/31/24 Public support, proposal to CC City organization Finance & Budget Net positive for revenue shortfall 2021 reporting/data Evaluate needs Proposal to CC Workplan and Budget 2023 FIN 0%7/1/22 12/31/22 Public support, proposal to CC City organization Finance & Budget LT power session direction to ABs retreat with CC finalize workplan budget processes and engagement with CC, ABs, community adoption PERFORMANCE - coordinated team excellence, continuous improvement, accountability: invest in staff Monthly management meetings - training, practice, sharing CM, HR 0%1/1/22 12/31/22 Staff satisfaction/engagement City organization Increased training budgets ($25k)#10: performance #11: brainstorm 2022 Evaluation Decide Phase 2 Launch Series MMM #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Contract negotiations with police union FIN CA HR CM PW 0%6/1/22 12/1/22 Agreement, nurture relationship City organization Kick off negotiations Research proposals Negotiations Draft contract Contract to council Retention strategy, including recognition program HR 0%Tenure, succession plans City organization Lead Team and HR Director to craft proposal Performance evaluation process revision HR 0%Staff satisfaction/engagement/performance City organization Rollout TBD based on P&P Director Recruitment strategy, with focus on PD HR 0%1/1/22 9/1/22 Lower vacancy rates City organization DPP & Chief to formulate recruitment strategies Evaluate performance eval process; update process; work with union Engagement survey/baseline HR 0%Staff satisfaction/engagement City organization Est. $50k Rollout TBD based on P&P Director PRIORITY PROJECTS - integrated sucessful delivery of strategic projects Fort Worden PDA: reporting, accountability and collaboration CM, CA, FIN 0%1/1/22 12/31/22 Stability, sustainability, partnership, trust Economic development Culture & Society FW PDA Reporting Collaboration/problem solving Reporting Collaboration/problem solving Reporting Collaboration/problem solving Reporting Infrastructure for Affordable Housing - the 3.1 project PW, DS 5%5/1/21 12/31/24 Property Acquisition - Design Comp Affordable housing Infrastructure & Development State capital funding to invest Infrastructure Design Begin Infrastructure Construction Homelessness issues and initiatives DS, PD 0%1/1/22 12/31/22 Beds, projects, people served Affordable housing Infrastructure & Development TBD: federal funding for projects/infra, Housing Funds Board, code changes, etc... Parks Strategy and Sustainability PW, FIN, HR 10%5/1/21 1/31/22 Community-backed plan for future Quality of life Infrastructure & Development PRTAB Est. $300k Major public engagement on golf course, pool, trails, parks and families…. 2022 Banked Capacity Projects Construction (Parks and Streets) - if approved by Council PW 5%4/1/21 12/31/23 Projects completed Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Project design Begin Construction (First wave)Begin Constrx -Wave 2 Integrated software - including dashboard, resource tracking, etc.FIN, ALL 5%5/17/21 12/31/22 Project completed and live City organization Finance & Budget Est $250k (as above) Affordable Housing Projects DS, CA, PW 0%7/1/21 12/31/22 Projects completed and occupied Affordable housing Infrastructure & Development TBD: Housing Funds Board, code changes/packages, stewarding development projects, etc... Federal Funding Pursuit/Delivery CM, FN, PW 25%1/1/21 1/1/22 Success in procurement of $$Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Concept development Research/packaging Proposal Proposal Senator(s) decisions Appropriations ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENTAL PRIORITY PROJECTS Comprehensive Streets Plan - implementation (New revenue procurement, Open Streets, Traffic Calming, Striping)PW 75%9/1/20 12/31/22 Projects complete Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Dep. on new revenues Parking Management Strategy - if budgeted PW, PD, DS 0%1/1/22 8/1/22 Management program/plan Quality of life Infrastructure & Development Est. $100k Start Study and Prog. Dev.Complete Program Budget for Implementation Large Construction Projects (Disc. Rd. & Gaines St)PW 0%11/1/20 12/31/22 Completed project Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Funds in hand Begin Construction Gaines (complete)Disc. Complete General Sewer Plan (Rates Study, NPDES, Outfall)PW 5%9/1/21 6/1/22 Adoption Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Approved in 2021 Complete GSP/Financial Adoption Engineering Design Standards/Annual Code Updates PW 15%2/1/21 9/1/22 Completion Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development CC Workshop CC Adoption WSDOT Roundabouts PW 15%1/1/22 4/1/23 Complete project Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Dep. on grants Call for projects HSIP $Bid for 2023 Construction OGWS Projects (Lords Lake E. Dam, Cathodic Protection, Condition Assessment)PW 0%1/1/2022 12/31/2023 Projects planned, complete Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Dep. on Mill Contract To be determined Annual Water & Wastewater Utility projects (Standpipe Coating, AMI, Pipe replacment, SCADA Design, Outfall, Maint. Holes)PW 0%1/1/2022 12/31/2022 Projects planned, complete Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Programmed in Rates Begin design - project schedules vary Electronic permit submittals DS 0%10/1/21 6/30/22 Implementation of program City organization Infrastructure & Development Cost to be submitted with 2022 budget Formulate budget for software/hardware Code packages DS 0%1/1/2021 12/31/2022 Adoption of amendments Affordable housing Infrastructure & Development Continued code amendment packages, TBD IT Plan, including focus on security of Citywide systems and documentation of processes FIN 0%1/1/2021 12/31/2022 Equipment upgrade complete Infrastructure Finance & Budget Est $25k To be determined Race and Social Justice Advisory Board launch CA, CLK 0%11/1/2021 12/31/2022 Launch, regular recommendations to CC Quality of life Culture & Society RSJAB Advertise fo board memAgree on work plan Start meeting Hybrid meetings CA, CLK 0%5/1/2021 12/31/2021 Launched, increasing attendance City organization Determine needed techTrain staff and Council on technology Public record management (contract for historic clean-sweep if budgeted)CA, CLK 0%1/1/2021 12/31/2023 Historic records resolved City organization Est $50k Continue working on permit records DSD and PW permits puDevelop electronic records policy Train staff Train staff Train staff Internal process review CA, CLK 0%6/1/2021 12/31/2022 Efficiency delivered City organization Est strat review funds $25k/yr across all Identify processes need Select one or two to foc Agree on process going Train staff Circulation: stats, satisfaction LIB 0%1/1/2022 12/31/2021 Statistics and feedback City organization Culture & Society LAB Status quo budget Annual 2021 Stats completed Annual customer satisfaction survey Programming/Events: partnerships, programs: attendance, demand, feedback - lead new "How Your City Works" initiative LIB 0%1/1/2022 12/31/2021 Statistics and feedback Quality of life Culture & Society LAB Friends of the Library funded Community Read Launch how your City Works- for Spring one per month Summer Reading June/July Conitnue How Your City Works - one per month Library staffing: training, ALL Staff Day, monthly meetings, conference attendance LIB 0%1/1/2022 12/31/2021 Staff attendance & feedback City organization Culture & Society LAB Training budget increase for in-person Plan monthly meetings and all library staff training ALA 1 staff attends Library All Staff Day WLA- 1-2 staff attend Comprehensive Facilities Plan - preventative maintenance, deferred maintenance, space planning (CH, PD, Parks, MTV)PW, PRCS 0%9/1/2021 6/30/2022 Plan completed, adopted Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Begin Financial Program Complete Facilities Plan w/Financial Alternative use for Golf Course public engagement/visioning (part of parks strategy and sustainability)PRCS 0%2/1/2022 12/31/2022 Viable, suppported, adopted plan Quality of life Infrastructure & Development PRTAB Est $100k (including below 3 line items)Initiate One Year Visioning Process End Visioning, Start Revenue/Cost Analysis for funding source Mountain View Campus Master Plan (Incl. updated leases) (part of parks strategy and sustainability)PRCS 0%2/1/2022 12/31/2022 Viable, suppported, adopted plan Quality of life Infrastructure & Development PRTAB Initiate One Year Visioning Process End Visioning, Start Revenue/Cost Analysis for fundng source Sustainable parks and rec funding source (part of parks strategy and sustainability and financial sustainability)PRCS 0%2/1/2022 12/31/2023 Viable, suppported, adopted plan Quality of life Infrastructure & Development PRTAB Initiate One Year Visioning Process End Visioning, Start Revenue/Cost Analysis for fundng source Sustainable pool operations - Annual Evaluation (part of parks strategy and sustainability)PRCS 0%9/1/2022 9/1/2022 Viable, suppported, adopted plan Quality of life Infrastructure & Development PRTAB Review pool metrics and operations Annual Facilities Projects (may include Library )PW, PRCS, LIB 0%1/1/22 12/31/22 Completed project Infrastructure Infrastructure & Development Remaining Bond funds and Library Fdn Completed projects Chief's Cabinet/Advisory Forum (and ongoing implementation of Ad Hoc Committee Report)PD 0%10/1/2021 4/1/2022 Advice from 12 community member panel Quality of life Culture & Society Seek out, interview community members Select community Set regular meetings Strategic Planning - path to accreditation PD 0%10/1/2021 7/1/2023 3-5 yr Strat Plan/Accreditation Quality of life Culture & Society Est $25k Select strategic planning commitee Meet with WASPC Strategic Plan rough draft Accredidation expectation Implement Strategic Plan Start accreditation process Mock Accessment Sustainable Staffing for Police team PD 0%6/1/2021 12/31/2022 Fully staffed/6-8 officers hired City organization Culture & Society Est. $15k Hiring of 3-4 officers Recruit outside of area for diversity Hiring of 2-3 officers K E Y M I L E S T O N E S Implementation (Q2)Go Live & Departmental Training (Q3)Refine Dashboards & Reporting (Q4) PORT TOWNSEND POET LAUREATE PROPOSAL Submitted by the Port Townsend Arts Commission What it means Establishing the position of Port Townsend Poet Laureate involves far more than simply bringing poetry to a few city events. By taking this step, we affirm that our lives can be made richer through poetry. We also demonstrate that the citizens of our arts-oriented community value and support how artists see the world. We commit to honoring poets’ varied perspectives and vision by making them a vital element of our civic discourse. Last but hardly least, by establishing a Port Townsend Poet Laureate, we affirm the city’s status as a long-standing hub of artistic expression and creativity as well as an official Washington State Arts District. What they’d do We propose that Port Townsend’s Poet Laureate serve for one year and give four readings of original poems per year at events pre-determined by the City Council in consultation with the Arts Commission. After each reading, the city will send the poems out with its newsletter. The Poet Laureate would also work with City Council and the Arts Commission to develop a program that would help raise the community’s awareness of the importance of poetry to the health and vitality of our community. The program could be somewhat flexible and change each year to reflect the strength and gifts of individual poets and the needs of an ever-evolving community. The Port Townsend Poet Laureate would receive an honorarium of $1000/year in return for their service. Port Townsend Poet Laureate candidates must live in Port Townsend or East Jefferson County at the time they apply. Applicants must demonstrate their dedication to their craft through proof of publication and/or other metrics that they deem appropriate. They must also affirm their willingness to actively help raise public awareness of the importance of poetry to the vitality of our diverse community. The selection process The Poet Laureate Selection Panel would consist of three to five informed individuals from literary arts organizations located both within and beyond Jefferson County. By widening the geographic net of the Selection Panel, we will benefit from the objectivity and advice of artists with a vast breadth of experience in poetry. All panel members would be given a sense of the nature of our community and provided with information that will help inform their choice. They would also be welcome to provide feedback on the application process itself and how the Arts Commission and City might work together to refine it in subsequent years. Panelists would receive a $300 honorarium in return for their service. A Poet Laureate Subcommittee of the Port Townsend Arts Commission, which would include a representative from the City Council, would devise the application itself and propose how the call would be disseminated to the public. This body would also choose members of the Selection Panel and create a way to convene remotely. The Poet Laureate Subcommittee would administer the Poet Laureate program and pay those involved with Arts Council funding. The Arts Commission’s budget would be increased by $2500-$3000 to pay the Poet Laureate and Selection Panel honoraria. Work Plan Item Advisory Body: Port Townsend Arts Commission (PTAC) Date: September 2, 2021 If a modification to the work plan, this will □ add □ delete □ modify an item. Explanation: We wish to submit for consideration our (amended) proposal to create the position of Port Townsend Poet Laureate. The proposal is designed to increase Port Townsend’s profile as a vital Arts District, elevate the arts in the consciousness of residents and visitors, enhance the lives of residents, increase awareness of poetry and Port Townsend as a center of poetic creativity, and support local poets at a time when arts funding and employment opportunities for artists are diminishing and threatened. Establishing the position of Poet Laureate in the midst of the pandemic, when artistic activity has been unavoidably curtailed, would be a major act of affirmation amidst crisis. In the midst of so much shutting down, moving forward would serve as a major “yes” on the part of the City to both the present and the future. City Work Plan Item:____________________________________________________ If an addition or modification, estimated staff time:___________________________ Budget Impact:________________________________________________________ Chair Signature: _______________________________________________________ Staff Liaison Comments:_________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Council Liaison Comments:_______________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Council Committee Comments:____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ City Manager Comments:________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ City Manager Action: □ Forward to Council □ Table for next year Request included in Council Packet Date:____________________________________ Council Action: □ Approve □ Table for next year □ Table indefinitely Port Townsend Arts Commission Budget Proposal: 2022 By now, there is no need to educate City Council members about the importance of the Arts Commission. It is our duty to help promote and encourage public programs to further the development and public awareness of and interest in the arts. We take this responsibility seriously and do all we can to forward our city’s identity as a community that honors and supports the arts. What is different from our M.O. in the past is that current arts commissioners see our role in a proactive light. Deeply aware of the impact of the ongoing pandemic on artists and the arts, we have reached out to the community via press releases, interviews with the press, and posts in social media and newsletters to inform more people about our work and the funds we have available to support artists and artistic endeavors. We’ve also altered our grant process to make it easier for individual artists and smaller groups that lack the resources for advance planning to access support via microgrants of up to $500. While, so far, we’ve seen major entities take advantage of these microgrants to fund their smaller programs, we fully expect demand for microgrants and macrogrants alike to increase exponentially post-pandemic. We’ve also made explicit our commitment to serve all members of our community. Everything we’ve done this year and have proposed / will propose for the future is guided by the principles of inclusivity, diversity, equality, and access, aka IDEA. These principles are central to building a vital community in which all are residents and visitors are honored, respected, and nourished. Only by reaching out to all residents of Port Townsend and the East Jefferson County area that we traditionally serve can the arts fulfill their potential as an essential contributor to the physical, economic, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of our community and all who pass through it. That’s only the start of it. We’ve sent City Manager John Mauro a proposal to establish the position of Port Townsend Poet Laureate. To help expedite consideration of a proposal that has generated widespread interest, we are requesting a modification of our existing work plan (to the extent it even exists) to allow discussion this year. We’ve also reached out to various organizations to highlight the need for more artist housing and workspace, and to ensure that the unique needs of artists are not sidelined amidst myriad calls for emergency and affordable housing. Last but not least (for now), we’ve suggested updating our description on the City website to better reflect our mission and goals. The grant money that we’ve awarded in 2021 so far is a poor indicator of how much we will need once the COVID-19 crisis abates (in 2022, we hope). We need to not only prepare for a major resurgence in artistic activity, but also for the new expense of a Poet Laureate position that would conceivably be co-managed by the Arts Commission and the City. Port Townsend is now an official Arts District of the State of Washington. Major local and regional entities including Northwind Arts, the craft-based Maritime Center. and the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding have variously consolidated and expanded. There is every reason to prepare for a major artistic renaissance once the pandemic has passed. With this in mind, we propose: 1. Carry over all unused funds from 2021 into the next budget cycle. 2. Add to this sufficient funds to elevate our budget to the pre-pandemic level of $22,000. 3. Add to this the potential $2500-$3000 expenditure for the Poet Laureate program. 4. Prepare for what we expect will be a new flowering of artistic endeavor by increasing our budget to $30,000. In asking for this amount, we’re well aware that in the years 2018 and 2019, the Arts Commission disbursed all of its funds well before the end of the calendar year. 5. To summarize, in anticipation of what we hope to come, we request $30,000 for the 2022 calendar year. Part of these funds will be supplied by funds carrying over from 2021. Respectfully submitted: Jason Victor Serinus Chair, Port Townsend Arts Commission.