HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 April_NewsletterNewsletterNewsletter
APRIL CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS:
April 2022
A Note From Council Member Ben Thomas
Life in “Busytown”
As a parent of a young child, I’m prone to see the world
through the lens of children's books. These last few months
I’ve spent a lot of �me in the pages of Richard Scarry’s “What
Do People Do All Day?”, which details the inner workings of a
town called Busytown. It’s a town not unlike our own: small
enough where people recognize each other on the street, but
large enough to represent all the systems of a large city, just
scaled down. The book is broken into vigne�es that range from how the fire department
works to how roads are built.
Coming into office as a candidate with li�le context of local government, I decided to
dedicate my first season in office to peeking behind all the various curtains at the City
and adjoining agencies to see how the sausage gets made and how the cheddar gets
spent. My goal is to grasp how all the systems interconnect and eventually turn that
into useful insight that leads to my goal of finding synergis�c policy ideas and keeping
an eye out where tax dollars might be saved.
Between City-run departments and connec�ng agencies I’ve so far seen behind the
scenes at the Library, Police Department, East Jefferson Fire & Rescue, City Streets
team, Water Treatment Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Compost facility, Jeffer-
son Transit, Mountain View Pool, Food Bank, Port of Port Townsend, Fort Worden
PDA, as well as the shops and facili�es that the City maintains and City Hall itself.
City and agency staff have been very gracious in showing off just what it is they “do
all day.” They've shown off our systems that make the City go with a healthy pride
some�mes �nged with concern about the aging of some of the equipment and the
occasional shortness of staff.
What s�cks out to me is how much City staff is ge�ng done on humble budgets. As a
tax and u�lity payer, I feel our collec�ve investment is in good hands. Budget priori�es
should always be up for debate, but an underlying culture of efficiency is the most
important factor in opera�ng a financially sustainable town.
The most exci�ng thing I learned during my season of learning how our City works is
that our library is pu�ng together a “How Your City Works” series of virtual public
educa�on seminars which will help more of us get some of this fun experience of
discovering how our City works. I believe that the more we learn about how our City
systems work, the be�er off we’ll be as residents and neighbors.
-Ben Thomas, City Council, posi�on 1
Visit the City Council page on our website to learn how to a�end virtual
Council mee�ngs, see photos & bios, and get agendas for upcoming and
previous Council mee�ngs: www.cityofpt.us/citycouncil
City of Port Townsend
250 Madison Street
(360)385-3000
www.cityofpt.us
04/04/22: Business Mee�ng
04/11/22: Workshop Mee�ng
04/18/22: 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
Consider applying to be on a City Advisory Board or Commission. Visit our
website for descrip�ons,
applica�ons, and mee�ng
schedules:
www.cityofpt.us
For more informa�on,
contact the City Clerk’s
Office at (360) 379-5083.
The following Boards and
Commissions have current
and upcoming vacancies:
• Arts Commission• Civil Service Commission• Climate Ac�on Commi�ee• Historic Preserva�on Commi�ee • Library Advisory Board• Lodging Tax Advisory Commi�ee• Parks, Recrea�on, Trees and Trails Advisory Board• Planning Commission
City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360) 385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us
2021 Annual Report
I know that many of us are eagerly looking forward to longer days, warmer weather, and a
return of events where we can connect and celebrate as a community. I am too. Yet now that
we’ve closed out our 2021 financials, I’d also like to reflect back and give you a clear sense of
how last year went from the City perspec�ve.
We did our first annual report – the 2020 Annual Report – last year. Its aim was to clearly,
concisely, and candidly communicate what the City team achieved over the course of the
year. Essen�ally, what does our community get for our collec�ve tax and rates investments,
how do we deliver those services, and why? The report also described some key challenges
and lessons learned, and included some interes�ng facts and figures about the City.
Last year’s report was well-received, so we’re rolling out the 2021 Annual Report this month. Look for it on the City
webpage here: www.cityofpt.us/annualreport. Meanwhile, here’s a quick summary:
2021 was another challenging year dealing with the pandemic and its wide swath of impacts to things like housing,
recruitment, equity, and economics. Despite that, and beyond the ongoing day-to-day delivery of services, we
celebrated accomplishments like the historic new water use agreement with the Mill, the state grant-funded
purchase of Evans Vista for housing, and the successful transfer of pool opera�ons to the YMCA.
We learned even more deeply how important it is to make �me for strategy even despite pressing short-term needs
and emergencies, how truly important our staff are for ongoing success, and that there’s a role for everyone in our
community to contribute if we set the table correctly. We also had a few unexpected surprises, like the long dura�on
of COVID, new federal funding, early re�rements, and a week-long blanket of snow.
2022 is already off to a brighter start and we an�cipate con�nued gains in line with the five pillars of our strategic
plan. For instance:
• Housing: We will work with partners, housing providers and the community to envision the future for the
Evans Vista property to deliver on affordable and workforce housing.
• Infrastructure: We will begin implementa�on of our new Water Supply Agreement with the Mill by installing
meters and charging for water use.
• Economic development: We will con�nue to deliver and renew needed infrastructure that underpins
economic development and quality of life.
• Quality of life: We will kick off mul�-year community engagement around the future of parks and recre-
a�on, drawing a direct line to our financial sustainability project as well as the need to a�ract and retain
families and young people and be an age-diverse community.
• City organiza�on: We will re-launch the Financial Sustainability Project and Task Force with a new Finance
Director and renewed commitment to working through our community’s spending priori�es, willingness to
pay and a set of op�ons recommended to City Council.
Finally, we can report that 2021 was a year of financial stewardship with a balanced budget, all funds mee�ng their
reserve policies, and all required state deadlines and repor�ng achieved.
Please look for the annual report on our website at www.cityofpt.us/annualreport, on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/cityofpt, and at City Hall in limited hardcopy, and let us know what you think.
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month
A Note From City Manager John Mauro
Thank you to our many wonderful volunteers!!
City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360) 385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us
DM Disposal - Spring Clean
PT Public Library
April 4-8 - addi�onal yard waste
• Up to three addi�onal cans of yard waste on customer’s regular service day
April 11-15 - addi�onal garbage/bulky items
• Up to three addi�onal bags or cans of garbage on customer’s regular service day
• Bulky Items/Appliance Disposal: One appliance per household (refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, dish
washers, freezers, hot water heaters) There is a freon removal fee for refrigerators and freezers, other
appliances will be picked up at no cost. You will need to call (360) 385-6612 to schedule appliance pick-up
and fees for disposal.
Women Peacemakers ONLINEThursday, April 7, 2022 - 7:00pm
In a world framed by digital screens, and talking heads, fi�een women quietly invited
Barbe Chambliss into their lives to share in�mate conversa�ons about how they make
peace. Sparked by a curiosity about how peace is actually created, this mediator and
psychotherapist from Colorado zigzagged the globe to interview a willing pool of peacemakers where they live.
Chambliss shares the remarkable stories of this wildly diverse cadre of women change
agents, from an Israeli soldier to an Irish nun, a Clan Mother to an ex-princess, a para-
lyzed Olympic skier to a young Zimbabwean orphan who now directs the esteemed
Future of Hope Founda�on.
This book is both a deeply entertaining read and a guidebook, cra�ed by inspira�on and
calling to everyone on earth who is willing to be counted among the ranks of Conscious
Peacemakers.
About the Author
Dr. Barbe Chambliss is a psychotherapist, professional mediator, and organic farmer
dedicated to discovering and bringing forth conscious acts of peace in a progressively
chao�c world. She directed the volunteer Center for Conflict Resolu�on in Aspen, Colorado.
She has taught media�on to over 500 children and adults in rural Colorado schools and
facilitates Restora�ve Jus�ce Circles in her community.
Story�me
The wait is OVER! Join us for story�me at the Port Townsend Public Library on Tuesdays at
10:30 on the Pink House Lawn! We'll be there, rain or shine. Bring a jacket for the cold days.
Family story�me brings early literacy to kids and their caregivers with songs, rhymes, and
ac�vi�es. The emphasis for this age group is on kindergarten readiness and fostering a love
of reading. Ages 0-6 and caregivers.
City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360) 385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us
We are con�nuing to profile City staff members so you can learn more about the team and their work from their
perspec�ve. Check back here each month to see a new staff profile. This month is Jay Tjemsland, Streets/Sewer/Stormwater
Equipment Operator with our Public Works Department.
How long have you worked at the City of Port Townsend?
25 years, I started with the water department as a seasonal maintenance worker and meter reader on April 19,
1993 and was hired full �me March 1, 1997.
What do you currently do in terms of job du�es?
Streets maintenance, wastewater collec�ons, storm water, vegeta�on control, striping
and sign repairs & replacement.
What do you like or enjoy most about working at the City?
The people and the diversity in the work that we do.
Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself, your job, or your
team with the public?
I have seen a lot of changes internally in my 25 years working at the City and have
worked with a lot of great people. I enjoy spending �me with my family, hun�ng, fishing,
and playing disc golf.
Introducing City Staff
PT Main Street Community Events
Irrigation Summer-Rate Change
Irriga�on water will return to summer-rate pricing effec�ve May 1, 2022.
The price per 1,000 gallons consumed will go from $3.63 to $6.88 (inside City limits) and from $4.36 to $8.26 (out-
side city limits).
If you are an irriga�on water customer, you will see this change reflected on your May 31, 2022 billing statement.
Main Street’s Earth Day Spring Clean Up
Saturday, April 16th, 2022
It’s �me to get our town spruced up and ready for summer.
If you would like to help beau�fy downtown email us at admin@ptmainstreet.org.
Buskers on the Block
Thursdays, April & May, 2:00pm
The Port Townsend Main Street Program is bringing back
Buskers on the Block. Star�ng the first Thursday in April and
running through May, enjoy the sweet sounds of some of
Port Townsend’s favorite local talent at Tyler Plaza. Line up
coming soon! Find out more on PT Main Street’s website:
www.ptmainstreet.org