HomeMy WebLinkAbout08 August_NewsletterA Note From Deputy Mayor Amy Howard
On June 23, I was formally elected to a two -year term
serving on the Associatfons of Washington Citfes Board
of Directors, representfng District 12.
Founded in 1933, the Associatfon of Washington Citfes
(AWC) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartfsan corporatfon
that represents Washington's citfes and towns before
the state legislature, the state executfve branch, and
with regulatory agencies. Membership is voluntary but
AWC has contfnuously maintained 100% partfcipatfon
from Washington's 281 citfes and towns. District 12
encompasses Jefferson, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Kitsap,
Mason, Pacific, and Wahkiakum Countfes; I represent 23
citfes and towns.
By providing advocacy tools, including tfmely updates, in-depth analysis, and trainings for a
stronger grassroots effort, AWC works with city officials to ensure decision makers know that
the state is only as strong as its citfes and towns. AWC provides educatfon for municipal
leaders, offering trainings that are relevant in today’s fast-paced, dynamic world. Their
research and publicatfons help city leaders make fact-based decisions, identffy trends, and
explore new ways to approach city issues. There are many advocacy groups in Washington
State; AWC stands out because it is not a single-issue advocate. If there’s an issue that is
faced by multfple citfes or towns—housing, workforce development, infrastructure funding,
to name just a few—then AWC has informatfon available about the issue.
As a new councilmember, I was required to attend a “City Officials Essentfals” training before
being sworn into office. At this training, instructors from the AWC gave a broad overview and
some specific examples of laws like the Public Records Act and the Open Public Meetfngs Act.
All elected officials in the state of Washington must follow these rules—but without training,
it can be a maze of pitialls! Much tfme, money, and potentfal heartache can be saved by
providing our elected officials with ongoing training and educatfon.
As a Board Member, I am responsible for providing contfnuing guidance and directfon to the
Associatfon’s CEO, the esteemed Deanna Dawson, in additfon to setting policy to guide the
work of the organizatfon as a whole.
The previous representatfve of District 12 was just sworn in as the Board President. He’s from
Port Orchard, which he keeps calling “the heart of the Peninsula.” I told him that if Port
Orchard is the heart, that would make Port Townsend the brains.
He didn’t argue.
City of Port Townsend
250 Madison Street
(360)385-3000
www.cityofpt.us
AUGUST CITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS:
08/01/22: City Council
Business Meeting
Meetings are subject to
change.
Please view our
website calendar for an
up-to-date meetfng schedule:
www.cityofpt.us/calendar
Consider applying to be on
a City Advisory Board or
Commission. Visit our
website for descriptions,
applications, and meeting
schedules:
www.cityofpt.us
For more information,
contact the City Clerk’s
Office at (360) 379-5083.
The following Boards and Commissions have current and upcoming vacancies:
• Civil Service Commission • Climate Action Committee
• Library Advisory Board
• Lodging Tax
City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360) 385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us
A Note From City Manager John Mauro
Local government is filled with acronyms. Often tfmes, acronyms are used in an attempt to
be brief, but they sometfmes obscure meaning or make things unnecessarily complicated.
Spelling them out helps, as does explaining what they are. That way, there are better
chances we’re all on the same page of common understanding.
I’d like to unpack a few acronyms with you this month. First, the Intergovernmental
Collaboratfve Group, or ICG. This group was formed by the City, Jefferson County, Port of
Port Townsend and Jefferson County Public Utflitfes District in 2020 at a tfme when the
COVID pandemic was emerging and we needed to pull together more closely than ever to
navigate forward. The group of general-purpose government agencies – and especially their
16 elected representatfves – realized that engaging and empowering the talents and energy
in our communitfes was the tfcket. Groups around key issues formed, an actfon plan with
hundreds of fingerprints was drafted, and we all started to deliver it together. You can read
more here: www.jeffcotogether.net.
This work gained the attentfon of the Internatfonal City/County Management Associatfon, or
ICMA. This group of over 12,000 members is the world’s leading associatfon of professional
city and county managers. It’s a huge organizatfon with thousands of citfes playing actfve roles. Among these, Port Townsend
was the community under 10,000 in populatfon selected for the 2021 Strategic Leadership & Governance Award. You can learn
more here: https://icma.org/2021-strategic-leadership-governance-award-under-10000-populatfon
Our ongoing efforts with the Intergovernmental Collaboratfve Group (ICG) also received recognitfon at the state level, earning
a 2022 Municipal Excellence Award by the Associatfon of Washington Citfes (AWC). This associatfon that Deputy Mayor
Howard describes on the previous page represents all 281 Washington citfes and towns and serves members through
advocacy, educatfon and services. You can learn more about AWC and the awardees here: https://wacitfes.org.
Now let me be clear: we’re honored and proud to garner state and natfonal attentfon for the work we do together with our
partners and communitfes. But winning awards really isn’t the point. In order to keep innovatfng, keep delivering, and keep
going, working together is really the only way forward.
The ICG contfnues to grow, retool and take on new challenges. Join a special in-person meetfng of the ICG on August 18
“Under the Tent” at San Juan and 21st in Port Townsend (the big white tent) from 5-7pm. The topic: Housing: Policy,
Partnerships and Community Engagement. Join us – but please leave the acronyms at home.
City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360) 385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us
PT Public Library
Soundcheck Family Movie Night at the PT Library: Encanto August 19, 6pm-8pm
Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical
house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called an Encanto. Enjoy watching the film in the Carnegie Reading
Room with popcorn.
Soundcheck returns August 19-24. Soundcheck was
created for two reasons: 1) to celebrate our local artfsts
and performers and 2) to give early-arriving THING
attendees a proper introductfon to the wealth of talent and
culture here in Port Townsend. To date, Soundcheck is the
only festfval focused on showcasing all of our local artfsts in
our favorite local venues. Learn more on the website
www.ptsoundcheck.com
PT Main Street Community Events
Uptown Street Fair – August 20th, 2022
Port Townsend's 30th Uptown Street Fair is coming UP! Save the
date and come celebrate 30 years of festfvitfes in Uptown Port
Townsend. Great music line up, kids' arts & crafts actfvitfes, the
Farmer's Market, Port Townsend Arts Guild Arts & Crafts Fair, the
incredibly colorful yet brief Uptown Parade, Uptown Pub Beer
Garden and food vendors. For event details, visit ptmainstreet.org/
uptown-street-fair/
Soundcheck 2022
Port Townsend's about to get a whole new, week-long arts festfval
in 2022! Soundcheck is an expansion of 2019's event - a local music
showcase first launched ahead of the inaugural THING Festfval. The
new and improved Soundcheck will be held throughout the Port
Townsend Creatfve District over a full week, beginning with a
kickoff event and live music in nearly a dozen local venues on
August 19th, and culminatfng with a full day (and night) of music
and events downtown in and around the Pope Marine Plaza.
Visit www.ptsoundcheck.com for a full list of events.
If you're interested in volunteering, partfcipatfng in or sponsoring
Soundcheck, please reach out to event co-chair Gage Pacifera
at gage@harmonicnw.com.
Concerts on the Dock contfnue on Thursdays in August: venue
opens at 4:30, music 5-7 pm. See ptmainstreet.org for event info.
City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360) 385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us
Introducing City Staff
How long have you worked at the City of Port Townsend?
I’ve worked for the City at the library since 2009 when I started as a library associate. I’ve
since earned a Master’s Degree in Library Science and now work as librarian and library
manager.
What do you currently do in terms of job duties?
As a librarian I do tasks like collectfon development and cataloging. As a manager I help
with the day-to-day operatfons of running a busy, small-town library. That ranges from
scheduling staff to checking in/out materials and pretty much everything in between.
What do you like or enjoy most about working at the City?
I enjoy the variety the work entails and being a part of something that helps our
community in a meaningful way.
Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself, your job, or your team
with the public?
I’m very thankful to live in Port Townsend and to work for such an amazing library and city. In my free tfme I love being on the
water or running.
We are contfnuing to profile City staff members so you can learn more about the team
and their work from their perspectfve. Check back here each month to see a new staff
profile. This month is Keith Darrock from the Library.
The City is Hiring!
We need the community’s help to spread the word! If you know people who would
be interested serving our wonderful community, please share this informatfon. In
this labor market, word of mouth is an important way to attract talent. The City has
four current job openings right now. Visit our Human Resources webpage for more
informatfon and to see the full job descriptfons: www.cityofpt.us/hr
Police Officers
Public Experience Liaison
Deputy Public Works Director/City Engineer
Maintenance Worker—Streets/Stormwater/Sewer