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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06June_2023_newsletterNewsletterNewsletter JUNE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS: City of Port Townsend 250 Madison Street (360)385-3000 www.cityofpt.us 06/12/23: Special Session Business Mee�ng 06/19/23: City Offices Closed 06/20/23: 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 Historic Preserva�on Commi�ee Library Advisory Board Lodging Tax Advisory Commi�ee Parks, Recrea�on Trees & Trails JUNE 2023 A Note From Council Member Monica MickHager So much has changed for all of us since the Covid pandemic started over three years ago. We now live in a very changed community and we are beginning to have our fes�vals and PT celebra�ons to gather and enjoy life together again. We are learning new ways of gathering and enjoying the community that we are. Our city organiza�on has also changed in these last years with many new faces. We have a dynamic city manager who weathered the pandemic with us while forging interagency connec�ons with the Port, PUD, county and hospital. Many new city personnel redefine the posi�ons le� vacant when former staff chose to leave or re�re during the pandemic years. We are in transi�on to new ways of doing city business and are moving forward to make our city services strong again. Our new staff, working with remaining senior staff, are figuring out how to repair and maintain our roads that are in such dire shape; inves�gate what our sewer and water systems needs are a�er years of neglect; how to take care of our many parks and trails that have never had proper funding. Staff are looking at all this work that needs to be done under the financial limita�ons from the non-voted debt our city currently carries from decades of councilmanic authoriza�ons. We have large infrastructure problems and we must find solu�ons to have our roads repaired and in good shape again; to make the much needed repairs to our aging wastewater and water systems; to find a way to fund our much loved parks and trails a�er 20+ years of underfunding and understaffing. It is a herculean task, but I have seen up close how it is picked up by our smart staff who dig in to resolve these prob- lems. Our city government only gets 16% of our property tax and only 11% of our sales tax so it is a very hard li� to accomplish what we need. Here in 2023, we will see city plans and efforts for our streets, housing, parks, wastewa- ter and water needs coming forward. The work of gathering data and ideas is being presented to us for our community’s input in open houses, surveys, the City Council, and City Council subcommi�ee mee�ngs on these issues for this past year. One of these efforts is the Envision PT Golf Course and Mountain View Campus. To this open process we have added a task force of community members who meet monthly to do the heavy li�ing. I want to thank task force members Tim Caldwell, Ma� Tyler, Lynn Pierle, Dena Odell, Wendy Bart, Forest Shomer, Elisa Welch, Becci Kimball, Cindy Brooks, Jennifer James Wilson, John Nowak, Addie Hoffman, Ezra Cook, Panya Cao, Andy Stockton, Monica Macquire, Sonja Mathews, Gabe Van Lelyveld, Devon Buckham, Eric Jones and Richard Tucker. The final public open house for community input is Thursday, June 22, 5:00 p.m. at Fort Worden, with an online open house on Monday, June 26, 4 - 5:30 p.m. These two upcoming mee�ngs are our final opportuni�es to have the discussion on what each of us envisions for these proper�es in the next decades. I welcome your engagement as we are going into these final public input mee�ngs. Please share your ideas with us about growing without losing what’s special about living here. Please join us in the dialog! City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360) 385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us A Note From City Manager John Mauro Coffee with the City Manager First Friday of each month June 2, 9 - 10:30 a.m. Velocity, 431 Water Street We live in a special place. Each of us has our reasons why we live here and what we love. Every year, I reflect on mine and make a list of at least 100 things I love about PT. It’s never hard. But I don’t want to count on that. The future marches towards us whether we plan for it or not. What do the coming years and decades hold? The allure of our incredible natural surroundings, cultural heritage, and local community spirit might trick us into inac�on. But the reality is, if we don’t think ahead and work together, we stand the chance of losing those things we love and that make this place special. So how do we choose the future we want instead of reac�ng passively to what we get? Here’s an uncomfortable reality: the current level of city services we enjoy is not sustainable given our budget, financial structure, and a number of external forces. This makes it nearly impossible to maintain our roads, tackle failing infrastructure, preserve our parks and trails, and address our housing crisis. To get the future we want, we need to take this head-on. We need to work together. And we need your help. One thing you can do right now is watch and share our four-part video series. Short, one to two-minute videos explain what’s at stake, why, and how we might move forward. The videos line up with current community ini�a�ves. These ini�a�ves include ways to get involved and have your say, and will lead to imminent decisions by City Council. Watch the videos and share them with friends and family. You can find them at: www.cityofpt.us/videos or on our YouTube Channel, which can be located at: www.youtube.com/@CityofPortTownsend/videos It’s a great jumping off point to learn more, to get involved, and to shape our future. We can’t afford not to – and I can give you at least 100 reasons why. Help us envision Evans Vista Neighborhood! Evans Vista is just south of the Rainier Street roundabout on Sims Way. The City purchased the site with funds awarded by the state, will improve infrastructure with funds awarded by the federal government, and will work with partners and the community with funds awarded by Jefferson County. Developing the site as a neighborhood aims to deliver an urgently-needed supply of housing with a mix of 100 - 150 affordable workforce housing units as part of the area’s emerging commercial and business environment. What kind of housing should we include? What should the site look like? We want to hear from you. Take the survey at: h�ps://�nyurl.com/y8h8axp9 Learn more about the project at: www.cityofpt.us/evansvista Calling All Crea�ves! The Port Townsend Crea�ve District goals include connec�ng audiences with ar�sts to strengthen the opportuni�es for their financial success and help support a year-round economy for ar�sts. We are looking for ar�sts' input. Please take this brief survey to help us learn how the Crea�ve District can best serve our local ar�sts. To take the survey, click the QR code or visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BJGP836 PT Main Street City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360) 385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us Public Works Planning & Community Development The City of Port Townsend recently hired a new City Building Official, Ma� Logue. Ma� was previously the City’s building inspector and was promoted into his new role. As a current employee of the City, Ma� has a unique perspec�ve on managing a building program in Port Townsend. In order to get to know Ma�, if you don’t already, here’s a brief Q and A on his experience and what’s on the horizon. Q: Welcome to the new posi�on! Can you tell us more about your career in the building indus-try and what drew you to Port Townsend? A: I started working for a contractor in 1988 right out of high school. In 1994, I struck out on my own as a General Contractor. In 2019, I decided to become a building inspector. I enrolled in Chemeketa Community College and by 2021 I had graduated with AAS degree in Building Inspec�on Technology. I had been coming to Port Townsend for years to have our family sailboat worked on and just fell in love with the city and its diverse people. I feel lucky and blessed to work with such a great team at the City and in one of the most beau�ful places on earth. Q: What are the primary responsibili�es as the City Building Official and how do they contribute to the growth and development of our City? A: My primary responsibili�es include overseeing and regula�ng construc�on ac�vi�es within the City, ensuring compli-ance with building codes, issuing permits, and conduc�ng inspec�ons. I work closely with architects, engineers, and developers to ensure that proposed projects align with our City’s vision for growth and development. By enforcing regula�ons and promo�ng high-quality construc�on prac�ces, we can enhance the safety, aesthe�cs and func�onality of our built environment. Q: What are some of the current challenges or opportuni�es you see in our City’s built environment? A: Port Townsend has a very challenging built environment ranging from its historic unreinforced masonry buildings to modern single-family homes. I am very excited about the new Tac�cal Infill code changes that have been made. It’s great to see the city react to the housing crisis in such a posi�ve and though�ul way. Q: What’s the best way to communicate with the community and other stakeholders on their building projects? A: I like to meet at the job site and try and solve problems in person. Unfortunately, that is not always possible, so I try and be very accessible through email and phone communica�ons. Q: What is your favorite building inspec�on and why? A: I would have to say that the framing inspec�on is my favorite. It’s the last �me you get to look at the plumbing, mechanical duct work, and structural components before they are all covered up. The Streets Division of the Public Works Department appreciates the work of many whom have mowed their frontage and controlled the vegeta�on. With the wet spring and the warm weather, the vegeta�on is growing inches per day. You will see the City mower this year only mowing along streets where the City owns property. City crews will be working on street rehabilita�on this summer rather than mowing the frontage of private property. Please remember to keep your street frontage vegeta�on under control. LOOKS GREAT! ADDITIONAL CLEAN UP IS NEEDED City of Port Townsend • 250 Madison Street • (360) 385-3000 • www.cityofpt.us Library events Summer Reading: June 1 - August 31, Port Townsend Library Every summer, the Port Townsend Public Library invites community members to par�cipate in our annual Summer Reading program. The Summer Reading program includes self-paced reading challenges, interac�ve programs and ac�vi�es, and live performances and events. Reading challenges for kids, teens, and adults run from June 1 - August 31. Fun prizes are available for kids, teens, and adults that accomplish the reading challenge in each age category. Kids & Teens that read 10 hours can earn a new book. Kids & Teens that read 50 hours earn a limited edi�on t-shirt. Adults that read 100 hours earn a limited edi�on t-shirt. Par�cipants can track their hours using the beanstack app or by picking up a reading tracker at the Library. This year's Summer Reading t-shirt was designed by the library's own Paige Wynkoop! Summer Reading Kick-Off Event: Saturday, June 24, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Pink House Lawn Celebrate the start of Summer Reading with live music, cupcakes, lawn games, and more! Pick up your Summer Reading tracker and learn about upcoming programs. Special thanks to our guest performers from the Unexpected Brass Band. Mug Pain�ng Workshop, Wednesday, June 28 at 1:00 p.m., Pink House / Ages 13 - 18Make a mug that shows off your interests and style. Supplies are limited and are available on a first come first serve basis. Stop Mo�on and Clayma�on Studio, Thursday, June 29 at 1:00 p.m., Pink House / Ages 0 - 12Learn how to create stop mo�on films with LEGOs, clayma�on or whatever else you want to animate. Story�me in the Park: Every Tuesday, June 6 - August 29, from 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. at Chetzemoka ParkJoin us at Chetzemoka Park Gazebo for an outdoor story�me designed to build early literacy skills through stories, rhymes, songs, and full-body movement. Story�mes will be created with toddlers and preschool age children in mind, but all ages are welcome. Please dress for the weather, and bring a blanket or cush-ions to sit on. Yoga Story�me with Dani Dent, Tuesday, June 27 from 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. at Chetzemoka ParkWe'll bring stories to life using breath, music, and movement, building early literacy skills along with healthy bodies. Please wear comfortable clothes. If you have a yoga mat, bring it along! Read to Rover: Every Tuesday, June 6 - August 29, from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. in the Children's Room / Ages 5 - 11Dogs are wonderful listeners! Kids ages 5-11 are invited to bring their favorite book or choose one from our library, then build reading skills and confidence by reading aloud to a cer�fied therapy dog. Thank you Olympic Mountain Pet Pals for your support for animals and childhood literacy! Third Occasional Surfing, Art & Culture of the Salish SeaFriday, June 30, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.Port Townsend Public Library Join us at the library for an all ages, free event. One night, surf-art gallery opening and readings featuring local ar�sts: Chris�an Coxen, Stephen Davis, Erwin Dense, Tim Nolan, Nam Siu, Reggie Smart and Jesse Joshua Watson. There will be music, food and good vibes. Friends of the Library Summer Book SaleSaturday, June 17, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Community Center Uptown. 9:00 a.m. early admission will be available for members of Friends of the PT Library. Gently used books, DVDs and CDs for adults and children. Proceeds support library programs.