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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10(360) 379-5047 (email: citycouncil@cityofpt.us) www.cityofpt.us October 2008 City of Port Townsend from Mayor Michelle Sandoval The City and the School District have partnered to hold a series of town meetings on the future of our local schools and the connection to the greater community. The initial meeting was well attended on September 18 with over 200 citizens participating. Questions were answered; information, ideas and concerns were ex- changed. The next town meeting will be on Sat- urday, October 4, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. This meeting will be followed up by a School District Open House (“Learning from the Town Meetings - Planning School Facilities for Port Townsend’s Future”) on Tuesday, October 21 at 6:00 p.m. Both will be held at Blue Heron Middle School. Over and over I have heard from community members on how well run, informative and con- structive the town meeting format is. Please mark your calendars to attend. We need all of our communities voices at these meetings on October 4 and October 21. In another public forum coming up, I will be gath- ering a panel for a discussion on the recent road blocks in our county by the homeland security/ border patrol agents. I have spoken with many citizens about these incidents and there is a wide variety of questions about the Border Patrol’s changing role within the community that I believe our community needs to have answers to and we hope to provide. When the plans have been finalized, there will be a notice in the local papers as to when and where the gathering will take place. Finally, although voting day is November 4, in Jefferson County all voting is con- ducted by mail. We will be receiving the ballots in the mail on October 15. Please remember to vote. It is one more way and perhaps the most important one in which to have your voice heard. Yard Waste Fees Effective October 20, the County Solid Waste Facility will be charging for yard waste deposited at the compost facility. The cost will be $48 per ton with a mini- mum fee of $5.00 for loads of 200 pounds or less. New Pedestrian Safety Ordinance On September 2, the City Council approved Ordi- nance 2981 that prohibits bicycles, skateboards, and all motor-driven vehicles (electric bikes, motor- ized scooters, etc.) on certain sidewalks. The prohibited sidewalks are: ♦ the downtown and uptown commercial areas, ♦ sidewalks adjacent to the post office, courthouse and community center, and ♦ the area at the Park and Ride lot. The prohibition does not apply to vehicles needed to accommodate disabled persons. The ordinance removes a prior prohibition on skate- boards on downtown streets. All use of streets by bicycles, skateboards, scoot- ers, etc., is subject to the same rules of the road for motor vehicles (stop signs, speed limits, etc.). In addition, the operator of any bicycle, skateboard, etc., shall yield the right-of-way to any pe- destrian on all paths, trails and sidewalks (where riding on sidewalks is allowed), pass using caution, and announce his or her presence by bell or voice when passing. The Council worked with various citizens and advi- sory groups to fashion the final ordinance, which went too far for some and not far enough for others. A copy of Ordinance 2981, and a map showing the prohibited sidewalks, is on the City website. Con- tact Sgt. Green of the Police Department (379- 4667) with any questions. The ordinance (or a possible broader prohibition ap- plied to all sidewalks) would not have prevented the recent bike-pedestrian accident that occurred on the path adjacent to Sims Way, because that path is designed for both pedestrian and bicycle use. Free 1st Time Homebuyer’s Classes - October and November Pathways to Homeownership Navigate the complex process of purchasing a home. Receive a Homebuyer Education Certifi- cate from HUD certified instructors. For dates, locations and registration contact OlyCAP 360-385-2571, 360-452-4726 or pbadame@olycap.org MAIN STREET’S GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT IN PORT TOWNSEND Thursday, October 2, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. “Birds of a Feather Shop Together” A Day & Night of Fun! Dozens of Port Townsend stores are planning special events, in-store promotions and refresh- ments from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.—with a wrap up party, door prizes and the “Feathered Friends Night on the Town” drawing at the end of the night at Water Street Brewing, 639 Water Street. Girls’ Night Out is sponsored by Jefferson Healthcare Home Health and Hospice, the Port Townsend Main Street Program, The Port Town- send Wedding Show and Wedding Guild and participating merchants. Friends of the Port Townsend Library Used Book Sale The next Friends of the Port Townsend Library Used Book Sale is happening on Saturday, Octo- ber 11 at the Community Center. Members of the Friends of the Library are admitted from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and the public is then invited from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Folks can join or renew their Friends of the Port Townsend Library mem- bership at the door. If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please email Peach Stebbins at pstebbins@cityofpt.us UPCOMING MAIN STREET EVENTS The Port Townsend Wedding Show Sat., Oct. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Sun. Oct. 12, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets and tour maps are available at Silverwater Café and Manresa Castle. Visit PTWeddingShow.com for details. Proceeds from gown sales benefit the “Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation” Downtown Trick or Treat & Costume Parade Halloween, Friday, October 31 at 4 p.m. Parade gathers at 3:45 p.m. in front of Bank of America plaza, 734 Water Street. Put on your costume and join the fun! Participating merchants will be providing treats. PUBLIC INVITED TO OPEN HOUSE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND/ JEFFERSON COUNTY CLIMATE ACTION COMMITTEE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the joint Climate Action Committee (CAC) will host three public open houses in different locations in Jeffer- son County. The agenda for the open houses will include the following: a short presentation by CAC members describing the tasks involved in developing a plan to achieve the goal of reducing local carbon emissions; what the committee has accomplished since its inaugural meeting in May 2008; and a draft list of potential reduction meas- ures. Members of the public will be invited to ask questions, and encouraged to submit their com- ments and ideas. One confirmed open house will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2008, from 4-6 p.m. at the Pope Marine Building, 100 Madison Street. Additional open houses will be scheduled in Brinnon and Chimacum. Please check the county website for open house scheduling infor- mation: OlyCAP presents: Talking to Your Kids about Money by Sarah Williamson and The Role of Financial Education in Our Schools by Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos Thursday, October 16, 7:00 p.m. Blue Heron Middle School 3939 San Juan Avenue