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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04(360) 379-5047 (email: citycouncil@cityofpt.us) www.cityofpt. us April 2012 City of Port Townsend Let’s Celebrate the Port Townsend Summer Band’s 20th Season! Monday, May 28—11:30 a.m., American Legion Hall Sunday, June 24—3:00 p.m., Chetzemoka Park Wednesday, July 4—7:30 p.m., American Legion Hall Sunday, July 29—3:00 p.m., Chetzemoka Park Saturday, August 18—11:00 a.m., Community Center Lawn-Uptown Fair Sunday, August 26—3:00 p.m., Pope Marine Park Sunday, September 9—2:30, Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Monday, November 12—10:30 a.m., American Legion Hall Conductor Karl Bach is a retired Senior Chief Musician in the United States Navy Band. This will be his 12th year as the band’s conductor. Instrumentalists who play at the high school level or more are welcome. Call the con-ductor, Karl Bach at 344-3658 if you would like to be part of this local treasure. More information, photos, players, history and sc hedule can be found at: http://www.ptsummerband.org. City Water Utility Rate Increase On March 5, 2012, the City Council authorized a water utility rate increase of 3%. The increase is just in water services for all classes of service for both base fees and consumption fees. The last rate increase was adopted in 2006. Council adopted Ordinance No. 3071 which sets the water and sewer rates for the next five years. The water utility rate increase was recommended by the independent consulting firm of Financial Consulting Services Group in order to maintain the water and sewer utility’s operations for the next several years. The new water utility rates are effective starting on April 1, 2012. The city Ordinance No. 3071 is available at the city’s web site www.cityofpt.us for additional information. Photo by Colette Eisele and Pearl Racette From Mayor David King IT’S SPRING! I have been asked about the sidewalk and street work currently underway on Taylor and Water Streets in our historic downtown. With businesses struggling in the lean times, why are we making it harder with al l this disruption? Do we have to do it now? In fact – yes. The sidewalk tunnels that we are filling, r epairing, or reinforcing have existed for many years and their growing instability could no longer be ignored. Remember w hen the Hastings Building façade cracked a couple of years ago? All of the buildings adjacent to the work are at risk from the voids below the sidewalks. Relatively recently (after Hurricane Katrina), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made money available to avoid disasters, not just clean up after them. We secured some of that money for this repair, with matching bond funds, but we had to spend it by a certain time or we would have lo st it. And we’re doing more than just the repair. In advance of the project there were extensive meetings with the downtown merchants and residents to minimize the disruption, mitigate its affects, and optimize the results. One unanimous request was, "If we have to go through this, let's have some benefit." So we're put- ting additional money into the project for some improvements, the most significant of which will be putting the utilities underground. PSE, as a licensed pr ivate utility, is obligated to pick up the ma jority of the cost for undergrounding. The PUD, when it becomes our electric utility in the next year or so, will not have that obligation. This also dictates that we do the project now. Council debated allocating the additional fund s for improvements and we considered doing just the mini- mum necessary so that we would commit less of our limited capital funds to the project. But there were not enough funds remaining to complete new projects (pedestrian access around the hospital and connecting Howard Street with Discov-ery Road) and council decided that doing one thing well was preferable to an incomplete job of several projects. Healthy communities are continuously renewing. In this most recent year of our long ec onomic winter we have mourned the closing of businesses and have noted t he empty storefronts. But as I mentioned in the January newsletter, new busi- nesses are arriving. Here are some sp ring blooms (or buds) to look for: Picnic Zero Water Street Gallery The Pour House Craft Beer Taproom Necessito Burrito Red Raven Gallery Conservatory Coastal Homes - coming soon Quimper Mercantile Daily Bird Pottery Green Eyeshade - reopening in April Metro Bagel O’Reilly Auto Parts Perfect Season—moved Uptown PT Pearl The Broken Spoke Seagrass Coastal Home expansion Pippa’s Real Tea The Bazaar Girls Body Works Expressive Studio Simon Mace Gallery Prosper Natural Medicine Port Townsend Chiropractic Hydration Station Jenny Jo Clothing Osprey Tours & Handcrafted Kayaks Fusion Spa—Uptown Big Wolf Trading Company Sideshow Variety & Max Grover Gallery Apothecarium Coffee House Seams to Last/Sweet PT relocation and expansion Tickled Pink expansion Cheri Raab’s Body Shop relocation and expansion It is our hope that the Taylor Street project ends with spring. Citizens’ reactions to this project have been creative to say the least and we are definitely making the best of a challenging situation. Residents continue to show their loyalty by shopping and dining locally. Rerouting utilities that have been visible since Port Townsend had streetcars is a challenge however, and we have a plan, coordinated with the City, Main Street and downtown businesses, to minimize disruption if it takes longer than expected. In any case, renewed plac es to explore and shop, open skies to linger under, and a re-born urban landscape are in our near future. That seems spring-like to me. Many thanks to Teresa Verraes and Mari Mullen of the Chambe r of Commerce and Main Street respectively for their help (and apologies to businesses I’ve missed). The criterion fo r this list was city businesses started or planned for over the past twelve months. For updates and project information on the Downtown Streetscape Sidewalk Project visit: www.cityofpt.us/currentprojects.htm and click on “Downtown Streetscape Sidewalk Tunnel Lids” or by calling the Tunnel Lid Hotline 643-1841. 30+ years Larry Grewell John Merchant 25+ years Matt Capriotti Joe Fields John Freitas 20+ years Carol Costello Jim Freitas Carl Johnson Rich Kiesel Russ Lopeman James Madden Catherine McNabb April Owen Lynn Ring Kiesy Strauchon 15+ years Alex Angud Mike Bartkus Conner Daily Ed Green Jason Greenspane Ian Jablonski Joe Kaare Pam Kolacy Michael Legarsky Dave Peterson Kay Pownall Dave Rodia Judy Surber Troy Surber Jay Tjemsland Steve Wright 10+ years Ken Clow Kevin Ellis Kathy Howard Tyler Johnson John McDonagh Bev Moore Peach Stebbins Corena Stern Jean Tarascio Sarah Tiffany David Timmons Suzanne Wassmer John Watts Terry Kurtzbein Christina Lobo Bob Mackey Rowen Matkins Bliss Morris James Murray Mark Peil Theresa Percy Brian Reid Joanna Sanders Rick Sepler Sarah Tiffany Samantha Trone Patty Voelker Garin Williams Cris Wilson 5+years James Aman Mary Heather Ames John Bick Luke Bogues Don Cady Bill Corrigan Bill Erickson Sherry Erickson Theresa Fitzgerald Scottie Foster Patrick Fudally Jody Glaubman Nathan Holmes Kathi Johnson James Kench Matt Krysinski Our Kids: Our Business April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Jefferson County’s 5th annual “Our Kids: Our Business” campaign will highlight the things we can do to prevent child abuse and sexual assault. It is our co mmunity’s commitment to protect and nurture our chil-dren. Look for activities and events during April that support this commitment. City of Port Townsend Staff Longevity Awards We are proud to announce the staff who have been working for the City from 5 to 30+ years. Thank you for your commitment to the community and keeping this a special place to live and work. Ordinance Defines Private Uses of Right-of-Way (ROW) – Landscaping, Fences, Rockeries, Trees Ordinance 3057, approved by the City Council on March 5, 2012, defines what uses residential owners may make of the Right-of-Way (ROW) next to their property. Because many City streets are currently much narrow-er than the platted ROW, the street edge or curb is usually not the beginning of your property. Also, many ROWs are not developed with streets. The current Code (which dates to the 1990s) prohibits structures and fences in the ROW area between a street and property line or in undeveloped streets, but does allow minor landscaping. The Ordinance continues this approach, but does provide some definition of what constitutes minor landscaping. The con-cept is that landscaping in the ROW is and should be encouraged, but not to the point where it “privatizes” the ROW (turns the area from public to private space). Minor landscap-ing is landscaping that meets the following standards:  Does not interfere with street-side parking or pedestrian traffic within 8 feet of the edge of any street. In this area, only grass or similar ground cover is appropriate. The concern is that owners should not be allowed to landscape to the point that street parking is moved in front of someone else’s prop-erty.  Does not interfere with sight lines at intersections, or otherwise present a safety hazard.  Generally consists of low plantings, and does not serve as a “living fence”, solid hedge or screen to prevent passersby from viewing structures on priv ate property. Plantings or features that do not meet this standard would have the effect of privatiz ing the public space. (Owners who desire priva- cy would erect fencing or plant landscaping on their private property and not in the ROW.)  May consist of landscape features (wood, rocks) that are consistent with these standards. The Ordinance spells out some descriptions (specific heights and other measures) that are not requirements but are intended to define landscaping and features that would fit within the standards of “minor landscaping.” For example, shrubs are considered minor if they are less th an 3’ in height at maturity (or less than 2’ within 10’ of an intersection or driveway). Planting of trees in the ROW area requires a no fee permit (to allow the Public Works Department to make sure the tree is appropriate for the location giving regard to effect on utilities and views). No trees may be cut in the ROW without City approval. The Ordinance provides for the Public Works Director to issue “departures” to allow structures or uses in the ROW based on special circumstances, for example, to allow a retaining wall in the ROW if necessary to prevent erosion. The Ordinance states: “It is not the intent … that the Public Works Department seek out and/or abate long-standing conditions or situations that violate the standards in this section, so long as the use or structure did not present a safety hazard, was removed if it interfered with City improvements, did not interfere with views from street ends, was not intensified, and was removed if the property redeveloped. Subject to these limitations, long-standing landscaping or trees in the ROW would be allowed to remain.” Before you plan that rock wall, fence, or planting project, or cut trees or other significant vegetation, be sure you know where your property ends and the public ROW begi ns. If you utilize the ROW, check the Ordinance (cityofpt.us, then Documents, then City Council, then Ordinances). The on-line Municipal Code will be updated shortly. If you have any questions, please contact Public Services at 379-5095. Earth Day activities Saturday, April 21 during Jefferson County Farmers Market Come join us on Saturday, April 21 from 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. for a family-friendly, indoor-outdoor celebration free of charge and located on the Community Center lawn adjacent to the Saturday Farmers Market. (This is part of an Earth Day celebration Local 20/20 is hosting in partnership with Jefferson County Farmers Markets.) Jefferson County's Local 20/20 (www.L2020.org) is celebrating it’s recent recognition as the 11th official Transi- tion Initiative in Washington State and the 111th in the nation. Learn more at a presentation on Saturday, April 21, 10:30 a.m. upstairs at the Community Center. At 2 p.m., attend a “Solarize Port Townsend” workshop presented by Power Trip Energy Corp. (www.solarizePT.com). And at the close of the Farmers Market, join a bike parade headed for the new ReCyclery site at Mountain View for a ribbon-cutting and barbeque! There will be no City Newsletter in May. Instead, the 2011 Port Townsend Annual Drinking Water Report will be enclosed with your utility bill. The regular newsletter will resume in June. Library move involves community participants You are invited to be a part of the “People’s Chain” Monday, April 9 starting at 3:30 p.m., rain or shine, all community members are invited to form a line between the Library and Mountain View Commons anywhere on the sidewalk along Lawrence and Walker streets to pass off symbolic books from one end to the other. The chain will be a way to include the community in the beginning of Phase 2 – a seismic retrofit of the original Carnegie building funded with a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and City of Port Townsend matching funds. TEMPORARY LIBRARY CLOSURE Friday, April 6, the library will be closed for three days before the chain event and will remain closed through Sunday, April 15. During the 10-day closure, materials due dates will be extended to Monday, April 16. Also during the closure, the book drops will contin-ue to be open and emptied. A new book drop will be installed at Mountain View and books may still be re-turned at the main library, at Jefferson County Library and at the Port Townsend QFC during Phase 2. ►The adult and teen collections will move to the cafete-ria located beneath the gym at Mountain View. Hours will be: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays: 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays: 1 to 5 p.m ►The children’s collection will move to a classroom in Mountain View’s main building. Hours will be: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 385-3181 or visit ptpubliclibrary.org. Citizen Volunteer Opportunities Consider applying today for a position on the Citizen Advisory Boards, Committees, and Commissions listed below. See the City website for committee de-scriptions, application, and meeting schedules or con-tact the City Clerk’s Office 379-5083 for an application. • Planning Commission • Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board • Parks Recreation and Tree Advisory Board • Library Advisory Board • Lodging Tax Advisory Committee • Historic Preservation Committee • Housing Action Plan Network (HAPN) • Arts Commission A cooperative marketing program between the City of Port Townsend and the PT Main Street Program WOW Wednesdays! April 18 and May 16 during the downtown construction, businesses will show appreci-ation for their customers with special product demon-strations, in-store events and sales. A number of res-taurants are also offering “construction specials.” Come watch the construction in action and enjoy a “hard hat” special. April 21—International Record Store Day!! “Light at the End of the Tunnel” Loyalty Stamp Card Program Continues at 66 Businesses At 66 businesses, customers can fill up their cards with 10 stamps by May 31 and be entered in a drawing to win a $500 "Taylor Made for You" Prize. (No pur-chase necessary to enter; one free stamp per visit; one additional stamp with a purchase of $5 or more. Limit 2 stamps per business visit. Must be 18 or older to enter, some restrictions apply.) See list of business- es at www.ptmainstreet.org or look for signs.