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Home My WebLink About April 2013City of Port Townsend From Mayor David King - IT’S TIME TO DECIDE ABOUT THE LIBRARY – April 8 Open House on Library Options In my boatbuilding and repair business a boat “refit” project is not the same as a repair. A major refit will include improvements like hull extensions, new engines, and interior remodeling as well as repair of existing systems and structure. The City Library and Carnegie “campus” are undergoing a major refit. The repair com- ponents of the refit include the seismic retrofit of the original Carnegie building and replacement of the retaining walls and fractured concrete stairways. The planned improvements include resto- ration of the Pink House, recently completed, and as originally envisioned and planned over the last several years the replacement of the current single-story extension with a new two-story plus basement addition. Design and approval of the new addition (called “Phase 5” of the project) was the result of an ex- tended public process that included evaluation of the current uses of the Library, the constraints imposed on those uses by the current facility, and a projection of the growth of those uses over time to arrive at a library campus suitable for the community’s “Next Hundred Years.” The expanded library facility did not envision uses other than those for which the community had already demonstrated an appetite by making our Library one of the busiest in the state. But en- thusiastic support for the library, plus an optimistic plan for funding, resulted in an ideal design largely uncompromised by constraints other than the size of the site. The plan to pay for it reflected that idealism. Of the $7.75 million cost of the expansion and repair of the failing walkways and retaining walls, $4 -5 million were to be raised by the City and the Li- brary Foundation working together to secure grants and private donations. The up to $3 million remaining was to be provided through a Council-approved or a voter-approved bond and only after at least 80% of the rest of the funding was secured. But it was not to be. To date the Foundation has raised about $1.2 million towards Phase 5 from a combination of private donations and grants and a portion of that requires matching funds. The City has provided $450 thousand from councilmanic bond funds for the design of expansion pro- ject. There are still repair components of the refit that need to be funded so there is no option that will not require further investment of public funds in the property. Completion of the library “refit” project that includes significant improvements beyond the renovation of the Pink House and seis- mic retrofit of the Carnegie building will require a voted bond. But at a minimum we are faced with some level of expense to get our Library back into the Carnegie Campus and operational. Absent some level of bond support these expenses would result in a library functioning at a re- duced level of service and capacity. A Council-approved bond (paid for out of existing revenues) is not practical now because City finances to repay a bond are limited and the additional bond debt might exceed our statutory limit in the event of devaluation of the City’s assessed value. A voter-approved bond is the only option at this point. Council could place a bond measure equal to the majority of the original project cost before the voters but has determined that public consideration of an array of options and their impact on the services we want from our library should precede a thumbs up or down ballot measure based solely on cost. On March 18, after working with the Library Foundation for several weeks, Council adopted a process to “re-set” the library expansion project given these changed circumstances. On April 8, there will be an open house at the Carnegie Library for the public to review and provide comment on Library options. (360) 379-5047 (email: citycouncil@cityofpt.us) www.cityofpt.us April 2013 For the town meeting the City has prepared five alternatives ranging from limited improve- ments to the Carnegie building only, to the full two-story and basement implementation of Phase 5. General cost and capacity information is included with each scenario. These docu- ments are available in hard copy at City Hall and at the Library or online at the City’s website or here [link] if you’re reading this online. Please review the options presented in these docu- ments and come to the meeting on the 8th to give us your thoughts. If you cannot attend the meeting on the 8th please mail us your comments (write “Library Project” on the envelope) or drop them by the Library or City Hall. Council plans to take action on April 29 that would des- ignate the preferred alternative and amount of voter-approved bond. By approving a voted bond we would guarantee payment through our property taxes. This does not necessarily mean that the bond has to be paid by property taxes. The City could apply other funds to the bond including monies raised by the continuing efforts of the City and the Library Foundation. The bond costs cannot be precisely known until they are sold but assuming property tax covered the entire debt-service the estimated 20-year annual cost on the property tax bill of a house with a $300,000 assessed value would be: Everyone loves the library. Even critics of the current expansion plan preface their criticism with affection for the institution. If we had raised the $4 - 5 million from other sources as origi- nally planned I’d be a vocal supporter of bonding for the balance of the expansion as we’d planned to do in 2010. But the changed circumstances for funding the project warrant review of the project by those who will have to pay for it. We can have the library expansion as de- signed if we are willing as taxpayers to bear the cost. Or we can revise the scope of the pro- ject and have a more modest result at a lower cost. Council has the responsibility for what- ever measure is placed before the voters and has instituted this process to help craft a measure that will be broadly supported. Voters will retain the final say. Bond Amount Annual Property Tax for $300,000 Home 6,000,000$ $113.40 5,000,000$ $94.50 4,000,000$ $75.60 3,000,000$ $56.70 2,000,000$ $37.80 Bond Amount Annual Property Tax for $300,000 Home 6,000,000$ $113.40 5,000,000$ $94.50 4,000,000$ $75.60 3,000,000$ $56.70 2,000,000$ $37.80 Let's Clean Up Our Watershed - Saturday, April 20! We need your help to carry garbage out of our watershed as part of our Earth Day celebration. On Saturday, April 20, Chimacum high school students in the 4-H Stewardship Program are asking you to join them in the forest! They will lead groups of community vol- unteers to clean up the Quilcene-area watershed that supplies Port Townsend’s drinking water. This event is held in partnership with the City of Port Townsend, WSU Beach Watchers, U.S. Forest Service and Jefferson County 4-H. Jennifer Fujii with the Hood Canal Ranger District states, “This event should hold special meaning for the residents of Port Townsend, who receive their drinking water from the tar- geted cleanup area. ... the youth involved have put in a lot of effort to organize this cleanup.” Participants will start the day with a required safety meeting at 9 a.m. at the Quilcene Ranger Station before driving into the forest for the cleanup. Youth 12 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Register by April 18. Send your name and contact information to Sue Hay at shay@jefferson.wsu.edu or call her at 379-5610 x 208. (360) 379-5047 (email: citycouncil@cityofpt.us) www.cityofpt.us April 2013 City of Port Townsend Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park Work Party Sunday, April 21 In February, thirteen volunteers joined the Arbor Day planting of more than 130 trees and shrubs at Kah Tai. Our next work party is Sunday April 21 from 9 a.m. to noon. We will again focus on pulling Scot’s Broom and picking up garbage. Park at the Chase Bank parking lot on Kearney and Sims Way. Look for a white chevy pickup and the green volunteer sign. Wear layered work clothes and bring work gloves. Homemade cookies, hot tea, water, weed pullers, and garbage bags will be provided. Hope to see you there! Email rosemarysikes@olympus.net or call 385-0307 for more information. Main Street Update - For these and other Main Street programs visit www.ptmainstreet.org April 20, 2013 – The PT Main Street Program will be having an Earth Day Spring Clean Up. This year we will focus on repairing some of the trash cans around town as well as touching up Adams Street Park. If you would like to help, please call 385-7911. May is “Art Wave” month. This inspiring month-long exhibit celebrates children’s creative expression through art and is a collaboration with participating PT businesses. The artwork is being created in the PT School District in grades K-12. The popular annual art exhibit is on display at businesses in Uptown and Downtown during the month of May. May 4, 2013 - “Escape into Art” art workshops. These workshops are being planned as a hands-on arts experience this year, and proceeds benefit children’s arts programs in the PT Public Schools. It is being coordinated by local teaching artists Susan Doyle, Jesse Joshua Watson, Wanda LeClerc and Margie McDonald. For more information on the “Escape into Art” workshops, please visit www.PTArtscape.com or www.ptmainstreet.org or PT Main Street Program’s Facebook page. by Miranda Come join the Jefferson County Weed Board pull poison hemlock. The trails on the hillside above the Food Coop are particularly badly infested. There will be a Weed Pull on April 6 from 2-4 p.m. Meet in the Food Coop parking lot. Bring gloves - this plant is toxic so gloves are essential. Call 379-5610 x 205 or email noxiousweeds@co.jefferson.wa.us for more information. 2013 Teen Community Read As part of the 100th birthday celebration of the PT Public Library, the 2013 Teen Com- munity Read is Life is So Good by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman. The grand- son of a slave, Dawson went to school for the first time at age 98. A photo of him reading his birth- day cards for the first time at the age of 100 intrigued Glaubman. After flying to Texas to meet him, Glaubman was invited to live with Dawson and write his story. Glaubman will give presentations on Thursday, April 18 at PT High School at 9:40 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. These are open to the public. The Teen Community Read is sponsored by First Fed- eral, Friends of the PT Library, and PT School District. Citizen Volunteer Opportunities Consider applying for vacancies on the fol- lowing Advisory Boards, Committees, and Commissions. Arts Commission Historic Preservation Committee Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Library Advisory Board Nonmotorized Transportation Advisory Board Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board PEG Access Coordinating Committee Planning Commission Most appointments require a three-year commitment. City residency or employment within the City is a requirement for most po- sitions and some special qualifications may apply. Vacancies are open until filled. See the city website for committee descriptions, application, and meeting schedules or con- tact the City Clerk’s Office at 379-5083. Date Location Description 01/05 19th & San Juan Bike 01/13 Unknown Clipboard & Papers 01/30 Lawrence Street Camera 01/30 12th Street Bike 02/04 City Hall Jacket 02/11 Van Ness Street Bike Free Recycling Computers, Laptops, Monitors, Tablets, and Electronic Readers Found Property Held by Police Dept. Call 385-2322 if you are missing property items listed below. Proof of ownership is required. Electronic Take Back Locations The Recycling Center 385-7678 301 County Landfill Rd off Jacob-Miller Rd. M-Sat. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Goodwill 385-6600 602 Howard St., Port Townsend M-Sat. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. E-Cycle Northwest (360) 681-8645 272693 Hwy 101 Sequim, WA 98382 E-CYCLE WASHINGTON www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/eproductrecycle 1-800-RECYCLE (1-800-732-9253 ) Grant Seeking Basics Friday April 5, 10 a.m.-12 noon Learn strategies for researching grant opportuni- ties for your nonprofit organization, the potential resources from foundations and corporations, how to use grants databases, techniques for fol- low-up research and tips on approaching funders. Librarian Jeannette Privat shares the knowledge she has gained from many years of working with nonprofit organizations. Picture Your Life: Memoir Writing Workshop with Judith Kitchen Tuesday April 23, 1:30-4 p.m. This workshop is designed to set you writing about the people, places, and emotions in your life. Bring a photograph that intrigues you - espe- cially one where you have questions. Local writer Judith Kitchen will lead you in an exercise guaran- teed to open your family history. You will find yourself entering unexplored territory and your family will love this legacy. In 2009, the Electronics Recycling Rule made it free to recycle computers, laptops, televisions, tablets, monitors, and electronic readers at the locations listed below. Printers, cell phones, and scanners should also be recycled, but you may be required to pay a small fee. Televisions and computer electronics contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Re- cycling keeps hazardous materials out of the landfill allowing reuse and recovery of many of the metals. For a complete list of electronic recycling facilities, see http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/ eproductrecycle/ Transition Yourself Wednesdays, April 17 and 24, 6-7:30 p.m. The Transition Yourself series, sponsored by the U.S. Bank Foundation, is offering two more free workshops. Learn how to write a cover letter and resumé, get tips on job interviews, and network with others going through job transitions. Call 385- 3181, sign up at the circulation desk at the Moun- tain View location, email nschroff@cityofpt.us or call 385-5468. Drop-ins are welcome. Library Learning Center Classes 1256 Lawrence St. Jefferson County Public Health and Public Works Questions? Call: 360.385.9160 0r pinky@co.jefferson.wa.us 360.385.9444