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HomeMy WebLinkAbout September 2013From Mayor David King - September 2013 I’ve got to get the newsletter out early this month. Normally I drive city staff crazy by working on it until the last possible minute – due in equal parts to procrastination and a desire to be timely (the latter justifying the former). But because I’ll be in the Olympic Mountains for the last week of the month it’s only August 22nd as I write this – so by the time you read this you may know something affecting the City that I didn’t anticipate. I already know that the City, in addition to the budget process for 2014, will be very busy sorting through three issues before the end of the year – secondary water treatment, the library, and Mountain View. And just over the horizon is the 20-year update to our comprehensive plan. Altogether, these are an opportunity for the community to review and redefine the kind of place we hope to become in the coming years. Secondary Water Treatment While I’m away the City may receive a letter from the State Department of Health critical of the management of our watershed, which we do in partnership with the US Forest Service and the Paper Mill. The watershed is operated under a plan that is a condition of the permit for our operation of the Olympic Gravity Watershed pipeline that brings unfiltered water to the City. We have been operating the OGWS under the same plan, and the Health Department has been approving that operation without comment, for years. To fulfill the federal requirement for secondary treatment we planned to use ultraviolet light, but the State wants us to install a much more expensive filtration system. Since UV meets the federal requirement for the treatment of cryptos- poridium, the State, which implements the federal standard in Washington, is placing prohibitively costly and unrealistic measures for increased management activity in the watershed as a condition of State approval of UV treatment. The State position is forcing us to consider filtration by making the cost of managing the water- shed without it prohibitive. As the City goes through this with the State, residents should be aware that our water system continues to be safe. Our management of the watershed has not changed – only the State’s requirements. The only instance of crypto showing up in our watershed was a single oocyst that occurred in a test in 2009. We’ve been testing monthly as part of our repair and reconfiguration of the system at City Lake. To be fair, since much of our watershed is in the National Forest, the State is concerned about the drastic re- duction of resources for federal forest management. In the last few years, Forest Service staff has been cut in half, and no one from the NFS attended the recent inspection by the DOH, as it had done for years. So feder- al management responsibilities have become ours by default – the sequester resulting in a new unfunded mandate. The additional cost of adding filtration will be $3 - $5 million. The Library The voters have definitively rejected expanding the City's library at the Carnegie campus. A resulting near- term challenge is that the expansion proposal included funds to complete repairs to the exterior of the Carne- gie building and there is deferred maintenance work to the existing addition that will have to be done before the Library can move back in. We'll be seeing what can be done within the constraints of existing budget and see if we can find matching funds for the unused portion of the Heritage Grant so that we can make some re- pairs in advance of moving the Library back in. The long-term challenge is establishing direction for the Library in light of the bond failure. The expansion pro- ject dominated the Library's planning for years. During the campaign, I heard numerous reasons for opposing it - not wanting to tear down the existing addition, wanting to embrace more advanced technology, wanting to save community capacity for parks, wanting to look at branch libraries instead of just at the Carnegie campus. As is often the case after a failed ballot measure, knowing what the community does NOT want provides Council limited guidance for what it does. The City’s Library Advisory Board, a standing citizen advisory com- mittee, languished somewhat as the Library Foundation, an independent non-profit, took the lead during the expansion effort - there are only two filled of seven total board members. We need to fully staff the board to advise Council. The process for this is that a citizen fills out a “declaration of interest” form that is available from City Hall or from here - http://www.cityofpt.us/user/image/declarationofinterest.pdf - on the city’s website. As for any other advisory board, the mayor [me] reviews the declarations and makes a recommendation to Council. Council has the final say and is not constrained by the mayor’s recommendation. I’ve described this process in some detail because I’m hoping to staff the advisory board with more than just the activists on ei- ther side of the recent bond measure. We need a fresh look. (In our community, probably like in most commu- nities, there are local government activists and then there’s everybody else. As one of those “usual suspects” that is active in many local issues, I’m very much aware that I don’t know and generally never hear from the majority of the people whose lives I’m trying to improve. So I’m recruiting.) Mountain View The other urgent issue we will have to address before the end of the year is the future of the Mountain View Campus. Some of the debate about the Library focused on the reduction of City funds for community ser- vices. Restoration of those services should be a priority, but in fact the main pressure on providing support for other community services is the cost of operating Mountain View – about $300,000 per year net to the City. There are some economies that can be achieved through repairing old building systems that have failed or are on life support. A particularly critical need is replacement of the heating and ventilation system, which ser- vices both the pool and the rest of the buildings and is in terrible shape. It needs to be replaced and the pool/ gym segregated from the rest of the system. The City has qualified for a grant of $500,000 from the State (toward the $2 million total project cost) but will have to have an ownership interest, such as a long-term lease, in the facility before the end of 2013 in order to use it. We have a very constructive working relationship with the School District, which will forego rent from the City in exchange for our investment in the property, but before we commit to a lease we need to develop a durable plan for managing Mountain View (and addressing other deferred maintenance issues) in order to commit to our presence there for the long term. Budgeting Generally Mountain View is one of several major budget issues we’ll be taking up. By this time each year, we are work- ing with three budgets at the City. We’re just beginning to look at the issues and opportunities for next year’s budget. We’re in the midst of managing budgeting and expenditures for the current year. And we’re going through and awaiting the results of the state’s audit of the previous year’s budget. Things have been picking up for us in 2013. Standard and Poors has removed the negative outlook from our A+ bond rating. Our sales tax revenues are matching last year’s despite the state coding error from 2012 that caused us to over budget by nearly $200K. As of the end of July, revenue from real estate excise tax was 10% higher than budgeted for the entire year. There are several pending large projects next year, like the one at the hospital, which will help further. On the other hand, there are early indications from the State Auditor’s Office that they still have concerns about the City’s financial health from their review of our 2012 finances. We’ll just have to wait and see what’s in the final report, determine which of their concerns we anticipated and have already addressed, and ad- dress whatever remains in our 2014 budget process. Coming Up Finally, to be in compliance with the WA State Growth Management Act, cities and counties had to develop Comprehensive Plans for their futures in the 1990s. These must be revised once every twenty years, and the City and the County must have their respective comprehensive plans revised by June of 2016. Much has changed since 1996. For instance there is no mention in our comprehensive plan of local agricul- ture, or broadband, or climate change, or the Internet. And in 1996, relations between the City and the County were highly politicized. Since then more people have settled in the unincorporated areas than in the City which now has only 40% of the population. Yet a majority of the sales tax revenue is still produced within the City. Some business owners work outside the City and live in town. Other people who work in the City live outside. This is our opportunity to collaborate with other jurisdictions to chart a future course for not only the City but for all of east Jefferson County. The County’s revision process is already underway. Darn, the weather’s tanking. Better pack the rain gear. September 2013 Water and Sewer Rate Increases Water and sewer rates for City utility customers have increased effective August 2013, and are reflected in the August 31 bill. The base monthly water rate for an average residential water bill (for a 5/8” to ¾” connection) increases by $2.19 per month. Usage charges increase 31 cents per 1,000 gallons used. Sewer usage rates remain the same. In addition, a flat rate surcharge will be added to each bill in the amount of $5.00 for water and $3.00 for sewer to fund necessary capital improvements. We anticipate additional rate and surcharge increases over the next several years to fully fund utility requirements. Rates will vary for each class of water customer and water meter size. The 2013 revised rate table is included in this newsletter. Rate studies show that the revenue received from current rates does not fully cover operation and maintenance costs of the water system. This increase addresses that gap. In addition, state and federal mandated health rules require that the City build a new water treatment facility which will cost an estimated $10 - $15 million. Our existing five million gallon concrete water storage tank must also be replaced since structural weakness makes it vulnerable to a seismic event. The cost of this project is approximately $7 million. After construction of the new plant, water from the Big and Little Quilcene Rivers will enter the new treatment system mandated by the State Department of Health to inactivate or remove cryptosporidium, an organism that can cause gas- trointestinal illness. We understand this increase will create an additional hardship for some City residents. It is always difficult to increase costs but it is necessary to comply with the state and federal health mandate. This is an investment in our future water quality so that we can insure safe, clean drinking water for all customers and protect our critical infrastructure. Water Rates Effective August 2013 Monthly Fixed Charge - All Classes Inside City Outside City Volume Charges per 1,000 Gallons Inside Outside O&M Rate Capital Surcharge Total O&M Rate Capital Surcharge Total City City 5/8" to 3/4" (Low-Income) $8.95 $2.67 $11.62 $10.74 $3.20 $13.94 Low-Income $2.37 $2.84 5/8" to 3/4" $16.76 $5.00 $21.76 $20.11 $6.00 $26.11 Residential (Including Duplex- es) $2.37 $2.84 1" $41.91 $5.00 $46.91 $50.29 $6.00 $56.29 Multi-Family (3 or More Units) $1.84 $2.21 1-1/2" $83.80 $5.00 $88.80 $100.56 $6.00 $106.56 Commercial A (Meter ≤ 2") $2.73 $3.27 2" $134.09 $5.00 $139.09 $160.91 $6.00 $166.91 Commercial B (Meter  3") $4.11 $4.93 3" $251.41 $5.00 $256.41 $301.70 $6.00 $307.70 Government $3.55 $4.26 4" $419.01 $5.00 $424.01 $502.82 $6.00 $508.82 Irrigation: 6" $838.04 $5.00 $843.04 $1,005.65 $6.00 $1,011.65 Winter (November - April) $2.84 $3.41 8" $1,340.85 $5.00 $1,345.85 $1,609.02 $6.00 $1,615.02 Summer (May - October) $4.98 $5.98 Sewer Rates Effective August 2013 Monthly Fixed Charge - All Classes O&M Rate Capital Surcharge Total Volume Charges per 1,000 Gallons Low-Income Low-Income (N/A) Water Use ≤ 3,000 Gallons per Month $23.72 $2.10 $25.82 Residential (Including Duplexes) (N/A) Water Use > 3,000 Gallons per Month $28.74 $2.10 $30.84 Multi-Family (3 or More Units) $3.45 Residential (Including Duplexes) Commercial A (Meter ≤ 2") $4.65 Water Use ≤ 3,000 Gallons per Month $33.85 $3.00 $36.85 Commercial B (Meter ³ 3") $3.05 Water Use > 3,000 Gallons per Month $41.85 $3.00 $44.85 Government $4.55 Multi-Family & Commercial: 5/8" to 3/4" $30.00 $3.00 $33.00 1" $45.00 $3.00 $48.00 1-1/2" $75.00 $3.00 $78.00 2" $115.00 $3.00 $118.00 3" $420.00 $3.00 $423.00 4" $470.00 $3.00 $473.00 6" $700.00 $3.00 $703.00 8" $960.00 $3.00 $963.00 Want two reusable produce bags? Sign up on-line at http:// www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/ index.php?one-less-bag-challenge Or contact Pinky Feria Mingo at 360 379-4489 37th Annual Wooden Boat Festival September 6 - 8 The Port Townsend Wood- en Boat Festival is the most education-packed and in- spiring wooden boat event in the world. Featuring more than 300 wooden vessels, dozens of presen- tations and demonstrations, with a who's who of wooden boat experts - there's something to do, someone to meet, or a boat to board at every turn. For the most up to date information, 'Like' the Wooden Boat Foundation Facebook page, check the website www.woodenboat.org or email Festival Directors Barb Trailer and Carrie Andrews at festival@woodenboat.org. Sail into savings at dozens of PT stores! Experience the Downtown Sidewalk “Sail” during the Wooden Boat Festival, Sept. 7 & 8. Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street Maritime Art: 1880-2013 Eclectic, historic and con temporary visions of the maritime world. This exhibit features area artists as well as historic maritime art and artifacts. The exhibit will be on display until the end of 2013. Visit www.jchsmuseum.org, call 385-1003 or email marsha@jchswa.org for information on exhibits, historic sites and visiting hours. 14th Annual PT Film Festival September 20 - 22 This year the Port Townsend Film Festival guests are actress Karen Allen and mountaineer Lou Whittaker. View indie and classic movies for three days at six locations in Port Townsend and make plans to join us each evening at the FREE outdoor family movies on Taylor St. “Starman” will be aired Friday, “Finding Nemo” Saturday and “Step Into Liquid” on Sunday. For tickets, information and the 2013 sched- ule, visit www.ptfilmfest.com, “Like” the PT Film Festival Facebook page or email info@ptfilmfest.com COMPOST will be available at the City Composting Facility, 603 County Landfill Rd. starting in September. The price is $12.00 per cubic yard for nine or fewer yards. Purchases of 10 cubic yards or greater, at each loading, are $9.00 per cubic yard. Notices of compost sale events will be in the Leader and on the City website, or call the Compost Hotline 385-7908 for up-to-date information. A six month process, yardwaste and biosolids are blended, treated and tested before making the Class A compost available. For more information about the process, go to www.cityofpt.us/compostfacility/htm. The Jefferson County YMCA would like to invite you to their annual Enchanted Garden Soiree on September 14. Proceeds will benefit the Exer- cise & Thrive ™ program for cancer survivors and the Jefferson County YMCA. Enjoy an enchanted evening at Heartspace, a local artist’s home, with music, foods prepared by Chef Arran Stark and a silent auction . For more information about the Soiree, click on http://gardensoiree.org. Tickets are avail- able at the Y office at Mt. View Commons, 1925 Blaine St. or by calling 385-5811.