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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 2013From Mayor David King - November 2013 The weather has been very annoying this past week. We’ve been fogbound every morn- ing. It is supposed to burn off by midafternoon but recently it’s been lasting through the entire day and even thickening at dusk. Since I often hike and backpack in the Olympic Mountains I keep a link to the Hurricane Ridge webcam on my browser toolbar. While we have been stumbling around in the fog at sea level, it’s been glorious all week a mile in the air. Not a cloud in the sky. Mountain peaks glistening on the horizon. It’s infuriating. At least the dreary weather we’ve been having has made it easier to concentrate on the City’s year- end challenges. Completed Some things are behind us. Appointments to the City’s Library Advisory Committee were approved by Council on October 21. The committee’s first tasks when it convenes will be advising us on qualifications for a new library director and helping plan the Library’s move back into the Carnegie campus. The State has finished its audit of City finances as of the end of 2012. Instead of the findings we re- ceived in the past two audits, we have received management letters, a lesser form of notification. The letters express concerns about the City’s internal allocation of the cost of overhead and admin- istration to various city projects and programs, and seek assurance that the City’s improvements are durable acts of policy and not one-time adjustments. The State Auditor recommends that we devel- op a formal financial plan that spells out these policies and actions. We have been operating under a defacto plan authorized by council resolutions and budget adoptions, which we have pointed out in our response to the SAO, but we are striving to improve the reporting and records of these actions so that they are more accessible and understandable to citizens and the City’s 2014 draft budget emphasizes narratives and history as well as tables and figures to help citizens evaluate and under- stand the City’s finances. We will also be reviewing and revising the City’s financial policies during this budget season. The SAO acknowledges our progress in managing debt service and restoring our reserves. Still Ahead 2014 Budget As I write, we are well into the process of developing our 2014 Budget. We had a three-hour special budget workshop on Wednesday, October 23, with several more to come, and began to review the City’s fund accounts at the line-item level. The process is iterative, every review resulting in improve- ment but not finalized until the end, because some of our critical revenue figures are still as yet una- vailable. This year’s budget will be largely “hold the line” and any improvements in revenue that are otherwise uncommitted will likely be allocated to ensuring the City has adequate reserves, restoring services to parks, and street maintenance, in that order of priority. There will be a formal public hear- ing on the budget at the City Council’s business meeting on November 12. Secondary Treatment Along with the budget we need to finalize the revised plan for secondary treatment of our water sys- tem using membrane filters instead of the less expensive UV treatment we originally selected, and submit that plan to the Department of Health before the end of November. Council had to balance the unspecified increased cost and risk associated with satisfying the state Department of Health’s requirements for management of our watershed if we want to remain unfiltered, against the in- creased capital cost for adding filtration. In other words compare the additional annual cost for com- pliant management of the watershed to the additional annual cost for debt service if we add filtration. Increased personnel costs for monitoring and managing the watershed, say two new employees at an estimated cost plus benefits of $60K each might be $120K, as against $220K for debt service on added debt of $3 million. But the draft requirements from DOH include potentially much more expen- sive and problematic requirements like moving trails, closing roads and monitoring backcountry use. Given the additional benefits of having a filtered water system - likely avoidance of future additional requirements for compliance from the DOH, better protection from pathogens, and the possibility of securing federal dollars for this unfunded mandate – I’m persuaded that membrane filtration will ulti- mately be a better deal for the City. Periodic notices about the water system, like the one attached to this newsletter, comply with the Department of Health’s requirements for public notice until filtration is in place. Mountain View In the September newsletter I wrote that we had to have a solution for the repair and management of the Mountain View Commons by the end of the year in order to secure the state grant to repair the heating and ventilation systems. As it happens we can delay the grant and still qualify as long as the construction is completed by the end of 2015. But the terrible condition of the HVAC system and the roof of the main building make these necessary capital repairs urgent in order to keep the building – and the pool - operational. Per the resolutions recently passed by both the City and County to post- pone the Metropolitan Park District (MPD) process we are discussing how we might best collaborate in the future for the management of parks and recreation programs and facilities. Mountain View will be part of this discussion, as will be the operation and maintenance of the Rec Center and Memorial Field. A possible silver lining of this new process is that we can and should include in the discussion collaboration in the management of facilities that provide services to the community outside parks and rec – the balance of the Mountain View campus for instance. Given the broader range of issues, the easing of the grant deadline, the other work we have to fin- ish this year, the time needed for further cost estimation, and to explore opportunities for collaborat- ing with the County, we have decided to defer action on Mountain View until early next year. The City is planning a series of public forums in January and February to provide information and seek public input on “next steps” on these issues. Every Day Without weighing on any particular issue I think it’s fair, and non-partisan, to observe that efforts like charter movements and deer petitions show a strong citizen desire for more meaningful participation in local governance, an impulse, again without endorsing a particular method, I strongly endorse. At the same time, operating a city, or a county, or a school district, or a fire district, even apart from managing the relations between them, is difficult, complex work. In September the Washington De- partment of Ecology once again presented their Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant and Biosolids/Composting Facility Awards to the Port Townsend Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Biosolids/Composting facility. These annual awards go to those facilities that maintain 100% compliance with the DOE operating permit conditions. This is the 15th consecutive year and 17th overall award for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the 6th consecutive year award for the Biosol- ids/Composting Facility. Ecology is so used to coming here once a year to present this award that they forgot to bring the plaque this time. They take our excellence for granted. We should not. One reason local governments continue to work and innovate while the federal government calcifies and implodes is that local government employees are our neighbors and friends. They share our habitat and our fate. Day after day, year after year the men and women who work for us keep our water clean, put our fires out, teach our children, and pick us up when we fall. Unlike the brutal indif- ference shown by [some of the members of] the US Congress in their treatment of those that work for them, we agonize over the impact to local families when reductions in force are necessary. As we work slowly through the fog of emergent issues towards a future that improves participation but avoids unintended consequences, we should daily remember that ninety-five percent of our gov- ernment functions as it should because of the efforts of community members who do their work for us every day. Above the fog they keep the sun shining and the air clear. Our Water System November 2013 This notice is being sent to you by the City of Port Townsend. State Water System ID#: 69000R. Purpose of notification.  On August 23, 2013, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), after inspecting the watershed and reviewing control measures, notified the City that our water system does not have an adequate level of watershed control.  While the water quality has not changed, the Department of Health has determined that the wa- tershed control program does not meet current department expectations. For drinking water regula- tory purposes, the water system is considered to be out of treatment compliance.  The City is now working towards building a new water filtration treatment facility. With required pilot testing of the filtration systems, design, and construction the process is expected to be com- pleted in 2016. Until filtration is installed, you will receive a notice similar to this every three months.  Water treatment still consists of the addition of chlorine gas to provide protection from microbial contaminants, which generally is more than adequate.  Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as, nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. What is being done?  The City Council reevaluated compliance options and decided to install filtration for the municipal water system instead of pursuing continued filtration avoidance.  Filtration system alternatives are being evaluated with the assistance of the DOH and selected system pilot testing will begin in 2014.  Increased microbiological testing of the source water will be continued along with additional wa- tershed patrols until the new filtration treatment plant is operational. What should I do?  This situation does not require that you take action. If action is required, you will be notified with instructions on what steps to take.  People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may want to seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.  Health problems listed above are not just caused by organisms in drinking water. If you have specific health concerns, you may want to consult your doctor. More information is available through the City’s web site http://www.cityofpt.us/waterquality.htm or from the Port Townsend Department of Water Quality (360-379-5001). Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. Library - early closure On the first three Fridays in November - November 1, 8 and 15, the Library will close at 4:00. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The early closure is for staff training. What is the Quimper Wildlife Corridor (QWC)? A series of wetlands, floodplain, forest and footpaths that stretch from Chinese Gardens in Port Townsend to Middlepoint Rd., out- side of the City. The portion of this forest most popular with walkers, horseback riders, and bicyclists is known locally as Cappy’s Trails. These woods and wetlands provide natural storm- water drainage and filtration for water quality in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. And this greenbelt is rich habitat for a wide array of plants and animals, includ- ing orchids and rare plants, newts, bobcat, and mountain beaver…not to mention nearly 200 bird species! Since 1994, the City of Port Townsend, Jefferson Land Trust, Jefferson County, the local Audubon Chapter, private landowners, community members and local organizations have been working to protect this land. This fall, come hear about the latest pro- tection opportunity, learn more about the corridor concept, get a trail map, or get out into Cappy’s Trails on a guided nature walk! Get details from Jefferson Land Trust at 379-9501, jlt@saveland.org, or www.saveland.org. Wanted: Household paints, solvents, fertilizers, & pesticides (no latex paints) at: Household Hazardous Waste Facility 282 10th Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 Fridays 10-12:00 and 12:30-4:30 City Attorney John Watts congratulates Officer Jeremy Vergin after administering the oath of office. Officer Vergin joined our Po- lice Department on October 1, 2013. Get Covered Jefferson County! Health Insurance, Affordable Care Act. For information go to: www.wahealthplanfinder.org; or call 1-855- WAFINDER (1-855-923-4633); or for local in- person assistance contact Jefferson Healthcare 385-2200, Jefferson County Public Health 385- 9400, or Olympic Area Agency on Aging 379- 5064. Opportunity for Youth to Teach English in Japan Did you know that in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, the City of Tokyo, Japan is ramp- ing up efforts to strengthen English language skills? The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) will play a key role in the city's efforts and is currently seeking American youth interested in teaching high school students English in Tokyo. The program is a great opportunity for young Americans to travel, live and teach in Japan. In its 27th year now, JET aims to promote grass- roots international exchange between Japan and other nations and is one of the largest exchange programs in the world. For more information please contact Catherine McNabb at cmcnabb@cityofpt.us. Irashaimase! PORT TOWNSEND PLANNING COMMISSION The City of Port Townsend is seeking interested citizens to fill vacancies on the Planning Com- mission. The Commission is an advisory board which provides recommendations to the City Council on land use regulations, Comprehen- sive Plan amendments and other challenging planning issues. The Commission also con- ducts public hearings on legislative proposals. Planning Commission members must make a commitment to spend several hours each month reviewing packet materials and attending regu- lar and special meetings. Regular meetings are currently scheduled on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 6:30 pm. Special meetings may also be scheduled depending on work load. Applicants must be City residents. Term of ser- vice is three years. If you are interested in serv- ing the community in this capacity, please download the Board and Commission applica- tion form at http://www.cityofpt.us/user/image/ declarationofinterest.pdf or pick up the form in the Clerk's Office on the second floor of City Hall, 250 Madison Street. You may also call 379-5045 with questions or to request an appli- cation form. Please submit applications to the City Clerk by Friday, November 22.