EYE ON JEFFERSON: Port Townsend City Council to consider declaring emergency in face of drought — corrected

Published 12:01 am Monday, July 20, 2015

EDITOR’S NOTE: This report has been corrected to reflect that the Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Center Public Development Authority will meet next on July 29.

The Port Townsend City Council will consider declaring an emergency related to water supply and fire hazards when it meets today.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at the historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

The declaration would give the city manager authority to put water conservation measures into effect and to take quick action in dealing with fire hazards.

Stream flows that feed the city’s water supply are at less than a third of normal for this time of year, city staff says in a council memo.

The council also will consider a awarding a $1,282,640 contract to Seton Construction of Port Townsend for site work and utilities installation for the city water treatment facility.

The council will consider allowing the city manager to award a contract for way finding signage for the visitor information center.

The council also will consider accepting donations and naming areas of the Port Townsend Library after donors.

Council office hours, during which members of the public can discuss any topic with a member of the City Council, take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the mayor’s office at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

Other city committee meetings are:

■   Library Advisory Board — 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Library Learning Center. 1256 Lawrence St.

■ General Services and Special Projects Committee — 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, council chambers; the panel will discuss leash law revisions for the city animal control code.

■   Council Finance and Budget Committee — 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., third-floor conference room at City Hall, 250 Madison St.; the panel will discuss Mountain View operating costs, mid-year financial reports and 2016 budget preparation.

■   Planning Commission — 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, council chambers; the panel will discuss results of a recent town meeting and the commission’s reassessment of the comprehensive plan.

County commissioners

The three Jefferson County commissioners will conduct a hearing to discuss budget appropriations and extensions for various county departments when they meet today.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

Several departments have requested budget increases to cover unanticipated cost.

On the consent agenda is approval of a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 589 and Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust for central services staff.

The agreement would raise wages by 1.5 percent, effective last January, another 1.5 percent in January 2015 and 1.25 percent in January 2017.

Other items on the consent agenda include:

■   An agreement to allocate $83,824 for Snow Creek Watershed acquisitions from the Jefferson County Conservation Futures fund.

■   An agreement to allocate $192,600 for Lower Big Quilcene riparian protection from the Jefferson County Conservation Futures fund.

■   An community services grant of $4,650 to the Jefferson County Fair Association.

■   A $2,499 contract with Northwest Weed Management for roadside weed control services.

■ An agreement to administer a $108,808 community services block grant for Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP).

Port of Port Townsend

The Port of Port Townsend commissioners will discuss a timeline for the 2016 budget when they meet Wednesday.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in chambers at 333 Benedict St.

The draft budget schedule would set public hearings throughout the year with final adoption set for Nov. 30

Commissioners also will decide if the port will participate in the 2016 Seattle Boat Show, scheduled Jan. 29 to Feb. 6.

A deposit is due by the end of August.

They also will consider best management practices enforcement and fees and a draft travel reimbursement policy.

Jefferson Transit

Jefferson Transit board members will conduct a public hearing on the transit development plan/transportation improvement plan for 2015-2020 when they meet Tuesday.

The board will meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Port Townsend Fire Station, 701 Harrison St.

The board also will discuss an interlocal agreement with Clallam Transit for West End service.

Public development authority

The Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Center Public Development Authority will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 29 at Fort Worden Commons.

An agenda was not available by Saturday.