PORT TOWNSEND — The city of Port Townsend has created a Community Services Department, which will incorporate the existing parks and facilities teams, the library department, and a new arts and culture element to oversee the Port Townsend Creative District.
Staffing and budgetary decisions were made as part of the city’s annual budget adoption.
“This change allows us to better integrate and sustainably deliver services to our community,” City Manager John Mauro said. “We’re drawing creative inspiration from elements that provide a high-quality public service like the library, building back some of the elements that have suffered from years of neglect like parks and facilities, and recognizing an opportunity to play a more meaningful role in carrying forward the work of the PT Creative District in expanding living-wage opportunities for local artists.”
Melody Sky Weaver, who had served as the library director for 10 years, has been appointed as the director of the new department.
Weaver has a background in fine art and is passionate about access and equity to public institutions such as public libraries and parks, and she works to foster environments that support lifelong learning and bringing people together, the city stated in a press release.
“I’m thrilled to take on this exciting new challenge, and draw from my experience as a municipal leader, former library director, and my time on the subcommittee of the PT Creative District,” she said. “I’m eager to work with an inspiring team, our partners and the community to enable a creative fusion of the services our community deeply values.”
City officials said they don’t expect major changes to services, at least initially, but the change is geared toward bringing greater creativity, synergies and vitality to their existing work.
The city plans to hire an arts and culture coordinator this year to steward the ArtsWA-designated Port Townsend Creative District. To date, Port Townsend Main Street was the fiscal sponsor and championed the Creative District’s functions and achievements.
“I want to commend Port Townsend Main Street for their excellent stewardship of the Creative District these past several years to create a strong, sustainable district,” said Annette Roth of ArtsWA. “I look forward to working with the city as the administrator.”
