PORT TOWNSEND — City Council members are facing two of their biggest budget challenges for 2007: crumbling streets and a swimming pool that City Manager David Timmons says is just a major equipment failure away from being closed down indefinitely.
While Councilman Scott Walker pressed for a city street improvement plan, Timmons told council members Monday night at the City Council’s third budget workshop that the city’s popular public pool was a pump malfunction away from closure.
Potholes
“You have potholes all over town,” Walker told Timmons, calling for a long-term plan instead of just filling potholes.
“We’re wasting the public’s money.”
Timmons agreed, asking, “How are we going to get there?”
Walker suggested more drainage ditch work that would draw water off streets, preventing cracks and potholes.
City Public Works Director Ken Clow explained that most city streets were originally built for horse carts and were without the gravel base required for the heavier modern vehicles.
“If I cut my staff in terms of its maintenance crew, who am I going to have to pull ditches?” Timmons asked.
The council this year faces tough decisions because of declining revenues, according to Timmons.
Timmons said unless program are cut, or more revenue developed, the city will find it difficult to maintain general fund services by 2008.
He said $1.3 million in positions and services are not funded in the budget.
Three parks positions are open, including the parks manager post.
Timmons said city public works employees must fill those positions, which pulls them away from jobs such as street maintenance.
The city has about 100 miles of roads, said Timmons.
He said it was going to cost nearly $500,000 just to improve the section of Water Street between Monroe Street and Hudson Point Marina with pavement, sidewalks and curbs.
Mayor Mark Welch called for a happy medium between street improvement planning and temporary repairs.
Deputy Mayor Michelle Sandoval said street improvements are an annually recurring council discussion, and that members should take small steps toward solving the problem.