EYE ON JEFFERSON: Port Townsend council eyes support for ballot levy on housing

The Port Townsend City Council will consider expressing support for Jefferson County’s Proposition 1, a bond measure to levy an additional property tax to provide funding for affordable housing, when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The meeting will be in council chambers at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

On July 31, county commissioners declared a housing-availability emergency and placed a housing levy on the November ballot. The measure would generate approximately $1.9 million each year for seven years to place into a Home Opportunity Fund. City staff are recommending the council express support for the measure.

Also on the agenda:

• An ordinance related to engineering design standards and adopting interim standards for street lighting.

• An ordinance consenting to the transfer of control of a franchisee, Wave Division I LLC, from Wave Holdco LLC to Radiate Holdings LP.

• A resolution tasking various city offices regarding affordable housing.

• A resolution authorizing the city manager to submit a grant application to the Transportation Improvement Board for Discovery Road improvements.

• A finance department proposal to improve business tax and licensing structure.

On the consent agenda is a resolution fixing the time for a hearing on a petition for a street vacation. If approved, the hearing would be scheduled for Monday, Sept. 18.

Council office hours, during which members of the public can discuss any topic with a member of the city council, take place from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the mayor’s office at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.

Other city committee meetings, which are in conference rooms at City Hall, 250 Madison St., are:

 Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board — 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, first-floor conference room.

• Council Finance and Budget Committee — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, third-floor conference room. On the agenda are LGIP (Local Government Investment Pool) investment options, overhead calculations and line of credit proposal.

 Port Townsend Arts Commission — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, first-floor conference room. This will be a special meeting.

Both the Climate Action Committee meeting and Planning Commission special and regular meetings for Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, have been canceled.

North Olympic Peninsula Development Council

The North Olympic Peninsula Development Council will meet from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at John Wayne Marina, 2577 W. Sequim Bay Road in Sequim.

An agenda was not available as of Saturday.

Jefferson County ­commission

The three Jefferson County commissioners will consider awarding a bid in the amount of $180,830 to Robert Coultas General Contracting for Quilcene solid waste drop box site improvements when they meet at 9 a.m. Monday.

The meeting will be in commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

Other items on the consent agenda include:

• A $137,156 contract agreement with Discovery Behavioral Healthcare to provide school-based mental health services.

• The resignation of Kyle Forgey of Kalaloch Lodge from the Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.

• The reappointment of Debbie Wardrop to the Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.

• The reappointment of Chris Giradles, a D.M.-Murray’s Disposal representative, to the Jefferson County Solid Waste Advisory Committee.

• The appointment of Joe Alfano of Kalaloch Lodge to the Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.

On the board’s regular agenda is an update on the state Department of Natural Resources’ second-quarter county income report.

During the county administrator briefing session at 1:30 p.m., commissioners will hear on miscellaneous items, calendar coordination and future agenda items.

Port Townsend schools

The Port Townsend School Board will hear an update on Salish Coast Elementary School construction when it meets at 6 p.m. Monday.

The board will meet in the Gael Stuart Building, 1610 Blaine St.

The board will consider approving the annual calendar, minimum basic education compliance and an interlocal agreement for a music teacher with the Chimacum School District.

It will consider reapproving the 2017-18 budget. The budget was approved July 17 but, according to an email form Tom Thiersch to the School Board, the Port Townsend Leader said it did not receive notice until the morning of the meeting when state law says notice of special meetings must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Port of Port Townsend

Port of Port Townsend commissioners will discuss on first reading Boat Haven restroom/laundry room renovation cost estimates when they meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The regular session will be in chambers, 333 Benedict St.

It will go into executive session before adjourning.

Chimacum School Board

The Chimacum School Board will review and possibly take action on a second reading policies related to public access to district records, family involvement, regulation of dangerous weapons on school premises, effective communication and the Community Education Program when it meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The meeting will be at Chimacum High School, 91 West Valley Road.

The board will go into executive session to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or review the performance of a public employee.

More in Politics

Emily Randall, left, and Hilary Franz.
Stalwarts take sides in race for Kilmer’s seat

A growing constellation of Democratic Party influencers are choosing sides in the… Continue reading

Online learning keeps rising among state’s K-12 students

Online learning for Washington’s public school kids is here to stay. That’s… Continue reading

Jefferson County turnout tops in state

More than half registered voters handed in ballots

Battle narrows to Biden and Trump

Tuesday’s primaries give each the delegates needed for a November contest

Johnson
Clallam commissioner announces bid for third term

Housing, timber revenue among several priorities

Mike Chapman.
Housing discussed at update

Tharinger, Chapman talk about legislation

House, Senate release spending proposals

Supplemental budgets to be negotiated

Plan to cap how much landlords can raise rent moves ahead

Statewide caps on annual rent increases could take effect in… Continue reading

State House approves unemployment benefits for strikers

Workers who are on strike or locked out of their… Continue reading

Chapman explains votes

Rep. Mike Chapman was among the few Democrats who voted… Continue reading

Democrats Franz, Randall stockpile cash in battle for US House position

Cash is flowing into campaign coffers of two Democrats dueling for an… Continue reading

Ruling: Trump to stay on primary ballot

Eight voters argued Jan. 6 actions made him ineligible