Packed Meeting Over Mike Wiley, Jr.

The Port Angeles City Council Chambers were packed with about ninety people commenting on Mike Wiley, Jr.

As you probably know by now, Wiley was elected to the Clallam Conservation District board of supervisors last February. He defeated the incumbent, Don Hatler.

From my understanding, the main controversy is whether Wiley is a landowner, which is a requirement for serving on the Clallam Conservation District board of supervisors. He’s nineteen and goes to Peninsula College. After he was elected, his parents transferred 1% of their farm to him, making him a landowner.

So it comes down to whether he needed to be a landowner before he ran for the district.

(I haven’t been following this issue very closely, but it sure is bringing on lots of heated arguments. If I’ve omitted anything or gotten any details wrong, please correct me.)

The Commission is supposed to make a final decision when they meet in Silverdale on May 21st.

What say you?

Road Rage During Hood Canal Bridge Closure

This article warns about increased road rage and aggressive driving during the 6-week bridge closure. It’s good to be on guard against this, but the article was incomplete. The author mentioned the most visible symptoms of road rage — speeding, tailgating, retaliation — but forgot to mention some of the underlying causes. (Aside from the bridge closure, of course.)

I agree that speeding, tailgating and reckless driving are dangerous and need to be heavily fined. But what about the slow and/or oblivious drivers who inspire road rage?

We’ve all seen slow drivers who won’t get out of the left lane or won’t pull off onto the shoulder or a turnout to let other drivers get past them. For that matter, if you’re in the passing lane, no matter how fast you’re going, if somebody behind you wants to go past you, you’re supposed to get out of the passing lane and let them go by. Some states have a huge fine for not getting out of the passing lane to let somebody else pass. Washington apparently isn’t one of them.

And take distracted drivers (please!). This 6-week bridge closure would be an excellent time to NOT be texting, eating, cell phone blabbing or fiddling with the CD player while driving.

There used to be a bumper sticker that said “Prevent Road Rage. Slower Traffic Keep Right.” That would be a perfect motto for the next six weeks. Or, for always.

Another helpful hint: When you’re changing lanes, don’t dart right out in front of somebody who’s going 20 m.p.h. faster than you.

Anyway, we all have certain things that infuriate us when other drivers do them. So in addition to the obvious warnings about speeding and tailgating — try not to do those things that induce other drivers to speed, tailgate or retaliate.

Stay of Execution for Three North Olympic Peninsula Parks?

The legislature has passed that “opting out” bill which is supposed to save Old Fort Townsend State Park, Fort Flagler State Park, and Bogachiel State Park. Governor Gregoire hasn’t signed it yet. It will take effect in September, assuming she’ll sign it.

This is expected to raise about $20 million.

Opting out means that vehicle license fees will automatically include an extra $5 charge for park maintenance, UNLESS the vehicle owner checks the No box.

I have mixed feelings about this bill, but in any case I don’t think it will bring in anywhere near the $20 million they’re projecting. By now, people are reading things a lot more carefully, whether it’s a huge contract or a simple form.

With so many businesses — cell phone carriers, credit card firms, you name it — relying on fees and penalties buried in the fine print, the public is more wary and less likely to get taken.

Stimulus Package + Elwha Dam Removal = JOBS

Well, let’s hope. 150 to 200 jobs are expected to be created this summer and lasting through 2011.

Also, a greenhouse for Olympic National Park will be constructed this summer on a 5-acre section of Robin Hill Farm Park. The greenhouse will be used for growing plants that will re-vegetate the areas that get laid bare when the Elwha dams are removed.

The construction project will include the greenhouse, nursery beds, cold frames and a tool shed. It’s supposed to be completed this fall.

Beckett’s Bike Shop: Still Alive and Kicking

Anyone who has tried to call Beckett’s Bike Shop in the past few days has probably gotten one of those generic recordings saying the number has been disconnected and there’s no referral. It’s just a glitch. The shop is very much alive and doing fine.

Their phone company made a mistake several days ago. I don’t want to name the company or go into any detail, but because of this error, their phone number has that dreaded recorded message.

This error is supposed to be corrected tomorrow, the 23rd. In any case, if you hear any rumors about Beckett’s Bike Shop closing, please correct them.

Beckett’s Bike Shop is open for business. Check them out.

Audit of Clallam Transit

A state audit found that Clallam Transit’s financial and accounting oversight was “inadequate” in 2007.

Board member Mike Chapman said he can’t remember when the state Auditor’s Office’s annual recommendations were “this severe.” He said: “The transit board takes these findings very seriously.”

The Finance and Administration Committee — where Chapman also serves — has suggested that an independent firm conduct a full audit for 2008.

Chapman and General Manager Terry Weed both cited aging software as one of the causes. They were already planning a software upgrade in 2010, but they might do it this year instead. The upgrade will cost about $200,000.

Clallam Transit is also planning to do more cross-training so that more staff have access to accounting operations.

Gateway: Feedback from Passengers

Well, it’s been a functioning bus stop for a week now. What are they saying about it?

“Oh, I like it a lot. It's a lot better than Oak Street.”

“It's kind of a white elephant . . . It could have saved the city a lot of money and they could have put it toward the pool.”

“I don't know if we needed a $15 million bus stop, but it's lovely.”

Bus drivers like it better than the Oak Street location since it has a break room.

It’ll be about two more weeks before the Downtown Resource Officer can move to his new office at Gateway. And the pavilion, someday…

Personally I’m just glad it’s up and running. With the cyclone fence gone, buses pulling in and out, people walking around or hanging out — it kind of looks like it’s always been there. I still think there were higher priorities for that $15 million, but since it’s a done deal…

I’ve heard from several long-time residents that when the City Pier and Landing Mall were being built, people were making the same complaints. “We don’t need that #$%&!#$%#!” “This is gonna ruin the waterfront.” Etc.

Port Angeles City Council Retreat

The City Council held a 7-hour retreat yesterday at Peninsula College. They talked about the economy and access to public records, among other things.

They concluded that they need to work more closely with other cities and the Clallam County government. City Manager Kent Myers said: “We're going to depend on a real close working relationship with the county, the downtown business association, working with other cities, and just have to be better partners because of the need for dollars.”

I’m not sure who “the downtown business association” is, since we have the Port Angeles Downtown Association and the Port Angeles Business Association.

Concerning transparency and public access, Myers said the city could post more documents on its website. Cherie Kidd suggested improving their outreach by setting up booths at community events: “We need to be out there and accessible, to increase the feeling that we're accessible, so we can listen.”

Betsy Wharton suggested using city hall’s empty wall space to display visuals of some of the city’s long-range ideas, like a south-side expressway.

Some of the council’s recommendations will be discussed at the next City Council meeting this Tuesday, 6 p.m.

Playboy Bunnies Ruin Easter in Port Angeles

This letter appeared in yesterday’s PDN:

“What a surprise to see two costumed Playboy bunnies at the downtown Easter Egg Hunt for kids. I hope that the Port Angeles Downtown Association talks to the business and that they are not allowed out of their hutch for next year’s celebration.

“It was for the children. Those bunnies had no place at this event.”

I would have thought that bringing people into Port Angeles for a holiday celebration was a good thing; a higher priority than finding little things to nitpick about. The two businesswomen in question — I’m not mentioning names — are always helping and contributing whenever there’s a downtown event. And their place of business seems to be bringing lots of people into town.

I’m taking an uneducated guess that these two women contribute a lot more to Port Angeles than the letter writer (without knowing who the letter writer is or anything about this person).

Correct me if I’m wrong.

Port Angeles Tea Party

Tomorrow at noon at Veterans’ Memorial Park there will be a tea party. It’s part of the national Tax Day Tea Party organization.

For more information contact Dick Pilling at 360-460-7652, or check out this website.

Reduced Property Values in Dungeness?

I’ve never seen this building in Dungeness, but it seems to have the neighbors in an uproar. Some of them are saying the garish colors of this building — a large garage with an apartment on the top floor — are bringing down their property values. They’ve even asked the Clallam County Assessor for relief from their property taxes, claiming that the large purple-lavender garage has lowered the value of their properties.

That might be hard to prove, with the economy being the way it is.

Homeowners’ associations are notorious for regulating everything a homeowner can do — what color the house has to be, what kind of plants are acceptable, whether pets are allowed. But from the PDN article, it doesn’t sound like this neighborhood is governed by a homeowners’ association or any other regulations.

I’m personally in favor of regulations against “monster homes,” “McMansions” — whatever you want to call them — that dwarf already-existing homes and block people’s views. But these regulations would have to be clearly written ahead of time. You can’t change the rules in the ninth inning.

I don’t think there’s any legal recourse for the neighbors of “Barney the Purple House” or the “Purple People Eater” — two of the building’s local nicknames.

Spruce-up for Downtown Port Angeles

This is what can happen when merchants, residents and government officials all pull together. Let’s hear it for Port Angeles.

During the period that the Hood Canal Bridge is closed — May 1st through mid-June — downtown P.A. will be getting a facelift. Washing windows, repainting buildings, pulling weeds — a total makeover. This is being planned by Nathan West, economic and community development director, and a group of about twenty merchants (not only from the downtown area).

Downtown buildings that will be worked on include the Morris Building at First and Laurel; and the buildings where Bella Italia, Copies Plus, The Toggery, Blue Dolphin, the Cornerhouse and Downtown Hotel are located.

Sunset Hardware has donated a pressure washer and a 60-foot manlift. Donated or discounted items might also come from Hartnagel Building Supply, Angeles Millwork and Parker Paint.

Kathy Charlton, owner of Olympic Cellars, is one of the organizers. She said: “It's a perfect opportunity. Yes, we're not thrilled that the bridge is going to be closed . . . but the timing is such that by doing this project, then we are really setting this community on a pedestal when people come back…It's going to take a village. We need everyone's help . . . Everyone has something to offer here, and we need everyone's hands to make this happen.”

This is an all-volunteer project. There will be a meeting next Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth Street. The meeting is for the purpose of recruiting more volunteers, answering questions and working out details.

New Duty Free Shop on MV Coho

Black Ball Ferry Line has opened a duty free shop on the Port Angeles-Victoria ferry.

Rian Anderson, Port Angeles district manager for Black Ball Ferry Line, said: “Sales were good yesterday, our very first day, with no advertising.”

There was a duty free shop at the Landing Mall for a long time, but they closed, presumably because of drastic rent increases at the mall.

City Manager’s Vision for Port Angeles

City Manager Kent Myers spoke yesterday at the weekly Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Red Lion. Among other things, he said: “I keep hearing the term ‘languishing.’ There is kind of a lack of consensus as far as a vision for the community.”

He also said he doesn’t think the city will pay for the Rayonier cleanup; it’ll be paid for by Rayonier and the State of Washington. One can hope.

He said Port Angeles “has a lot of potential” — location, walkability, outdoor activities, etc. But the city needs to “get a handle” on finances and finishing certain projects such as [ahem] Gateway. Buses will start using the new depot next Monday, but it’s still going to be awhile before the parking spaces and the pavilion are in use.

He said the city intends to carry out some of the suggestions made last month by the American Institute of Architects. And he stressed the need for transparency in the city government: “We're getting a lot of requests from the community for public records. We've basically got to open the doors at City Hall.”

He encouraged people to use the city’s website to contact him and other city officials. He said, “There is somewhat of a lack of trust in city government. I think we have a lot of rebuilding to do with our citizens.”

For now, a video of his speech is available at the PDN home page.

“True West” Playing in Sequim

The Sam Shepard play True West will be playing at the Guy Cole Convention Center in Carrie Blake Park. The play is being put on by Olympic Theater Arts. Opening date is April 17th. Check out this site for more information.

I saw a televised version of True West on PBS in the early ‘80s. The two brothers were played by Gary Sinise and John Malkovich — probably the earliest acting gigs for both of them. Sam Shepard’s plays are a bleak commentary on the human condition, but laced with absurdity and dark humor.

Nippon to Close for Sixteen Days

Nippon Paper Industries USA will be extending its biennial maintenance closure from five days to sixteen days. This closure will be from April 27th to May 12th. Seventy-five to eighty workers will be temporarily laid off during this period.

Harold Norlund, manager of the mill, said: “The economic slowdown has negatively affected the uncoated mechanical grade market, and the shutdown is necessary to balance production with inventory.”

He also said, “We're all hoping for a better second half of the year.”