Harbor-Works Forum on October 8th
The Port Angeles Harbor-Works Development Authority is planning a forum on October 8th. It’ll be at 6:30 p.m. in the public meeting room at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 East Fourth Street.
This will be a chance for the public to hear updates on the cleanup and redevelopment plans for the Rayonier site. The public will also be able to provide input to the Harbor-Works consulting team.
This will be a chance for the public to hear updates on the cleanup and redevelopment plans for the Rayonier site. The public will also be able to provide input to the Harbor-Works consulting team.
Labels: Harbor-Works forum October, Port Angeles Harbor-Works Development Authority
posted by Tom Harper at 6:56 PM
17 Comments:
One of the things I found really strange in one of the recent articles about the forums and "public comment opportunities" was that the comment period is to be closed in Feb or March. But, according to the flow chart/timelines HarborWorks Exec Direc provided when they were asking for that $1 million from the city and PoPA, the archaeological surveys of the property are to be done between Jan and June of next year. ( I can find the quotes if anyone wants to get that nit picky).
Ummm, aren't the specifics about the archaeological/tribal remains one of the BIG issues determining the POSSIBILITY of doing ANYTHING on that property? Yet, the public comment period is scheduled to be closed before the results of the studies are even completed?
Typical Port Angeles way of doing things.
Absolutely true. You can bet they don't want any comments on what they are SURE to find during the surveys. There are probably as many artifacts on the HarborWorks property as there were at Tze-Wit-Zen. Do they think we're stupid? No, wait, don't answer that!
Does anyone know why our city has not sought money for the cleanup of the Rayonier site thru the Recovery Bill money?
To the person wondering about the timeline of survey and closure of public comment: Please bring that up at the forum.
Does anyone know whether Karen Rogers remains on Harborworks once she is gone from public office?
The public meeting planned for October 8th will be another opportunity for public comment, not the last. Public comment was possible at the board meetings on June 1st, July 6th, August 3rd and August 31st. There was a public meeting with public comments on June 9th. The next board meeting with public comment possible will be on October 5th and is scheduled for the first Monday of the month at the regular board meetings.
The public meeting (Forum) of October 8th is an opportunity to exchange information with the consultant team and for the public to give input and ask questions. This will not be the last opportunity, simply the next opportunity. Another public meeting (Forum) is planned for after the draft information is available from the consultant team and well in advance of any decisions by the HarborWorks board. I expect this meeting to occur in late February or March of 2010. The schedule proposed by the consultants is shorter than that anticipated before the consultant team was selected, which is the schedule referenced in the first comment. Given that consultants usually deliver later than planned or anticipated, this is good news. If they are planning on delivering sooner, they should at least meet our planned schedule.
Archeology and the cultural significance of the site are central to the process and will continue to be very important issues. The consultant team has qualified professional archeologists, and the information developed by the on-going investigation of the site by the City will be central to the information developed to support decisions by the board. We also will be using all information provided by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, who also are involved in this issue with the City.
-Jeff Lincoln
HarborWorks
Re:
Why was recovery money not requested for the cleanup of Rayonier:
Two reasons. First, the cleanup is Rayonier's cost, not the taxpayers, who will foot the bill for all the Recovery Projects.
Second, Recovery money was targeted at shovel ready projects, i.e., projects that would put money into the economy immediately. The Department of Ecology has not determined the appropriate cleanup remedy yet, so any cleanup would not have been shovel ready.
Re: Will Karen Rogers remain on HarborWorks:
Ms. Rogers is on the City Council and has never been on the HarborWorks Board. The members of the board are Karen McCormick, Howie Ruddell, Orville Campbell, Jerry Hendricks and Bart Irwin. Ms. Rogers was the main council member coordinator between the City and the Port on the formation and joint funding for HarborWorks.
J. Lincoln
HarborWorks
I've been out of town for a week but see that I didn't miss a hell of a lot.
This will be a chance for the public to hear updates on the cleanup and redevelopment plans for the Rayonier site. The public will also be able to provide input to the Harbor-Works consulting team.
Yeah, right, they love that little pony show of allowing your input, as if it would change anything. It's just a way of keeping you in line by thinking you have provided some input, after all, they know what is best for us you know.
Okay, they know what is best for them and their incomes, and we all know that.
Hell, I'm due for another camping trip and I just got back from one.
Oh! Now we have the Executive Director of HarborWorks (a clearly objective and impartial voice, hired by the PA city council at $115 k per year to promote their project) to explain things. Great. We might as well have Betsy Wharton on here, too, justifying her actions since she was elected.
Don't get me wrong, Lincoln, you're probably a great guy outside of your professional obligations, but most of us are not being fooled by the scam.
As much as I'm inclined to ask questions about the recent articles about Ms Rogers appearant secret and sole self appointed city council role in the very formation of the redevelopment organization you've been hired to head, or how 75 acres of an acknowledged archaeological site of state/nationwide importance can be thouroughly investigated DURING the WINTER, in 3 months, with much of the site under many yards of fill to avoid the very same "rush to get going" game plan that resulted in the Graving Dock debacle.. oh, you have no idea how many issues lay "unresolved" (but that is why litigation exists!)I really don't think this is the proper forum for public/representaive government to function through. NEPA exists for a reason. Unless you think HarborWorks is not a public organization, functioning to represnent the "publics' interests"?
Not that I'm shying away from pushing the issues. Far from that. It is just that these are issues FAR too important for the coomunity as a whole, to be "debated" in an online blog! Opinions are one thing, official public policy is another.. something that the whole community of Port Angeles ( and the region) should be aware/privy to.
I'm sure those that view this blog, that believe that the government in Port Angeles is not corrupt (despite the long history of "good ole boy" behind the scenes dealings.. kinda like what we saw in this weeks' PDN article about Karen Rogers and the formation of HarborWorks!)will continue to show up at your "public forums" and "participate" in the "public process".
But, there are those of us who have had our suspicions/beliefs about the back room dealings by public representatives confirmed by that article. HarborWorks was created in secret, by the same old group of "power brokers" that have been attempting to control everything in the city for quite some time.
Sorry Lincoln, you're just a poor pawn being used.
Like the rest of us.
Welcome to our manifest destiny, it goes well with a few drinks, ha ha ha.
Whoa, wait a minute.... Are my eyes deceiving me? Is a public official of Port Angeles actually... well, able to use a computer and engage the people? Answer questions? Confront the issues instead of hiding from them?
I remember during the eastern annexation meetings, the city held a question and answer period, like what's being proposed here. However, the citizens weren't allowed to voice their questions directly. Instead they had to write down their questions and a moderator would then "re-interpret" them.
I'm glad to see the city is getting away from incidents like that. But you perhaps understand our skepticism. Mr. Lincoln, your being here raises my view of you by a few notches. I'm still very skeptical of the city, but thank you for this at least.
Is a public official of Port Angeles actually... well, able to use a computer and engage the people?
What a silly question, of course they are able to use computers, and generally speaking they get paid damn good money to use them, your money by the way.
They use them to convince you that they are doing wonderful things for you.
I suppose I've missed or forgotten it, how much is Mr. Lincoln being paid for his work of serving the public?
It seems to me that these days serving the public pays damn well, it almost makes me want to get into public service.
But I know that three hometown country boy drunks in a bar can make better decisions than high paid self important monkeys.
And not even expect to get paid for it.
"Whoa, wait a minute.... Are my eyes deceiving me? Is a public official of Port Angeles actually... well, able to use a computer and engage the people? Answer questions? Confront the issues instead of hiding from them?"
Anon 3:46.. Before you get too starry eyed and bliss struck with this seemingly heaven sent RESPONSE to questions from the "public" ( knowing that the city council will not respond to public comment at meetings), look at WHEN he wrote his responses here. During his well paid work hours. You will undoubtedly see him charge the city/us for those posts here, labeled " public outreach".
And, these posts will be used as examples of how extensively the city worked to "engage the public" in participating and supporting the goals of HarborWorks, even though he just restated what was available in the newspaper.
In federal public project parlance, it is called part of the "scoping" process. You have to show you engaged the public, regardless of how much of a scam the whole thing is, in order to check that part off the "required" list. Lincoln fullfilled that by posting here.
Now, if you want to talk about "confronting the issues".. " instead of hiding from them..", well, Lincolns' replies left alot to be desired. Besides restating what has already been reported in the local paper, and despite the ongoing significant controversies about the secrecy and legitimacy of even the formation of HarborWorks, much less other aspects of its' actions, Lincoln confronted nothing, and provided no new information. Just more self justifying blah blah.
"Fast Tracked" have a dismal record of being anything but. Except, the public pays, no matter what.
And, I'm sure Lincoln will be smiling all the way to the bank long after Port Angeles residents will be shaking their heads over yet another scam they have been subjected to.
I'm not interested in the Party Line provided by well paid employees, parroting carefully crafted words and phrases designed to get me to "assume the position".
It seems that this is what public/representative government has become. Those with a financial interest in the outcome or decisions arrange to have paid professionals come up with the carefully crafted rhetoric to get the public to sign on to their agenda.
Here in Port Angeles, the real estate interests (the same old business owners that have been controlling everything, having created HarborWorks, go on about creating jobs and making Rayonier property productive again. But there are so many properties all over, vacant and waiting. Have been for years. Why can't these properties be used to create these jobs? They don't have all the problems the Rayonier one does.
On a national scale, the rhetoric gets even more out there.
This country is in real trouble. Because making money is the most important thing, everything else gets trashed. What are we leaving for our children? What price do we put on our dignity?
Good news, Art Lovers and Cephalopod Supporters of Port Angeles!
Bob Stokes, local arty big shot and ubiquitous whipping boy of this blog, has announced plans to honor the recent visitation to the western shores of Clallam County by hordes of Huboldt squid with a series of statues on Laurel Street.
The project, dubbed "The Avenue of the Squid People", is, according to Mr. Stokes "About the squid, about the county, about Port Angeles and about the left over rusty metal I had piled up in the Studio."
Barb Fredericks, elusive director of the PADA and rumored art maven, said "Oh Bob! I can't wait to write about the Avenue of the Squid People for the next five months in the PADA newsletter!" She then announced a variety of special Squid events for the downtown area. "We want everyone to get into the Squid Spirit. We're asking downtown merchants and their employees to wear Squid Spirit hats and costumes. Par-tay!"
Anonymous at 6:13 -- Oh, Gawd, your comment was so mean and nasty I didn't want to laugh -- but I'm afraid I may have wet my pants. What a hoot! And sadly true.
Avenue of the Squid People -- I love it. Do we get extra points for creative squid costumes? Party hearty!
Actually, Avenue of the Squid People sounds kind of fun. Maybe if it was done in some retro '50s horror film style. Tourists and residents alike could take pictures of themselves running from the Squid People!
I forgot about the "themes" the PADA wanted for downtown. Did anybody actually do those?
"Squid me two times.. once just for today."
Isn't that what Jim Morrison used to say?
wow that is amazing...I saw words, but when I read it..all I could hear was blah blah blah blah blah.
I'm sorry, Mr. Lincoln (no relation, I presume) but this whole thing you are directing seems like it stinks....as for the list of who is on the board...good to see the SAME OL'NAMES...our local good'ol'boys group at work.
I think that no matter how you try and dress up that pig, or how much perfume you throw on it...it still smells like a pig and looks like one. Can't convince me to marry it, sorry you did.
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