Meeting This Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. re: First Street Construction
The Port Angeles City Council will be holding a meeting in their chambers at 7:30 a.m. this Wednesday regarding the upcoming construction on First Street and whether the work should be done at night or during the day.
According to the PADA memo:
"The city has graciously agreed to host another meeting to explain the scope of the construction, and to receive your input. A VOTE WILL BE TAKEN AND THE DECISION OF THOSE PRESENT AT THE MEETING WILL BE FINAL!"
I don't know if this meeting is only for PADA members, or for everyone who feels they have a stake in this construction scheduling. A fair number of downtown business owners and property owners are not PADA members, for various reasons.
Again, that's 7:30 a.m. this coming Wednesday (Feb. 16) at the City Council Chambers. Make your voices heard.
UPDATE: Today's PDN has the story here.
According to the PADA memo:
"The city has graciously agreed to host another meeting to explain the scope of the construction, and to receive your input. A VOTE WILL BE TAKEN AND THE DECISION OF THOSE PRESENT AT THE MEETING WILL BE FINAL!"
I don't know if this meeting is only for PADA members, or for everyone who feels they have a stake in this construction scheduling. A fair number of downtown business owners and property owners are not PADA members, for various reasons.
Again, that's 7:30 a.m. this coming Wednesday (Feb. 16) at the City Council Chambers. Make your voices heard.
UPDATE: Today's PDN has the story here.
posted by Tom Harper at 9:37 PM
15 Comments:
Interesting DPW strategy: Schedule the meeting with STAFF the morning AFTER the regular City Council meeting, and thereby deflect unhappy merchants from attending the Council meeting and speaking out to our elected officials.
If I were one of the aggrieved downtown merchants I'd make sure to attend the Tuesday night council meeting and let the council know my concerns. And, if I were circulating the petition in opposition to daytime construction, I'd also present copies of the signed petition(s) at the Council meeting.
The Public Comment Period starts shortly after the council meeting begins at 6 PM. People who want to speak are asked to sign-in with the City Clerk or on a sign-in sheet at the door. The Mayor can limit a person's comments to three minutes or less. But --- the remarks of people who jump through these hoops and speak will become a part of the council's public record forever, and will send a powerful message.
Attend the Wednesday morning meeting, too, but attend from a position of greater power ---- after you've delivered your message directly to the elected bosses of the public servants who invited you.
The PADA memo quoted is misleading. The Wednesday morning meeting will be conducted by City STAFF, not with the Council. Here's the text of the announcement sent out by the City's PR person, TP:
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FIRST STREET STORMWATER SEPARATION PROJECT
City Staff will be meeting with the Port Angeles Downtown Association on Wednesday, February 16, 2011, at 7:30 a.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall. City Hall is located at 321 E. Fifth Street in Port Angeles.
Purpose of the meeting will be to discuss construction plans for the project. Members of the PADA and the public are welcome to attend.
For more information about this project visit: www.cityofpa.us/FirstStreetStormwater.htm
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Wait, you are telling me the PADA misinterpreted and put a goofy spin on the memo that TP (the city spokehole) wrote. Shock!
What next? It rains a lot in the winter in the Pacific Northwest? Moss grows on the north side of trees?
I, for one, am shocked.
But, don't give Barb any credit for duplicity. It is closer to sheer stupidity.
You know, now that the merchants have given the city the go-ahead to work at night (which is something they couldn't get for the Gateway) now the city can get project crews out to work whenever they want (day and night). So much for our city noise abatement laws, and the strict hours of construction that, formerly, had to be observed for the welfare of all. Not saying downtown night work is a bad thing, just saying, that this cannot be a blanket policy change.
If it is, then are we going to drive away any tourists with jackhammers at 3 a.m., outside of motels. What about the annoyance residents of the town? I don't want construction near my house at 5am if my alarm is schedule to go off at 7am.
Why does it seem the city wants to drive everyone out of town?
I'm sure there is some "on paper" advantage to: putting a truck route (the plans exist, and the Lauridson bridge is slated to get a grant to replace it so it's part of Highway 101. How does that work?) Route a highway truck traffic up Race, over a "new" bridge, and past two schools, a library, and in a heavily residential area of town? Really?
All for a grant?
Are we being sold out for "free" Federal tit suckling?
And, lets see, how else can the city powers that make these decisions profit, while they collapse our economy,drive out business and destroy our town? Is it really all about more federal dollars lining the pockets of a few sweet, select contractors (and are any kickbacks involved)?
Just pondering.
"Route a highway truck traffic up Race, over a "new" bridge, and past two schools, a library, and in a heavily residential area of town? Really?
All for a grant?
Are we being sold out for "free" Federal tit suckling?"
Wow! Are you ever right! This is yet ANOTHER Glenn Cutler project. I think it was around before him, but he sure is working to make it happen.
Yes, this town is being ruined in so many ways by this guy and his projects.
Oh! Did you catch what was on this evenings' city council agenda? About changing the public's appeal rights?
It seems like if the City cares about the contractor getting the job done quickly, it should negotiate a contract similar to the one the state negotiated for dismantling and replacing the Hood Canal Bridge: Give the contractor financial incentives for finishing early.
Instead, it seems that contractors have no reason to finish early or on time, because the City always can be counted on to add money to the contract to compensate for delays.
Time for new blood and better thinking at City Hall.
"Time for new blood and better thinking at City Hall."
Two positions come up for election this November. Let's hope real progressives step forward to run!
Two positions come up for election this November.
Who holds those positions at present?
I think the two council positions to come up for election this year are now held by Don Perry and Cherie Kidd.
According to the City's web site, terms for four of the council members expire in 2011:
Di Guilio, Perry, Collins & Kidd.
Which ones plan to run again?
Di Guilio, Perry, Collins & Kidd.
Which ones plan to run again?
Don Perry has decided not seek re-election.
Brad Collins was appointed when someone bailed out after the election. Will Collins run or not?
Di Giulio and Kidd are most likely going to run again.
Perry was always part of the "old city council".
The appointed Collins has consistently voted with the remains of the "old city council".
Di Guilio and Kidd each ran on a progressive agenda but their actions on the council have been deeply disappointing. Time and time again we've seen them both vote "OCC". I believe they are both well intentioned, but I would like to see others who don't just "talk the talk" take a shot at the upcoming elections.
Di Guilio and Perry have GOT to go. They do nothing but rubber stamp whatever staff puts in front of them.
WTF?!! So, there were several votes, and the voting didn't stop until people were swayed into daytime construction, or was that day and nighttime construction?
This is total and utter bullshit.
You can't keep saying "what if this...and what if that" and keep making people vote.
Again Barbie makes a fool of all the downtown merchants, and instead of being an ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE, she is the figurehead of the group, and the spokes-hole (please insert three more letters into that two s's and an a). She NEEDS TO GO!!!
The real problem is the STAFF. They are unelected and accountable to no one. They set the agenda and provide the "information" to the city council.
If you think the STAFF works with the best interests of the citizens in mind, think again!
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