Term Limits for City Council Members?

Today's PDN poll question is:

Should City Council members on the North Olympic Peninsula be subject to term limits, and if so, how many four-year terms should they serve?

Number of votes cast: 505 

Allied Titanium Inc. to locate Manufacturing Plant in Sequim

Allied Titanium Inc., based in Delaware, is planning to open a factory in Sequim.  This factory is supposed to eventually employee between 50 and 150 people.  CEO Christopher Greimes said he hopes the factory in Sequim will manufacture a lot of the 93,000 products that Allied Titanium now makes in China.  He said:

“We know that we can manufacture parts cost-effectively in Sequim.  The land and the taxes and the power are less than they are in China.”

Sequim Mayor Candace Pratt said:

“On behalf of the Sequim City Council, we welcome Allied Titanium to Sequim.  Their decision to move their western headquarters to the city of Sequim reflects on our council goal of establishing economic development values and guiding principles that support economic growth in the city.” 

Navy's Proposed New Dock on Ediz Hook

At this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association, the speaker will be Bill Roberds, a businessman and dive instructor.  He will be discussing the Navy's proposal for building a submarine-escort vessel dock on Ediz Hook.

Energy 360 Wrecked (literally) by Intoxicated Driver

Well this sucks.  The postage-stamp-sized building on West First Street -- it's most recently been a hairstyle place and a tattoo parlor and is currently Energy 360 -- has been wrecked by an an intoxicated driver who crashed into it.

Let's see, downtown entrepreneurs vs. transient drug addicts, which do we have not enough of and which do we have too many of (rhetorical question)...

Juan de Fuca Festival 2014

This year's Juan de Fuca Festival will be May 22nd through the 26th.  And don't forget to check out the After Hours concerts downtown.  Next Door Gastropub, BarN9ne and Barhop Brewing will all be featuring live performers Friday through Sunday evenings (Thursday through Sunday for BarN9ne), beginning at 10:30 p.m.

Click here for more information about the Juan de Fuca Festival.

Local Organization Receives Grant for Climate-Change Planning

The North Olympic Peninsula Resource Conservation & Development Council has received a $152,000 grant from the state departments of Commerce and Ecology.  The grant is titled “Planning for Climate Change on the North Olympic Peninsula.”

Eighteen grants adding up to $4 million have been given to the Puget Sound watershed, for projects ranging from climate change adaptation to salmon habitat restoration.

Should North Olympic Peninsula Law Enforcement Officers Wear Video Cameras?

Today's PDN Peninsula Poll question is:

Seattle police will experiment with small video cameras on officers' uniforms to record their actions. Do you think North Olympic Peninsula law enforcement officers should wear such cams?

Number of votes cast: 486 

Clallam County PUD to Raise Electricity Rates

Beginning this July, electricity rates will go up by 3.5% for everyone in Clallam County except Port Angeles residents.  According to the PUD, this will come out to roughly a $3.35 monthly increase to a customer who uses 1,200 kilowatt hours per month.

Doug Nass, PUD general manager, said:

“Commissioners spent much time during the public budget hearing process considering when to increase, and by how much to increase, rates.  This rate increase is consistent with our strategic objective of maintaining stable rates and financial responsibility to our customers.”

Port Angeles Merchants Got Boost from Cruise Ship Visit

According to at least some local business owners, Friday was a good day.  The owners of Elliott's Antique, Port Angeles Antique Mall, Bay Variety and Cabled Fiber Studio, among others, all had increased business due to the cruise ship passengers.

All Points Charters and Tours sold 700 shuttle tickets to various downtown locations.  And shuttle tickets to Hurricane Ridge, Marymere Falls, Lake Crescent and some local wineries were sold out.

Bill Peach to run for Clallam County Commissioner

Bill Peach, a Forks resident, has announced that he will run for the Clallam County commissioner position now held by Mike Doherty, who has not said yet whether or not he is seeking re-election.  Bill Peach said:

“Next Monday, I will file to run for the office of county commissioner District 3.  I am running for county commissioner because I believe a business-friendly government can provide jobs, conserve our natural resources and preserve our culture.  I am not your typical candidate.”

Port Angeles Arts Council to hold Forum on Lincoln Theater

Tomorrow night, 6 p.m. at Studio Bob, 118-1/2 East Front Street, there will be a brainstorming session on what to do with the Lincoln Theater, which closed on March 2nd.  The forum is being sponsored by the Port Angeles Arts Council, which doesn't have a plan for the theater.

This forum will be followed up with a “results meeting” on June 4th, also at Studio Bob.

Michelle Malkin to Speak at Port Angeles Performing Arts Center

Not that I'm trying to promote this rightwing drivel or anything.  Her appearance will be this Thursday at 7 p.m.  Her visit is sponsored by My Choices, which is one of those Crisis Pregnancy Centers.  Crisis Pregnancy Centers don't provide abortion services, but they imply that they do, thereby luring women seeking abortions into their clinic so they can preach at them and persuade them not to terminate the pregnancy.

Until a few days ago, if you did a Google search for “abortion clinic,” crisis pregnancy centers' misleading ads would appear in the search results.  Google finally changed their policy, and now if you do a Google search for “abortion clinic,” crisis pregnancy centers' deceitful ads will no longer appear.  Let's hope other search engines will also make this change.

Port Angeles Pursuing Grants for Stadium and Waterfront Development

The Port Angeles City Council has given the OK for the City to request $3.6 million worth of grants that would be used for improving Civic Field and the Waterfront.  The City is hoping state officials will approve these grants by this fall.