KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro talked with Chris Hannon, the Youth Services Manager at OlyCAP about their support of people 25 and under who might be experiencing homelessness and related difficulties. This is well worth listening too.

This week John Mauro was away at the 2024 ICMA Annual Conference (the ICMA is the International City/County Management Association, an association of professional city and county managers and other employees who serve local governments).

The City of Port Townsend was the winner of the 2024 ICMA Award for Local Government Excellence in Community Sustainability for the City’s Financial Sustainability Initiative. The City’s Financial Sustainability Initiative was a multi-year strategic effort to map out pathways for the City to meet ongoing and evolving community needs over the long term. The City has had balanced budgets but over time, gradual divestment and neglect of core infrastructure has threatened our financial stability. 

The Financial Sustainability Task Force was created in 2022 to assist with a review of the City’s current financial position and identify options for the future to recommend to City Council. The Task Force included Catharine Robinson, Earll Murman, John Nowak, and Rich Jahnke. They were assisted by core city staff members Carrie Hite, Connie Anderson, Emma Bolin, Shelly Leavens, and Steve King.

KPTZ’s Taylor Clark visited with Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro and heard about the joint meeting of City Council and Planning commission last Wednesday. They took the “People, Planet and Prosperity Tour” of three sites around Port Townsend as they explored the impact of planning on our built environment with some experiential learning. You can take the tour too. Go to https://www.pt2045planning.org/ and click on the map for a copy of the guidebook. John also gave some shout-outs to city staff who have being going above and beyond dealing with some recent urgent repairs.

KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro welcomed Dr. Gabbie Caudill and Danielle Vasenda from Believe In Recovery (https://believeinrecoveryllc.com/) and Gateway to Freedom. We learned about services they provide to people who are in crisis. This was both fascinating and poignant.

Port Townsend CIty Manager John Mauro and co-host Taylor Clark welcomed Dr. Suzy Ames, President of Peninsula College. We talked about a very interesting thirty-five million dollar ‘Recompete’ grant that has been received, spread across several organizations and governments in Clallam and Jefferson counties. This is a complex and far-reaching grant, so listen in and learn more. Dr Ames also points out that Fall quarter and Peninsula College is about to start and there is still space available in programs at the Fort Worden campus. Check pencol.edu for more information.

KPTZ’s Taylor Clark and co-host City Manager John Mauro welcomed Port Townsend’s newest City Councilor, Neil Nelson, who helped us understand why one would willingly take on this difficult job.

Taylor Clark was joined by a surprise guest /co-host Steve King, Director of Public Works for the City of Port Townsend. Taylor and Steve kind of geeked out over some of the details of the city’s “Gravity Water System” and the recent leak near Snow Creek. That conversation lead to the topic of water conservation, particularly with irrigation. And then we talked about the need to mow tinder-dry parking strips. Steve mentioned that there are some residents who are fiscally or physically unable to do this, so if you can help out a neighbor, please do. Or e-mail sking@cityofpt.us if you would like to extend your services to assist.

KPTZ’s Taylor Clark was joined via zoom by Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro, calling in from the WCMA Conference (Washington City/County Management Association) where John and City Communications Director Shelly Leavens as well as Cynthia Shaffer, Director of People and Development were facilitating a conversation about public
engagement practices that build trust and help our communities bridge differences. Following that, Taylor spoke with Gage Pacifera about the Soundcheck festival, which starts today with free events all over town running through the weekend. More information is available at https://www.ptsoundcheck.com/.

Taylor Clark and Port Townsend CIty Manager John Mauro recapped some of the things that have been going on for the city this past week, including (but not limited to): theRecompete (federal) award of $35m for the region, appointment of a new city council member, the Lawrence street transportation project, and the TBD funding; plus the skatepark lighting.

Guest host Jim Burke is joined by co-host John Mauro and Celeste Tell, Interim Executive Director of the Fort Worden Public Development Authority, and Anna Gill, S.W. Region Superintendent of Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. They discuss the future of Fort Worden and the dramatic step that Fort Worden PDA took on this date asking the City of Port Townsend to DISSOLVE the Fort Worden PDA.