HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04/10/2014PORT ANGELES FORWARD COMMITTEE
PITTIS MEMORIAL CONFERENCE ROOM / Port Angeles, Washington
Meeting Minutes for April 10, 2014
Mission Statement:
To create a strong, economically and culturally vibrant community
that will enhance the lives of our citizens.
CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Downie opened the meeting at 7:30 a.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Patrick Downie, Sissi Bruch, Kaj Ahlburg, Wendy Clark-Gertzen, Jim
Hallett, Todd Gubler, Andrew Schwab
Members Absent: Frances Charles, Larry Morris, Jim Jones, Bill Greenwood, Cherie Kidd
Staff Present: Scott Johns, Nathan West.
Others Present: Tim Boyle
Public Present: Mark Ohman, Greg Halberg*, George Bergner*, Charlie Smith*
*Confirmation of committee membership will occur at April 15, 2014, City
Council meeting.
Approval of Minutes
Approval of the March 13, 2014, meeting minutes were continued until the May meeting due to
lack of quorum.
Chair Downie indicated that due to time constraints in past meetings, the new business portion of
the meeting would be taken up at the beginning of the meeting rather than being left to the end.
New Business
George Bergner presented a brief summary of the Taiwan bicycling group's recent visit to Port
Angeles and thanked all who were instrumental in making the event successful. The event also
brought the issue of clear signage for the trail to bear. It was suggested that uniform signage that
would help 'brand' the ODT should be considered by the group. Jim Hallett also indicated that the
inter -agency cooperation of the event had been good and that further cooperation should be
maintained for similar events.
Bergner then brought up the issue of providing better ways to inform the public regarding
community events. Ideas included PUD billing envelope inclusions or a'jumbotron' type of
electronic reader board to publicize events.
Another recent event that involved a large number of participants was the high school sailing
regatta. As an example of local water sports, this event exemplifies the importance of other
potential water related recreational activities for Port Angeles. Kaj Ahlburg supported the
discussion indicating that better advantage of local natural features could be taken to increase
tourism.
Port Angeles Forward Committee
Meeting Minutes for April 10, 2014
Vice Chair Downie introduced Mark Ohman who has an interest in rehabilitation of the closed
Lincoln Theatre in downtown Port Angeles. Discussion regarding potential uses and expected
costs ensued. Todd Gubler suggested looking at the core issues surrounding closure of the theatre
and was joined in that discussion with thoughts from Kaj Ahlburg and others. It was suggested by
Pat Downie that an action committee made up from the PA Forward membership be formed to
follow up on the discussion. There was group consensus and the committee was formed of
Andrew Schwab, Wendy Clark-Gertzen, Greg Halberg, with Mark Ohman.
Late Item
Vice Chair Downie indicated that Wendy Clark-Gertzen had a late item that had not been included
in the agenda. Ms. Clark-Gertzen and Charlie Smith discussed several pieces of art that had been
removed from Railroad Avenue for the WTIP project were being repainted and placed throughout
the Gateway Transit Center facility. Discussion regarding the Art On The Town program, the
value of art to cities, and the social aspects of art in a public space such as the transit center
followed. That discussion segued to the Second Saturday Art Events that have been on-going
since 2004 and the upcoming events planned for that monthly event.
Vice Chair Downie provided an update on the 2014 cruise ship schedule, indicating that beginning
on Tuesday April, 15, the first of 24 American Cruise Line ship visits will occur this summer. In
addition 2 visits by Holland America Cruise ships will also occur.
Membership
Nathan West reported to the group that the City Council had not yet approved the inclusion of the
Historic Society as a sitting member of the committee and that the 3 Citizen -at -large positions had
not yet been confirmed. He expected those actions to take place at the next City Council meeting.
A suggestion was made that the ordinance language be changed to make the committee by-laws
function so that there would be more flexibility for the committee to undertake membership issues
more directly than having Council action for those actions. Group consensus was indicated.
George Bergner then added that the Committee should revisit the committee's Mission Statement.
That item also received a consensus approval from the group.
On-Roin2 Business
Sissi Bruch mentioned that the Senior Center personnel have suggested that the neighboring roller
skating rink may be corning available for purchase and that this might be a good time to consider
its purchase by the City.
Ms. Bruch also discussed the idea of propagating starts from the large Madrone tree located at 8th
and Cherry Streets.
Greg Halberg brought up the winter closure of the Hurricane Ridge Road and the Wilderness Plan
as subjects for discussion. Kaj Ahlburg pointed out that the PABA had discussed the Wilderness
Plan and feels that there would be unintended negative impacts from implementation of the plan.
Mr. Ahlburg also informed the group that Icicle Sea Foods is planning to enlarge their facility to
raise Atlantic Salmon by threefold with an anticipated job force of an additional 60 people.
Waterfront Transportation Improvement Project (WTIP) Update
Nathan West reported on the progress of the project. At this time, the project is on schedule and
Port Angeles Forward Committee
Meeting Minutes for April 10, 2014
fully funded.
Member Reports
None
Adjournment
Pat Downie adjourned the meeting at 8:55 a.m.
Next Meetirng Date
Next regular meeting date — May 15, 2014, at 7:30 a.m. in the Pittis Conference Room.
Pat Downie, Vice Chair
Scott Johns, Se
NEW AND ON-GOING ACTION ITEMS
DATE
DESCRIPTION
RESPONSIBLE PARTY
TARGET DEADLINE
6 10-10
Business Resource Survey
Sub -Committees
Various
On -Going
X014
PA Forward 2014
Work Plan Proposal
Group
2014
2014
Entryway corridor aesthetics
Signage & street trees
Group
Completed 2-8-07
2014
Tree City USA
Group
October 2014
2014
Lincoln Theatre
P. Downeie
Completed 10-11-07
2014
West End Park
N. West
2015
COMPLETED ACTION ITEMS
DATE
DESCRIPTION
RESPONSIBLE PARTY
RESULT
March 2006
Letter to City Council,
Planning Commission
and County regarding
Southern Cross -Route
Mark Madsen
Completed
April -May 2006
Strategic Planning Meetings
with Jim Haguewood
Group
Completed 5-11-06
February 2007
Make recommendation to City
Council regarding Harbor Plan
Group
Completed 2-8-07
May 10, 2007
Determine PA Forward
representative to Lodging Tax
Committee
Group
Completed -10-2007
October 2007
Determination of PUD
Representative
Group
Completed 10-11-07
October 2007
Gather input regarding Cross
Route issue
Group
Completed 10-1 1-07
December 2007
Give Recommendation to City
Council Regarding Cross -Town
Route
Group
Completed
3-13-2008
"2010" Theme Adopted
Group
December 2010
January 2009
Host Business Resource Event /
Council Chambers
Subcommittee
January 8, 2009
March 2009
AIA Team Grant Visit
Group
March 2009
April 2009
Forward Recommendations to
City Council regarding CFP &
Policy Issues
Group
April 9, 2009
Summer 2009
AIA Grant
Final Report Roll Out
Subcommittee
October 2009
August 2009
2010 Census Bureau
Presentation
N. West
November 2009
February 2010
Juan de Fuca Statue Project
N. West
Recommendation to City
Council
May 2010
Complete Count Census
Committee
N. West
May 2010
May 2010
Invited ONP to discuss
marketing plan for Elwha Dam
Removal Project
K. Myers
May 2010
2013
Phase 1 WTIP
N. West
Completed January 2014
2014
Formed Lincoln Theatre
revitalization committee
P. Downie
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