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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRon EricksonRon Erickson 934 W. Lauridsen BIvd. #209, Port Angeles, Woshington 98363;phone: (360) 452-9295 Mayor and Council Members City or Port Angeles PO Box ll5O Port Angeles, W A 98362 Dear Mayor and Council members i.l l]DEC 2 I 2017 Try OF POBT ANG TY CLER ES Recently I attended a meeting at the NOLS facility in Port Angeles about the probable Earthquake impact on the Olympic Peninsula sometime in the fuiure. I want to encourage The City to consider reducing the recoverv costs of such a disaster Let The City manage now the TALL TREE IMPACTS on city streets and utility lines. Already The City has authority to maintain streets and alleys "rcasonable safe for ordinary travel", Keller v Spokane, 146 Wn.2d 237 (2N2). Already utility companies own easement deeds to allow them to top or remove dangerous trees to power lines, sometimes to within 70 feet. Already insurance companies will not insure diseased trees KNOWN to the insured. I know this because when in Sekiu in 1979 I removed a tall maple tree with some center rot when my insurance company informed me they would nol cover any damages if it fell on my neighbor's house. A large branch was split out of its 100 year old companion in that storm that sank the Hood Canal Bridge. The first primary need in an earthquake is safety and unimpeded access to higher ground. Delays may costs lives. It is expedient that the escape routes and streets be protected. The City could simply create an "Earthquake Relief Fund" in a trust account to accept 501(CX3) donations and ask that TALL TREES be removed. The City could contribute x dollars for every TALL TREE removed as an incentive. We all can live to enjoy shoner trees in our suburbia. especially if we acknowledge the removal of TALL TREES as people's caring consideration for others. There is one formable lone TALL TREE on The County's road maintenance facility on Lauridsen Blvd. near "C" Street that threatens l:uridsen trafiic and utility lines. Maybe a request that The County remove such would be appropriate aI this time. You have hard decisions to make. Thank you for your time. Call if you can. Res tfully, R oll c son ,,u t U l Dec. 14- 2O17 Ron Erickson 934 W. Louridsen Blvd. #209, Port Angeles, Washington 98363; phone (s60) 452.9295 Mayor and Council Members City or Pon Angeles PO Box I 150 Port Angeles. WA 98362 Dec. 15. 2Ol7 Recently I attended a meeting al the NOLS about the probable Earthquake impacting the Olympic Peninsula sometime in the future. What is significanl is that Washington State would likely be without power for 90 days, and with all the bridges and culverls would provide limited travel between the isolated areas on the Olympic Peninsula. The science seems formidable. A 9.0 Richtor Scale earthquake would tum most soils into quicksand. As you know The City's Truck Roule and much of Port Angeles is built on an ancient mudslide from the Olympic Mountains. The safest ground is likely near Peninsula College where the geological formation of the land split the old mud flows. There, rhe Airport, and The City's "B" Street road department may be practical lands for The City to develop or store essential city records. heavy equipment and fuel. It was clear we could temporarily be retuming to life as it was in the 1800's without electricity to power water wells. Hand operated water pumps likely will become a necessity and The City could show some foresight to allow such now within city limits. I also believe a tax credit for new or upgraded greenhouse construction in the winter months may be helpful to facilitate independence from outside food sources. but that really could be a statewide program. If you do eventually assign a committee to make recommendations to The City, I'd like to serve on such. Res v ECEIVE tD) nl ITY OF PORT ANGEL CITY CLERK t)EC 2 9 2017 Ron oll Dear Mayor and Council Members, It nray also be wise for The Citl'to allou, gre), uater "farming" irrigarion s)'stems lbr homeowners. W AC 246-247 , as well as water collection systems to alleviate dependency on city water. Such seems best to diversify waler resources. as the new 2Ol7 book. The Fate of Ronte: Clinrute, Disease. and the End oJ an Empire by Kyle Harper, about wealher conditions contributing to Rome's fall because of a reluctance of govemment to deal with a food transport crisis when it occurred.