HomeMy WebLinkAboutChamber of Commerce PORT ANGELES
I lAMBEIR OF COMIMERCIE
4 June 2019
Port Angeles City Council
321 East 5th Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Dear Port Angeles City Council,
The purpose of this letter is to respectfully inform the Port Angeles City Council that the Port
Angeles Chamber of Commerce Board has recently adopted an official position on the following
items that are part of or related to the 2020 — 2025 City of Port Angeles Capital Facilities Plan
(CFP):
1. Designate Phase III—Waterfront Redevelopment (TRO113) as ACTIVE
2. Designation of Railroad Avenue as a Transportation Arterial (TR0818)
3. Explore partnerships for City Pier maintenance and management, such as the Port of Port
Angeles or other maritime entity
Our opinion is that some of the CFP projects, currently with a lower priority status (City Pier, Feiro
Marine Building, Railroad Avenue, etc.) for immediate and minor repairs, could and should be
part of a more comprehensive and complete plan, like TRO113. These vitally important projects
will benefit from the efficiencies of combined efforts during the planning, financing and
implementation phases of these projects.
As the trusted and representative voice of the Port Angeles business community, the Port
Angeles Chamber of Commerce can and will act as a "convener" for all stakeholders that will be
affected by and benefit from TRO113. For example, if one of the downtown projects, like the
Lower Elwha Tribe Hotel, the Waterfront Center or the Dupar Project were required to conduct
a Traffic Study, as a requirement in the permitting process for their building development, the
Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, as a convener, would bring together all businesses that are
planning significant investments in the downtown area and will be impacted by a change in traffic
patterns, (Red Lion Hotel, the Lower Elwha Tribe Hotel, DuPar Project, PAWC, McKinley Mill,
Blackball Ferry Line, Clallam Transit, etc.). The objective of a series of these gatherings would be
to share construction schedules, the potential to share costs for a traffic study and most
importantly to gain a comprehensive view and approach to downtown development.
In closing, the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce will present the position noted in this letter
during the Public Comments phase of the 04 June 2019 Port Angeles City Council meeting and
will ask the council members to acknowledge and take our recommendations into serious
consideration.
Respectfully, ��
4 �
im Haguewood, President C stopher homsen, Vice President
CC:
Nathan West, Port Angeles City Manager