PORT ANGELES — Kent Myers’ final day in Port Angeles was spent the same way he spent much of his time in three years as city manager: in meetings.
Myers began Tuesday at the Port Angeles Business Association’s early morning breakfast meeting and expected to end his final day at the Port Angeles City Council meeting that night.
“Every meeting you’ve been to, he’s been to,” Mayor Cherie Kidd told about 30 members of PABA.
PABA member and former City Councilman Don Perry presented Myers with several wrapped farewell gifts, described as a snack, a Port Angeles coffee cup and a travel cup from Texas.
Myers said he and his family would spend the next few days packing a moving truck and driving to their new home in Fredericksburg, Texas.
He begins his new job as city manager of Fredericksburg, a city of about 11,000 residents, on May 9.
“It’s sad leaving so many people and to not see the culmination of so many projects,” Myers said.
“We have mixed emotions.”
Myers said that during his time in Port Angeles, he was impressed with the quality of employees the city attracts.
“It is one of the reasons we came to Port Angeles,” Myers said.
Fire Chief Dan McKeen was named interim city manager April 17.
McKeen will hold the $11,225-a-month interim position for up to 120 days beginning today.
The City Council has hired the Issaquah-based Prothman Co. to recruit potential replacements for Myers.
Myers presented PABA with a list of 17 opportunities, challenges and changes he believes the city will deal with in the coming five years.
First and foremost is the waterfront improvement project, he said.
The city has allocated $3.5 million to start construction, but the city needs to make sure it stays on track to fund and complete the remaining $14 million project, Myers said.
Other projects
Other projects he said the city needs to keep at the top of the list, in no specific order, are:
■ A citywide Wi-Fi hot-spot project.
■ An emerging partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — or NOAA — and the Arthur D. Feiro Marine Life Center to create a marine life campus.
■ A $4 million bond to fund Civic Field improvements that will go before voters Aug. 7.
■ The combined sewer overflow project, a $41.7 million project scheduled to begin in June to eliminate sewage overflows.
■ Development of the Port of Port Angeles’ composites manufacturing campus.
■ Completion of the state Department of Ecology harbor sediment study.
■ Aggressive marketing of tourism opportunities, including Lake Crescent and Hurricane Ridge.
■ A new superintendent at Olympic National Park.
■ Emerging erosion problems at the city’s former landfill site at the west end of 18th Street.
■ Continue building a relationship with Victoria across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
■ Increase retail trade, fill empty buildings and bring in electronics equipment retailers.
■ The Lincoln Park controversy over tree cutting and development of the master plan.
■ Development of an alternative truck route to avoid downtown.
■ A lack of major street improvements due to funding shortfalls.
■ Completion of the city’s six-month utility meter replacement project.
■ Future possibilities and development of the Rayonier property.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
