PORT ANGELES — Fine arts and recreation got a boost during a packed “town hall” meeting designed to give the public a voice in where the city spends money in 2012.
More than 100 people showed up for the City Hall meeting — city leaders opened the council chambers’ rolling door and offered additional seating in the foyer area as other audience members remained standing.
“I have never seen this many people at a town hall meeting,” said Yvonne Ziomkowski, city finance director.
All seven City Council members and many department heads were present.
Fifteen Port Angeles residents and business owners spoke in support of a variety of city services.
They spoke in support of continued or increased funding for the Port Angeles Senior Center, a proposed dog park at Lincoln Park, job development, police and public works, and urged council members to keep business fees affordable.
Two areas received the most vocal support: fine arts and recreation.
A large contingent from the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center were present and several spoke at length of the benefits of the city-owned fine arts center, including the number of visitors it attracts to the city, sales of art at the center and educational benefits to students in schools where arts programs are lost because of budget cuts.
The city owns the art center in a bequest it accepted about 30 years ago from the late Esther Webster, who owned the Port Angeles Evening News, predecessor to the Peninsula Daily News.
The center has two employees, speakers said, but two-thirds of their salaries have to be paid through private donations.
Linda Crow, president of the center, urged the city to stop thinking of the arts center as the “frill on the hill.”
A smaller group extolled the social and health benefits of baseball, softball and football at city-owned Civic Field for youth and adults and the financial boon of major sports tournaments.
“It fills that one weekend a month for hotels and restaurants,” said Dee Gardiner, general manager of Joshua’s Restaurant & Lounge.
“It has a big impact,” Gardiner said.
Recreation supporters also asked that the fields be replaced with artificial turf to make them available in the winter for tournaments and to be able to host high school football playoffs.
Everyone present was asked to fill out a survey asking each where to prioritize spending.
At the end of the meeting, City Manager Kent Myers said there was a good variety of opinions expressed.
“It is helpful guidance,” Myers said.
The city will hold the first scheduled budget-related public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday to receive public input on the proposed electric, water, wastewater, solid waste collection and transfer station utilities rate and fee adjustments.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsula dailynews.com.
