PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles department directors highlighted $40 million in projects set for this year, plus a 20-year low in the city’s debt portfolio and a growing number of patients with complex behavioral health and social needs during the annual State of the City address.
City Manager Nathan West and three other department heads provided the update Wednesday during a Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Field Arts & Events Hall.
West led the discussion before about 150 people along with Sarina Carrizosa, the city’s finance director; Mike Healy, the city’s public works and utilities director; and Brian Smith, the city’s police chief.
“We want to ensure at the end of the day that we have a safe and affordable place to live,” West said as he described Port Angeles’ strategic plan.
The city has been focusing on housing and homelessness, building up its commercial district, building capacity and continuing its high-performing relationships, West said.
He touted a 53 percent increase in permitted housing units last year compared with 2022, with 66 permitted and 17 pending. There were a total of 460 building permits of all kinds issued last year with a total value of more than $22 million.
“That’s a big deal,” West said.
In terms of housing, he promoted the city’s first comprehensive fee-waiver program in which fees are waived on 25 different permits for 15 different housing types. It includes, for example, duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes as well as accessory dwelling units, apartment complexes, townhome development and multifamily housing.
“We’ve got to do more as a city to really open the doors to new housing development,” West said.
He also discussed the benefits of the city’s permit-ready plans, saying it’s a way a developer doesn’t have to invest the time to design a housing project or go through a permitting process.
Finances
The city either met or exceeded its expectations for the year in all areas of tax collection with more than $5 million collected in property tax, a 4.97 percent increase over 2022, and more than $4.9 million collected in sales tax, a 3.67 percent increase, Carrizosa said.
Permit revenue saw the largest growth year over year at 17.28 percent with $415,907 collected, and lodging tax went up nearly 16 percent at more than $1.3 million, another record-breaking year, she said.
The city has explored six revenue-generating options and approved three of them, including an increase in its Transportation Benefit District tax, reviewing its fines and fees, and implementing a short-term rental fee.
In terms of debt reduction, the city has decreased from a high of more than $100 million in 2014 to just over $40 million this year, and it remains on a downward trend through the foreseeable future. Of note, only $84,500 is remaining in general fund debt in 2024, Carrizosa said.
The city also saved $260,000 through early redemption of water and wastewater bonds, and it distributed $779,000 in utility and COVID-related assistance.
Public works
Included in the city’s $40 million in capital projects this year is $12.8 million for transportation improvements, Healy said. The city also has $132 million for projects in fiscal years 2024-2029.
In the past year, the public works department completed phase one of the Race Street project, installing 35 sidewalk ramps, 330 linear feet of concrete barrier and 31 solar lamps. It also replaced a traffic signal arm, relocated or replaced 12 pedestrian call buttons, placed more than 4,000 plants, trees and shrubs, and laid 110 tons of river rock, Healy said.
The city also replaced 2,200 feet of aging water main pipe, 15 main valves and 15 service connections.
On the list for this year are city pier tower, tree and sidewalk replacement downtown at Front, Oak and Laurel streets and Railroad Avenue, plus signal controller updates at 13 intersections along First and Front streets.
The public works department is currently managing 22 grants worth more than $28.6 million, Healy said.
Public safety
Included in its 23,000 calls for service, the city police department, with its 34 officers, is responding along with the city fire department on an increasing number of drug overdose incidents. Smith said the fire department saw an average of four overdoses per week last year.
He told a story about how first responders often treat an overdose patient with Naloxone, a reversal drug, and sometimes have to perform CPR. One the patient is awake, they often refuse additional treatment, Smith said.
“The drug problem isn’t going to go away,” he said, highlighting the city’s community paramedicine program and the fire department’s Operation Shielding Hope.
“We have a team to stay behind and address what needs to be addressed to keep that person from dying from an overdose or having that happen again.”
Crime numbers in burglaries, motor vehicle thefts, simple assaults, larceny and destruction/vandalism all were down in 2023 from 2022, Smith reported, citing the people who work for the department and best practices in law enforcement to finding balance between proactive and problem-oriented policing and reactive policing.
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Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-417-3531 or by email at brian.mclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
