PORT ANGELES — From the expansion of composite manufacturing to waterfront redevelopment, City Manager Kent Myers offered a cornucopia of events and plans to look forward to next year while speaking to the Port Angeles Business Association on Tuesday.
Although his speech acknowledged the presence of empty storefronts and an overall sluggish economy, Myers in his lengthy and wide-ranging address highlighted why Port Angeles residents should feel positive about 2012.
“It’s not all doom and gloom,” he said.
Myers noted to the receptive audience that Angeles Composite Technologies Inc. will add 40 to 50 jobs next year with its composite campus expansion at the William R. Fairchild International Airport and that the city will endeavour on several of its own projects next year.
They include the start of waterfront redevelopment, which will include the $3 million and $3.5 million construction of an esplanade and the design of a new Lauridsen Boulevard bridge that will help spur the creation of a new truck route.
A citywide wireless Internet project will also get under way.
“The entire community would be a hot spot,” he said of the project, funded with a $2.6 million grant and about $300,000 in city funds.
“I think it will set Port Angeles ahead . . . as a leader in wireless,” Myers said.
Ballot measures
Myers addressed the possibility of two ballot measures next year to fund up to $4 million of improvements to Civic Field and up to an additional $6 million for waterfront improvements.
He said it is likely the City Council will request voters to approve new property taxes to fund the projects, and in response to a question added that it’s possible that any new voter-approved tax would apply to residents who live outside the city limit but within the Port Angeles School District’s boundary.
“We’re looking at options,” Myers said. “That is an option we are considering.”
Since the special property tax levy for the Port Angeles Senior Center will lapse next year, he said, the city will be able to keep city residents’ tax burden at its current level even if the bond measures are approved.
Nippon
Myers also noted that Nippon Paper Industries USA’s $71 million biomass energy project will help keep the Port Angeles mill stable, which he said was on the verge of closing.
Asked about it after the meeting, the city manager said the mill’s management did tell the city that the mill was at risk of shuttering.
“Their future was uncertain over the last couple years,” he said.
Mill Manager Harold Norlund couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
The City Council, during its budget discussions for 2012, decided to continue to waive Nippon’s electrical base rate, which it has not had to pay since 2004.
The council members noted they wanted to help keep the mill in operation when making their decision.
Myers said the mill officials hadn’t told the city that it would be at risk of closing if the base rate, proposed at $3,800 per month, was reapplied.
The rate was $5,870 per month before it was discontinued.
“We’re still committed to helping Nippon stay competitive with their business,” Myers said.
Gary Holmquist, Nippon’s biomass project manger, said last week that the cogeneration project is still scheduled to be completed in early 2013.
Nippon would burn wood waste from logging sites and sawmills to generate up to 20 megawatts of electricity.
Electrical credits
The power it generates would be converted to renewable-energy credits that would be sold to utilities.
Myers said the city will consider purchasing some of those credits.
The Bonneville Power Administration will still bill the mill for its full load of power, though it would be using up to 20 megawatts less since it will technically be selling the electricity, Holmquist said.
Myers also told the group that the city has not received a response from Gov. Chris Gregoire on whether it will get a seat on the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees Council.
The council will determine Rayonier Inc.’s liability for damages to natural resources caused by its former Port Angeles pulp mill. That process will lead to how it will compensate for those losses.
The city is concerned that the company plans to turn the 75-acre site to wilderness to meet that liability.
“Restoration of the complete property represents zero jobs to our community,” he said.
In response to a question, Myers said the city could use eminent domain to acquire the property and prevent that from happening.
That is not being considered by the council, he said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
