PORT ANGELES — New Mayor Cherie Kidd delivered her signature upbeat outlook on the city’s future Tuesday in one of her first public speaking engagements after she was tabbed for the spot by her fellow council members.
“Port Angeles has so much going for it, a new era of cooperation,” Kidd told an audience of 30 at the Port Angeles Business Association’s weekly breakfast meeting.
Kidd, 66, was joined Tuesday by City Manager Kent Myers, who also gave a presentation. Thursday marks his third full year in the position.
Kidd cited an ambitious plan to develop the city’s waterfront, the city’s 150th birthday June 19, continued year-round vehicle access to Hurricane Ridge via Hurricane Ridge Road and the expansion of Angeles Composite Technologies Inc. — she spoke Monday at the company’s ribbon-cutting ceremony — as projects continuing or upcoming in 2012.
“We have challenges ahead of us, but in this time, in this town, it’s going to be a very good year for all of us,” said Kidd, an avid community volunteer and former motivational speaker.
“We have so many good things happening,” she said.
In introducing her, PABA President Dick Pilling noted Kidd’s tireless activity on behalf of the city and its residents.
“Maybe you should list the organizations she’s not a part of,” Pilling said.
“Sometimes I think she’s a serial volunteer.”
Here are some of the projects Kidd and Myers cited for 2012:
■ Work will begin on the $3.5 million, Phase 1 portion of the waterfront redevelopment project, along with the installation of 60 to 80 “wayfinding” signs downtown.
In addition, a “gateway feature” will be established at the east end of Front Street across from McDonald’s as a welcoming point for vehicle traffic, Myers said.
At a Jan. 21 retreat, the City Council will discuss going to voters for bond financing for the waterfront project in August or November to complete Phase 2, he said.
If voters approved the measure, taxes would not increase over present levels because the city is freeing up its bonding capacity, Myers said.
■ Nippon Industries USA has made “a $72 million commitment to the city” by pledging to build a biomass plant at its Ediz Hook facility and also has submitted a building permit for a new office building that should be completed by mid-2013, Myers said.
■ Planning will take place for replacing the “not very safe” bridge at Lauridsen Boulevard and Race Street, with construction planned for 2013, Myers said.
It will be the first and most expensive phase of creating an alternate truck route, construction of which will start in 2013, Myers said.
■ Planning will continue on the removal of trees at Lincoln Park to improve safety for landing approaches at William R. Fairchild International Airport, “a very emotional issue for the community,” Myers said.
“I still believe there’s a middle ground as we move forward on the planning process,” Myers said.
“We’ll see how it evolves with less trees, different types of trees,” he said.
“I’m interested in seeing how we address the needs of Kenmore [Air] while at the same time creating a beautiful park.”
Triumphant return
Kidd’s appearance at the business association’s weekly get-together at Joshua’s Restaurant and Lounge marked somewhat of a triumphant return.
She has spoken in front of the group as an aspiring City Council candidate at least four times in eight years.
Kidd participated in PABA voter forums in 2003 when she ran against Jack Pittis and in 2005 when she ran against Larry Williams, losing both races before defeating Grant Munro in 2007 and running essentially unopposed in 2011.
Cody Blevins’ name was on the ballot, but he had withdrawn from the race before the election.
Even after Blevins dropped out of the race, Kidd appeared at a PABA election forum to make the case that she should be elected.
She said then that she was fearful Blevins might win because it was too late to take his name off the ballot.
“When you run for election and you’re not successful, you have a choice as you do in life,” she told the PABA.
“You only fail when you quit.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
