PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend commissioners had their first reading of a resolution that would place a measure on the Nov. 4 general election ballot to ask voters if they want to change commissioner terms from four years to six years.
If approved, the candidate receiving the most votes in November would serve a six-year term and the other winning candidate would serve a four-year term.
After that, each commissioner would be elected to six-year terms.
There are two commissioner races on the ballot. Incumbent commissioner Carol Hasse will face Clayborn Burleson for the District 2 position, and incumbent commissioner Pete Hanke is running unopposed for the District 3 seat.
District 1 commissioner Pam Petranek, who is not up for election this year, has two years remaining on her four-year term.
Structuring the measure that way would allow for staggered six-year terms, with each commissioner coming up for election every two years, port Executive Director Eron Berg said. That would remedy the present situation where one commissioner position is up for election and the other two are up for election two years later.
Commissioners, who heard the resolution Wednesday, will consider it for approval on July 9.
Cruise line
Kirstin Meira, director of government affairs for American Cruise Lines, spoke to commissioners at a workshop Wednesday about the company’s expansion in the Pacific Northwest and partnerships with ports in the region that have included its investment in infrastructure improvements. Port Townsend is a stop on one of the company’s Puget Sound cruises. Port Angeles is a tour stop as well.
Petranek expressed concern about American Cruise Lines increasing its presence in Port Townsend, citing conversations she’s had with businesses and residents who said its vessels seemed out of place on the city’s waterfront.
“I’ve heard gratitude about the smaller size of the vessels,” said Carol Hesse of American Cruise Line ships, which carry no more than 175 passengers, unlike other cruise ships that carry thousands.
“I like people visiting without vehicles, and it’s a good thing for the community, but I worry about the impact on our dock.”
Hanke said that, with tourism down, especially from Canada, the port should consider the economic value cruise passengers bring to the city.
RV bookings at Point Hudson were down 4.6 percent though May, and moorage had dropped 7.8 percent over the same period, Berg said. He said the declines likely are related to the continuing trend of many Canadians choosing not to travel to the United States.
Economic development
The port has been mulling taking on a more active role in economic development and reconsidering its relationship with EDC Team Jefferson.
David Ballif, who became EDC Team Jefferson’s executive director in May, told commissioners he’d been listening to the city, the port, businesses and other entities about their priorities.
“I’ve heard loud and clear from a lot of folks that now is an opportunity to level up and have more public engagement and think about bigger areas of growth that would be a good fit for the community,” Ballif said. “I’d like to start implementing the vision I’ve heard from the EDC Board and different people of seeing the EDC as a hub and convener for the community.”
The Intergovernmental Collaborate Group — composed of leaders from the port, Jefferson County, the city of Port Townsend and the Jefferson County PUD — would be a good place to start when it comes to envisioning a direction for economic development, Hasse said, but it already has a packed agenda.
“We have an opportunity now with new EDC leadership to have a community conversation about what we as a port want to see and what we feel our community needs,” she said. “That’s small local businesses, our working waterfront and housing.”
Strategic plan
A draft of the port’s 2025-2030 strategic plan will be presented to commissioners at their July 9 meeting for their consideration, Deputy Director Eric Toews said. A 12-member revision committee has been updating and streamlining the previous 2010-2015 strategic plan, and it has been taking into consideration feedback gathered at a public forum, through written comments and an online questionnaire.
Recognition
Lease and contracts administrator Sue Nelson was recognized ahead of her retirement on June 27 after 23 years with the port. Nelson won’t entirely stop working, though. She will be with the Port Townsend Aero Museum part-time.
Heron Scott is the port’s new lease and contracts administrator.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
