PORT ANGELES — The City Council pledged on Saturday to do more to gain the public’s trust in 2010.
During a seven-hour retreat with city staff, the six council members, three of whom were recently seated, agreed to both hold major financial discussions in regular meetings rather than in committee and staff a table at the Saturday Port Angeles Farmers Market for more public outreach.
The council members also were in agreement over identifying what sort of jobs should make up Port Angeles’ economic future and reducing duplication among organizations responsible for promoting economic development in Clallam County.
Financial discussion
Mayor Dan Di Guilio proposed keeping major financial discussion — such as any facility or park closures — in regular meetings rather than using the committee process.
He said he didn’t want another repeat of September 2008 when the public first became aware that the city was considering closing William Shore Memorial Pool.
By that time, that issue had only been discussed by the council’s finance committee rather than by the whole council at a regular meeting.
“I don’t want that to happen again,” Di Guilio told the Peninsula Daily News after the retreat.
“Everyone needs to know up front if we’re talking about closing a facility or park or something of that nature.”
Economic development
When it comes to economic development, the council members said one of the problems Port Angeles faces is that it isn’t clear in what direction the city should be going in.
“We don’t know what we want to be as a community,” said Councilman Don Perry.
One of the questions proposed during that discussion was: Should Port Angeles be focused on high-tech industry or marine trades?
While there were no answers, there was a clear consensus that more work must be done.
Another issue discussed was whether there are too many economic-promoting agencies doing the same work.
It was brought up that there are 13 organizations — including the city, county, Port of Port Angeles, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, Port Angeles Business Association and Clallam County Economic Development Council — all working fairly independently on economic development.
“There’s a lot of duplication,” said Councilman Pat Downie.
Added Councilman Max Mania: “It’s hard to run that race when everyone is running into each other.”
Creating jobs
It was agreed that council and staff will need to speak with representatives of the other organizations identified to see how they can better coordinate their efforts when it comes to creating more jobs.
Also at the meeting, the council was given in update on city finances and briefed on its project to eliminate sewer overflows.
City Finance Director Yvonne Ziomkowski told the council that balancing the budget this year won’t be any easier since the city remains affected by the economic recession.
She said if expenditures continue to increase at the current rate and revenues remain fairly stagnant, the city will deplete its general fund reserve by 2013.
Ziomkowski said continuing challenges will be sales tax revenue — which is at its lowest in seven years — and increasing retirement and medical insurance costs.
City Manager Kent Myers said contract negotiations with each of the five unions that represent city employees will be a “major factor in balancing next year’s budget.”
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
