Who would be making photo copies of ballots, and what seems to be stuffing the ballot boxes. That's something Democrats would be doing right?! (Did I just say that out loud? You know, don't liberals do something like that?) But that's besides the point readers, the advisory ballot issue have been tainted in other ways, such as excluding those who happen to be in Housing Authority buildings which Housing pays the water bill! You see readers, only those who get a water bill got to participate in the questionnaire. Now despite all of the ballot box stuffing attempts and forged ballots, which appears to have been done, luckily they hired someone to put a stop to that and nip it in the bud. Nevertheless readers, the public made their decision regarding their opinion about continuing fluoridation. The question is will the city council take that into consideration when they make their decision or will they chose to ignore the peoples voice and go ahead and pander to the local dentist. If they did this as a ballot measure there would be no ballot tampering in the first place!
Here is the press release issued from the city after the results were release:
On August 4, 2015, City Council adopted Resolution No.12-15, approving an advisory poll to seek citizen input regarding the fluoridation of the City’s municipal water supply. In addition, Council set two public meeting dates devoted to the topic of fluoridation. The first of those two public meetings was an educational forum held on October 22, 2015. “For” and “against” committees were given an opportunity for equal time to address the Council and public. During this meeting committees answered 6 pre-determined questions in a back-and-forth format. Council assigned Dr. Tom Locke as the chair of the “for” fluoridation committee and Dr. Eloise Kailin as chair of the “against” fluoridation committee. At the request of the City, the Clallam County League of Women Voters provided a moderator and timers to ensure neutrality of the proceedings. On October 29, 2015, Council held an extended, 3-hour public comment period devoted to citizen input. This session was also moderated and timed by the League of Women Voters.
The City Council chose to poll the City’s water utility customers and the County PUD customers who receive fluoridated water from the City.An advisory poll was sent to each water utility customer living in the City and the PUD incorporated areas. Databar, the printing company that process the City’s utility bills, was used to print the advisory polls. Citizens not included in the advisory polling, but who had an opinion on the matter, were encouraged to email or write to Council members.9,762 polls were mailed out on Friday, November 6. The City arranged for the postage to be paid through a postage paid account in hopes that it would encourage those eligible to participate. Both the PUD and the City made boxes available for those who preferred to drop off their polls.The advisory polls were collected until November 27..
Former County Auditor Patty Rosand was hired on a temporary basis to oversee the advisory poll count.Mrs. Rosand and a member of her counting staff picked up the poll box that wasat City Hall as well as the polls that were at the Post Office and moved them to the Clallam County election room where they were prepped for counting. Committees from the “for” and “against” sides each had representatives participate as observers at the count held on December 7.Resultsare as follows:Total polls returned: 4,204
- Votes in favor of fluoridation: 1,735
- Votes opposed to fluoridation: 2,381
- Votes of no opinion: 74 Invalid polls: 14---Press release issued 12/9/15
Related Stories:
Port Angeles fluoridation poll: Most of the 43 percent who responded are against water treatment
" The non-binding advisory poll was approved by the Port Angeles City Council on Aug. 4 to seek input regarding the fluoridation of the city's municipal water supply."
" Another 14 — 0.33 percent — were declared invalid due to being on photocopied ballots, having more than one in an envelope or being blank or having more than one choice marked." ---Peninsula Daily News
Fluoride: a double edged sword? Opinion by Giovanni Roverso
Fifty-seven percent of those responding to the advisory ballot choose to end fluoridation. Forty-one percent would continue it. The city council will have final say however, with no promise of the survey making a difference. The city council will meet to discuss fluoridation in light of the results on Dec. 15. A final decision must be made by May 2016.---From the PORT O CALL dated 12/12/15
In other local news...
County Commissioners work session reveals conflict
PORT O CALL: It seems McEntire and Bill Peach are adamant about awarding at least a part of this contract to Will Payne. Peach said he would like to get some “fresh blood” in the process. Clallam Public Defender’s office has never had a suit filed against them, or the county, for inadequate defense, according to Jim Jones, County Administrator.--Port O Call/ Wilson.
Clallam County seeks indigent defense provider as contract’s expiration nears
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS: In a Wednesday memo, Jones cited a “long-standing and very serious dispute” between Clallam Public Defender Director Harry Gasnick and Judge Rick Porter of Clallam County District Court No. 1 as a weakness in the firm’s proposal.
That dispute, Jones said, has “reached the point that the judge believes he must consider either barring anyone from this firm from representing clients in his courtroom, or recusing himself from presiding over any cases that are represented by the Clallam Public Defender firm.”--read more
McAleer aims at twofold plan for state business alliance, Clallam County
" Even as Colleen McAleer of Sequim, president of the Washington Business Alliance, works to accomplish a long list of strategies to improve the state's business climate, she said she pitches the county as a great place to set up an enterprise.' ---Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County adopts 2016 budget; concerns about spending reserves highlighted by commissioner
" I don't intend to live under this budget. I don't intend to spend as much of the reserves, he said. My message to [Commissioner] Bill [Peach] and Commissioner-elect [Mark] Ozias is that I think in January, we need to roll up our sleeves and make some changes so we don't use all $3 million of reserves'---Peninsula Daily News
Port Angeles eyes new water sources in wake of drought restrictions
The city will take preliminary steps to locate a secondary source of domestic water should the Elwha River run low again. City officials said wells probably can't replace the Elwha as the city's primary water source but could supplement it if a drought like last summer's returns.--Peninsula Daily News
Clallam commissioner recommends creating panel to pick public defense provider
Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman has advocated forming a screening committee to help the board select an indigent defense provider.---Peninsula Daily News
Long Goodbyes by Dale Wilson
This year we bid adieu to some notable people who cast long shadows over the community for many years.---PORT O CALL
Clallam County commissioners cleared of allegation of Open Public Meetings Act violation
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS: Clallam County commissioners Jim McEntire and Mike Chapman have been exonerated of an alleged violation of the Open Public Meetings Act. Former Commissioner Mike Doherty had accused his prior colleagues of a possible violation of law dealing with transparency when they discussed and signed letters of support to the state Department of Natural Resources for a 4,000-acre land exchange with Green Crow on Aug. 27, 2013.
Clallam gets seventh-straight clean audit from the state
" Clallam is the only county out of nine covered by a state auditor's office audit team to have had back-to-back clean audits in the past seven years, County Administrator Jim Jones said."--Peninsula Daily News
County to handle city’s misdemeanor, traffic cases
Misdemeanors committed within the Sequim city limits will be handled at the county level starting in 2016.---SEQIUM GAZETTE
WDFW tentatively plans razor clam dig starting Dec. 24 at Copalis Beach--FORKS FORUM
Organizers double down on resurrected Christmas meal
Surplus of volunteers, money spurs addition of second free community meal---PT LEADER
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT
TIMES COLONIST/ VICTORIA BC: 1,855 capital residents get warning: expect bigger property tax
Nearly 1,900 home owners in Greater Victoria are receiving letters from B.C. Assessment in the coming days warning of higher than average increases to their property values this year.
Esquimalt joins regional economic development plan
Dan Dagg can’t help but feel disappointed when he looks at the declining numbers for gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the capital region.---VICTORIA NEWS, VICTORIA BC
'Modest' impact from down payment change
New federal rules requiring higher down payments for insured mortgages on homes worth $500,000 to $1 million are unlikely to trigger any dramatic cooling of Lower Mainland real estate markets, according to one analyst.---Victoria News/ Victoria BC
WHAT'S on TAP FOR NEXT WEEK
CLALLAM COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING HIGH LIGHT ITEMS:
Resolution authorizing allocation of local 2060 funds for affordable housing
Resolution authorizing allocation of local 2163 funds for the homeless
See full agenda: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_agenda.pdf
Agenda details: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf
CITY OF PORT ANGELES AGENDA HIGH LIGHT ITEMS:
Combined Sewer Overflow Phase 2, Project WW10-2008 / Front Street
Stormwater Separation Project, Project WW01-2011 - Vanir Construction
Management Professional Services Agreement Amendment 1
Summary: The City entered into a contract with Vanir Construction Management, Inc., on May 14, 2014 in the amount of $1,563,726 to provide construction management services for the Combined
Sewer Overflow (CSO) Phase II, Project WW1008. This project is the final phase of the City’s CSO
Reduction Program approved by the Department of Ecology. The project reduces CSOs to the Port Angeles Harbor in compliance with the terms of Agreed Order 3853. This amendment provides additional compensation for construction management professional services to compensate for time impacts.
Funding:
a) The construction project originally was approved by Council on January 6, 2015 with a contingency of $984,855. The construction contract has had six approved change orders for a total value of $80,452 and the construction management agreement has had no amendments. This leaves a net contingency balance of $904,403 at this time.
b) In addition, the Engineer’s report the construction contractor has 25 additional requested change orders open and has 2 claims pending. The City has estimated the maximum entitlement for these at $200,000. With this, the projected amount of surplus contingency funding available in the project is estimated to be $704,403 which is a sufficient balance for this amendment.
Recommendation: Approve and authorize the City Manager to sign Amendment No. 1 to the
Professional Services Agreement with Vanir Construction Management, Inc., increasing the value by $360,099 for a revised maximum not-to-exceed amount of $1,923,825, and to make minor modifications to the agreement if necessary. page j1 of the agenda packet
Port Angeles Landfill Stabilization Project (SW0212) - Construction Management Services Contract Amendment #2
Summary: Construction management services are provided by Anchor QEA for the Port Angeles
Landfill Stabilization Project. Due to the discovery of large amounts of asbestos and the resulting claim from the construction contractor, Anchor QEA has provided a substantial amount of additional support to prepare the City to equitably resolve the asbestos claim. In addition, the construction contractor, Magnus Pacific, was required to achieve substantial completion by November 10, 2015. Schedule impacts due to the asbestos as well as other issues have extended the completion date to the end of January 2016. This will require Anchor QEA to be onsite longer. This amendment compensates Anchor QEA for the additional effort.
Funding:
a) The project originally was approved by Council on May 20, 2014 with a contingency
of $1,962,994. The construction management agreement has had one additive amendment valued at $219,927, and the construction contract has had eleven change orders for a total value of $1,153,927 and legal expenses valued at $112,056. This leaves a net contingency balance of $477,084 at this time.
b) In addition, the Engineers report that the construction contract has two pending change orders and quantity take-off variances that are expected to further reduce the construction contract cost by $432,248. With this, the projected amount of surplus funding available in the project is estimated to be $909,332 which is more than sufficient for this amendment.
Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to sign Amendment No. 2 to the Professional
Services Agreement with Anchor QEA increasing the value by $80,000 for a revised maximum
not-to-exceed amount of $1,728,927. ---Page j3-4 in the agenda packet
See full agenda: http://wa-portangeles.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2677
Sequim City Council Agenda highlight item: Council Approval of a Resolution endorsing the use of Economic Opportunity Funds for SARC Capital Funding Projects
See full agenda: http://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1295
City of Forks agenda: http://www.forkswashington.org/pdf/agenda_11-23-15.pdf
PORT TOWNSEND: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Quimper Village Planned Unit Development File No. LUP15-042
On Monday, December 14, 2015, beginning at or about 11 a.m., the Port Townsend
Hearing Examiner will hold an open-record public hearing to consider the above
referenced application involving a new residential development.
See details: http://cityofpt.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=cityofpt_6ebbb43efa4a5b06792355a309872f9d.pdf&view=1
UPDATE!
PORT MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING (Purpose: To hear testimony on the Amendment to Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements to reference and incorporate the Port 2015-2020 Strategic Plan and the current 2016 Port budget)
See full agenda: http://www.portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/12152015-123?html=true
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV
