Farm Tour this weekend

The 22nd annual Jefferson County Farm Tour is Sept. 14 to 15.

It is presented by The Production Alliance in partnership with Washington State University’s Jefferson County Extension and local farmers, with support from the Jefferson County Farmers Markets, Jefferson Land Trust, the Food Co-op and the Chimacum Corner Farmstand.

Organizers recommend starting a self-guided tour at any one of the 15 featured properties, or by going to “Farm Tour Central” at 9122 Rhody Drive in Chimacum. Volunteers onsite will provide brochures and maps, collect donations, orientate tour-goers to each location and make route recommendations. A donation of $10 is requested per carload, so carpooling is recommended. Donations are accepted at any farm on the tour. See getonthefarm.org for more information.   

Call for marina tenant

For decades, the building located at 103 Hudson Street at the Point Hudson Marina, was home to the Point Hudson Moorage & RV office. Recent remodeling at the historic Cupola House has led the office to relocate, which means its former space is vacant. Port staff is seeking proposals and ideas for businesses that might be a good fit for the location.

The building is approximately 25 feet by 15 feet. It has heating and air conditioning, but no plumbing, although restroom facilities are nearby. Wi-Fi and Internet are available.

Proposals and ideas should be sent to Sue Nelson, snelson@portofpt.com.

City manager wins award

John Mauro, Port Townsend’s city manager, has won this year’s Washington City/County Management Association’s Management Excellence Award, an annual statewide award that recognizes an administrator or manager who has enhanced the effectiveness of local elected officials, and initiated creative and successful programs.

The award was announced at the annual conference for city managers and administrators, held Aug. 13-16, in Wenatchee. Mauro was nominated by a jurisdiction or individual external to Port Townsend, and after being nominated, the city’s leadership team and regional colleagues wrote letters of support. Mauro is a current member of the WCMA board of directors.

“His presentation at the WCMA conference this year was about civil civic dialogue and cultivating a community of practice among his peers,” said Mayor David Faber, in a press release. “It is clear that he is not only a leader in Port Townsend, but also in the field of city management, and very deserving of this award.”

KPTZ’s former space open

The city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services team has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for newly vacated space at Mountain View Commons, located at 1919 Blaine St. The portable was formerly occupied by local radio station KPTZ 91.9 FM.

The deadline for proposal submissions is Sept. 27 at 3 p.m., with occupancy desired by Nov. 1. 

The portable is part of a complex of buildings and outdoor recreation areas owned by the Port Townsend School District, with land and buildings managed through a long-term lease agreement with the City of Port Townsend.

In a prepared statement Facilities and Parks Manager Michael Todd said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to join the  other community-based organizations that make up the Mountain View Commons family. We have made some minor repairs to the portable to ready it for a new occupant, and are offering tours to interested applicants on Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.” The release also noted “great relationships” with the Red Cross, Food Bank, YMCA and Dove House, all of which use space at Mountain View.

The City of Port Townsend Police Department and YMCA-operated pool and gym are also part of the Commons.

Interested organizations are asked to thoroughly review the requirements for proposals, which are posted on the city’s website.

Use agreements are three years in length, with a rent of $225.88 annually, according to the city’s website.

The building has a separate metered utility connection, resulting in charges of about $5,000 annually, and other expenses are detailed in the RFP.

The space as configured consists of a common area and two soundproof booths. Modifications to the building are allowed with prior approval.

Wanted: State Road 19 foot-bike path leadership

The Jefferson County Department of Public Works is soliciting statements of qualifications from a multi-disciplined consulting team to provide engineering and environmental services for State Route 19 pedestrian, bicycle improvements facility project in Chimacum, which is a federally and state-funded.

The project begins at State Route 19, Milepost 8.94, approximately 815 feet southeasterly of the State Route 19, Chimacum Road and Center Road intersection, and runs along the northerly shoulder of State Route 19 to that intersection, then along the southerly shoulder of State Route 19 through the Chimacum commercial district, and ends at State Route 19, Milepost 9.56, near the Chimacum Schools campus, approximately 250 feet southerly of the West Valley Road and State Route 19 intersection.

The proposed facilities include an ADA-compliant sidewalk, curb and gutter adjoining State Route 19, as well as a bicycle lane, a multi-use path and a pre-fabricated pedestrian-bicycle bridge across Chimacum Creek, with driveway entrances, stormwater facilities, a bus stop, pedestrian illumination and pedestrian crossings.

The project involves civil and structural engineering for pedestrian-bicyclist bridges, as well as geotechnical engineering, illumination engineering, cultural resources review, environmental permitting and documentation, and public outreach. The notice to proceed for the work is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 11, with a date of completion planned for Dec. 31, 2025. The deadline for statements of qualifications is 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. The project has a voluntary Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Goal of 10% of the consultant agreement amount and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation plan is required.