Unsustainable. Higher taxes lie ahead for Port Townsend residents and businesses. But it won’t be basic, critical city services that get the biggest chunk of increased revenues if the recommendations of the City’s Financial Sustainability Task Force are followed.
The proposed aquatic/fitness center could get seven times as much in new tax revenues as would go to fix the city’s failing streets. Parks and forays into becoming a major housing provider would also see huge increases.
Public safety and emergency services would see little change. As for the the city’s aged, failing water and sewer lines, the task force chose to ignore the problem.
A water and sewer system is a core service of every city. “Simply put, without core services, all other initiatives and services suddenly or eventually fail.” That is the definition from the glossary of terms in the task force’s final report. But through a verbal sleight-of-hand, the task force declared it would not consider water and sewer to be core services and, therefore, they were excluded from evaluation of the city’s financial challenges.
Replacing the thirty-mile long, century-old system that brings water to the city from Quilcene will cost more than $114 million, according to the city’s 2019 water plan. Higher utility rates, increased borrowing and other measures will be necessary to cover the costs. Some sewer sections are at the end of their lifespan and require replacement now. A single failed pipe under Water Street is beyond repair and must be completely rebuilt, at the cost of nearly $3 million — which the city must borrow or pull out of its reserves.
It would be a lot harder to persuade taxpayers to approve high taxes for a new pool if they knew they were also facing staggering increased utility rates and other charges to repair and replace the sewer and water lines under the city’s crumbling streets. The price tag for that proposed new aquatic center, by the way, starts at $37 million and tops out above $52 million, along with an annual operating subsidy of about $900,000.
Rendering of the Mountain View complex to house proposed new aquatic center, from the consultants’ PowerPoint presentation. Multiple pools — a swimming pool, activities pool and therapy pool — are illustrated in the image at the top of the article.
Skewed priorities don’t stop there. The city’s pool consultants are enjoying a $175,000 contract, which is more than the city budgeted in recent years for road maintenance. It is more than the city has allocated to study the seismic stability of the Lord’s Lake dam, the principal source of the city’s drinking water. State authorities have warned that the dam is in very poor condition and could require $4 million in repairs — money the city doesn’t have. Not a word in the task force report about that.
Water for swimming got a lot of ink; drinking water got none.
But heavily taxing city residents to pay for a new pool — running up their property taxes by hundreds of dollars per year, on top of other recommended tax increases — isn’t enough. The Task Force, echoing the city manager and Port Townsend’s pool consultants, want to tax county residents to fund PT’s aquatic center. A project that cannot be sustained by city taxpayers has been proclaimed possibly sustainable if maybe county residents can also be taxed to pay for a new pool to replace one they don’t use now.
Fewer than 34 Jefferson County residents outside city limits use the existing Mountain View pool on a monthly average. That data was gleaned from the 2022 annual report from the YMCA, which manages the pool for the city. The same data shows that only 174 city residents use the pool on an average monthly basis.
Window Dressing for Higher Taxes, Expanding City Government
Council created the task force in November 2022 to address the city’s impending financial crisis. It carries an impressive title, but was little more than a handful of citizens hearing from and reading materials provided by City Manager John Mauro and his staff.
Five citizens were appointed but only four served. Troy Surber, PT’s former acting police chief, resigned his appointment before the first meeting. The other members were former city councilor and mayor Catharine Jackson, John Nowak, Rick Jahnke and Earll Murman. Earll Murman is married to Rena Murman, Treasurer of Jeffco Aquatic Coalition, the group spearheading the campaign to build a new aquatic center (more on that apparent conflict of interest below).
The task force had no chairperson. City manager Mauro ran its meetings. He and his staff set the agenda. The city manager determined what the group would talk about, who the speakers would be, and what materials would be considered. As far as I can tell, the city manager and his staff were responsible for writing the task force’s final report and recommendations.
There was good reason to create a task force, one that could investigate why Port Townsend’s finances have turned negative. The city is heading over a fiscal cliff. It has recently started to eat into reserves. We examined this impending dive into red ink in our May 25, 2023 report, “City Finances ‘Falling Off Cliff’ as Cherry Street Project Enters Seventh Year.”
But the task force did not dig. It did not inquire into waste in City Hall, ways current spending and staffing could be cut, or which programs and services could be scaled back. In fairness, such an undertaking would be an unreasonable expectation of citizen volunteers with no independent staff of their own. They met only a few times for about 2-2.5 hours each session.
The meeting videos reveal that the citizen volunteers were fed materials drafted by City Manager Mauro and his staff. None of those materials offered an austerity option, ways to shrink city government to fit the city’s limited financial resources. It was the city manager who labelled any course of action that did not include raising taxes to fund a new pool and other ambitious amenity projects as the “do nothing” solution. This derisive label was incorporated into the task force’s working materials.
Only those courses of action for continuing to expand city government made the cut in the final recommendations to city council.
Instead of meaningful inquiry into cutting waste and fat at city hall, the task force report tossed around vapid verbiage. It never got beyond bland statements like, “Finding efficiencies is a critical element for any pathway forward,” and “The need for efficiencies is eternal.” Rest assured, dear taxpayers, city hall has already engaged in “lean thinking” (page 19 of the report).
Repeatedly, task force discussions turned to how to sell higher taxes to a skeptical, tax-weary public.
Yes, plans to fix the streets are in there. New taxes have been recommended, anywhere from $0.10/$1000 to $0.20/$1000 of assessed value to start a thirty-year effort to keep Port Townsend from continuing to have the worst streets in the state. But the tax increase recommended for the aquatic center is seven times higher, $0.70/$1000 if the tax is imposed only on city properties. If county properties are “captured” (the city’s pool consultant’s term) and share the burden, the recommended tax hike would be $0.42/$1000.
No course of action was advanced that would increase funding to complete street repairs in under three decades.
No options allocated all revenue from higher taxes to critical, core municipal services only — streets, water and sewer, public safety.
No course of action was discussed that did not include the aquatic center. From the task force’s initial meeting onward the aquatic center was considered a “priority initiative.”
Conflict of Interest?
As mentioned, Earll Murman, one of the four task force members, is married to Rena Murman, Treasurer of Jeffco Aqautic Coaliton (JAC), the advocacy group spearheading the push for the new pool. Rena Murman is also the registered agent for JAC. That group originated in 2007 under the name “Make Waves in PT.” In 2012 Earll Murman became the group’s president and chairman of the board. In that year it changed its name to “Jeffco Aquatic Coalition.” Annual reports filed with the Washington Secretary of State show him as the JAC President from 2012-2017. In the 2018 amended annual report he was listed as one of four JAC governors. In 2022, just a few months before Earll Murman was appointed to the city’s Financial Sustainability Task Force, Rena Murman filed and signed the annual report for JAC, identifying herself as one of three governors and the group’s treasurer. A quick search of public filings with the Washington Secretary of State revealed this information.
More and More Taxes
The task force recommended other tax increases and ways to bring more money into the city. Annexing Glen Cove and grabbing its property and sales tax base from the county is central to long range plans. The drop in the city’s utility tax scheduled for the end of this year would be reversed and further increased by about 9%. Property tax rates would be raised across the board. And the task force is recommending another hike in the local sales tax.
To generate tax revenue for the proposed aquatic center, the task force recommends creating a Metropolitan Park District to tax city properties or a Regional Park District to capture county properties. This would require formal action by council and a public vote. If the borders of the taxing district extend beyond city limits, the county commissioners would also have to be on board. A park district can impose a property tax of up to $0.75/$1000 assessed value. An effort to create a park district to fund the Sequim pool was defeated in 2015.
There is also a lot in the report about funding the city’s foray into becoming a major housing provider and remaking the golf course, and how the city’s budget must increase accordingly. We will take a closer look at the these issues in future reports.
City Council is scheduled to act on the task force’s recommendations in coming months. The task force’s 53-page final report may be read at this link.
Jim Scarantino was the editor and founder of Port Townsend Free Press. He is happy in his new role as just a contributor writing on topics of concern to him. He spent the first 25 years of his professional life as a trial attorney, then launched an online investigative news website that broke several national stories. He is also the author of three crime novels. He resides in Jefferson County. See our “About” page for more information.
https://greenwald.locals.com/upost/4268650/how-endless-war-bankrupted-the-us-while-inflicting-mass-suffering-at-home-plus-macron-threatens-in
Reminiscent of how the NY Times now warns that Americans must brace for painful cuts in Social Security, Medicare, etc. benefits just to fund the security state’s WW3-threatening proxy war against Russia.
Thank you for the research on this article and bringing these details to the readers. Very helpful in making a decision on what I would like.
What happens when a city manager who has never managed a city is hired and manages unchecked by the city council ? How does he structure the “public” process to satisfy his necessarily unprofessional understanding of what his duties to the public require of him ?
We’ve seen this movie before:
“Council created the [City’s Financial Sustainability Task Force] in November 2022 . . .[which depended on] reading materials provided by City Manager John Mauro and his staff.
City manager Mauro ran its meetings. He and his staff set the agenda. The city manager determined what the group would talk about, who the speakers would be, and what materials would be considered. As far as I can tell, the city manager and his staff were responsible for writing the task force’s final report and recommendations.
The meeting videos reveal that the citizen volunteers were fed materials drafted by City Manager Mauro and his staff.
It was the city manager who labelled any course of action that did not include raising taxes to fund a new pool and other ambitious amenity projects as the “do nothing” solution.
Only those courses of action for continuing to expand city government made the cut in the final recommendations to city council.
No course of action was advanced that would increase funding to complete street repairs in under three decades.
No options allocated all revenue from higher taxes to critical, core municipal services only — streets, water and sewer, public safety.”
Healthier Together Open House – Fort Worden Commons
Calendar Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023 – 6:00pm to 8:00pm
If you attend this meeting you may be asked to raise your hand to choose a preferred pool plan option A, B, C etc. So far the contractors and city manager have not offered an option for none of the above or an option to repair and maintain the existing pool.
But at the golf course public show a couple of weeks ago the audience was informed that if they did not want any of the presented options they should not raise their hands.
If you don’t like the HTAC plan vote by keeping your hand down, checking no on the ballot for new taxes, and otherwise raising a big ruckus about being railroaded by this inexperienced city manager who needs lots of new revenue including for his salary and benefits ($200,000++) and 11 other employees with salaries over $100,000 and another 20 employees who earn between $80,000-$99,000.
I suggest that the committee/manager should provide the rationale, the data that demonstrates the need to prioritize such an extravagant project in this tiny town. The current pool, managed by the YMCA is only open part time; see the YMCA 2022 annual report for more data. How many of the state-projected 1400 people that may move into PT by 2030 will be using the pool? If county voters are sought to provide revenue, maybe they should have a say on where they would like a community pool located and what type of facility they want to afford.
I’m unable to attend the meeting on 7/13, but if you could inquire on my behalf as to whether or not there will be a designated changing facility for “trans” people I would appreciate it. I would not use the facility at all, regardless, if I thought I had to go through what you endured.
Take a look at the June 16, 2023 Opsis Feasibility Study PowerPoint linked in the article above and here.
On slide 16 (of 53) is a floor plan of a 30,000 sq. ft. “Shore Aquatics Precedent.” It has a large locker room area divided into two sections and a wide “Universal Changing Hall” without doors that is off the public pool area.
From my personal experience and research I understand that the YMCA will not sign facilities other than the twentieth century little stick figures – one with skirt, one with pants. To in any way mention “trans” would, they believe, indicate discrimination. Thus biological females and children have no choice because they are not informed that men are allowed in the women’s dressing/shower rooms. I do not understand, based on the YMCA policy, why they continue with any separation, men from women; one big room for all will suit the purposes. But for $40 or $50 million individuals might be able to access a private dressing and showering area.
How can we get rid of ALL the blood sucking spenders in local govt? There really must be some way to legally oust the bunch and hold new elections, and cap salaries at 72,000 with a COLA every 5 years.
It helps to know where and how things started. From day one John Mauro was hyped and marketed as one who would lead Port Townsend. Like a thinly veiled dictator, complete with a smiling head shot that resembled a game show host. The cart as the horse, ignoring laws and codes.
Articles in the Mis Leader with gushing words from 20 year council member and 3 time appointed mayor Sandoval who vetted Mauro along with then appointed mayor Stinson showed a basic lack of understanding of the old cart and horse reversal we have seen since the Timmons days. The Mis Leader as always was a key element along with a no term limit council. We got lots of Johnny Hype. His first move was to try to shut down car use of Taylor, vital to traffic flow and parking. Main Street helped with signage touting the “Open Streets Initiative”, That no one voted on or was advised of.
Heeeres Johnny!
For me what followed including streateries, ignoring parking, an “open streets” agenda eliminating cars, now the pool and so much more was absolutely in the cards. Mauro slid his tentacles everywhere. Doing what his employers the city council should be doing. Listening and acting, which sadly requires both spine and brain.
The final responsibility lies with those who keep electing these people who unleashed Mauro on us all as their proxy.
From BEFORE day one I submit and believe there was collusion between parties to agree to continue to ignore parking which benefited real estate interests. As with Timmons. City funded studies show this has cost millions in lost revenue. What could be the reason to sabotage a town and its visitors drawing in Main Street and Chamber along with others?
Collusion. 1) A secret agreement, especially for fraudulent or treacherous purposes; conspiracy:
2) Law. a secret understanding between two or more persons to gain something illegally, to defraud someone’s rights,
The slippery slope of a compromised tool that was promised power. Now we see it manifest again with a grand monument to self. Ignoring basic services which continue to degrade from the Timmons/Sandoval days.
Mauro’s employers and those ultimately responsible to be strong draft horses keeping an eye on the cart are
David Faber- Appointed Mayor and self-described deviant.
Amy Howard Deputy Mayor
Owen Rowe
Libby Wennstrom
Aislinn Palmer
Monica MickHager
Ben Thomas
And don’t forget the City Attorney who fails to advise to stay within bounds, Heidi Greenwood.
Those responsible for them are voters who mostly read the Mis Leader. A reflection of larger and larger tide pools and petri dishes leading to systemic corruption at all levels.
Suggested reading if you have not already.
https://www.porttownsendfreepress.com/2020/10/07/who-is-john-mauro-port-townsends-city-manager/
Thanks for taking the time, Jim.
I never really know how to wrap my head around the fact that our local leadership is so out of touch, so disconnected from the lives of the people who actually live here? It’s especially galling when they try to preach about “helping the homeless” or “serving the poor,” because it’s like, “please stop helping!” Their so called solutions are always like throwing drowning people a bag of stones.
Also, darkly humorous but some of us actually can’t even drive our low income vehicles into Port Townsend anymore. These old cars are not designed for four wheeling and we can’t keep scraping bottom and replacing our front ends because of massive potholes and crappy roads.
Mauro’s carefully crafted, manipulated process and appearance of public “engagement” — designed to generate a predetermined outcome (in this case a high-priced aquatic center and bigger government) — is reminiscent of the process we reported on when his agenda was to create permanent streateries.
It quickly became evident that Mauro’s ballyhooed “public process” was strictly for appearances. It began with a community survey which most of the public never saw or heard about, designed to support the desired outcome. The report generated from the small sampling who did complete the survey delivered skewed results, omitting some of the negative input. At an “Open House” downtown for the business community to discuss the streateries initiative, Mauro was not interested in the near-universal negative input from the business owners who attended. His message to those business owners was that no streateries was not an option; this event and the meetings to follow were to fine tune the details.
In this case we see a “task force” created, a handful (just four) of no-doubt hand-picked citizens Mauro knew would support his agenda (including one of the principals from Jeffco Aquatic Coalition) — folks to rubber stamp the report to city council that he desires, lending legitimacy to his agenda by calling the group the Financial Sustainability Task Force. From Jim’s reporting:
“No course of action was discussed that did not include the aquatic center. From the task force’s initial meeting onward the aquatic center was considered a ‘priority initiative.’”
Community meetings have been similarly designed to limit the range of options to those supporting Mauro’s intended outcome. Julie Jaman writes:
“If you attend this meeting you may be asked to raise your hand to choose a preferred pool plan option A, B, C etc. So far the contractors and city manager have not offered an option for none of the above or an option to repair and maintain the existing pool.”
She notes that “at the golf course public show a couple of weeks ago the audience was informed that if they did not want any of the presented options they should not raise their hands.”
A friend who attended that meeting for the golf course reports that the consultant announced that the options presented — the “vision” the city is pushing — came out of consensus reached during the previous public meetings. A man stood up and said (paraphrasing), “I’ve been at every one of those meetings and there’s never been any consensus.” He then asked the room, “Does anyone here support this plan?” Of approximately 200 people there, there was not a single affirmative.
Perhaps most telling is Jim’s observation:
“Only those courses of action for continuing to expand city government made the cut in the final recommendations to city council.”
Take a look at the “City Manager/City Council/Communications” line item in the ”Bucket” graphic above. In the “Enhance Services” scenario, funding for Mauro and electeds nearly doubles, increasing from $393,000 to $658,000.
“Lean thinking,” indeed.
Isn’t this the same pool that kicks out people who complain about men being allowed in women’s lockers?
No thank you.
Affordable housing has been talked about since the mid 1980s with little to no progress. Very little about affordable government has been discussed including $50 million for a place to get wet paid for by a property tax increase while city streets, water lines, sewer lines and other infrastructure including pools fail.
It may be time to look at mega million dollar estates in order to supply the needed property tax money to finance the nice to have stuff. I read that the city is looking for volunteers to take care of trails which tells me that there are already more trails than the city can afford, so we don’t need more. Spending a million dollars to fix the golf course, then spending a few million more to destroy it makes no sense at all.
It’s instructing that a significant property tax increase is being considered as our legislature made our gasoline the most expensive in the USA.
The road to bankruptcy runs through the Cherry Street fiasco. Seven years and it’s still a mess. The city turned down an offer on that property which would have supplied needed money and put the developed property on the tax rolls.
Corruption happens when a system is so broken that it is no longer fit for its original purpose. Corrupted files. Corrupted texts. Corrupted corpses. Corrupt governments that are too dysfunctional to organize the most basic infrastructure.
The long Cherry Street drama is proof of failure. People who caused the problem are either incompetent or criminal. There is no reason to expect them to do anything except borrow money to fund failed projects.
In the near future, actions to protect residents’ interests will have to come from outside government and its official media. This excellent PTFP article is a good start. Thank you.
I tuned in to KPTZ on the car radio today hoping for a bit of good music to accompany my drive, only to hear Mr. Mauro being interviewed on Taylor Clark’s Brewocracy Now 7/13 program. The city manager was extolling the societal virtues of himself, his ’team’ and council. Fitting them into the bigger picture, he described his own purview as ‘the operations.’ Ergo, “I am an operator” he said.
As was shortly revealed, they were talking about the council retreat held earlier this week. Giddily, he explained that he and his team ‘even’ invited the Financial Sustainability Task Force to attend. He couldn’t gush enough about the ad hoc group’s qualifications, dedication and all the hard work that brought their report to fruition.
Mauro said council creates policy, then works backward from that to decide how and what to do next, including garnering community input.
As the interview wrapped up, Mauro was reminded by his host that he was to mention the Transportation Benefit District (TBD). Dial up that interview from the archives if you want to hear the mother of all excuses for yet another taxing district.
This is from Local 20/20’s Transportation Lab July 10 newsletter:
Mauro quipped ’nobody wants more taxes. I don’t want more taxes. But…’ He went on to disingenuously posit that we can’t expect improved streets if we don’t expect to pay for them.
We have been, are now and will continue to pay for the maintenance of our streets, but they will not be maintained, because of past and current misallocation of funds. And those bright, $hiny objects on the horizon.
Past mis-allocation of funds. Seems like he has got it in for Timmons, now the scapegoat to cover for his own ambitions that will cost us dearly. Tonight at the Healthier Together pool open house sort of thing his coterie of loyalists presented two ways to raise $30 million for the “base” pool project: a PFD or a MPD, which includes taxing some county residents, those inside a boundary that has been arbitrarily drawn to include Marrowstone and Chimacum. Both are types of taxing thru sales, bed, gas, parking, admissions and property taxes that will only cost you a few cents per thousand.
The underlying threat is that if a simple majority does not vote yes, then PT will have no pool because the one we have is a pile of shit and costs too much to repair — the old boiler story don’t ya know, earth quakes, leaky roof (Mauro had the roof recovered and painted this year so if it is leaking he ought to ask for the company to fix it right).
Some of the 40 or so people present were believers — “build it and they will come” — a type of woke financial planning.
Having attended the 7/13 mtg, the most punctuating observation is that the presentation was laid out as this aquatic mecca is the only option to having no pool at all. Also, when they showed the slide of the benefits, there was a “Cons” heading at the bottom of the frame that was not presented. Hardly an objective presentation by this advisory committee if they haven’t explored and discussed the cons and addressed them to where they present them so they can be considered by the audience being presented.
As a retired Senior Project Manager for commercial general contractors, I do agree that patching the existing isn’t a prudent option. Even if the City gets a palatable bid, there will be an unpredictable number of change orders jumping the budget after committing to the project as this will inevitably uncover several concealed conditions that will need to be addressed. It’s just the nature of the beast regardless of whether or not the contractor is ethical.
What is not presented or discussed is a new single plunge 25yd mixed use pool with supporting lobby, lockers and improved parking (no sauna, no splash pool/lazy river, no gym, no multipurpose room, no therapy area). These can be added in modules to the base pool design plan as the citizenship wants to expend incrementally. I’ve done plenty of projects where the desired components get value engineered out of the approved project, but the design team still produces plans for the base project with design considerations of future hoped items being later built without substantial structural modifications being required on the existing construction.
The chants of “if you build it; they will come!” is cute to be sure. But a more pragmatic observation is that the youth do not socialize in person and communicate via their phones only. This a challenge that will not be solved by building them a pool to attract them out and create the desire for them to be the staffing such as the lifeguard shortage that an expansive aquatic center will create. A therapy area in conjunction with Jefferson Healthcare sounds great, but aren’t they unable to staff their existing facilities?
After hearing the vigor and hopes of the active users of the pool at this presentation, it certainly is warranted to address their needs which can readily be met with a single plunge. At least that would stand a chance of being palatable to the taxpayers to advance. I’m doubtful that the average taxpayers are just going to think, “eh, it’s only $240/yr more to fund this aquatic center”. Then what are these active users left with?
My greatest concern is do we have evidence that the City can manage the construction of and maintain this large of a project? I’ve not seen (not to say it’s not out there somewhere) a postmortem of the failed Cherry Street project and what the City has done to resolve whatever led to that failure. This aquatic center is magnitudes larger than rehabbing an apartment building.
Sysephean, I too attended the aquatic meeting on Thursday the 13th but left a bit early, as my sense of things gave it an 8% – 12% chance of receiving the ‘yes’ that their champions hoped to inveigle the voters into confirming. I wanted to ask bratty questions like, “well, when the water mains break will we all be able to shower at no charge then?” Or, “will you gild the potholes for the remaining residence of ultra rich who will be the last to afford this place that they might break their titanium axels in style?” But no, I listened, astonished that our precious tax dollars were being paid to this collection of slick salespeople for their studies and graphic renderings of something with so little chance of ever coming to be. But then, I did feel for the folks who dearly want to swim and enjoy aquatic exercise. During the Q & A it was revealed that the only entity eligible to manage the pool would be the YMCA. The way they comported themselves during an incident which could have easily been de-escalated and handled with grace is bound to repeat itself, which will inevitably turn many folks off. And the city’s finances are so thin, one lawsuit, which is easy to imagine with at least one of the scenarios they’re proposing (which I won’t mention because it would be messy), will result in the path of the Cherry Street debacle: monies for operating and maintenance will be unavailable, and it will have to close. That said, I genuinely hope that the well-meaning folks who just want a good place to swim will be able to travel/relocate to Sequim or Port Angeles so they can enjoy those facilities – which I hear are excellent..
I’m a Port Ludlow resident; and, I’m totally against this. If Port Townsend residents want this—then let them pay for it. The whole county shouldn’t be responsible for providing an aquatic center for the residents of Port Townsend. Port Ludlow has two aquatic centers for the residents that they pay for. Why should we pay for one in Port Townsend?
I continue to be impressed with the research put into PTFP articles and level of discourse in the comments. I always learn something. I’m looking forward to upcoming coverage of the golf course process. I’m already cringing.
Local governance is a thankless process. People only show up when they have something to complain about. Even the smallest decision can require hours of careful study to sift through the endless details to arrive at an informed opinion. Sometimes, it seems that the complexity of the systems that provide for our basic needs like water and an affordable place to live have gotten beyond our ability to manage. Hopefully, you can survive the process and participate in decisions that are worth the cringing.
“Action: City Council will receive the final recommendation on the future decision of the Envision the Port Townsend Golf Course and Mountain View Commons and be asked to make a decision.”
The above is the posted action item for the July 17 council meeting. I made a few calls to get help understanding what the council was voting on. Further, the mayor had to tell citizens that only comments on the golf course were pertinent.
The consultant presented two options reflecting directives from manager Mauro who also chose and managed the stakeholders. At no time was there mention of the Comprehensive Plan directives with its overarching visions to bring the historic and small town atmosphere and amenities into the future infrastructure needs of this little berg. The comp plan gives the basic foundation for council governance with specific elements — i.e transportation, land use and so on. It took years of public participation to create this document mandated by the State GMA. We were assured this effort would provide meaningful guidance for electeds; respect the values and provide essential continuity for future projects sized by the level of service standards (LOS) based on the State Management Budget data.
The golf course and Mt. View pool along with the elimination of Sims Way poplars to make way for more sidewalks have been the key focus of the city manager’s ambitions (and his salary) – and he is going to have it his way. The mayor was insistent – “golf is dead” and people want trails (currently just 400 miles of trails in this town) through the golf course to get to the library (why all the expensive carbon intensive sidewalks?). However, the process is bogus just like with the Mt. View Campus and aquatic center; they looked at the 1920 golf course deed only after the public brought it forward. They provide little data on current use and future needs; these projects rest on the magic “build it and they will come” with consequent loss of public assets and imposition of new taxing districts.
Public comments informed by historic and tacit knowledge were particularly pointed about the area where the consultant proposed housing – a steep, wooded, wild habitat with the spring that feeds the pond – a challenging and expensive building site (no mention of the Cherry street site). In fact, a fully formed, sensitive plan was presented by local resident Robert Horner, as professional as any of the consultant’s work, recognizing the 100 year legacy and well designed course, favored by golfers and viable for this small community. The consultant and the council refused to consider it as an option. The consultant avoided mention of the recommendation from the parks and trees committee not to build housing on the golf course. Engaged citizens, volunteers who do much of the research and gather input from the community are being ignored unless they forward Mauro’s agenda.
I see no need to attend council meetings; they are simply pro forma. The manager wants revenues and council seems to operate on sentiments and memes with lots of praise for each other and consultants – happy faces all round. But such ignorant planning will cost this community dearly.
The golf course will be another dog and pony show Ben. Managed by John Mauro and those he hires for unseen interests. He is the sole employee and tool of the City Council you sit on. The horse pulling the cart you and other council sit in.
A WC Fields quote seems appropriate, from Cherry Street to swimming pools to golf courses to inadequate police to no parking planning to mess tents to streets being managed back to 1890’s condition along with other infrastructure. One must not forget the bankrupt crown jewel Fort Worden, the campus stolen from all of the people of the State for special interests who seemingly follow the directive of Mr. Fields.
Fields advised “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.”
The city council is as corrupted and or incompetent as the last 2 tools they have employed as city manager and sent to Fort Worden to do damage control of a crime scene. Key council players who will keep “institutional continuity” like Faber and Howard will be reelected. Seems the bullshit tactic works. What will be the final destination?
Plenty of space here to inform your constituency exactly what makes John Mauro “almost perfect” and deserving of more and more money and perks. Plenty of time before each and every council meeting to put on the record any concerns you may have.
Or not.
Ben, the lack of accountability for city councilors and the city manager have had many of us cringing for some time. How David Faber and Libby Wennstrom are allowed to remain in their positions after their egregious conduct is revolting. How John Mauro not only still has a job but has received an increase in compensation after his incompetence is mind-boggling. That’s just accounting for the past year. We’re going to lose the treasure of the golf course and likely, once again, watch the prospect of an improved aquatic center go circling down the drain after hundreds of thousands of $$ spent on consultants and plans AGAIN, asking the same questions and going over the same ground as years past…
The city’s answer to deepening potholes, a rat-infested abandoned vanity project, increasing homelessness, complete lack of affordable housing, and finances falling off a cliff is to provide the city manager with a massive compensation package that rivals the governor’s, and to create a “communications and marketing manager” position. Yeah. Cringe.
My thanks to everyone who commented here on their experience with the golf course / Mountain View Commons project. It looks like the good citizens of Port Townsend defeated a Delphi Technique psych attack. Awesome!
When the term “Delphi Technique” is used to describe public meetings, it usually refers to a method for manipulating consensus involving professional facilitators who create opposing factions or choices, and then lead participants to a pre-determined outcome. It’s close to 100% effective on people who are not familiar with the technique and not effective at all when people are aware that they are being “delphied”. It’s also a useful tool for identifying potential troublemakers.
The good news – recognizing that you were “delphied” usually results in lifelong immunity to similar manipulations.
https://www.rollbacklocalgov.com/building-consensus-aka-youve-been-delphid/
Thank you for introducing me to this concept, MJ. I wish I had read about this a year ago.
It is interesting watching your ongoing education, Ben. Part is learning why your peers on Council never engage as you are here. They exist in glass houses made of glass cards. Sound bites without follow up questions their only protection.
Let’s deconstruct what has just been exposed here. You say, “I wish I had read about this (Delphi) a year ago.” This indicates that you recognize the technique has been used. Either Mauro or fellow council would be the ones using the Delphi technique by proxy through carefully selected and coached consultants. Or shepherds.
Your comment indicates some level of remorse at least in words for not dealing with that at some level. Correct me if I am wrong.
From the link MJ provided….. “In group settings, the Delphi Technique is an unethical method of achieving consensus on controversial topics”.
So, your employee John Mauro, City Manager has engaged in unethical conduct. I think others commenting here could add more and more specific times he has been what most would see as unethical. I would say since day one ignoring laws and codes regarding parking resulting in millions of dollars of losses and dividing community is and still is unethical.
He talks often of resiliency as he damages. Council is in awe of his abilities. 4 year olds are in awe of 8 year olds too.
So, you have an unethical employee in Mauro. That sticks to you and all council. Robison who was executive director of the FWPDA was fired by the city for ethics violations then given the job of FWPDA director. For ability or for controllability? We see where that led. Does having an ethically challenged City Manager serve the broader public or special interests and a special agenda? Ben?
It seems most here understand Mauro does not serve the public and work within the planning umbrella Julie describes. He is unethical, Ben. You have admitted as much here. By accident I am sure.
You can’t depose a dictator. How would you begin to replace Mauro with a traditional City Manager who simply does the will of the city council that is engaged with their constituents? I believe Faber would prevent his firing. As would Wennstrom, Howard, Rowe and others including you.
Far past time to enter the temple and overturn the tables, Ben. You can’t play both sides in a little town or be an unethical city manager or appointed mayor or corrupted council member without a fair number of people noticing.
You were in favor of Mauro’s raise and perks? You say you know now what is and has gone on. Just now waking up Ben?
Unethical corruption. Manifested many times for all to see. Dirty hands all around. Failure celebrated by the failures. Faber and Howard would be fired for Cherry Street in the real world to prevent more damage and loss. This is not the real world. It is Faberville starring Mauro as the unethical side kick. Or is that reversed? Cart and horse again.
And the band plays on. The manipulation waltz.
It seems like we need to consider leadership from our council and Mayor. There will be an opportunity in January for the council to rotate into a new Mayor. Some think this is an elected position. Instead it is an appointed position with the Council making the selection for the next two years. If you have a preference and want to weigh in, please contact your council members. All contact information is on the City web site.