By Dawn Masko, City Administrator, City of DuPont
1. Police Citizen’s Academy. The DuPont Police Department will be holding a Citizen’s Police Academy beginning on April 6th and is inviting all interested persons to register. The Academy will be held on Wednesday nights from 6:30 – 8:30 PM and will include a tour of our Public Safety facility, the 911 dispatch center, and a trip to the range. Among other topics, the classes will include a history of law enforcement, traffic enforcement, a review of department equipment, criminal investigations and scientific investigation techniques, identity theft, and general crime prevention information. This will be a great way to learn about how your police department operates and to ask questions. Applications are available online at www.ci.dupont.wa.us. Please contact Officer Mike Cummings at cummingsm@lesa.net with any questions regarding the Academy.
2. Town Hall Meeting
Ninth District Congressman Adam Smith is looking forward to holding his first Town Hall meeting of the year in DuPont on Saturday, March 19th at DuPont City Hall from 1:00 to 2:30 PM. Congressman Smith will meet with constituents to listen to concerns, answer questions, and discuss issues facing Congress, including the budget, military and veterans, healthcare and more. Space is limited so please RSVP if you are able to attend to (253) 593-6600 or (888) SMITH09 or by emailing rsvpsmith@mail.house.gov.
3. DuPont TRAX Mixed Use Project
The sale of the DuPont TRAX mixed use project was finalized on February 4th. DuPont TRAX is a mixed use project comprised of multi-story apartments, retail storefront, and an underground garage facility. The development group who purchased the property is now taking steps to gather the permits and approvals required to commence construction as soon as possible. A pre-construction meeting with City staff is expected to occur within a few weeks. The developer has also begun the process to engage a marketing consultant for a formal public press release and continued marketing of the project through completion. This will be the largest single component of the DuPont Station development to be constructed. We anticipate a significant increase in activity in the DuPont Station with the upcoming formal press release and ongoing marketing efforts.
4. Procurement Technical Assistance Center
The Procurement Technical Assistance Center, located at Bates Technical College’s downtown campus and funded by the Department of Defense, aims at helping small companies do business with federal, state, county and city governments. The Center helps explain the process to businesses and offers training to familiarize them with federal regulations, marketing tips, and bid-matching services. All services are free except for the bid-matching service, which is $135 per year. Contact Tom Westerlund at (253) 680-7054 for additional information on the Center’s services.
Other local contacts for subcontracting or smaller procurement opportunities are Pam Munoz, Joint Base Lewis-McChord at (253) 966-3505 or Pamela.m.munoz@us.army.mil or Lucy Leu, Bremerton at (360) 476-1985 or lucy.leu@navy.mil.
5. Upcoming Meetings – Week of February 14th – 18th
* Planning Agency Monday, February 14th at 7:00 PM
* City Council Workshop Tuesday, February 15th at 6:00 PM
1. Council Workshop Items – February 15th, 2011
* Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Presentation
* Facility Use Policy
* Memorial Recognition Policy
* Readerboard Sign Policy
* Volunteer Policy
2. Parks & Recreation
Please call (253) 912-5245 or go to the City’s website at www.ci.dupont.wa.us for registration information, questions on Parks & Recreation activities, or for volunteer opportunities.
* The Parks & Recreation Agency is pleased to announce the apointment of three new members to the Agency. The City Council confirmed the appointments of Luis Jimenez, Ruth Eggars and Roy Coffey at the February 8th Council meeting and thanked each of them for their willingness to step up and serve their community. Each of these new members bring a valuable vision for the City to the table and are welcome additions to the team. The next Parks & Recreation Agency meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 7th at 7:00 PM.
* The Youth Baseball registration deadline has been extended to Friday, February 18th. To date we have approximately 70 participants between the ages of 4 and 8 registered. Families with children who are 9 and older are encouraged to register through the DuPont Steilacoom Youth Association at www.dsya.org.
* Don’t forget to support Youth Basketball on Friday, February 25th for Bingo Night. We have extended the invitation to include all ages. Bring the entire family to the Community Center at 7:00 PM for Bingo, fun and unlimted laughts – as well as great prizes. Tickets are available at City Hall located at 1700 Civic Drive and are $10 for two cards and $20 for four cards. Pizza and drinks will be available for a modest price.
* On your mark! Get set! Register! Spring track registration begin March 1st. The City of DuPont is again partnering with All Sports to offer a spring track program from April thru June. Please check the City website for registration information after March 1st.
* Registration is now open for Challenger Sports Spring Break Soccer Camp. This camp will occur April 4th thru 8th at DuPont PowderWorks Park and is open for ages 6 thru 12. The cost is $116. Registration forms are available online at www.ci.dupont.wa.us.
* The spring yoga sessions are getting ready to begin. Registration forms and additional information is available on the City’s website.
3. Tourism Board News
The City of DuPont’s Tourism Board is pleased to announce that the 2011 Shamrock Walk will be featured on the Travel Tacoma website at www.traveltacoma.com. The Tacoma-Pierce County Visitor’s Convention Bureau (TRCVB) will graciously promote our event on their home page starting today through the March 12th event. Thank you to the TRCVB for their promotion of DuPont!
4. DuPont Historical Society Lecture Series
The DuPont Historical Society is kicking off their 2011 Lecture Series on Sunday, February 20th at 2:00 PM with “Arrowheads, Dart Points and Knives, Oh My! Stone Technology of South Puget Sound”. The archaeological record of southern Puget Sound displays a rich and varied history of stone tool types and technologies. Scott Williams, Cultural Resources Program Manager at the WA State Department of Transportation will discuss these technologies and some of the unique characteristics of the artifact types in a slideshow and hands-on artifact display. The lecture will be held at the DuPont Presbyterian Church located at 502 Barksdale Avenue in the Historic Village.
5. State Archaeological Excavation Permit
The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation issued an archaeological excavation permit to DuPont Industrial Partners, LLC on February 7th. The City had requested several conditions be placed on the permit, including public education, signage and on-site security. Most of these conditions were not granted by the State with the exception of restoration of impacted trails and safety protocols for arsenic exposure. The document is available on the City’s website.
6. Pierce County Unified Sewer Plan Update
The Pierce County Sewer Basin Review Committee (BRC) has been meeting to review the update to the County’s Unified Sewer Plan. The updated plan will include revisions and/or additions to reflect changes to Pierce County Sewer service areas (such as the Historic Village), boundary revisions, and plans for future infrastructure improvements to support economic development and growth. The BRC is a joint committee comprised of representatives from cities, towns, municipal corporations, and private sewer and water utilities within Pierce County. The BRC has until March 31st, 2011 to complete the joint review process and to provide recommendations to the Pierce County Planning Commission, Pierce County Council, and the Pierce County Executive relating to adoption of the updated Unified Sewer Plan. DuPont Public Works Director Peter Zahn serves on the BRC representing small cities and towns.
7. Historic Hose Cart Building Restoration Project
In the 1920’s the DuPont Powder Works Company purchased 4 hand-drawn hose carts and built 4 buildings to house the hose carts. These hose carts and equipment were used to protect the Historic Village from fire until 1964. Through the passage of time only one hose cart and building remain and they are in poor condition. The DuPont Fire Department, in cooperation with the DuPont Historical Society, has taken up the challenge of preserving and restoring these two pieces of history. The Historical Society has provided funds to purchase materials for the restoration project and Fire personnel committed to provide all labor. The hose cart is currently being repaired and sand-blasted to remove all rust and deterioration and will then be powder-coated to restore its early century look. The hose cart building will have its post and beam foundation rebuilt and will then be moved to its new home next to the Fire Department. It is planned to have both pieces of DuPont history complete and ready for public viewing by June.
8. Radar Trailer
The Police Department has taken delivery of a new radar trailer that will display the speed of passing vehicles and will also produce a written report of the speeds. You may have seen the trailer already as the department has been using it in the Hoffman Hill area, on McNeil, and by Pioneer Middle School. If you suspect you have a speeding problem on your street, please contact Chief Ron Goodpaster at goodpasterr@lesa.net so the department can bring the trailer to your neighborhood.
9. Dog Waste Stations
Responsible pet ownership begins with you. Please do your part – pick up after your pet. It is estimated that there are over 62 million dogs living in the United States, producing up to 17,000 tons of pet waste per day. It is up to pet owners to help control and remove this waste. The City currently has over 20 dogi-pot stations spread out in the City parks and trail system. Providing these dogi-pot stations is one practical means that the City uses to help pet owners assume their responsibility for controlling dog waste and pollution. We would like to remind pet owners to use them, and to only use what you need. Here’s why:
* Because it’s the responsible thing to do;
* Because it’s the law; owners must pick up after their pets;
* Because dog waste has been identified in the region as a potential contributor to degradation of water quality;
* Because unpicked dog waste can potentially transmit disease to children and other pets, and is simply not pleasant.
Please help City maintenance staff and your community by utilizing the dogi-pot stations and receptacles properly.
10. Shoreline Master Program
The DuPont Planning Agency began review of the Draft DuPont Shoreline Master Program policies and regulations at their February 7th special meeting and will continue review of the draft document at their regular meeting on February 14th at 7:00 PM.
11. JBLM Late Night Training Exercises
Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) will be conducting late night firing throughout February as part of their normally scheduled and required training, which allows military members to practice and improve skills required during combat. Increased levels of activity will be noticed during the evening hours and firing will be conducted from numerous firing points on base. As often as possible, JBLM conducts larger scale demolition training and artillery firing at JBLM Yakima Training Center in an effort to minimize inconvenience for the surrounding communities. However, some training must take place on base. Scheduled dates for late night firing are February 15th – 17th and February 23rd – 24th. Queries or comments about noise may be directed to the JBLM Public Affairs Office’s External Communication hot line at (253) 967-0852.
12. Catch Basin Vactoring
The City’s contractor is poised to begin catch basin vactoring next week within the Historic Village, Palisade Village, Edmond Village, and DuPont Station areas. This work is part of our ongoing stormwater system maintenance activities. Cleaning and vactoring of catch basins is performed on a cyclical basis to limit the buildup of dirt and sediment in the catch basins and helps to avoid the potential for more intensive maintenance or repairs to downstream piping of the system. This work will be completed over the next two months and will cover approximately one-third of our storm system. Information on starting locations and work progress schedules will be available soon.
In advance of the work commencing, the City is asking for your help. Your help begins with knowing where stormwater catch basins are in your area. If you live or park on the street in one of these areas, please avoid parking on, adjacent to, or within 8 feet of catch basins when your area is scheduled to be vactored. Leaving this area in front of the catch basins clear will ensure that the contractor has clear access to clean the basin and help facilitate timely completion of the work. We appreciate your assistance.
13. “Celebrate Community – Honoring Our Hometown Heroes” Event
Pierce County Parks and Recreation invites families to attend an action-packed day of fun at Sprinker Recreation Center on Saturday, February 12th for the Third Annual “Celebrate Community – Honoring Our Hometown Heroes” event. For a $5 admission, enjoy a full day of activities from 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Choose from two public skating sessions, an on-ice hockey puck shoot, and exercise classes including Zumba, Pilates, karate, Walk Live, and belly dancing. Visit vendor booths in the mezzanine or have the kids enjoy the Sprinker playroom. The celebration concludes with a tribute to the Armed Forces, performed by the Lakewood Winter Club ice skaters at 6:30 PM.
14. Pierce County Advisory Board Openings
* Development Disabilities Advisory Board – Pierce County is seeking individuals to serve on the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board. The Board assists and advises the County on services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Advisory board membership is open to individuals residing in Pierce County who have in an interest in developmental disability issues. Contact Erin McDonough, Community Connections at (253) 798-6109 or emcdono@co.pierce.wa.us for additional information.
* Surface Water Management Advisory Board – Pierce County is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on the nine-member Surface Water Management Advisory Board. Board members will be involved in such issues as storm drainage and surface water management, water quality, storm drainage plans, rate structures, capital improvement projects, financing and annual program goals for the Water Programs Division of Public Works and Utilities.
The mission of the Surface Water Management (SWM) is to be a responsive service organization that efficiently addresses flood control, water quality and the preservation of natural drainage systems. Meetings are held monthly. Advisory board members will be selected to represent each of the watersheds, and preference will be given to candidates living in unincorporated Pierce County. SWM will maintain a roster of applications to fill current and future vacancies on the board. These positions will not be compensated. The application can be obtained by calling (253) 798-2725 or downloading from www.piercecountywa.org/swab. Completed applications should be submitted to Harold Smelt, SWM Manager at Pierce County Water Programs, 2702 So. 42nd Street, #201, Tacoma, WA 98409.
15. “Be the Spark” Event
On May 13, 2011, the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation is bringing Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the “world’s ambassador for peace” Desmond Tutu to the Tacoma Dome for his final U.S. public appearance. The Community Foundation, in conjunction with Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, and other sponsors, is hosting this historic event as a way to inspire and unite the community around issues of hope, peace and optimism. Other distinguished participants include Craig Kielburger, Canadian founder of “Free the Children”, a youth-driven charity; Pete Carroll, Seahawks football coach, author, and co-founder of the anti-gang initiative, “A Better LA”; and William Gates, Sr., philanthropist, author, civic leader, and honorary co-chair of the World Justice Project. Tickets for the “Be the Spark” Tacoma Dome event go on sale today. Additional information is available at Be the Spark event.
16. 4th of July / Operation We Love Our Military – Planning Committee
Volunteers to serve on the planning committee for the community wide 4th of July/Operation We Love Our Military event are needed. Please contact Gina Irvin at irvjam@msn.com to sign up.