1. July 4 Celebration – On behalf of the City of DuPont, thank you to all of the volunteers, sponsors and supporters who helped make our July 4th celebration a success. It is estimated that approximately 2,500 residents attended this year’s event and enjoyed the fun-filled day of sunshine, music from British Export, and many activities, including a parade, games, BBQ and fireworks.
Celebrations such as this one could not exist without our community partners. Special thanks to Northwest Landing Owners Association for sponsoring the festivities and the Northwest Landing Commercial Owners Association for sponsoring the fireworks. Thank you also to CalPortland who continues to support this annual event as well. Many thanks also to the City of DuPont and the many volunteers for their contributions, to the DuPont Lions for powering the “Red, White and Blue Alley”, and to the Forever Young Seniors for lovingly preparing the pancake breakfast. A special thank you also goes out to Patriots Landing for hosting the fantastic fireworks display again this year. This has become a great addition to our already award-winning event!
Heartfelt thanks are also due to our July 4th Committee members. These dedicated volunteers work tireless to help make the celebration memorable for many families. July 4th Committee members include: Roy Coffey, Larry Ackerman, Larry Wilcox, Linda Cumberbatch, Emily Griffith, Carol Estep, Patty Moore, Jack Curtis, Amy Walker and Gidgette Chelsey. Thanks a million! We couldn’t have done it without you!
If you see of these volunteers or sponsors, be sure to thank them for a job well done!
2. DuPont 2013 Population
The Washington State Office of Financial Management has released the 2013 population estimates on July 1st for Washington cities and counties. The official 2013 population figure for DuPont is 8,855, which is an increase of 215 persons from the 2012 population figure of 8,640. DuPont is the 10th largest city in Pierce County and the 88th largest city in the State. Population information is used in the allocation of certain state revenues, growth management and other planning functions.
3. National Night Out Block Parties
This year’s date for National Night Out 2013 is Tuesday, August 6th. It is not too late to start planning your neighborhood block party. Plan an afternoon or evening party with family, friends and neighbors and the DuPont Police and Fire Departments will make every effort to attend. This is a great opportunity to get better acquainted with your neighbors, as well as get to know your police officers and firefighters and get your public safety questions answered. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and public safety-community partnerships. To get more information or arrange a time for us to arrive at your event, please contact Claire Keller-Scholz at (253) 964-8414 and join America’s Night Out Against Crime!
4. Upcoming Meetings – Week of July 8th – 12th
- Planning Agency Meeting
Monday, July 8th at 7:00 PM - City Council Meeting
Tuesday, July 9th at 7:00 PM - Tourism Board Meeting
Wednesday, July 10th at 9:30 AM
5. Council Agenda Items – July 9th, 2013
- Presentation: Sequalitchew Creek/Edmond Marsh Restoration Plan Update
- Appointment: Tourism Board
- Consent Agenda Items: Claims Vouchers; Urban Forestry Contract; Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) Grant Engineering Services Contract
- Discussion: Fire Services Options
- New Business: Ordinances Adopting Model Fire Code and Model Building and Construction Codes – 1st Reading
* Council Agenda Packet is available on the City’s website.
6. Well City Award
The City of DuPont recently earned a Well City Award from the Association of Washington Cities (AWC), one of 84 cities receiving the award. The award is based on meeting stringent best practice standards in employee health promotion. This is DuPont’s third year to earn this award. Award recipients receive a 2% premium discount on their Regence medical coverage for employees and spouses in 2014. At current premium rates, that translates to approximately $11,000 savings to the City. Thank you to Wellness Coordinator Bernadette Moreland and the Wellness Committee for actively implementing the program to help support healthy lifestyles for City employees!
7. AmeriCorps Vista Volunteer Position Opening
The DuPont Fire Department has received notification that is has been awarded an AmeriCorps grant for another year. This grant will provide a person to work in the area of disaster preparedness in DuPont, coordinate with our regional partners, and act as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordinator for the City. The position starts September 1, 2013 and runs through July 15, 2014. The CERT Coordinator will work 40 hours per week and receive a monthly stipend, in addition to basic AmeriCorps health benefits and an Education Award for a successfully completed term of service. We are very excited to be awarded a grant for this position as it will allow the Fire Department to better prepare the citizens of DuPont, our schools, and our businesses to be ready for disaster situations that may arise. The current AmeriCorps member working at the Fire Department, Claire Keller-Scholz, will finish her term on July 31, 2013.
The City is now recruiting and accepting applications for this full-time position. The position duties, benefits, terms, service areas, and required skills can be found at DuPont Vista Volunteer. For more information please contact Human Resources Manager Bernadette Moreland at (253) 912-5212 orbmoreland@dupontwa.gov.
8. Community Development Update
- CalPortland North Parcel Mining – On June 24, 2013, DuPont issued the final environmental impact statement, public hearing notice, and staff report and related exhibits for the CalPortland North Parcel Mining project. A public hearing will occur on July 25th and July 26th. All materials are posted on the City’s website.
- DuPont General Store – On July 1, 2013, DuPont approved the tenant improvement building permit for the DuPont General Store at 1495 Wilmington Drive, Suite 160.
9. Fire Danger During Hot, Dry Weather
It has been a cool, wet spring but we are now finally entering the summer season. Soon the green spaces and forested areas will dry out and the fire danger will move to a high level. We would like to remind residents that burning is not allowed on public property. This includes the trails and beaches along Puget Sound, where the danger of fire burning up the banks and into the residential areas is high during the summer months. Please use extra caution and help us keep DuPont safe!
10. City Seeking EMS Volunteers
DuPont is currently accepting applications for motivated and career-minded EMS volunteers. The City of DuPont Fire Department is looking for volunteer EMS Reserves to help staff the Aid Car, assisting with patient care and transport. The reserves will be EMT’s who will supplement our career staff and help enable the fire engine to stay in DuPont and staffed during transport situations. Currently there are fewer private ambulance transport units available to the citizens in DuPont due to growing demand in other areas of the county which absorbs the use of Rural Metro and AMR.
DuPont Fire is looking for Washington State certified EMT’s who will work a minimum of three 12 or 24 hour shifts per month. Reserve EMT’s are volunteers who will be supplied with uniforms. A small stipend is available. They will not participate in suppression activities due to the high cost of uniforms, equipment and training. For more information, please contact the Fire Station at (253) 964-8414.
11. 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. Want to know more? Like us on Facebook at “City of DuPont Parks, Recreation & Tourism”.
- Parks & Recreation Newsletter – Want to know about upcoming events and programs hosted by the City of DuPont Parks & Recreation? Join our email distribution list! We are committed to the highest level of communication with upcoming programs. Don’t miss another registration deadline. To join, simply text DUPONTREC to 22828. Watch for email updates in your inbox every Monday.
- Summer Camp Info – Be sure to check out our summer camp programs for all ages atwww.dupontwa.gov. Camps include baseball, volleyball, art, karate, golf and several others. Camps are strategically scheduled to occur throughout the summer. There is a special summer camp information table set up at City Hall with registration information available. We hope your kids can join the fun!
- Youth Soccer – Registration for the Youth Soccer program for ages 4 – 8 ends on July 19th. The season will run from August 5th – November 9th with games on Saturdays. The cost for ages 4-6 is $55 for DuPont residents and $65 for non-residents and ages 7-8 is $80 for DuPont residents and $90 for non-residents. Registration forms are available online.
Visit our website for information on other programs and events including Karate, Yoga, Track, Kidz Love Soccer, Dance4Life, and more!
12. Request for Proposal
The City of DuPont is requesting proposals for a grant-funded street tree planting pilot project to develop and test a grass-roots process or framework for a City/resident partnership towards replanting street trees where necessary throughout the City. Additional information can be found on the City’s website. Proposals must be received by 4:00 PM Tuesday, July 17, 2013.
13. Steilacoom Farmers’ Market & Concert Series
The Steilacoom Farmers’ Market is officially open and will run each Wednesday through August 28th. The market is open from 3:00 – 7:00 PM and runs in conjunction with the Steilacoom Concerts in the Park which start at 6:30 PM each Wednesday. Fresh produce, flowers, cheese, baked goods (including gluten-free) and a variety of specialty foods and crafts will be offered. For weekly “fresh finds at the market” updates please follow the market on Facebook or join the mailing list at www.steilacoomfarmersmarket.
The next concert of the series will be on Wednesday, July 10th and will feature the Abbey Road Live (Beatles Review). The concerts are held at Pioneer Park, 1700 Commercial Street. In the event of inclement weather the alternate location is the Steilacoom Community Center, 2301 Worthington Street. No alcoholic beverages are allowed. The series is sponsored by the Town of Steilacoom and the MTC Group. For more concert information please call (253) 581-1076.
14. Low Tides Will Impact Ferry Service
Low tide could affect large vehicles planning to ride the Pierce County ferry to Anderson Island, Ketron Island or Steilacoom between July 2nd – 11th. Load restrictions will be in place for large vehicles (RVs, commercial trucks and trailers) on certain morning and early afternoon sailings. Riders with large vehicles are encouraged to consult the time chart online and alter their travel schedule if possible. Ferry staff and crew will work to accommodate all travelers with as little inconvenience as possible. More information, including the sailing schedule and impacted times, is available at www.piercecountywa.org/ferry or by contacting Marine Superintendent Paul Crow at (253) 588-5290.
15. August 6th Primary Election
If you have questions about the upcoming primary election, you’re not alone. Tuesday, August 6th is Primary Election Day. On July 15th every household will be mailed a Pierce County Official Local Voters’ Pamphlet. On July 19th the Auditor will mail a primary ballot to all registered voters. (Military and overseas voters were mailed on June 21st.) The pamphlet and the ballot always prompt questions. Answers to many of the top questions and additional information on Pierce County elections can be found on the Pierce County Auditor’s webpage.
Is it too late to register to vote? It is not too late to register to vote in the primary election on August 6th; however, you must register online by July 8th. You can also change your address online.
New voters have until July 29, 2013 to register. If you are a new voter in Washington (just turned 18, recently moved to the area, or have never registered before), you can register in person through July 29th. You have to register in person at the Pierce County Elections Center located at 2501 South 35th Street in Tacoma.
The deadline to register or change your address online or by mail for the general election is October 7, 2013. New voters can register in person for the general election through October 28th. But don’t wait until the last minute. Avoid the long lines and register online now.