Su guid mme e enc r Fu lose n d
Community Connection
Issue 63 City of Sumner Newsletter Summer 2010
Traffic, Fryar & Main Get Major Upgrade Just when the joys of road work summer begin, Ahead so Expect Delays does the pain of road work. Sumner is in for some fairly major work this summer at the Traffic, Main & Fryar intersection. However, the results are going to greatly improve the intersection. Starting late in spring, construction is expected to last four to five months. The contractor will be required to keep access open through the intersection during the day, but you may expect some delays. Will it be worth it? Of course! The intersection will go from an efficiency rating of D to an expected rating of B. In other words, you’ll get through the light a lot faster and easier. West Main will become a right-
in, right-out only that is not on the light signal. That will greatly reduce the time spent sitting at the light. It will also reduce the confusion caused by the current two-light situation. Fryar will change from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction plus a center turn lane and bike lanes. Although it may seem backward to remove a lane, getting vehicles turning left out of the line of traffic will greatly increase
City Welcomes Supler to New Role
Sumner congratulates Diane Supler, a familiar face in a new role of city administrator. You’ve known her as the City’s deputy city administrator for four years and as the interim city administrator since January. Now, Diane Supler is your new city administrator. Mayor Dave Enslow brought her new contract forward to the City Council, who approved it on May 3. Mayor Enslow commented that after talking to a lot of people during the interim period, he found that Sumner did not need someone from “outside” to lead the city next but preferred someone who had already been part of the City family. Sumner is a strongmayor form of government in which the city administrator serves as the city’s chief operating officer, managing daily operations under the supervision of
the mayor. As Sumner’s deputy city administrator, Supler led the work in finance, human resources, fleet, parks and facilities. She has been instrumental in Sumner’s five-year financial planning, biennial budget, economic response, and negotiations with the Cascade Water Alliance for water supplies. Before Sumner, Supler served as Tacoma’s director of the office of management, budget and analysis; Auburn’s finance director; chief financial officer for the Pierce County Housing Authority; and audit manager for the State Auditor’s Office. She grew up in Tacoma and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University. She and her husband Steve have been long-term residents of the Lake Tapps area.
safety while the new sidewalks and bike lanes give non-motorized transportation a much safer route. Although road work means things like delays and noise, it also means a much better, safer intersection for years to come. Go to www.ci.sumner. wa.us for more details and to sign up for weekly e-updates on the project.
Doing Business During Construction Although you may experience traffic delays, all your favorite businesses on Traffic, Fryar, Main and Bridge St. are open and ready to greet you. Please continue to give them your business during the road work. Businesses Open & Accessible AM/PM Gas Station Beyond the Bridge Café Captain Jack’s Castle Perk Espresso Edlund Dental Group Infinity Coach Johnson Barlow & Coventry, CPAs K&D Auto Werks Kaleena’s Coffee McLendon Hardware W. Brent Nash, DDS, PLLC Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse Pacific Pride/Snider Petroleum Parametrix Riverside Tavern Sessler, Inc. Sumner Collision Center Sumner Pierce County Library Sumner Post Office Sunset Chevrolet Ronald J. Tracy, DDS, FAGD, PS Washington Marble Works
Sumner Explores Future of a YMCA with a UGA About 50% of Sumner citizens would like a YMCA in Sumner. The YMCA has committed to building a facility to open here in 2013. They are halfway to their fundraising goal of $10 million and also have land donated for the facility. So, what’s the second set of letters--a UGA? The land donated is just off 160th south of Highway 410, in an area being called Orton Junction. It is outside of Sumner’s Urban Growth Area, or UGA, as set by Pierce County. To put
Sumner’s YMCA on that land, the City needs to ask the County for an amendment to the UGA. The process is not easy with good reason. It is the UGA that defines where growth occurs and where land should remain rural. The City of Sumner has to present to Pierce County why it thinks this is a place to make an exception. Part of that involves the fact that the City is proposing “swapping” land--taking what is already fairly rural, See UGA continued on page 2
You’re a Grand--New--Flag!
Thank you to the many Sumner citizens and councilmembers who felt so strongly that Sumner needed a city flag that they donated their own money. The final design, shown above, incorporates the heritage of the daffodils, the rhubarb and agriculture in general that built this city. The flag’s debut will be at the Washington Cities conference.
2
Sumner Community Connection
UGA
Mayor Column In summer you hear the words freedom and democracy a lot. I’d like to pause a moment from the fireworks and celebrations to think about what these words ask of me and you. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence….” “…[O]f the people, by the people, and for the people.…” “...[A]sk not what your country can do for you - ask
what you can do for your country.” We say these quotes all the time, but they hand us quite a challenge. We are the government! That sounds really good until you realize the incredible work that takes. It means understanding the issues, forming opinions and having the guts to share those opinions while knowing that someone won’t agree. No doubt, it was hard for the colonists to start the Revolution, but I think it was even harder after the
war for the leaders to start a whole new government, one where every citizen took responsibility and couldn’t blame all their problems on a king across an ocean. This summer, I’d like to celebrate George Washington and Thomas Jefferson but also the council, commissioners, and citizens of Sumner who take the time and energy to engage in democracy. Sumner’s lovable smalltown feel doesn’t come from buildings or parks or even hanging baskets: it comes from the fact that people in Sumner still care to shape this town rather than be shaped by it. And I challenge you to truly celebrate your own liberty. Meet a new neighbor, get involved in an event, attend a City meeting, ask questions, argue your viewpoint. Just make sure you’re exercising your freedom so that it remains in good shape for many years to come!
Mayor Enslow was honored to serve as a crossing guard one morning to promote Safe Routes to Schools. By serving as guards, these two students are already participating in their community.
Council Column To keep with the current rage, I thought I’d devote my space to Rhubarb. Then I realized that the only thing I know is that I LIKE it, which doesn’t take 300 words. So, let’s talk about regional edicts with which Sumner and communities have to comply. The School District is finding it increasingly difficult to absorb the swimming pool’s annual financial loss when it’s a small part of the curriculum. I met with District personnel recently and asked why they don’t use it more. The answer: state mandates. As the state drives its education agenda, demanding more instructional time, we’re left with fewer choices. The District is trying hard to keep the pool afloat (was that a pun?) but because of state mandates can no longer offer the swimming programs from which our kids used to benefit. That’s unfortunate, but I understand the District’s dilemma, given my experience with requirements the state’s Growth Management Act places on Sumner via the Puget Sound and Pierce County regional councils. For example, we’ll likely be required to plan that 25% of new housing stock be “affordable.” This is the classic case of legislation designed for “passage” rather than “implementation.” How do you mandate affordability?? City of Sumner By struggling to comply with others’ agendas, we inevitably 1104 Maple Street, impact the complexion of our community. Sumner, WA 98390 Another example is the bias toward transit and away from 253-863-8300 autos in transportation funding outlined in “Vision 2040.” 253-863-2850 FAX What’s good for King County is apparently good for the region. Road construction is certain to lag far behind need MAYOR as the result. 299-5790 It all adds up to a substantial threat to our ability to deter- Dave Enslow mine our destiny. Be careful who you vote for in state and CITY COUNCIL regional elections; they have an increasingly direct impact Steve Allsop 299-5793 on “good ol’ Sumner.” Curt Brown 299-5796 Councilmember Steve Allsop Cindi Hochstatter 299-5795 Randy Hynek 299-5792 sallsop@ci.sumner.wa.us Ed Hannus Leroy Goff Matt Richardson
299-5791 299-5797 299-5794
CITY OFFICES Administration Cemetery Finance/utilities Golf course Inspection line Recreation Permit Center Police (non-emergency) Senior Center
A typical scene of “good ol’ Sumner” in the summertime.
Summer 2010
299-5500 299-5510 863-8300 863-8198 299-5530 891-6500 299-5530 863-6384 863-2910
MUNICIPAL COURT Timothy A. Jenkins 863-7635 Judge, Court Offices Cathy Pashon, 299-5621 Court Administrator
continued from page 1 residential land up the East Hill toward Lake Tapps out of the existing UGA in exchange for adding the Orton Junction area to the UGA. However, this is a long process that hopefully involves you sharing your view. Here’s what’s coming up. •
Late July: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is released.
•
August-Sept: Please read the EIS and share your comments on it.
•
Mid-August: The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the project.
•
December: The Council will likely decide on whether or not it wants to ask Pierce County for a UGA amendment.
If the City Council decides to make the ask, then it’s up to the County Council to determine whether or not they agree with the proposal. If the County approves the amendment, then it would go to the neighbors in that area to see if they want to annex into the City of Sumner. It’s a long, complicated process, but many in town have expressed their thoughts that it’s worth it to get a YMCA in the place where the land is being donated. Please share your opinion as well, and together, Sumner will see what happens for a UGA and a YMCA. Details about the project are online at http://www. ci.sumner.wa.us/Living/ Long_planning_Orton.htm
CITY STAFF Diane Supler City Administrator
299-5502
Terri Berry City Clerk
299-5500
John Galle Police Chief
299-5644
Carmen Palmer 299-5503 Communications Director Bill Pugh 299-5701 Public Works Director Paul Rogerson 299-5521 Community Development Dir. Brett Vinson City Attorney
299-5610
Beth Anne Wroe 299-5541 Financial Operations Director EAST PIERCE FIRE & RESCUE Main Number 863-1800 Jerry Thorson Fire Chief
863-5451
Summer 2010
Sumner Community Connection
3
ASK DR. SUMNER: What’s the difference between my sewer and stormwater? Other than the fact that you use both each day, there’s a huge difference! Your appliances, sinks, tubs, showers and toilets all flow into the sewer system. They go to our wastewater treatment plant where a number of high-tech processes neutralize the waste before it goes into the river. The storm system is the drains you see along curbs. These drains flow right into the river without passing through the wastewater treatment plant. If you pour left-over oil or paint into the drain, you are simply pouring it right into the Puyallup River and Puget Sound, doing as much damage as the major oil spills you see on TV.
What else could you be doing that sends pollution to the river through the stormwater system? If you have a dog and leave his or her waste laying in your yard, rainwater washes elements of it right into the stormdrain (= river). If you get zealous with the chemical fertilizers in your garden, the next rainfall will
carry those chemicals right into the stormwater drain (= river). If you wash your car on pavement (like your driveway), all the grease and oil you wash off plus the soap goes right into the storm drain. In fact, after large carwash events, we’ve seen the suds in the Puyallup! Not good.
How can you help? • Clean up dog waste right away. • Use commercial car washes that filter water or wash your car on lawn or gravel. • Use as little fertilizer as possible or choose organic choices such as Bonney Good Sumner Grow.
Your sewer (blue line) gets treated, but stormwater flows from the drain straight to the river.
How You Helped Rocky Find a Forever Family
Use Water Sense
“My husband and I adopted a sweet little dog from the shelter (Rocky) at the beginning of April and we just wanted to send a little update to say how much we love him. When we adopted Rocky you had told us he was dropped off by his previous owner because he wasn’t pottytrained, but with a lot of love and attention he is doing just fine! Thanks for all you do for homeless animals!” If you contribute to Metro Animal Shelter by donating or simply by licensing your own pets, you help hundreds of pets--including Rocky--find happy new homes. Thank you to Petco for a $500 gift and to Sherwood Forest Elementary in Federal Way, whose students saved pennies to donate $500 to Metro Animal Services!
Help more dogs like Rocky at www.MetroAnimalServices.org Rocky in his new home.
Shelter: 253-841-5595
Licenses: 253-299-PETS
City Council Action March-May 2010 Authorized Mayor to execute a contract with Robinson and Noble for Phase II Environmental Assessment at the Fleischmann Site Adopted findings of fact to support and renew Ordinance 2286, interim development regulations defining private offstreet parking lots Authorized Mayor to execute professional services agreement with ICF International, Inc. for preparation of an EIS for 2010 Comprehensive Plan update Authorized Mayor to execute Consultant Contract Amendment #3 with Parametrix, Inc. for design of Fryar/Main Street Intersection Authorized Mayor to sign a professional services agreement with Transpo for transportation analysis for 2010 Comprehensive Plan Update EIS Approved firework stand permits Adopted Ordinance 2317 updating surplus property procedure Authorized Mayor to enter into a contract with Robinson Noble Saltbush, Inc. for
hydrogeologic services in support of drilling a well at the Fleischmann Site Accepted completion of Safe Routes to School Sidewalk Improvement Project Accepted completion of Seibenthaler Pump Station No. 6 Improvements Phase I project Adopted Ordinance 2318 vacating portion of 136th Ave E, 30th St E and 24th St E Adopted Resolution 1293 authorizing Mayor to execute a development agreement with Ronary LLC Amended professional services contract for Fleischmann’s Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Adopted Ordinance 2320 establishing code regarding lewd acts and conduct Adopted Ordinance 2321 amending environmental code Adopted Resolution 1294 authorizing purchase of surplus property from WSDOT for stormwater purposes Adopted Ordinance 2322 establishing graduated penalties for violation of parking regulations
Adopt Resolution 1295 declaring property as surplus Confirm Mayoral reappointments of Doug Henken and Jeanne Walter to Design Commission; Barbara Skinner to Parks Board; Earle Stuard to Planning Commission; William Dugger, Bob Moltke and Margo Stewart to Forestry Commission
The average American home uses 260 gallons of water per day. When it’s hot, the average household can use 1,000 to even 3,000 gallons of water in just one day. That’s equivalent to leaving the garden hose running for nearly eight hours. Keep Sumner green by turning off the taps! •
Water landscapes only when needed in early morning or late evening.
•
Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes, and scrape dishes off instead of rinsing when loading the dishwasher.
•
Adopted Ordinance 2325 creating a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
For a summer refreshment, keep a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until it’s cold.
•
Adopted Ordinance 2326 ratifying County-wide Planning Policies Amendments regarding affordable housing
Put your favorite handy person to work fixing leaks around the home.
•
Consider a shower instead of a bath. A full bathtub can be 70 gallons of water while a five-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons.
Adopted Ordinance 2323 amending code regarding fireworks Adopted Ordinance 2324 amending code regarding animals
Adopted Ordinance 2319 amending the zoning code to implement a Manufacturing/ Industrial Center designation Adopted Resolution 1296 authorizing Mayor to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Pierce County to fund the Army Corps investigation for the Puyallup River Basin
The City of Sumner is proudly becoming a WaterSense partner. More info at www.epa.gov/watersense/
4
Sumner Community Connection
Summer 2010
Remembering When Animals Are Wild
SAFETY SALLY SAYS: Beware of Scareware
They’re sometimes cute and look as cuddly as a stuffed animal; however, wild animals are not something you want to cuddle...or coddle. Sumner neighborhoods have seen an increase in populations of wild geese, rabbits, and rats. There’s also skunks, possums and even feral cats. These animals leave harmful deposits in yards and on sidewalks, and they may bite or scratch you or your pets. While sharing the land with wild critters may be a fact of life, make sure you’re not giving too much hospitality to these visitors. • Definitely do not feed any wild animals except for songbirds. That includes geese in stormwater ponds where their excrement is becoming quite a nasty problem. • Do not leave your own pet’s food out where a wild critter can help himself. • Don’t try to trap or approach or pet wild animals.
A lot of computer viruses give you red flags that they’re fishy. Scareware, however, is frighteningly realistic. Scareware can pop up when you’re on the Web, even on mainstream pages. It looks like a security alert and asks if you want to fix detected viruses. The problem is that by clicking on the button to “fix,” you actually launch the virus. What can you do? If you get an alert, take a deep breath and avoid quick reactions. Know your antivirus software. If the alert doesn’t use your anti-virus software name, it’s likely scareware. In fact, the window with the alert will have a Web address in the header if it’s scareware. If it’s legitimate, the window will have your anti-virus software name. Once you determine an alert is scareware, use your task manager to close the window without clicking on it. Then, you may want to run your actual anti-virus software for good measure. Scareware and other viruses are often searching for your identity. The Police section of the website includes a lot of information to help you prevent crime, including ID theft. Learn more at http://www.ci.sumner.wa.us/Government/ Police/Sumner_police_crime_prev.htm
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. “ ~Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) Sumner City Council
Steve Allsop
Leroy Goff
Curt Brown
INSIDE: Diane Supler Takes New Role
Ed Hannus
Cindi Hochstatter
City of Sumner 1104 Maple Street Sumner, WA 98390
Randy Hynek
Matt Richardson
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SUMNER, WA PERMIT NO. 1
Traffic & Main Road Work Storm vs. Sewer: the Mystery Revealed Rocky’s Story
ECRWSS
Postal Customer
FOR THE LATEST information between paper issues, sign up for e-news at www.ci.sumner.wa.us.
City Hall Calendar JUNE 3 Planning Commission, 7 pm 7 Council Meeting, 7 pm 8 Parks Board, 6 pm 10 Forestry Commission, 4 pm 10 Design Commission, 6:30 pm 14 Study Session, 6 pm 21 Council Meeting, 7 pm 24 Arts Commission, 6 pm 28 Study Session, 6 pm july 1 Planning Comm., 7 pm 5 City Offices Closed 6 Council Meeting, 7 pm 8 Forestry Comm., 4 pm 8 Design Comm., 6:30 pm 12 Study Session, 6 pm 13 Parks Board, 6 pm 19 Council Meeting, 7 pm 22 Arts Commission, 6 pm 26 Study Session, 6 pm
august 2 Council Meeting, 7 pm 5 Planning Comm., 7 pm 9 Study Session, 6 pm 10 Parks Board, 6 pm 12 Forestry Comm., 4 pm 12 Design Comm., 6:30 pm 16 Council Meeting, 7 pm 23 Study Session, 6 pm 26 Arts Commission, 6 pm
More Streets Get Chip/Fog Seal Red line = street will get chip seal & fog coat Green line = fog coat only needed
Every summer, when the sun shines, Public Works gets to more stretches of Sumner streets to add protective chip seal and fog coat as needed. The map above shows which streets will get this new coating this year.