Issue57CItyofsumnernewsletternovember2008

CommunityConneCtionOn November 17, the City Council passed Sumner’s bud-get for 2009 and 2010. The September newsletter talked about how the City is finding efficiencies and recruiting new retail. It also said that the money coming into the City is down so much that these efficiencies and recruit-ment wouldn’t be enough. The Mayor and City Council would have to reduce services and/or raise fees.

When putting together a budget, the Mayor makes a recommendation to the Coun-cil. The Council reviews this proposed budget, deliberates, and makes any changes they’d like. Then, it’s the Council who passes the final balanced budget.

This year’s budget does in-clude cuts in many areas:

Leaving open one vacant position in both police and planning plus a part-time records clerk. Eliminate the position of

•

•

Council and Mayor Make Tough Choices in Hard Budget Yearparks and facilities man-ager on March 31, 2009.Cut the hanging basket program and the part-time seasonal parks employee.Reduce time for domestic violence advocate position.Reduce funding to the Arts Commission.Use police cars an addi-tional two years to delay replacement vehicles.Reduce newsletter costs.Reduce staffing at the senior center.Shift funding of Sumner Downtown Association to come from additional lodging tax revenue.Eliminate the funding to Forever Green and the Stream Team.Cut police training, equip-ment and over-time.

In addition, the budget in-cludes some increases in fees including

Charge for additional staff time associated with special events.Charge regular users of

•

•

•

•

••

•

•

•

•

•

the Sports Complex to help defray maintenance and operations. 1% increase in property tax revenue.6% tax on stormwater rates starting July 2009.

None of the news is good, but Sumner is in better shape than many cities right now. This budget does not use any of the credit available to the City. It uses money that was saved when there was “extra” money for just such a harder year, but it keeps all of the City’s reserve funds intact for emergencies.

Even a passed budget is just a plan. If things get worse, the City will continue to cut in order to make sure it’s not spending money it doesn’t have. And, if things get bet-ter, these cuts can start getting reversed. Hopefully, this is a short-term situation that will leave the City more efficient and stronger in the long run.

•

•

Why is money so tight? I’m still paying taxes! Of your property taxes, only about $0.44 per $1000 of as-sessed value goes to the City of Sumner. The rest goes to others such as the State, the County, the library, schools and the Port of Tacoma. Also, this is the first year that your money for fire and EMS service will go straight to East Pierce Fire & Rescue rather than through the City.

Why can’t you do the same work for the same

amount of money you collected last year?

Unfortunately, costs to the City don’t stay the same. Gas

goes up 200%, and costs for paper, electricity, and health

insurance all goes up. Plus, the increase cost of goods also

raises the cost of living index which by contract raises many

of the employees’ salaries by a greater percentage than 1%.

So, when costs go up this dramatically while income goes up

1%--or in the case of sales tax, goes down, the City ends up

trying to do the same with less.

Could the City have raised taxes?Yes. Following the fire annexation, the Council could have reset the property tax rate up to $1.60 per $1000 of value. However, they chose to stick to only the 1% raise since it didn’t seem to be the time to raise these taxes.

Where else does the City get money?

There are fees that go right to the programs that supply

services. For example, you pay for the water that you

use. You pay for a pet license to help support an animal

control program and animal shelter. These funds must

stay separate and act like individual businesses.

The key source of revenue is now from sales tax, which

funds over 47% of the City’s general fund. And, we all

know sales have been slow. As Councilmember Allsop

said, “If everyone buys one Ford, one Chevrolet, a new

couch and a tractor, we’ll be good!”

With 47% of the City’s general fund now being funded by sales tax revenue, strong businesses and lots of shoppers are even more important to the City’s future!

On November 12, the Puyal-

lup River once

again rose to levels

above flood stage. However, some changes made for a better outcome

than in 2006.

First, the river thankfully didn’t rise quite as high this time although early predictions indicated the po-tential for even higher levels. It came within inches of going over the sandbags, but the dif-ference of those inches meant

Safety Sally Says: Efforts Kept Neighbors Dry in November Floodthat homes stayed dry this time. The second change was the incredible efforts of resi-dents along the river. Since 2006, they had organized and prepared, from information networks to teams that helped the City fill and place sand-bags. (And with water only inches from the top of the sandbags, these efforts liter-ally made all the difference.)

Thank you to everyone who helped out including the City of Bonney Lake, the resi-dents and East Pierce Fire & Rescue.

What does a recommended evacuation mean?It means the final choice to leave or stay is up to individuals. While we realize evacuating is never pleasant, it is always easier than a river rescue. We recommend putting your safety first by evacuating before the river rises.

How do you decide when to recommend evacuation?Any time the river rises above 24’, it is considered to be above flood level. Sometimes, as in this case, homes may manage to stay dry even when the river goes over the 24’ mark, but a river is always unpredictable. In this case, predictions for the crest level varied from 26’ to 31’. So, we recommend evacuation over the 24’ mark and continue to hope, as in this case, that homes will remain dry.

What are you doing about long-term flood protection? The City is working with the residents in the area of Rainier Manor, Rivergrove and River-walk to pursue building a flood wall that would serve as a permanent option to the sandbags. It wouldn’t help in a large flood, but in floods like this, it could mean the difference between a wet home and a dry home. The wall is too expensive for the property owners to build alone, so we’re continuing to seek funding assistance from the County and State. This month’s close call serves as another reminder of how important this project remains.

Happy Holidays

from the City of Sumner!

Adopted Ordinance 2263 creating standards for noise control

Approved FEMA trail repair project

Adopted Resolution 1243 amending Pierce County Countywide Planning Policies

Adopted Resolution 1244 authorizing applications for three Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grants

Appointed Timothy Jenkins as Municipal Court Judge

Adopted Ordinance 2265 amending Peddler’s Regulations and Fees

Adopted Resolution 1245 setting the public hearing for the Gary Street vacation

Authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement regarding liability and Pierce County engineering costs associated with the Stewart Road project

Adopted Ordinance 2266 amending provisions of automatic sprinkler system regulations set forth in the 2006 International Fire Code as adopted in the Sumner Municipal Code

Approved a professional services contract with ADCOMM and Karen Reed Consulting for a Communications Center study

Adopted Ordinance 2267 amending the 2008 budget

Adopted Subst Ordinance 2255 denying application PLN2007-00073 for rezone

Authorized mayor to execute a settlement agreement with Sumner Business Park Associations; Reef Adams, LLC; and Michelson Knapp Land Ventures

Adopted Resolution 1246 authorizing the city to provide staff time and costs associated with the continuation of the community garden in 2009 and allowing movement of the City shed on site and keeping of chickens at the community garden

Accepted the 2008 Chip Seal project

Adopted Resolution 1247 retiring Police Service Dog Max

Adopted Ordinance 2268 adding Inattentive Driving to the Municipal Code

Adopted Ordinance 2269 amending the Design and Development Guidelines

Adopted Ordinance 2270 amending provisions for Truck Routes

Adopted Resolution 1248 authorizing purchases prior to approval for payment of fuel, utility payments and animal control refunds

City CounCil ACtion July-november 2008

MAYORDave Enslow 299-5790

CITY COUNCIL

Steve Allsop 299-5793Curt Brown 299-5796Cindi Hochstatter 299-5795Randy Hynek 299-5792Ed Hannus 299-5791Leroy Goff 299-5797Matt Richardson 299-5794

CITY STAFFJohn Doan 299-5501City Administrator

Diane Supler 299-5502Deputy City Administrator Carmen Palmer 299-5503Communications Director

Brett Vinson 299-5611City Attorney

Terri Berry 299-5500City Clerk

Paul Rogerson 299-5521Community Development Dir.

Beth Anne Wroe 299-5541Financial Operations Director

John Galle 299-5644Police Chief Bill Pugh 299-5701Public Works Director

Lee Anderson 299-5631Parks and Facilities Manager

CITY OFFICES

Administration 299-5500Cemetery 299-5510Finance/utilities 863-8300Golf course 863-8198Inspection line 299-5530Recreation 891-6500Permit Center 299-5530Police (non-emergency) 863-6384Senior Center 863-2910

MUNICIPAL COURTTimothy A. Jenkins 863-7635Judge, Court Offices Cathy Pashon, 299-5621Court Administrator

EAST PIERCE FIRE & RESCUEMain Number 863-1800

John McDonald 863-5451Interim Fire Chief

City of Sumner1104 Maple Street

Sumner, WA 98390253-863-8300

253-863-2850 FAX

Do you remember Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms paintings from 1943: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear? (If not, look them up online!) Sixty-five years later, these depictions of freedom are as important as ever.

Freedom of Speech We saw this demonstrated in the long lines of the election. Whether your candidates won or lost, you made your voice heard, and that’s the most important thing. As issues continue, always respectfully submit your opinion. The more ideas we have, even if they differ from one another, the better chance we have of finding the best solutions for us all.

Freedom from Want and Fear These really hit home this year. I want to thank the City Council and all our partners for choosing some painful cuts in the budget rather than passing the pain on to you in the form of higher taxes. Please continue to support each other through programs like the Food Bank and the Pancake Feed. And, please join in the holiday celebrations this next month. It’s wonderful if you can do your shopping here in Sumner, but even if you don’t spend a dime, still join in. Wave at Santa, sing a carol, walk the bridge. Together, we can create a whole lot of cheer that can drive away the fear.

Freedom of WorshipWhether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or another holiday, let’s all be thankful that we can celebrate together what we individually believe. No matter what personal beliefs you hold, the bottom line is that we’re celebrating peace and friendship with each other, and that, as they say,

is priceless.

Thank you, Mr. Rockwell, for showing us the freedoms we must treasure always. No matter how tight budgets get, may we always have our Four Freedoms.

mAyor’s messAge

Norman Rockwell’s paintings, such as Santa!, came to life in Sumner’s windows for Hometown Holidays on November 15.

Need Help? Dial 2-1-1!

There’s now an easy way to get help finding the resources you need. Just dial 2-1-1! You can get help finding:

Senior & Disability ResourcesShelter & Housing ServicesFood & ClothingHealthcare & CounselingRent & Utility AssistanceYouth & Family ServicesVolunteering

Thank you to United Way of Pierce County for providing this free resource.

•

•

••

•

•

•

Have Coffee with the Mayor!December 6

10-11 amSumner Fire Station

It’s not quite the same as telling Santa what you’d like, but it is a great time to tell Mayor Enslow what you think.

What’s working? What could be better? There’s no formal process or agenda, just stop by during the Pancake Feed to enjoy a cup of coffee and chat with neighbors and the Mayor!

MISSION To provide needed and valued

services that promote our sense of community.

VISION Sumner will set the standard

of excellence for a progressive small city.

VALUES We are collaborative

& professional. We are innovative & visionary.

We are responsive & accountable.We serve with respect & integrity.

Accepted Golf Course Pond project

Authorized mayor to execute an interlocal agreement with East Pierce Fire & Rescue defining the ongoing relationship

Directed staff to prepare documents for Greenwater Development Agreement

Accepted construction of Cyrus Woods Sidewalks Phase II

Authorized mayor to execute a contract with Sleed, LLC for Tacoma Ave. Pump Station Improvement Project

Adopted Ordinance 2271 amending restricted parking zones

Adopted Ordinance 2272 for street occupancy permit

Adopted Resolution 1249 setting rates for the Community Garden

Accepted 2008 Street Striping Project

Adopting Resolution 1250 allowing holiday leave

Adopted Resolution 1251 for Puyallup River Flood Wall

Adopted Ordinance 2273 adopting the 2009-2010 budget

Adopted Ordinance 2274 setting 2009 Ad Valorem Property Tax Levy

Adopted Ordinance 2275 establishing historic preservation

Sumner winners in Evening Magazine’s Best of Western Washington: Big Foot Java (serving Dillanos coffee)--1st for Best Coffee Shop Beyond the Bridge Cafe--4th for Best Coffee Shop Dr. April Ziegele--5th for Best DentistSecret Garden Tea Room--3rd for Best Tea HouseThe Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse--3rd for Best Furniture StoreChief Dan Packer--3rd for Man of the Year

Way to go!Way to go!

sumnerCommunItyConneCtIon2 november2008

Lots of

vehicles share Sumner’s streets including large tractor-trailers,

more commonly referred to as “big trucks.” Like many

cities, Sumner has a truck route system that requires trucks to use particular streets when traveling through town. Truck routes are, in general, a win for everyone:

you get less traffic and noise on residential streets; the impact of truck traffic on our roads is confined to specific areas (one truck equals the wear and tear of 80 cars); truck drivers know which streets can accommodate turning trucks.

So, this brings us to the question: why do you still see some trucks on streets not on the truck route? Likely, this is because the truck routes

•

•

•

ASK DR. SUMNER:Why do I see big trucks not on the truck route?

only apply to cut-through traffic. Trucks still must use other streets to make deliver-ies and pick-ups so that we get the things we need like milk, gas, and packages. With the truck route system, a truck is required to use the short-est route possible from the designated truck route to their destination. So, it still tries

to limit traffic on non-routes, but it doesn’t eliminate it altogther.

The other option is that the truck may be either lost or disobeying the truck route rule. The code regarding violations just changed so that it is easier to enforce. Should police find a truck that is

violating the route, the driver could receive a civil infraction with a maximum penalty of $250. A map of Sumner’s truck routes is online at www.ci.sumner.wa.us. Contact Dr. Sumner at DrSumner@ci.sumner.wa.us.

Treasure in Our Backyard: Heritage ParkPerhaps no other park in Sum-ner is more aptly named than Rueben A. Knoblauch Heri-tage Park. This is the park where we really come togeth-er as a community to celebrate either in small groups or large events.

Heritage Park was designed and con-structed in 1995-96. It started with an initial contribution by the late Senator Knoblauch, who served in the Washington State Legislature for 30 years before retiring in 1977. His gift bought the land and other materials. The rest of the park followed in this tradition and was built primarily with materials and labor donated by local individuals, families, and businesses. Even now, families still purchase bricks to be engraved in the

HERITAGE

At: Main St. & Kincaid

Key Amenities: GazeboBenchesTables Chess/Checkers tablesHeritage Tiles & Pavers

park to honor loved ones or their connection with Sumner.

Perhaps because it is built on gifts and involvement, Heritage is the park that’s all about meeting people. Some meet a friend for lunch and/or a game of check-

ers while others use the park to enjoy the sounds of Music Off Main. For larger events such as Mutts Off Main, the adjoining street becomes part of the space for a town-square kind of set-up. Together with the gazebo, it harkens back to the days of community bands, town centers and Sundays in the park--all part of our Heritage that remains today in Sumner.

With Thanksgiving here, I’m pondering the things for which I’m thankful:

For Pastor Lori, Christ the King Lutheran Church’s congregation and Bruce Hotvedt who let the Sumner Community Garden use 1.5 acres.

For eighty families who planted, watered and harvested.

For support from City employees and Council members.

For gardeners who braved snow blowing horizontally on opening day.

For Don Proctor, who has twice the wisdom, humor and energy of a man half his age.

For gardeners who donated over 3,000 pounds of fresh organic vegetables to the Sumner Food Bank.

For Barry MacGray & Sharon O’Leary who planted a pumpkin patch and let children enjoy its benefits—right off the vine!

For Ben DeGoede of Windmill Gardens, Stacy Ota of Ota Farms and Paul Moseby of Sumner Tractor for their generous use of machinery.

For gardeners who watered each other’s plots and shared knowledge and good times together.

For Denise McDermott, Garden Coordinator, who kept us organized—with a smile.

For Becky Rice & Betty Sullivan for How We Eat What We Grow, a cookbook available this December for $10, proceeds benefitting the community farm.

For Mike Hendrick, Ed Smith, John Munyan, Bob Dearing, Ken & Kay Creech, Patty Villa, Barbara Peterson, Flo Arieson, Steve Ulsberger, Kathy Hammad, Sue Casillas, Nancy Retynski, Bill Sandell, Carolyn Fudge, Jay Couey and many others whose volunteer time helped make the project a success.

For those who will forgive me because I forgot to mention their name—or because I did just list their name when they would prefer to avoid the limelight! (Too late now.)

Finally, I’m most thankful to live in a community that has shown such wonderful support for our community garden—one of the most successful in the state!

Randy Hynek rhynek@ci.sumner.wa.us

CounCil Column Give Your Pets the Gift of a Safe Home

This holiday season, as you buy presents for your pets, don’t forget the license! For $10 for cats and $14 for dogs, you can give your pet a year of safety plus peace of mind for yourself.

Also, Metro Animal Services is participating in the 10th annual Iams Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive. Our goal is to help all animals find a forever family. If you’d like to participate,

come visit us!

www.299pets.org

Shelter: 253-841-5595

Licenses: 253-299-PETS

A Sumner Police Officer checks a vehicle dur-ing a Comercial Vehicle Enforcement Emphasis that Sumner Police held in October. In one day, officers from other cities and the County helped Sumner check 21 trucks and put four trucks and one driver out of service. Local kids enjoy a decorated Heritage Park.

sumnerCommunItyConneCtIon 3november2008

INSIDE: Discover a

new format and all the

same great information

for your Community

Connection!

This format actually

saves the City (and you)

$1000 each year, even

though it’s the same

amount of space and

information.

So, we hope you enjoy

and continue to get the

latest news from

Community Connection.

City of Sumner1104 Maple StreetSumner, WA 98390

ECRWSS

Postal Customer

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

SUMNER, WAPERMIT NO. 1

sumner City CounCil

Steve Allsop Curt Brown Cindi HochstatterLeroy Goff Ed Hannus Randy Hynek Matt Richardson

sumnerCommunItyConneCtIon4 november2008

City HAll CAlendAr

Community events

November28 ....Bridge Lighting & Processional, 5 pm, Old Cannery to Windmill Gardens, www.sumnerdowntown.com29 ....ManeStage Theatre presents It’s a Wonderful Life!, 7 pm, Sumner Performing Arts Center. Tickets $14 for adults. Details at 253-447-7645 or www.manestagetheatre.com. 30 ....ManeStage Theatre’s It’s a Wonderful Life!, 2 pm, see Nov 29 for details

December3 ......Sumner Social Circle, 7-9 pm, Ryan House5 ......ManeStage Theatre’s It’s a Wonderful Life!, 7 pm, see Nov 29 for details6 ......Annual Pancake Feed, 7 am - noon, Fire Station6 ......Coffee with the Mayor, 10 - 11 am, Fire Station6 ......ManeStage Theatre’s It’s a Wonderful Life!, 2 & 7 pm, see Nov 29 for details6 ......Santa Parade, 2:30 pm, Downtown, www.sumnerdowntown.com7 ......ManeStage Theatre’s It’s a Wonderful Life!, 2 pm, see Nov 29 for details10 ....Senior Center trip to Fantasy Lights in Spanaway, 4:30 pm, free reservation: denises@ci.sumner.wa.us13 ....Christmas Stroll, 10 am - 7 pm, Downtown, www.sumnerdowntown.com17 ....Senior Center trip to Fantasy Lights in Spanaway, 4:30 pm, free reservation: denises@ci.sumner.wa.us17 ....Sumner Social Circle, 7-9 pm, Ryan House22 ....Santa in Sumner, 11 am - 5 pm, East Pierce Fire & Rescue will bring a special visitor throughout the city, route maps will be available at the fire station

January 20097 ......Senior Center trip to lunch at Kent Senior Center $5, denises@ci.sumner.wa.us7 ......Sumner Social Circle, 7-9 pm, Ryan House18 ....Senior Center trip to The Greater Tuna at Lakewood Playhouse Theater, $21, denises@ci.sumner.wa.us

November24 ...City Council Study Session, 6 pm27-28 City Hall closed for Thanksgiving

December1 ......City Council Meeting, 7 pm3 ......Special Council Study Session, 6 pm4 ......Planning Commission, 7 pm8 ......City Council Study Session, 6 pm9 ......Parks Commission, 6 pm11 ....Forestry Commission, 4 pm11 ....Design Commission, 6:30 pm 25 ....City Hall closed for Christmas

January 20091 ......City Hall closed for New Year’s 5 ......City Council Meeting, 7 pm8 ......Forestry Commission, 4 pm8 ......Design Commission, 6:30 pm 12 ....City Council Study Session, 6 pm13 ....Parks Commission, 6 pm

“Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some” ~ Charles Dickens

PLUS the Ryan House will be open and decorat-ed for the holidays every Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 pm, from Thanksgiving to New Years!

Thank You from the Animals! An individual who lives near Sumner recently donated $5000 to Metro Animal Services. The donor wished to remain anonymous, but we still wanted to acknowledge and thank them for a very generous gift.

Sunset Chevrolet’s Toy & Food Drive Through Dec. 15, Sunset Chevrolet is holding their 3rd Annual Toy & Food Drive to help St. Francis House. Drop by donations of cash or items at Sunset Chevrolet on 910 Traffic Avenue. Also, watch the holiday sales because in January, they’ll bring back their “keep that warm feeling going” Coats & Blanket Drive!

Don’t Forget the Sumner Food BankThank you to everyone who has kept up donations to the Sumner Food Bank even with tough economic times. Your donations are very much needed and appreciated, now more than ever. So, don’t forget through the holidays and even after to share with those who need a little help through the Sumner Food Bank. You can call the Food Bank at 863-3793 or drop off donations at 15625 Main St E.

Tim

Pie

rson

Pho

togr

aphy

Pedestrians and drivers enjoying the decorated bridge.