Report to Taxpayers Mission
to provide needed and valued services that promote our sense of community
Vision
to set the standard
2011
Ah, the “good old days.” You hear this phrase used a lot, usually by people who never experienced those days in the first place. We’re all guilty of dreaming of when people left doors unlocked, traffic meant two cars passing on a road and kids still delivered newspapers. Are you full of nostalgia yet? What if these are much better “good old days” now? A bold statement, I know, but let’s take off the rose-colored glasses and take a more balanced look back. Remember when at least one kid would contract polio each summer? How about when people would die in a matter of days from an ordinary scratch because they didn’t have antibiotics? America struggled with racism and sexism. And, if we went back to the Great Depression, the poverty and unemployment would make today’s economic troubles pale by comparison. Every era has its good and bad, progress and regress. That’s life! Human nature compels us to remember the good about the past and dwell on the bad in the present. So, let’s shift that a bit and take a look at the good things that happened in Sumner last year. It’s quite a list and may just rival the thought of milk being delivered in glass bottles! I believe these are much better “good old days” after all. Take a look and see what you think.
Priority: Protection of water, open space and other natural resources.
Mayor Dave Enslow
Held second Shred & Clean event with Daffodil Valley Kiwanis.
of excellence for a
Continued to offer local gardeners Bonney Good Sumner Grow, a class “A” quality, free biosolid that resulted in 100 percent reuse of the generated biosolids.
progressive small city
Participated in the Puyallup River Executive Task Force, a county-wide effort to provide long-term solutions to flooding of the Puyallup River and its tributaries.
Values We serve with respect and integrity. We are responsive and accountable.
Cleaned and maintained catch basins, treatment detention ponds, and Salmon Creek. Swept miles of streets every week. Met all Federal permit requirements for the Wastewater Treatment Facility. Participated in Pierce County’s Flood Plan Advisory Committee. Worked with Forterra for unprecedented agreement that has Orton Junction project permanently preserving over 500 acres of farmland and open space in Pierce County. Worked toward successful solution to federally mandated changes in Flood Plain regulations. Continued work on significant updates to the Shorelines Master program. Worked on extensive responses to citizen comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for proposed Northstar Chemical Facility.
We are collaborative
Conducted three drug take-back days as well as maintained daily drug take-back bin, collecting 271 pounds of drugs to be safely destroyed.
and professional.
Added 3.5 feet elevation to the perimeter wall to protect the Wastewater Treatment Facility in the event of a flood.
We are innovative and visionary.
celebrate!
City crews also helped make many 2011 Sumner celebrations possible:
Daffodil Parade Santa Parade St. Patrick’s Day Parade Homecoming Parade Sumner Arts Festival Bridge Lighting Classy Chassis Car Show Wine Walks Autumn Evening Come Walk With Me Street of Treats Hometown Holidays Sumner High School Prom & Homecoming Dance Bicycle Rodeo Block Parties Relay for Life
Partnered with Department of Emergency Management and Army Corps of Engineers to teach proper sandbag techniques before winter. Participated in the Puget Sound Partnership for combined stormwater education campaign, Puget Sound Starts Here. Extended the stormwater main 1930 feet from Valley Avenue through Gary Street to serve Wood Avenue and Gault Street.
Priority: Safe and efficient transportation system. Finished reworking and improving Traffic/Main & Fryar intersection, installing sidewalks and bike lanes, realigning lanes for improved flow, and replacing signals. Successfully received State Recreation and Conservation Office funding for trail section. Audited signage around city and removed unnecessary signs. Purchased radios and changed police dispatch frequencies to 800 Mhz, permitting interoperable public safety communications over a three-county area. Replaced two aging patrol cars. Municipal Court processed 2363 filings, conducted 957 infraction hearings with 477 mitigations, 439 contested, and 41 reviews. Participated in auto theft prevention program and regional efforts to combat impaired driving and underage drinking. Removed mudslide from West Valley Highway and worked with landowner to recover costs. Completed more streets under the chip seal program. Completed new parking enforcement protocols. Constructed approximately 700 lineal feet of sidewalk along Elm Street. Coordinated with residents to fill in missing gaps in sidewalks along Parker Road. Participated in a simulation to better understand how to design intersections and sidewalks to assist sight-impaired individuals. Received grant funds to install solar-powered flashing lights at crosswalks near schools.
Priority: Long-range financial stability to provide a balance of City services.
Processed significant volume of public records requests.
Continued to issue construction-related permits quickly and was recognized by the Economic Development Board for setting the standard for Pierce County. Closed Sumner 911 and police dispatch center and began a contracting relationship with Puyallup City Communications for both significant cost savings to Sumner taxpayers and increased interoperability for officers, which allowed for officers to communicate with neighboring cities, enhancing their safety and the safety of our community. Received first WellCity award from the Association of Washington Cities, reducing employee healthcare costs by approximately $20,000. Used lodging tax funds to install directional signage throughout the city to help visitors find Downtown,Visitor Center and Golf Course. Updated the Civil Service Rules to include new and/or changes of rules as approved by the Commissioners. Continued use of electronic home monitoring as an alternative to jail. Imposed 811 days in 2011, which saved the city $47,850 in jail costs. Revised policies & procedures for alternative working schedules & flex time, community athletics program / non-discrimination and inclement weather & emergency closings. Upgraded utility billing software and improved the look of the utility bills.
bynumbers the POLICE
19,673 calls for service 2275 traffic stops 609 people arrested
306 hours spent fulfilling 980 public disclosure requests 271 pounds of prescription drugs safely destroyed 60 6th Graders graduated from GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) 80 5th Graders graduated from DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance and Education) $2,000 raised for Special Olympics through Tip-a-Cop 407 kids received toys through Sumner Toy Box
Participated in an IRS examination. Updated and implemented the investment policy.
Metro Animal Services
Welcomed new employers including Amazon.com who brought in several hundred new full-time jobs to Sumner.
2224 animals received care
Implemented procedures for new special event fees that ask events to reimburse City for approximately 25% of the cost to the City to support that event. Concluded negotiations on five Collective Bargaining Agreements. Animal Control sent permanent tags to owners, reducing future material use and postage cost to send new tags every year.
Priority: Enhance community character.
Led the Orton Junction project through Pierce County’s process for comprehensive plan amendments and received a unanimous approval from the Pierce County Council. Opened Sumner Visitor Center with Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce and The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse. Watered and maintained hanging baskets in the downtown without the additional staffing previously required. Held annual Memorial Day service at Sumner Cemetery.
23,432 customers at the shelter 749 adoptions, up 11% 334 animals reunited with owners 5,516 volunteer hours donated at the shelter 71% increase in private donations 2820 calls for service responded to by Animal Control Officers
public works 71 after-hours call-outs 37 water service replacements and repairs 150 new meters replaced 900 meter service requests 26 tons of pothole patch material, one shovel at a time
Installed picnic tables and trash bins along trail system. Increased education for new fireworks laws around the 4th of July. Through the Sumner Arts Commission, held another successful season of Music Off Main, local events for Pierce County READS, and Write in the Valley, Chapter 3, the third annual author’s event.
119 tons of asphalt debris from pothole patches 46 tons of asphalt for road restoration by city crew 377 tons of gravel for utility
Worked with Pomegranate Center and Tully’s to coordinate a public process to transform repair, ditch backfill and repairs the alley off Main Street into a gathering place. to road shoulders 386 requests for services Worked with neighbors and businesses to update code for industrial zones. Partnered with Sumner Rotary to help install a service organization sign on Traffic Avenue. Continued support of Sumner schools with a dedicated School Resource Officer and GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) for Sumner Middle School’s 6th Graders and DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance and Education) for Daffodil Valley’s 5th Graders. Partnered with residents and Key Club to plant trees on April 30 for Arbor Day. Municipal Court conducted 1961 criminal hearings of which included 465 arraignments. Implemented and trained officers on less-lethal weapons. Donated graphic design to Sumner Downtown Association for first Rhubarb Days. Successfully applied and was granted 2011 Tree City award. Coordinated spring and fall clean-up service with DM Disposal. Continued support of Community Garden program with collection of garden plot sales. Led another well-attended Sumner University program to help citizens better understand their local government. The employees are part of this community too, and continue to be involved in various fundraisers and efforts throughout the year.
Sumner’s Tip-a-Cop event raised over $2000 for Special Olympics with Applebee’s.
407 kids received toys through Sumner Toy Box The annual Golf for Life tournament raised over $10,000 for Relay for Life.
11 side sewer repairs and new clean-outs 279 tons of street sweepings kept out of the storm system 500 requests for utility locates 1040 mandated chlorine residual water samples
Formed new Historic Preservation Commission.
Sharing
including potholes, water leaks, plugged sewers, signs down, glass in roadway, and possums
A lunch-time putt-putt tournament raised over $255 and a box of food for the Sumner Food Bank.
60 city-owned backflow devices tested in-house 798,000,000 gallons of sewage treated, removing 98% of the targeted pollutants 330 tons of biosolid soil amendment given away to gardeners
COMMUNICATIONS 18,014 email newsletters sent 164,498 web visits from 96,433 visitors, who looked at 791,522 pages on the City and Metro Animal Control websites