Issue 41
City of Sumner Newsletter
May 2006
Sidewalks Connect Our Community The new program, Sidewalks for a Walkable Sumner, is the result of years of input from citizens. This year’s Sumner University included a session on “Sumner Civics 101,” which led students through the process of making a decision within government. The result of the sample exercise was surprisingly familiar. Paul Rogerson, Director of Community Development, asked the crowd to suggest words that they would like used to describe Sumner in 20 years. Then, he asked for related qualities to those descriptions, specific things to achieve those goals and finally, what actions government could take to make it happen. The group answered with a vision of a small town that is walkable. A specific thing to achieve this would be sidewalks, and government could help by setting standards, providing finance and hiring someone to manage the project. The 73rd Annual Daffodil Parade brought Sumner out in style. For more pictures, see page 5.
In short, the Sumner University students followed the exact same process that led City Council to form Sidewalks for a Walkable Sumner. Just as the students said, this program provides the City’s standards, financing and a project manager to help reach the long-held goal of completed sidewalks. So, if you missed Sumner University, or at least that session, know that you are very much a part of government. This program isn’t really new at all; rather, it’s the culmination of your own vision. Those directly affected by Phase I have received letters detailing the program.
See Inside Mayor’s message Accountability Report Historic Walking Tour Security of Industrial Area Dr. Sumner: potholes
page 2 page 3 page 4 page 6 page 7
For specific questions, contact Robyn DeLorm, Sidewalk Consultant, 253-299-5711 or robynd@ci.sumner.wa.us. Information is also available online at www.ci.sumner.wa.us.
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Sumner Community Connection
Mayor’s Message You’ve already heard from me once about this new Sidewalks for a Walkable Sumner program, and perhaps you’ve already read the story on the cover of this newsletter. So, why would I use my
May 2006
City of Sumner 1104 Maple Street Sumner, WA 98390 253-863-8300 253-863-2850 FAX MAYOR Dave Enslow
precious space here to talk about it again? I think that as we discuss this program—how it came question: why is this program so important?
Hall along East Main Street, which has no
Sidewalks are so important for all citizens through our City.
sidewalks. There was a lady in a wheelchair with her son, and they were going down the side of the road because that was their only choice. They were even going over the fog line and directly into the path of traffic. Seeing this, I thought, “That, right there, is why we’re doing this program.” It’s nice to talk about the benefits of a walkable city, but the real bottom line is the safety of that woman and her son. For that matter, it’s the safety of all of us, for this situation was dangerous for me and every other driver on that road as well. I’ve already heard from many of you. Some think Sidewalks for a Walkable Sumner does too much, some think not enough. Many are thanking me. One man wanted to hug our sidewalk consultant with joy. Whatever your initial reaction, know that we believe this program moves us closer to our goal with the resources we have. Even if you don’t agree with the details of how we’re proceeding, I’m guessing you agree with the why--our ultimate goal for Sumner to be the safest small city that we can create together. Mayor Dave Enslow
CITY COUNCIL Steve Allsop Curt Brown Mike Connor Randy Hynek Ed Hannus Leroy Goff Matt Richardson
about and what it will do—we can’t miss the
Recently, I was driving from my house to City
299-5790
Calling All Dedicated Individuals! We have openings on three of our commissions, and we could sure use your help. There’s one opening on the Design Commission, two on Forestry Commission and three on the Arts Commission. If you’ve always wondered how to get more involved in Sumner’s future, this is your chance! Please send a letter of interest that gives your background, your interest in the issues of the particular commission and your willingness to make a time commitment. Send letters of interest to: Mayor, City of Sumner, 1104 Maple Street, Sumner, WA 98390-1423. If you have a question, call Sally Abrams at 253-299-5520.
299-5793 299-5796 299-5795 299-5792 299-5791 299-5797 299-5794
CITY STAFF John Doan, City Administrator
299-5501
Diane Supler, Deputy City Administrator
299-5502
Carmen Palmer, Communications Director
299-5503
Wendy Shook, Court Administrator
299-5621
Patricia Bosmans, City Attorney
299-5611
Susan Clary, City Clerk
299-5500
Paul Rogerson, Community Development Director 299-5521 Colleen Wilson, Police Chief
299-5641
Dan Packer, Fire Chief
863-5451
Bill Shoemaker, Public Works Director
299-5701
Bruce Johnson, Community/Senior Services Manager 299-5731 Lee Anderson, Parks and Facilities Manager
299-5631
CITY OFFICES Administration/Finance Cemetery Court Fire (non-emergency) Golf Course Inspection Line Parks and Recreation Permit Center Police (non-emergency) Senior Center
863-8300 FAX 863-2850 863-6345 863-7635 863-5451 863-8198 299-5530 891-6500 299-5523 863-6384 863-2910
May 2006
Sumner Community Connection
Council Corner Sounds of Sumner Steam locomotives chugging through town with their whistles screaming Fireboard and yeast plants noon whistles blowing, which reminded their employees it was time for lunch When you could shut your eyes and guess the make, model and year of the vehicle coming down the street The Presbyterian Church bells chiming throughout the town The fire hall sirens calling its volunteer firefighters to respond to a fire call at any time of day or night We reminded our children that when they heard the noon fire hall siren they should stop their playing at Loyalty Park and come home for lunch.
These are some of the things that I remember most about growing up and living in Sumner Councilmember Ed Hannus
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City Held Accountable in 2005 Last year, the City drafted its mission, vision and values to guide its operations into the future. The question nearly a year later is, how are we doing at it? According to the 2005 Accountability Report, overall, we did pretty well. One main theme is building community. Examples from last year included • Adopted the 2005 Comprehensive Plan Update • Completed the first phase of Rainier View Park • 1500 new individuals served at the Senior Center • Police officers restarted two hearts and delivered a baby boy. The second main theme is achieving excellence. Examples of excellence from across departments included • Constructed downtown restrooms • Recognized as among the best jurisdictions in the region for per-
One 2005 highlight included the unveiling of the new welcoming sign into Sumner
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mit turn-around time and general customer service A higher percentage of firefighters receiving their FF1 certification.
But, as the Mayor says in the introductory letter, the goal now is to continue the trend and do better! To review a full copy of the 2005 Accountability Report, go online at www.ci.sumner.wa.us.
Visit us at www.ci.sumner.wa.us for up-to-date information on City of Sumner services, projects, special events and more!
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.
Councilmember Ed Hannus at the Community Summit on March 30, discussing Sumner’s future with Paul Rogerson and Sally Abrams
values: We are collaborative & professional. We are innovative & visionary. We are responsive & accountable. We serve with respect & integrity.
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Sumner Community Connection
Senior Center Features Fun and Art
Pam Shearer is painting a mural at the Sumner Senior Center for her senior project at Sumner High School. The mural features such landmarks as the Ryan House, Sk8 Park, the bridge, high school and Sorci’s Deli. The Senior Center’s new mural features Sumner landmarks. For those wanting to see other landmarks in Western Washington, the Senior Center is also a good place to start since it hosts two trips a month to various locations. Upcoming trips are May 17 - Pike Place Market
May 2006
Take a Walk Down Memory Lane What is history? The dictionary says it’s a narrative of events, a story. In Sumner, it’s the story of the events and people who shaped this city, making it the place it is today. Did you know that Sumner’s history can be found all around you? History is very much alive here, inspiring young and old alike to discover more about the place where we live and work. Learning about Sumner’s history just got easier. The City partnered with the Sumner Historical Society to print an updated edition of the Self-Guided Tour Through the Historical Landmarks. This fun guide will help you see the history around you, sharing the stories
of the physical landmarks throughout our city. Here are a few previews: did you know that the house on Washington looks like a church because it once was? It served as the Old Methodist Church. Or, did you ever notice that the building at 1207 Main Street has lightning bolts at the peak over the door? That’s because it was built in the 1930s for Puget Power! So, stop by City Hall or go online to begin exploring your own hometown for glimpses of the past shining into the future. The historic walking tour was supported in part by a grant from the Washington Commission for the Humanities and through local cooperation and contributions of the Sumner Historical Society.
Saying Goodbye to KC’s Caboose
June 14 - Ocean Shores June 20 - Woodland Park Zoo July 12 - W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory July 26 - Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art August 5 - Brady’s Annual Clean Water Oyster Feed at Westport August 23 - Cape Disappointment Lighthouse If you are interested in joining one or more of these trips, contact Denise Schultz, our Trip Coordinator, at 252-299-5732. She is available between 8 am and 2 pm every Tuesday and Wednesday.
On April 19, the charred remains of KC’s Caboose were finally demolished, closing a chapter in Sumner’s history. The local landmark will always be in the hearts and memories of Sumner.
May 2006
Sumner Community Connection
Sumner Shines While Celebrating Daffodil Delights Sumner’s float won the Grand Sweepstakes and the Festival Floral Award for its fanciful portrayal of the Old Mill Stream.
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Park Gets Art This summer, the second phase of construction for Rainier View Park will begin, adding a picnic shelter, entry plaza and children’s play area. For the entry plaza, artists Bruce and Shannon Andersen will cover the “furniture” (concrete couches and chairs) and sign posts with bright mosaic tiles that depict our area’s history. Another artist, Renee O’Connor, will create a six-foot center mosaic of images that symbolize community, family and a connection to the environment. The Andersens will incorporate local children’s art by leading workshops with two fourth-grade classes at Daffodil Elementary and Maple Lawn Elementary. Maple Lawn students have already helped with the park’s overall design, so this will be their second opportunity to help shape the park’s look.
The parade had it all...the Puyallup Fair gave a nod to the region’s agriculture (top) while Sumner Middle School’s bands had toes tapping. Sumner’s Daffodil Princess Erin McFarland greeted her hometown and Pierce County Librarians showed off their synchronized cart pushing.
In addition, you can visit displays featuring the artists’ renderings and hands-on tile making. These displays, led by the Arts Commission, will be held during Art Walks at Daffodil Elementary on May 16 and Maple Lawn Elementary on May 19, both 6:30 – 8 pm. For further information, contact Sally Abrams at 253-299-5520 or sallya@ci.sumner.wa.us.
Council Tempers Signs of Change with Changes to Sign Codes On April 17, the City Council passed an amendment to the Sign Code. Two changes were made to the maximum height and area of signage allowed in the Interchange Commercial Zone. The other change for all of Sumner is the addition of electronic reader board signs to the list of prohibited signs. The code now defines electronic reader board signs as “any sign or
portion of a sign that includes arrays of light bulbs or LEDs whose intent is the permanent or intermediate flashing, animation or display of text, date, time and/or images.” In approving the change, councilmembers commented that such signs that flash and blink detracted from the look and feel of Sumner, especially in residential areas.
This change applies only to new signs. Electronic reader board signs already in place can stay. For more information on City Council meetings, go to http://www.ci.sumner. wa.us/government/council/. Council meetings also air on cable channel 22 (Comcast) or channel 86 (Click!) Channels may vary by area - check your local listings.
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Sumner Community Connection
May 2006
Department Profile
Community Development Plans Ahead How does a City department develop a community? In Sumner, there are quite a few ways! The Community Development department’s mission is “Enhance the Community by Planning Wisely, Regulating Appropriately, and Assisting Professionally.” The City’s planners, Ryan Windish, Robert Holler and Reema Shakra, provide direction to building and development in the City, using the Comprehensive Plan as a constitution for the use of land.
To ensure that new development follows the Comprehensive Plan, the Design Commission reviews any new multi-family, commercial and industrial developments. Paul Rogerson, Director of Community Development, uses the commission’s recommendation to make a final decision. The department then assists by providing necessary permits. Vicki Pfau coordinates the permit team, who work out of the Permit Center in City Hall. And, the City’s Building Official enforces the City’s technical codes as they relate to buildings.
To complete the circle, the department also helps develop the cultural side. Sally Abrams organizes such events as Music Off Main and Sumner University. Bruce Johnson, the Community/Senior Services Manager, oversees the operation of Sumner’s Senior Center and coordinates volunteers. Together, the team makes sure the City develops the community that makes Sumner so special. The main phone number for Community Development is 253-299-5520.
Police and Industry Work Together for Safety in the Industrial Area In April, a man who works at a Sumner warehouse stopped by the City’s booth at the Livable Communities Fair. He complimented the City on the infrastructure it provides for the industrial area. Now, in addition to providing roads, freeway access and public works, Sumner is working to maximize security in the area as well. About a year ago, the Sumner Police Department realized that it needed to know more about the specific security issues that are unique to industry. Meanwhile, the industrial companies realized that they didn’t really know how Sumner Police could help them in their efforts to prevent problems at their warehouses. Thus, a new public-private partnership was formed that brought together the companies’ general managers and security staff with Sumner Police. It began as a simple dialogue about each other’s experiences and how they could help one another. Now, they are actively working together with a combined vision and goals. Soon,
they will add a name and identity for this partnership. The group meets once a month, and information remains one of its key resources. John Holland, Security Coordinator for Norvanco International, Inc. gave this example. If people from one company spot a suspicious car around their building, they now send an e-mail to the group. This alerts both the Sumner Police plus contacts at the other companies, who can then be on the watch for the same vehicle around their properties. Sumner Police Lieutenant Wes Tucker added that from this great starting point, the group envisions growing to even more coordinated actions. For example, they would like to develop coordinated response plans for various situations. Tucker pointed out that when pooled together, the resources of this group are incredibly powerful. He commented that they are also planning for joint training. The companies can train officers on situations unique to their industry while officers can train companies on how to handle issues that may arise in the workplace.
Together, police and companies have increased their resources to provide security for Sumner’s industrial area. The group does not yet have a formal name but are encouraged by the momentum and energy that everyone is bringing to this effort. As far as Tucker and Holland know, this kind of partnership is unique, and they are looking forward to it growing and developing, making Sumner a leader in safety for industrial areas. The group meets monthly, next on June 1. If you would like to join the group, contact Wes Tucker at west@ci.sumner.wa.us or John Holland at jholland@norvanco.com.
May 2006
Sumner Community Connection
ASK DR. SUMNER
City Hall Calendar May 15..... City Council meeting, 7 pm 22..... City Council study session, 6 pm
Editor’s note: it’s springtime, and it seems that poetry is in the air. For this edition, Dr. Sumner chose to answer in poetry rather than prose. We hope you enjoy...
How do potholes form? Potholes are made by the Pothole Fairy. He works at night. His tools are water and heavy loads. Good streets are sealed. Alligatored (cracked) asphalt lets water soften the subgrade. Good streets have thick asphalt to carry the loads. Good streets have open graded rock bases and underdrains. Good streets bleed off rising groundwater, keeping subgrades firm. Freezing and thawing in cracked asphalt is his pick ax. Beware of the Pothole Fairy. For pothole or asphalt/street repair, contact the City Shops Maintenance Department at 253-299-5740. Please be ready to give specifics (i.e. exact location, cross streets, description of problem). A work request will be forwarded for inspection and/or repair.
June 1 ...... Planning Commission, 7 pm 5 ...... City Council meeting, 7 pm 12..... City Council study session, 6 pm 13..... Parks Board, 6 pm 15..... Forestry Commission, 4 pm 19..... City Council meeting, 7 pm 26..... City Council study session, 6 pm
Community Events May 20 Volunteer opportunity: plant trees and shrubs along White River, 9 am-Noon, see below for details 29
Memorial Veteran’s Ceremony, Sumner Cemetery, 10 am
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Memorial Day (City Hall closed, Library closed)
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Sumner Police Department Citizen Academy graduation, 6:30 pm
June 6
Sumner High School Graduation, White River Amphitheater
23-24 “Surfin’ the Sales” Annual Downtown Sidewalk Sale, Fri 9 am-5 pm Sat 10 am – 5 pm. Contact Louann Spencer at 253-863-0960 for details.
Help plant native trees and shrubs along the White River. When: Saturday, May 20 Time: 9:00 am – Noon Where: 24th St. E. in north Sumner Help begin the process of restoring native vegetation between the new trail and the White River in an area currently being used for turf production. This trail will help connect Sumner to trails in King County and the Foothills Trail. Planting will take place rain or shine, so please come prepared! The site is likely to be muddy, so volunteers are encouraged to dress appropriately – boots are recommended. Refreshments and planting tools will be provided. To sign up, contact the Pierce Stream Team at (253) 845-2973, streamteam@piercecountycd.org or Ryan Windish, Sumner City Planner, at 253-299-5524, ryanw@ci.sumner.wa.us.
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Sumner Community Connection
May 2006
Sumner City Council
Steve Allsop
Curt Brown
Mike Connor
Leroy Goff
Ed Hannus
Randy Hynek
Matt Richardson
ITEMS PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL MARCH/APRIL 2006 MARCH
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Appointed April Evers, Bill Heath and John Swanson to the Salary Commission.
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Adopted Resolution No. 1188 approving the 2006 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Cycle.
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Adopted Ordinance No. 2167 amending the Zoning Code to implement the amendments to the East Main Street Design Strategy.
Approved an agreement with Berger/ ABAM for the design of Stewart Road relocated stream trail work.
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Adopted Ordinance No. 2168 amending Cemetery rates.
Approved a contract with Berber/ ABAM for the design of Stewart Road sanitary sewer improvements.
Adopted Resolution No. 1189 entering into an Interlocal Agreement with Pierce County for participation in the DUI Task Force.
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Adopted Ordinance No. 2169 amending the Golf Course rates.
Approved an agreement with Berger/ ABAM for the design of Stewart Road water main improvements.
Adopted Resolution No. 1190 approving the process for receiving damage claims.
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Adopted Resolution No. 1184 regarding the Regional Transit Authority’s Sound Move 2.
Approved a Professional Services Contract with Robyn DeLorm for the Connecting Our Community project.
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Approved a Professional Services Agreement with Rainier View Park artists.
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Approved an agreement with Forest Canyon Partners, LLC to provide sewer service to the Forest Canyon Highlands development.
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Adopted Ordinance No. 2166 amending the East Main Street Design Strategy.
Adopted Resolution No. 1185 entering into an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Pacific for corridor improvements to 136th Ave. E. Adopted Resolution No. 1186 approving an application for funds from the Community Economic Revitalization Board.
APRIL •
Adopted Ordinance No. 2170 amending the Zoning Code concerning signs.
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Adopted Resolution No. 1183 amending Council rules.
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Adopted Resolution No. 1187 directing staff to move forward with Phase I of Connecting Our Community: Sidewalks for a Walkable Sumner.
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