Community Issues Addressed by PABA

Graving Yard

The PABA, in accordance with its mission, and as an advocate for the greater Business Community, promotes and encourages uses of the PA Harbor and WaterFront that provide the Community jobs, revenue and tax monies. We recognize the vital role of the Harbor and WaterFront in the economy of our Community.. These assets are unique, inherent and indigenous to our community, providing an unusual opportunity for contribution to the economic welfare of the entire area.

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Rayonier Site Cleanup

The PABA has actively encouraged the State Department of Ecology to expedite the Cleanup Project in an effort to return that valuable property to productive use.

• Contacted DOE requesting status and schedule
• Garnered support of the City, County, Chamber and EDC in sending individual letters to DOE urging action
• Scheduled DOE for report in a program with Rayonier and Tribal Representatives..

Location of Kalakala

The PABA has endorsed bringing the private-sector-funded, refurbished Kalakala to the PA Waterfront

• Advised PA City Council of endorsement and recommended City Council invite Kalalaka to reside on our waterfront under the conditions that it be totally refurbished without use of public funds prior to relocation.

Government and Public Agency Contracted Services

The PABA advocates and urges publicly-funded agencies to award contracts for services to private sector enterprises if they are fully qualified and capable of providing the service at competitive cost.

• Community is better served by a strong private, entrepreneurial sector.
• Public better served with cooperative effort between public and private sectors vs. competition.
• Use of public vs. private sector contractors requires credible explanation by public agency

Government/Public Agency Actions and Proceedings

The PABA advocates and urges publicly-funded agencies to publish and make very transparent, open and public their meetings, actions, and proceedings.

• Open, accessible meetings with opportunity for public discourse and observation.
• Media publication of meeting proceedings available to public .
• Extensive use of Public or Stakeholder Advisory Committees
• Discourse in language understandable by public
• Regular (annual) publication of staffing, roles, and compensation as required in publicly-traded, private sector corporations.

 

Conference Center

The PABA has acted to encourage construction of a Conference Center on our waterfront

• In 2000, President Allan Bentley led the PABA in an effort to encourage DNR and POPA to exchange land enabling assembling an attractive waterfront site on the Oak Street property
• Urged the POPA to sell the property to accommodate siting Conference Center on the waterfront
• Voted to support construction of the Conference Center per City Council proposal.
• Acted as a signatory to a Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce open letter expressing community support for the Conference Center and encouraging opposition to allow market forces to prevail.

Westport Shipyard

The PABA has participated actively in a program to encourage Westport siting their new yacht-building facility in Port Angeles

• Joined a Port Angeles delegation which visited Westport Plant to encourage siting new facility in P.A.
• Encouraged POPA to support Westport relocation by selling waterfront property and accommodating their needs through community and local meetings presentations

Port of PA Functions

The PABA has supported and encouraged POPA efforts to develop our waterfront economy

• Encouraged sale of POPA waterfront property to promote Business growth/expansion/siting on the waterfront
• Encouraged POPA to identify and install a permanent Executive Director to replace the “long-term” interim Director.
• Established dialogue with Commissioners and Staff for input on POPA goals, objectives, procedures aimed at developing an environment conducive to Business siting and retention.

Waterfront Vision

The PABA has supported development, adoption, and implementation of a comprehensive plan for the entire Port Angeles Waterfront..

• A PABA member, Mel Rudin, was major author of the Waterfront Vision, a conceptual arrangement of our entire waterfront.
• The PABA has supported adoption of this Vision and implementation of its concepts.

Safety and Appearance

The PABA has endorsed efforts to improve the appearance and safety of Hwy 101 corridors into and out of Port Angeles

• Supported discussions with State officials/Governor on Landslide issues near Lincoln Street.
• Endorsed efforts to beautify the Hwy 101 entrance corridor as outlined by Port Angeles Forward Committee.
• Assumed leadership role in that effort by becoming the first civic organization to adopt a section of the corridor taking responsibility for its appearance.