Here's the Drum 4 Fun schedule for October! Dates: October 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 from 10am-11am on Tuesdays & Thursdays! Pricing: all Tues & Thurs classes = $50, Tuesdays only = $25, Thursdays only = $25. Class location: Kalama Community Building at 216 Elm Street. For more info: 360-762-7690, cityhall@cityofkalama.com
The Planning Commission meeting for October 10th, 2024 has been canceled. The upcoming Planning Commission meetings are November 14th, 2024 @ 6pm and December 12th, 2024 @ 6pm. Meeting location: 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama. Agendas and meeting information will be available here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
9/19/2024 City Council Budget Priorities Workshop and Regular Meeting:
A budget workshop was held prior to (and continued into) the regular Council meeting. Discussion included prioritizing the quality-of-life programs and projects while maintaining the health, life, and safety needs required of the city and recognizing the effects on available revenues. Improvements to parks, more recreational or educational programs, the community building needs, public works projects (including a new shop facility), adding a staff planner position, and software programs were all items addressed along with how to fund them and whether current staff has the capacity to expand workload for acquiring additional grant funds, programs, and projects.
In the regular meeting, the Council adopted Ordinance 1519 which amends the current Kalama Municipal Code to prohibit sleeping or camping on public property based on a recent Supreme Court decision.
In reports:
Tourism applications are being accepted until September 30, 2024, and the Tourism Committee meeting on October 21st to review applications.
Planning Commission continues the work on the nuisance abatement code but will not hold a meeting in October.
Public Works - A portion of North 1st Street between Elm and Fir will be closed as the crew makes sewer line repairs on Monday & Tuesday, September 23rd and 24th.
Police – Chief Herrera addressed the recent rash of school related threats that have occurred throughout the County. Kalama Schools and the Police department are working together to ensure the safety of all students and faculty.
Finance - The department heads have received the 2025 budget materials to review and return their budget requests. The Auditors should be completing the audit next week. Summer Sewer averaging end tomorrow, September 20th.
Public Hearings for the 2025 Budget were set as follows:
Revenue Hearing - October 17, 2024 @ 7pm
Preliminary Budget Hearing - November 7, 2024 @ 7pm
Final Budget Hearing - November 21, 2024 @ 7pm
Attention Kalama Downtown Businesses & Residents,
A portion of North 1st Street will be closed to traffic, from Elm Street to Fir Street, on Monday, September 23rd for critical sewer repairs from 7AM until 5PM.
On Tuesday, September 24th, North 1st Street from Elm Street to Fir Street will be open to single lane traffic from 7AM until completion of the project. Completion of the project is scheduled for the same day, September 24th.
Thank you for understanding as we diligently work to fix the issue.
Kalama Public Works
The Kalama City Council will hold a workshop on Thursday, September 19th, 2024 at 6:00pm in the council chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama, WA to discuss 2025 budget priorities. This meeting is open to the public. For questions, contact 360-673-4561. (See agenda for Zoom info.) https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
Attention Kalama residents inside city limits: Summer sewer averaging will end on September 20th. This means that after September 20th, every drop of water will have a sewer charge associated with it for residents that are connected to city sewer. If you plan to do large water consumption activities, (such as pressure washing, using sprinklers, etc.) it will have a greater impact on your bill after the 20th of September. For more details related to summer sewer averaging, visit: https://www.cityofkalama.com/departments/utility-department/utility-rates/summer-sewer-average
The September 26th, 2024 Kalama Civil Service meeting has been cancelled due to lack of agenda items. The next tentative meeting is scheduled for October 24, 2024 at 5pm in the Kalama City Council Chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama.
Street striping is happening within Kalama's City limits this Friday, September 13th, 2024 starting at 9am. The City has contracted with Specialized Pavement Marking, Inc. to give our city streets some fresh paint. If you're out driving in Kalama, please beware of the potential for wet paint on center lines (yellow ) and fog lines (white, outside lines). Thank you!
The next library board meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 5:15pm in the City Council Chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama. The agenda will include virtual attendance information, and will be available here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
City Council 9.5.2024
Mayor Reuter signed a proclamation to recognize September 17th-23rd, 2024 as Constitution Week.
The council held 2 public hearings. The first was to amend the 6-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2025-2030. Additions to the previously adopted plan include (1) a grant funded Transit Feasibility Study and (2) Old Pacific Highway Sidewalk projects. The TIP was adopted by Resolution 742. The 2nd public hearing was held to adopt a Complete Streets Program, which adopts a comprehensive approach to street development, incorporates all forms of transportation, and addresses issues of accessibility and ADA concerns. There was discussion of whether the program should be amended to include the word “horses” in the same manner as bicycles. There is nothing in the program that currently prohibits horses or animals. The program was adopted by Ordinance No. 1518.
The Council was briefed on the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding camping on public property and recommended the Police Chief work with city staff to update the existing Kalama Municipal Code.
Chief Herrera presented an executive summary of the Police Strategic Plan which was started in 2020. He highlighted the department’s progress and goal setting. He thanked all community stakeholders involved for their input and will present a finished report to the Council with projections for 2025-2030.
The City received $60K in state grant funding for an architectural survey and ADA access feasibility study for the Kalama Community Building and is working with the engineers, Gray & Osborne. Engineers will be scheduled for a site visit in October 2024, and a final report is expected to be complete in February 2025.
The Council adopted Resolution 743 to set a hearing on October 2, 2024 @ 10am for a Street Vacation petition for a portion of Birch and 8th Street right-of-way.
Reports:
- Library- The “Library of Things” has items available for check out such as pickle ball paddles, disc golf set, dryer vent cleaning kits and more.
- Tourism – Applications are now being accepted until September 30th for 2025 funding.
- Public Works – Paving has been completed by Lakeside on Birch Street using TBD funds.
- Finance – The auditor has begun the City’s two-year audit, and Councilmembers Geiger and Stanfill plan to attend audit meetings. The Council requested a budget workshop be held on September 19, 2024, @ 6pm to discuss priorities for 2025.
Summer Sewer averaging will end on September 20, 2024.
City Hall: Renovation is currently on schedule with interior painting starting and exterior prep work for painting in process. The windows have a long lead time so there are some concerns. On the schedule is the HVAC work, lighting, casework, and furniture installation. So far, the City has expended about $30K of the $68K budgeted contingency funds on change orders.
The Kalama Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, September 12th, 2024 at 6:00pm at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama. Agenda and Zoom information will be available here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
The Kalama Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024 at 5:30pm in the City Council Chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama. The agenda and virtual attendance information can be found here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
The Kalama Tourism Advisory Committee is accepting tourism applications for 2025 funding requests, now through September 30, 2024 @ 5pm. Find the application and details here: https://www.cityofkalama.com/community/tourism
If you have questions, please contact communityrelations@cityofkalama.com or 360-673-4908.
The Kalama City offices & Library will be closed on Monday, September 2nd, 2024 in observance of Labor Day. We acknowledge our hard working, dedicated City employees--including our police department, public works crew, city hall admin team, and public library staff. Each member plays an important role! Thank you for all you do!
Notice: Grinding and Paving of Birch Street between S. 3rd Pl and Military Rd
Lakeside Industries will be grinding the old, uneven asphalt off Birch Street between S. 3rd Pl and Military Rd starting at 2:30pm on Tuesday, September 3rd. Grinding will take approximately 3 hours. Paving of Birch St will happen on Thursday, September 5th. Expect traffic delays during both the grinding and paving.
For questions contact Kelly Rasmussen at Kalama Public Works. 360-673-3706 krasmussen@cityofkalama.com
The September Drum 4 Fun schedule is available here!
Location: Community Building, 216 Elm Street, Kalama, WA 98625
~Drum 4 Fun- classes are $5 per class, and paid 1 time monthly*.
* Classes are held on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00am-11:00am
September 2024 Session:
* Tuesdays only = $20
* Thursdays only = $20
* Tuesdays & Thursdays = $40
Class Dates: September 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26
Bring hand weights if you have them & water bottle. Other equipment will be provided.
Drumming has been shown to improve the physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects of our lives! Come have some fun with us. Sign up and pay online (see link "online payment" below), in City Hall, or before class starts. Registration Fees can be paid at City Hall or online at: https://www.invoicecloud.com/portal/(S(mhcmfgpcackfwblhul5eg1oj))/2/Site.aspx?G=e4ffe48f-b182-4a9c-ade5-efb498ab5aaa
Kalama Public Works will be performing work on a city water main in the intersection of Ivy and N. 4th Street on Tuesday, August 27th. The water main will be turned off while the work is being done. The work is scheduled to start at 9AM and water will be restored no later than 1PM on the same day. All work will take place on Tuesday, August 27th.
For questions, contact Kelly Rasmussen at Kalama Public Works: 360-673-3706, krasmussen@cityofkalama.com
The Kalama City Offices will be closed for the morning on Monday, August 26th, 2024 from 9am-1pm for an all-staff training session. Offices will re-open at 1pm to serve the public.
The Kalama City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 7:00pm to review the proposed adoption of the Complete Streets Plan for Kalama. This meeting will be held in the City Council chambers located at 320 N 1st Street, Kalama, and via Zoom. The meeting is open to the public and they are encouraged to attend. Questions can be directed to 360-673-4561. Agenda and Zoom information will be available here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
