The State of the City Annual Address to the People of Port Townsend

City news by Angela Downs 

The State of the City annual address to the people of Port Townsend was held March 4, in partnership with KPTZ 91.9 FM and hosted by Mayor Amy Howard and City Manager John Mauro. The address gave a sense of the city’s accomplishments and challenges from the previous year and provided an opportunity to engage in conversation about the future. 

The presentation was a synopsis of the 2025 Annual Report by Port Townsend. They shared initiatives for a sustainable future, including reference to the completed Comprehensive Plan, a continuation of the core work of providing basic city functions, and a 2026 outlook report that included working with partners and the community to focus on implementing the 2025-2045 Comprehensive Plan.

Mauro presented their key success of 2025, including a balanced, “fiscally responsible” budget. The city also received its first state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant in 20 years to build the first accessible playground at the recently renamed Camas Prairie Golf Park. The reason for the 20 year grant drought was due to the stalling of the last grant, which was awarded for the Kah Tai restrooms and wasn’t used. Finally in 2025, the restrooms were updated and soon after they received the grant for the playground.

As part of the key achievements to invest in city staff, they recruited and filled 44 open positions. The city also served over 3,500 visitors with the Visitor Information Services hub. There was a successful launch of the new Community Services Department, successfully integrating the library, parks and facilities, and arts and culture.

One remaining goal from 2025 is making the budget accessible and understandable for the public. Workshop sessions for the budget’s actionable value statement begin in July, where reactive and proactive responses will be discussed. Last year, the city overhauled the budget book design and created a new budget roadshow and a new budget video as part of the short educational video series. On the state of the budget, Mauro said, “The budget is not perennially stable. Things could happen tomorrow that really change our outlook. Even with adding $1 million a year to the rainy day fund, costs are outpacing revenue.”

Mauro identified one of the year’s challenges was navigating the encampment closure at the future Evans Vista site. The 2025 Annual Report lays out the general community dissatisfaction with the eviction process: “The best compassionate intentions, clear-cut implementation of City code, diligent partner communications, and creative and adaptable policy changes do not guarantee success on issues of structural and emotional complexity,” .

In email correspondence with the Beacon, Mauro wrote, “Oftentimes—such as in this case with a large and complex issue like homelessness—local government is forced into a no-win scenario. By some estimates, the City team did everything right but still failed.”

During the presentation, Mauro said there are no immediate answers to the crisis but that staff had a long debrief about the lessons learned and the unfair systems that lead to these tragedies. The Beacon article, Comprehensive new homeless housing plan will require execution, funding, and the 5 Year Homeless & Affordable Housing Services Plan explain possible approaches to the issue. 

A member of the public asked how the city is accounting for the unpredictable nature of the federal government. Mauro responded that we need to remember what bonds us and to never over rely on government grants. They expect $0 from the federal government when creating the budget. 

Mayor Howard reminded people that the three minute public comment during city council meetings is important, but that there are more and better ways to engage. She suggested emailing, going to open public meetings and attending the May 11 City Council Workshop outside City Chambers where there will be more opportunity for open discussion.