City Council
SPECIAL NOTICE: POSITION 2 COUNCIL APPOINTMENT
CITY COUNCIL APPLICATIONS RECEIVED- VIEW HERE
City Council Position #2- Applications CLOSED
Councilmember Aislinn Palmer, City Council Position #2, submitted her resignation to Mayor David Faber on May 6, 2024, effective May 31, 2024, as she will be living outside of Port Townsend. State law prohibits Councilmembers from holding office if they reside outside of the city they represent (RCW 29A.04.151).
Article 3 of the Port Townsend City Council Rules of Procedure pairs with the state law (RCW 42.12.070), outlining how Council vacancies are to be filled “with the most qualified person available until an election is held.”
On May 20, 2024, City Council determined the timeline for the appointment process. On June 3, 2024, City Council finalized the application packet and interview approach.
The application period is open from June 5 to July 5, with materials due to the City Clerk by 4pm. The remaining timeline for appointment is as follows:
July 15, 2024: City Council Regular Meeting
Council will attend an Executive Session to decide on finalists for Position 2.
July 23, 2024: Special Session of City Council
In this special meeting held from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, Council will conduct 30-minute applicant interviews.
August 5, 2024: City Council Regular Meeting
Council's agenda will include deliberation and a decision on a Position 2 appointment.
August 7, 2024:
The City will issue a press release on the Position 2 appointment.
August 12, 2024: City Council Workshop
Appointee's first meeting. They will attend the Council workshop and serve the remainder of the Position 2 term through November 2025.
More information on eligibility, the role of the Port Townsend City Council, and the application process and packet can be found in the application itself, here.
Further questions about the application and appointment process can be directed to City Clerk Alyssa Rodrigues, arodrigues@cityofpt.us.
PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
There are many ways to participate in City meetings and be more engaged with your City government. Some options include attending meetings in-person, livestreaming, joining by webinar, or joining by phone. All meeting instructions can be found on the City web calendar.
Public in attendance and webinar participants will be able to provide up to three minutes of public comment during the meeting. Public comment will also be accepted by the Public Comment Submission form and will be included in the meeting record, provided submissions are received two hours before the start of each meeting. Please submit public comment at Public Comment Submission (fillout.com). Persons wishing to mail in public comment can do so by sending comments to City Hall at 250 Madison Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Please make sure "Public Comment" is clearly visible as part of the document.
Important Note: Effective December 1, 2023 the public comment email address will no longer be active. All public comment will need to be submitted using the link below.
Public Comment Submission (fillout.com)
Government
The City of Port Townsend is a Legislative branch of government. The Council members are elected officers and serve four-year terms. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the Council and serve two-year terms. We have a City Manager form of Government. The responsibilities and authority of the City Manager and the City Council are regulated by the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Section 35A.13.
Meetings
City Council business meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month. If the regularly scheduled meeting falls on a City observed holiday, the meeting will be held the next night (Tuesday). City Council workshop meetings are scheduled for the second Monday of each month. All City Council meetings and workshops are held at 6:00 p.m. in the second floor Council Chambers of Historic City Hall, 540 Water Street, Port Townsend.
All City Council meetings and workshops will begin at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noticed.
- Public Comment: All meetings are open to the public and public comment is welcomed at these meetings. You can also reach out to your elected officials with any comments or concerns. Meeting participants will be able to provide public comment during the meeting for up to three minutes.
- Public Hearings: Persons wishing to testify before City Council may do so either by submitting verbal testimony during the public hearing or by submitting written comments to the City Clerk. Written comments must be received by the close of the public hearing. Hearing documents are available for review in the City Clerk’s office. To submit any written comments for a public hearing:
- Submit: Public Comment Submission (fillout.com)
- Drop off or mail: 250 Madison St., Suite 2
- General Questions - email the City Clerk: cityclerk@cityofpt.us
Office Hours/Contact
Council members do not keep regular office hours at City Hall. You can contact Council Members by phone at (360) 379-2980, email: citycouncil@cityofpt.us, or write a letter and drop it off, or mail it to City Hall, 250 Madison Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368.
David grew up in Port Townsend, graduating from Port Townsend High School in 2001. After attending the Evergreen State College, Seattle University School of Law, and University of Washington School of Law, David & his wife Laura (née Wester, also originally of Port Townsend) returned to Port Townsend in 2013 to open his law firm Faber Feinson PLLC. David was elected to the Port Townsend City Council in 2015 and was re-elected in 2024.
Amy arrived in Port Townsend in 2000 as a wayward youth, homeless and escaping from poverty and substance abuse. Here she found a community of legitimate weirdos that supported and raised her up. Amy has since earned a certificate of Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington, as well as an Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership through the Association of Washington Cities.
Ben came to Port Townsend in 1976 as a 5-year-old with his commercial fishing family. They were drawn here for the great Port, burgeoning culture, deep history and – at the time – affordable housing. Ben chose an array of blue collar jobs, travel and founding an alternative newspaper over getting a proper four-year-degree. He now works as a vineyard manager and winemaker. He is married and has a three-year-old child that he hopes will be proud to call Port Townsend home.
Libby Urner Wennstrom has lived in Port Townsend since 1998, raising a family here and working at a variety of local organizations, including the Wooden Boat Foundation, Farmer’s Market, Jefferson Land Trust, PT Marine Science Center, and The Leader. In her “other life” as a technical writer and documentation project manager, she’s managed large scale projects and big budgets and led cross-disciplinary teams. She’s been a longtime community volunteer for PT Public Schools, Key City Public Theatre, and the Wooden Boat Festival, and currently serves as Board President for Salish Rescue.
Monica has made Port Townsend her home since 1985, where she raised her kids and has owned a landscaping business for 30 years. She has had the gift of being able to be part of our community for 36 years as a parent, business owner, neighbor, friend and volunteer.
Owen Rowe brings varied background and experience to City Council, ranging from educational publishing, technical writing, and digital font development to literary translation, voice acting, and Italian language teaching. Since first moving to Port Townsend in 1997, Owen has been involved with local arts and cultural institutions including the Port Townsend Public Library, the Port Townsend Film Festival, KPTZ, Centrum, and the Jefferson County Historical Society, and has served in multiple leadership roles on the board of The Food Co-op.
