E-MAIL TO THE EDITOR: Mayor Says Owners Of Bank Building Want To Open A Drive-Through Coffee Business

Allowing a new drive-through coffee shop on Bridgeport Way West and updating the city’s Six Year Transportation Plan were among the items discussed at this week’s University Place City Council meeting.

Banking on Coffee? – Property owners Gary and Pettingill are requesting the City Council to change the zoning on two parcels located at 4221 Bridgeport Way W. The existing (Columbia) bank/office building and parking lot are located in a Mixed Use-Office Zone; however, the owners are requesting a Mixed Use designation to allow a drive-through coffee shop in the future.

Questions regarding possible impacts from noise, speakers and traffic were raised along with the potential for additional signage to notify drivers about allowable exits and entrances as well as the “dead end” on 43^rd Street. Council consideration and public comments on this proposal are slated for November.

For information, please contact David Swindale at 253-460-2519.

Six Year Transportation Plan – Council adopted an updated Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) this week which identifies a variety of future road improvements. State law requires the city to adopt and update a plan each year; however, approving the Plan does not commit the city to any financial expenditures. Creating a plan, however, does enable the city to apply for various grants, many of which require projects to appear in the city’s TIP. For specific information on the project list, please visit www.CityofUP.com or contact City Engineer Jack Ecklund at 253.460.5411.

City Manager’s Report - Construction is underway with the installation of sheetrock for the , located on the second floor of the new Civic Building. Stay tuned for more information regarding the grand opening.

Upcoming Events –

Edgar Allan Poe – What better way to start Halloween weekend than with Edgar Allan Poe? Join noted actor Tim Hoban as he takes us back to witness the travails of Poe’s career along with performing classics such as ‘The Raven” and “Annabel Lee.” The evening also features “Northwest Heirlooms”: Folklore in Fiber with artists Helen Hein and Anne Doumit Sparks.

Don’t miss this free wonderful evening on 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday in the atrium of the Civic/Library Building. The event is the second offering of the Fall Art & Concerts series sponsored by UP For Art. Special thanks to sponsors Green Spot Teahouse and Skelley Piano. For more information, please visit www.upforart.org. Donations are appreciated. (Also, mark your calendars now for Guitarist Andrew Sherbrooke and Gourd Artists Stacy Annon and Sally Favors on Friday, Nov. 18.)

Happy Halloween – Please be extra careful and keep an eye out for trick or treaters on Monday!

Don't Forget To VOTE! - U.P. voters will select three individuals to serve four-year terms on the U.P. City Council. Two candidate forums and a Video Voter’s Guide are available online at www.CityofUP.com. Ballots can also be dropped off in the Pierce County Auditor’s Ballot Box located in front of the Public Safety Building on Drexler Drive.

Holiday Helpers – Volunteers are needed to help set up Homestead Park, decorate trees and other task for this year’s Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 3. We need people to help decorate the week before as well as assisting during the event and cleaning up afterwards. Financial donations are also needed to help transform Market Square into a magical setting for this year’s holiday concerts. Please contact Dave Gallagher at the U.P. Volunteer Center at dgallagher@upvolunteers.org or call 253-223-0039. Donations can be sent to “City of UP Tree Lighting,” 3715 Bridgeport Way West, U.P. 98466 or dropped off at City Hall, Attn. Marian Holloway.

Duck the Halls Caroling Contest – Start getting your teams together for the First Annual Duck the Halls Caroling Contest on Friday, Dec. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. UP For Art and Families Unlimited Network are sponsoring this fun event to help raise funds and collect food for the U.P. Food Bank. Please note that anyone can enter as long as one person on the team lives, works or goes to school in U.P. For contest rules and information, please visit www.upforart.org. Entry deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 16.

As always, I welcome your questions and comments. Please feel free to contact me at dklosowski@CityofUP.com.

Sincerely,

Debbie Klosowski

Mayor, City of University Place