CITY OF SUMNER NEWSLETTERISSUE 31

“Building Our Community” is the theme for the11th Annual Sumner-Bonney Lake A r e aCommunities For Families CoalitionCommunity Summit planned for Thursday,March 18, at Sumner Presbyterian Church,1915 Washington Street.

The purpose of the summit is to bring togethercommunity members and leaders to examinenew opportunities for community engagementand to address issues of concern for youth andadults.

Following a dinner and keynote speech by JimDiers, Director of Seattle’s South DowntownFoundation, participants will break up intofocus groups to discuss specific areas of concern:youth recreation opportunities, job developmentand work-based learning opportunities foryouth, the Sumner Summer Concert Series,homelessness and adequate housing, the City ofSumner's new Community Grant program, dis-cussion around a community center in BonneyLake and substance abuse in the community.

“People will walk away with the knowledge andskills to help create growth and change in thecommunity, especially as it relates to supportingchildren, youth and families,” says Marilee Hill-Anderson, coordinator of the summit.

The forum is open to all community members.There will be participation by key elected com-munity leaders, and officials from the city,school district, and health department. Also par-ticipating will be members of the Yo u t hAdvisory Council and student representativesfrom area schools.

Dinner and summit activities begin at 5:15 p.m.and conclude at 8:30 p.m. A pre-summit work-shop begins at 3:15 p.m. Preregistration isrequired.

There is no charge. Forms are available atSumner City Hall. The Sumner School Districtadministration building at 1202 Wood Ave., orby calling (253) 891-6066.

MARCH 2004

The City of Sumner is proud to announce a new Community MatchingGrant program available to Sumner community groups to bring citi-zens and businesses together to solve problems and enhance the com-munity. The program was adopted by the Sumner City Council inFebruary.

The 2004 budget includes funding to help the community realize smallcapital projects and civic improvements by providing a 50/50 fundingmatch. Stronger communities are built by people working together asa community to communicate and strengthen social ties between oneanother. These funds, along with the commitment and participationof the community, are intended to mutually benefit all Sumner resi-dents.

A total of $15,000 has been allocated for 2004 to support the matchinggrant program. The City match for a single neighborhood project canrange from $250 to $7,500. Projects can include, but are certainly notlimited to, community events, community gardens, play equipment,and tree planting. Projects would be located on public property or apublic easement for the benefit of the entire community. Groups matchtheir fund request by providing volunteer labor implementing the pro-ject, generating in-kind gifts, by raising cash from local businesses, orthrough a combination of sources.

The application deadline for 2004 matching grants is May 3, 2004.Applications will be reviewed by the Parks Board and funds will beawarded based on application and project quality, support of the sur-rounding community, availability of the communities funding match,and other criteria that are explained further in the Applicant Guide.

The Sumner Community Matching Grant - Applicant Guide andApplication Form are available in PDF format on the City of Sumnerwebsite. Follow the link on the City’s web page athttp://ci.sumner.wa.us. The form is also available at the permitcounter at City Hall. For information, please call Robert Holler at(253) 891-3300 or email roberth@ci.sumner.wa.us.

Community Matching Grants Av a i l a b l e

■ Mayor’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 2

■ Public Works Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 3

■ Spring Cleanup Coming . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 3

■ Help Plant Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 4

■ Community Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 5

■ Golf Course Will Stay . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 6

■ Volunteer With Police . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 7

■ Ask Dr. Sumner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 8

SEE INSIDE

Public Invited to A n n u a lCommunity Summit

St. Patrick’s Dayparade ...see pg. 2

FREE!

SUMNER COMMUNITY CONNECTION2

CITY OF SUMNER

1104 Maple St. Sumner, WA 98390

253-863-8300253-863-2850 FAX

MAYORBarbara Skinner 891-3318

CITY COUNCILSteve Allsop 891-3331

Curt Brown 891-3334

Mike Connor 891-3332

Dave Enslow 891-3338

Mark Evers 891-3330

Leroy Goff 891-3335

Matt Richardson 891-3336

CITY STAFF

Andrew Neiditz City Administrator

Steve Zamberlin Asst. City Administrator/Human Resources

John Doan Asst. City Administrator/Community Development & Parks

Wendy Shook Court Administrator

Patricia Bosmans City Attorney

Susan Clary City Clerk

Mary Ann Norquist Finance/SystemsDirector

Steve Stringfellow Fire/Emergency Services Director

Colleen Wilson Police Chief

Bill Shoemaker Public Works Director

Bruce Johnson Community/Senior Service

Manager

CITY OFFICES

Administration/Finance 863-8300FAX 863-2850

Cemetery 863-6345

Court 863-7635

Fire (non-emergency) 863-5451

Golf Course 863-8198

Parks & Recreation 891-6500

Permit Center 863-1230

Police (non-emergency) 863-6384

Senior Center 863-2910

Utilities & Billing 826-9400

Website: www.ci.sumner.wa.us

POLICE/FIRE EMERGENCYCALL 911

MARCH 2003

We are on the verge of my favorite season – Spring. Thedays are longer, warmer, and brighter and the daffodilsare getting taller by the minute. In other words, it

must be parade time in Sumner!

Sunday, March 14th at 1 pm, is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.We’ll see our local Irish leprechaun (Jim Agan), our local Irishdoctor (Pat Duffy), the “Irish llamas”, and lots of Irish people(some honorary but all wearing green).

Saturday, April 17th at 3 p.m. is the 71st Annual DaffodilParade. For you newer residents, this annual parade starts in Tacoma, thencomes to Puyallup, Sumner and Orting, with bands, decorated floats, dignitaries,marching units, clowns, horses, and people, all there to welcome spring and cele-brate the favorite flower of the Puyallup Valley.

2004 is already a busy year in Sumner. Improvements on downtown Main Streethave started and soon we’ll see new trees, street lights, etc., from the train sta-tion to Wood Avenue. The 24th Street Interchange on SR 167 is making greatprogress and will be close to completion this fall. Sumner School District’s newAdministration Building is a beautiful, brick two-story building of traditionalstyling, built behind Wade Calavan Elementary School (which will be removed),and it already seems to fit into Sumner as though it’s been here forever. Our“Sumner Reads Together” program is great fun. I hope you’ve been taking part inthe discussions.

As you may have noticed, Fred Meyer has opened their new store in Sumner. Thebuildings are attractive and we can purchase clothing or a pair of shoes in Sumnerfor the first time in a couple decades. We expect more traffic generated byFreddy’s customers, but improvements have been made to the streets around thesite and to the traffic light at Main and Valley to manage the traffic.

Sumner is a growing community and, while it’s sometimes difficult to deal withchange, change is inevitable. We want to preserve what we love about our com-munity and we elect people to represent us who feel the same way. The CityCouncil, City Staff and I are determined to maintain the “Sumner” feel of ourtown as people build houses and businesses around us.

We do our level best to interpret your wishes and take Sumner in the directionyou want us to go and your comments always help. Please contact us at the num-bers listed - but first, go plant a daffodil!

Mayor Barbara Skinner

Barbara Skinner

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Please join us for the 4th Annual St.Patrick's parade on Sun., March 14 at 1p.m. The parade will start at HeritagePark, continue down Main St. and finish atthe high school.

Afterwards, please join us for a dedicationof the historical high school sign along withold high school alumni and sports photos.Refreshments will be served. This event issponsored by Sumner Promotions in con-junction with the Sumner School Districtand the Sumner Historical Society.

St. Patrick's Day Parade is Sunday, March 14

A classic car rolls down Main Streetin a past St. Patrick’s Day parade.

SUMNER COMMUNITY CONNECTION3 MARCH 2004

Afamous NewEngland philoso-pher wrote about

the need to “Simplify!”Perhaps, he knew thatbureaucratic confusionwould soon enoughbecome the hallmark ofmany citizens’ p e r c e p-tions of their govern-ment.

Somewhat tongue-in-cheek, visualize thisadmonition at a Council meeting on a con-troversial topic:

“WE HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED INANSWERING ALL OF OUR QUESTIONSAND THE QUESTIONS WE HAV EFOUND ONLY SERVE TO RAISE AWHOLE NEW SET OF QUESTIONS. INSOME WAYS WE FEEL THAT WE ARE ASCONFUSED AS EVER, BUT WE BELIEVEWE ARE CONFUSED ON A H I G H E RLIVEL, AND ABOUT MORE IMPORTANTTHINGS.”

So, in Sumner City Hall, we’ve embarked ona customer service initiative, whichincludes the willingness to help our cus-tomers and citizens sort out the confusion ofgovernmental regulations. Whether it’s inthe processing of a building permit, thereview of a utilities bill, or even the appli-cation for a passport, City staff will attemptto make our governmental processes moreuser-friendly.

We’re even working on a new approach toour reception desk in our facility so thatcustomers may be able to get more ques-tions answered on the first floor immediate-ly after they enter the building. We stillhave a long way to go, but the first step onthis journey is the awareness that “simpli-fy” is a worthwhile goal that makes mattersmore manageable for everyone.

Our police chief, one of the City’s newerdepartment directors, refers to “the SumnerWay” when she speaks of our community’semphasis on quality and connectedness. Anew initiative on customer service at CityHall is consistent with “the Sumner Way.”

So, we’re looking for input and feedback,and would appreciate hearing back fromour citizens and customers. If there’s a Cityprocedure with which you’re involved and itseems too confusing, let us know. Send anote, give us a call, or email us, and we’llsee whether we can practice what wepreach.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S MESSAGE

Andrew Neiditz

Commuter Rail Access ProjectConstruction is underway on thecommuter rail access project.Currently the contractor isinstalling the underground utilitieson Cherry Street. Work will contin-ue on Cherry Street for the nextmonth as sidewalks are replacedand a new roadway is built. Theproject will also include new streetand sidewalk lighting on MainStreet and Alder. Construction is tocontinue until the end of March.

Valley Avenue EastThis project will widen Va l l e yAvenue East from the Bridge StreetBridge to Huston Road. The projectwill include the construction of twonew traffic signals to improve safetyand the railroad crossing. The pro-ject design is nearly complete. TheCity is working with the railroad topurchase right-of-way. It will beunder construction late this spring.Project completion is expected bythe end of fall this year.

Fryar Avenue Bridge Improve-mentsThis project will repair one of thebridge abutments, reconstruct thebridge approaches and install newsafety railing. The constructiondesign is completed but waiting forfinal Federal approval before bidscan be requested. This project isexpected to be under construction inlate spring this year.

Bridge Street Bridge Mainte-nance ProjectThe Bridge Street bridge projectwill repair damaged structural com-ponents and repaint the BridgeStreet Bridge. The project plansand specifications are currentlybeing prepared. This project isscheduled to begin by mid summer2004.

24th Street/North SumnerInterchangeThe interchange construction is con-tinuing. Currently the contractor isplacing material over 24th Streetand continuing with Highway 167’soverpass construction. This projectis currently scheduled to be com-pleted by the end of this summer.

Sumner Wastewater TreatmentPlant UpgradeWork on this project is building thelarge tank structures. Over the nextfew months, several new equipmentbuildings will be started. The pro-ject is on schedule and at this timeis to be completed by the end ofsummer 2005.

Tacoma / Puyallup IntersectionImprovement ProjectThe City is currently preparingplans to reconstruct this intersec-tion. Improvements will includereconstructed roadway, sidewalkmodifications and enlarged curvesto ease truck movement through theintersection.

C y p r u s / Wood Area SidewalkConstructionThe City is preparing plans to con-struct sidewalks in the Cyprus /Wood area. Actual constructionlocations have not been determined.It is expected that this project willbe constructed by the end of sum-mer 2004.

Water System FluoridationEquipment InstallationThe City’s water department is cur-rently installing the fluoridationequipment at the City’s watersources. It is anticipated that thiswork will be completed this spring.

Public Works Improvement Projects

Spring CleanupSumner’s annual Spring Clean-up takes place March 29 -April 2. This is your chance to dispose of unwanted itemsand yard waste free of charge. Watch for information andcoupons in your utility bills. The City encourages residentsto take advantage of this program as it will continue tokeep Sumner one of the most clean and recognized citiesin Washington.

SUMNER COMMUNITY CONNECTION4

Buy a HeritagePark Paver

Why not purchase a brick paver as amemorial for a loved one or become apermanent part of Reuben Knob-lauch Heritage Park. Located aroundthe dance floor in front of the gazebo,these pavers are an exciting and last-ing way to leave your mark on thecommunity. The cost is only $35.00for each paver and you may order asmany pavers as you want.

For more information, please contactSally Abrams at (253) 891-3303 oremail at sallya@ci.sumner.wa.us.

MARCH 2004

SUMNER READS TOGETHER 2004

COME JOIN US! The two book dis-cussions and one program have beenhighly successful for the city-wideexploration of Peace Like a River byLeif Enger. There is still time to joinwith your neighbors by attending a funand interactive discussion group forthis interesting book.

Copies of the book are stillavailable to borrow at theSumner Library and forsale at "AGOOD BOOK" onMain Street and other booksources.

The “Sumner Reads Together 2004”Program is co-sponsored by theSumner Arts Commission and thePierce County Library System withpartnerships and support by Dillanos

Coffee, The News Tribune and otherin-kind donations.

All events are held at the SumnerLibrary and open to the public withoutcharge. They are designed to be ofinterest to both those who have readthe book and for those who have notyet had the opportunity.

We look forward to seeing you at one ofthe events!

Upcoming events include:

■ March 24th at 7:00 p.m., book dis-cussion■ April 6th at 7:00 p.m.The Tahoma Range Rhymers willbroaden our appreciation of cowboypoetry.

Warning Siren Testing

Pierce County Emergency Manage-ment will be conducting a test of theoutdoor warning sirens that would beused to alert citizens in the event of alahar mudflow. The test is slated tooccur on Monday, May 17th, 2004 at10:00 a.m. This test will involve theoutdoor warning siren located nearSumner High School in addition to theother sirens located at McAlderElementary School, McMillan, Orting,Puyallup and Fife. Other parts of theemergency broadcast system will betested at this time as a part of the out-door warning siren test.

Join fellow community members on Saturday, April 24,from 9 a.m. to noon, and help plant trees at Heritage Parkin downtown Sumner.

There is no need to preregister. Just drop by Heritage Parkat 9 a.m. and you will be put to work beautifying thisdowntown park. Work gloves and tools will be provided.Heritage Park is on Cherry Street just off Main Street.

The event is part of county-wide ParksAppreciation Day where residents in commu-nities throughout Pierce County will be intheir neighborhood parks, sprucing limbs,grooming grounds, combing beaches andplanting more flowers and trees. It is held inconjunction with Arbor Day.

Help Plant Trees at Heritage Park

The Sumner Community Food Bank, at 15625 Main St. E., has extended itshours and now is open every Thursday evenings from 7 - 9 p.m. Regular hoursfor clients to receive food are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 1-3 p.m.,and Thursday, 7 - 9 p.m. Clients are served by appointment or walk-in.

The generous support from the Sumner community has provided the food bankwith enough food and volunteers to add these extra serving hours. Funds wereraised by Sumner Rotary’s golf tournament “Food Bank Scramble” and dona-tions given directly to the Sumner Community Food Bank.

For further details, please contact Robyn DeLorm at (253) 863-8136.

Sumner Food Bank Extends Hours

The siren is next to the high schoolfootball stadium

SUMNER COMMUNITY CONNECTION5

CI T Y HAL L CA L E N D A R

MARCH 15City Council Meeting,7 p.m., Council Chambers

MARCH 17Youth Commission,6 p.m., Police Conference room

MARCH 22City Council Study Session,6 p.m., Council Chambers

MARCH 25Arts Commission, 6 p.m., Upstairs Conference

APRIL 1Planning Commission,7 p.m., Council Chambers

APRIL 5City Council Meeting,7 p.m., Council Chambers

APRIL 8Forestry Commission,4 p.m., Upstairs conference room

Design Commission,6 p.m., Council Chambers

APRIL 12Parks Committee,5 p.m., Upstairs conference room

City Council Study Session,6 p.m., Council Chambers

APRIL 19City Council Meeting,7 p.m., Council Chambers

APRIL 21 Youth Commission,6 p.m., Police Conference room

APRIL 22Arts Commission, 6 p.m., Upstairs Conference room

APRIL 26City Council Study Session,6 p.m., Council Chambers

MAY 3City Council Meeting,7 p.m., Council Chambers

MAY 6Planning Commission,7 p.m., Council Chambers

MAY 10Parks Committee,5 p.m., Upstairs conference room

City Council Study Session,6 p.m., Council Chambers

MAY 13Forestry Commission,4 p.m., Upstairs conference room

Design Commission,6 p.m., Council Chambers

MAY 17City Council Meeting,7 p.m., Council Chambers

MAY 19Youth Commission,6 p.m., Police Conference room

MAY 24City Council Study Session,6 p.m., Council Chambers

MAY 27Arts Commission, 6 p.m., Upstairs Conference room

MAY 31Memorial Day,City Hall closed

APRIL

MARCH

COMMUNITY EVENTS

MARCHMarch 14 Annual St. Patrick’s Parade, 1:00 p.m., Heritage

Park down Main St.March 18 Community Summit, Sumner Presbyterian Church,

3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.March 19 Daffodil Coronation, Church of All Nations,

Tacoma, 7:00 p.m.March 24 Sumner Reads Together 2004 book discussion,

7:00 p.m., Sumner Library

APRILApril 3 Junior Daffodil Parade, 10:00 a.m., TacomaApril 6 Sumner Reads Together 2004 program “Tahoma

Range Rhymers”, 7:00 p.m., Sumner Library

April 10 Fire Department Easter Egg Hunt, 9:00 a.m.- noon at SHS Stadium

April 15-18 Puyallup Spring Fair April 17 71st Annual Daffodil Parade, 3 p.m. in Sumner April 24 Parks Appreciation Day / Arbor Day; 10:00 a.m.;

Heritage Park

MAYMay 31 Memorial Veteran’s Ceremony, 10:00 a.m. at

Cemetery

MARCH 2004

MAY

The City Council has decided tokeep the Sumner Meadows GolfCourse. After reviewing the courseperformance and operations, alongwith alternatives to sell the proper-ty for development, the Council haselected to keep the course. Thecourse has struggled since openingin 1995 because of the slow econo-my, construction on Stewart Road,and a decline of golfing nation-wide.

The course was planned a decade ago to both protect open space, provide recre-ational opportunities and to support the wastewater treatment plant.Unfortunately, the use for sewage disposal turned out not to be feasible.

The City will immediately begin looking for a private partner who can work withthe City to improve the facility, provide a new clubhouse, and operate the course.The City will also be reviewing over the next two months what the fate is of theland south of the course. The approximately 60 acres could be available for ahousing development or a small industrial area. The City may also seek grantsto fund the long-term protection of this area as open space.

During the past couple months, the City heard significant support for keeping thegolf course. Although a small number of citizens golf, supporters included thosewho saw value in saving the open space during a time of rapid growth. Becauseof the existing debt on the golf course, selling the course to a long-term golf courseoperator was not an option. The City looked at several proposals which includeda major industrial development with commercial along Stewart Road and indus-trial behind it, or a large residential development.

For additional information about the course, visit the City's website and click onrecreation. For information about the status of the course, please contact Parksand Facilities Manager Lee Anderson at (253) 826-9420 or email him atleea@ci.sumner.wa.us.

MARCH 2004SUMNER COMMUNITY CONNECTION5

The results are in! About 370 peopleresponded to the Community Surveythat was distributed in the Decembernewsletter. The results will be used toassist in updating the City’sComprehensive Plan and determiningwhat topics are priorities for amendingor changing. Staff is preparing a finalreport and analysis of the results. Fora copy of the report contact: RyanWindish at ryanw@ci.sumner.wa.us orcall (253) 891-3301.

The overall rating of Sumner’s qualityof life in the results was good to excel-lent. The following are some interest-ing facts:

■ When asked which aspects of theSumner community contributed toimproving their quality of life, themajority of the responses pointed toparks and a “sense of community,” fol-lowed closely by the environment andevents.

■ Traffic ranks the highest amongaspects of the community that has con-tributed the most to decreasing thequality of life in Sumner.

■ Regarding housing, the majority ofthe respondents said that they wouldlike to see more single-family residen-tial and less apartments and mobilehomes. The responses were fairlyevenly split between a desire for townhomes and condominiums.

■ A significant majority (82%) of therespondents do not have anyone intheir household riding the commutertrain.

■ Seventy-eight percent (78%) of therespondents have “Never” used theSumner golf course or don’t golf. Whenasked how valuable they believe it is toretain the golf course, approximately43% said it was “Valuable” to“Extremely Valuable”.

■ Overall the responses pointed to arelatively high sense of personal safetyduring the day at home, downtown,and in parks. The sense of personalsafety was somewhat lower for parksand downtown at night. At home atnight still ranked “safe” or “very safe”.

In order to allow for time to adequate-ly study potential changes to the City’szoning regulations, the City Counciladopted an interim development regu-lation that prohibits new applicationsfor multi-family residential structures.

The interim regulation applies to all ofthe City except the Town Center, wherethere is currently a significant plan-ning effort to provide additional hous-ing opportunities. As required by Statelaw, permits that were already pendingwere not effected by the change. A pub-lic hearing on the interim regulationwill be part of the April 5th CityCouncil meeting.

The interim regulation will remain ineffect for at least six months while theCity Council and Planning Commission

complete work on the update to theComprehensive Plan. Property ownerswith multi-family zoned land can stillpursue development with alternativehousing types using small lots ordetached cottages. The ordinance alsoprohibits new applications for multi-plex homes in Low Density Residentialzones. These types of small multi-fami-ly structures were intended to providea mix of housing in neighborhoods,similar to what exists in the downtowncore. During the next six months theCity will study the degree to which themulti-plex home concept has been suc-cessful.

For additional information about theregulation or the Comprehensive PlanUpdate, contact Ryan Windish at (253)891-3301 or ryanw@ci.sumner.wa.us.

City Council Decides to Keep Golf Course Community SurveyResults Tabulated

Sumner Meadows will remain a golf course.

City calls ‘Time Out’ on Multi-family Structures

SUMNER COMMUNITY CONNECTION7

Community Connections is profilingthe various departments in the City ofS u m n e r. This month is the PoliceDepartment.

As the Sumner community hasgrown over the years, so has itsPolice Department. Once a

small town, part-time police force,today it a 24-hour force that providesthe full gamut of police services to thecommunity.

The Police Department has 32 full-time and four part-time employees,including 19 commissioned officers and10 communications officers. PoliceChief Colleen Wilson oversees theentire department while Lt. We sTucker commands the OperationsDivisions that includes investigators,sergeants and patrol officers.

Other department divisions includeanimal control services which are con-ducted jointly with the City ofPuyallup. Under an agreement,Puyallup provides Sumner jail ser-vices, while Sumner pays for animalcontrol for both cities.

The Police Department also has an evi-dence technician, parking enforcementofficer, school resource officer, commu-nications and record technicians.

Not all police services are provided in-house. The Sumner Police Departmentpartners with other public safety agen-cies for special services such as SWATteams. A number of surrounding citieshave collaborated to form one SWAT

team that can be called in to situationsin each city. Sumner provides twomembers for that team.

Other police agencies work with theSumner Police Department. For exam-ple, the State Patrol is sometimescalled in to investigate traffic fatali-ties, and the FBI assists with bank rob-beries.

JANUARY 2004

DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Police departmtent members pictured at a recent awards banquet are top row, fromleft: Pamela Mandery, Jason Temple, Kenny Hill, Loren Houselog, Chad Kiblinger,Dave Strader, Ryan Wyrwitzke and Barb Schmeizer. Middle row: Erica Brown, NikkiThawsh, Marsha McGehee, Wes Tucker, Bonnie Lugo, Matt Kurle, Matt Watson, GlenWhaley, Mark Mears, Dennis Dorr, Tony Richardson, Troy Nikolao, Ron Lawson andChief Colleen Wilson. Bottom row: Alice Jacobson, Rhonda Hopkins, Amy Parker,Lisa DeGrandis and Bambi Thawsh.

The Sumner Police Department recently put out a call forvolunteers from the community who would like to help thedepartment in various ways, whether it be filing records ordriving around town in a Citizens Patrol program.

The response from the community was good, says ChiefColleen Wilson, and today there are seven people serving asvolunteers, some doing clerical work and computer entry,and others participating in the patrols.

The Citizens Patrol is a new program in Sumner that hasbeen successfully implemented in other cities. After thor-ough training, the citizen patrollers drive around the com-munity in a car provided by the police department, clearlymarked as a “Citizens Patrol” vehicle.

The patrollers are extra eyes and ears for the PoliceDepartment. They check on houses where residents haveinformed the department they are away on vacation, andlook for suspicious activities in business parking lots, neigh-borhoods, alleys and other places around town. They haveno enforcement powers; if they see something suspicious,they immediately call a regular police officer to respond.

The Citizens Patrol also is being used to staff the mobiletraffic radar machines placed around the city to inform dri-vers of their speeds. The volunteers will record the licensenumbers of speeding vehicles, and those drivers will be sentfriendly reminders (not infractions) from the city about safedriving with the hopes that drivers will slow down the nexttime they are on that particular roadway.

The Police Department welcomes more citizens who arewilling to commit at least eight hours a month as a policevolunteer. For information or to sign up as a volunteer, con-tact the Police Department at 863-6384.

Police Department Serves Residents24-Hours-a-Day

Assist Your Police Departmentby Serving as a Volunteer

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

SUMNER ,WAPERMIT NO. 1

ECRWSS

CITY OF SUMNER

1104 Maple St. Sumner, WA 98390

SUMNER CITY COUNCIL

Postal Customer

SUMNER COMMUNITY CONNECTION8

JANUARY

■ Adopted Resolution No. 1115 amending CouncilRules changing the title of Mayor Pro-Tem to DeputyMayor.

■ Approved the 2004-2006 Collective BargainingAgreement with Teamsters Local 313.

FEBRUARY

■ Adopted Ordinance No. 2073: Refuse RateIncrease.

■ Adopted Ordinance No. 2074: Interim ZoningRegulations.

■ Adopted Ordinance No. 2075: Interlocal Agreementwith Drainage District 11.

■ Adopted Resolution No. 1116: Community MatchingGrant Program.

MikeConnor

MattRichardson

LeroyGoff

Curt Brown

MarkEvers

DaveEnslow

SteveAllsop

MARCH 2004

The City gets most of the water supply fromsprings located along the hillsides east ofS u m n e r. These springs drain groundwatercollected on the plateau above Sumner as faraway as Enumclaw. Lake Tapps also providessome of that groundwater. In addition, the City

uses several artesian wells located in valley to collect ground-water from deep below the City (about 250 feet down). Thesedeep wells recharge at the flanks of Mt. Rainier.

Email your questions to drsumner@ci.sumner.wa.us

COUNCIL ACTIONS

Ask Dr. Sumner

Where does our drinking water come from?