Tacoma Narrows Bridge Committee meeting Thursday

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Citizen Advisory Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Gig Harbor Civic Center for its second of three public meetings regarding the Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll rate recommendation process for the 2011 fiscal year (July 2010 to June 2011).

The committee will review updated financial statements and traffic and revenue numbers to begin its discussion of possible toll rate changes that would take effect July 1, 2010.

There will be another meeting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Gig Harbor Civic Center.

Preliminary 2010 city budget now available online

The City of Gig Harbor’s proposed $49 million 2010 budget is available online or at the City Clerk’s desk.

Those who are interested in an electronic copy can visit www.cityofgigharbor.net and search for “2010 Budget.”

The first public hearing to accept testimony on the proposed budget is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 23. The second public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 14.

Both hearings are during regular city council meetings, which are on Monday nights at the Gig Harbor Civic Center.

Narrows Strut Busters deliver turkeys to food banks

The local chapter of the Narrows Strut Busters delivered 187 turkeys to five local food banks while they participated in the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Turkey Hunters Care Program last Saturday.

Turkeys were delivered to food banks in Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Belfair and the Key Peninsula.

In its sixth year of participating in the event, the Narrows Strut Busters chapter has donated 941 turkeys, a ham and $300.

City of Gig Harbor commissions have openings

Gig Harbor Mayor Chuck Hunter is issuing a call for citizens who are interested in serving on the Gig Harbor Planning Commission or the Arts Commission.

The appointed will serve the remainder of a six-year term that ends in June 2014.

Those interested in serving on the Planning Commission should send a letter of interest by Dec. 4. The Arts Commission position will remain open until it’s filled.

Planning Commission applicants should live within the Urban Growth Area of the City of Gig Harbor. Please send a letter of interest and application to Mayor Chuck Hunter, City of Gig Harbor, 3510 Grandview St., Gig Harbor, WA 98335.

Both positions are voluntary and not subject to compensation. Applications can be downloaded at www.cityofgigharbor.net.

Pierce County to hold water quality, habitat project event

Pierce County, along with its partners, the City of Lakewood, Pierce Conservation District and the Puyallup River and Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed Councils, will hold a community open house to celebrate local water quality and habitat projects and discuss grant opportunities for new projects.

The open house will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Puyallup Activity Center, 210 W. Pioneer Ave. in Puyallup.

The meeting will present past projects and gather ideas for future proposals.

Completed projects include stream and wetland restoration, riparian buffer plantings, and education and outreach activities.

Most of the projects were completed under the Puyallup/Chambers-Clover Small Grants Program, funded primarily by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

In 2008, the program supported 19 small projects in the Puyallup River and Chambers-Clover watersheds, and it will soon award a second round of local water quality and habitat grants.

A similar program administered by the Puyallup River Watershed Foundation provided nearly $1,500 for three additional projects in the Puyallup River watershed.

Altogether, the two programs awarded almost $44,000 to organizations, schools, local governments and individuals in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,500.

“We’re extremely pleased to see these projects being funded and appreciate all the hard work done this past year,” said Dan Wrye, Public Works and Utilities water quality manager. “These grants are a great way for agencies and citizens to work together to improve Pierce County’s water resources.”

Visit www.piercecountywa.org/sgp for the Puyallup/Chambers-Clover Small Grants Program. Visit www.piercecountywa.org/prwc for the Puyallup River Watershed Foundation Program.