PORT ANGELES – Port Angeles City Manager Nathan West delivered his State of the City Address Wednesday at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon, a fifty-minute presentation that was filled with good news and excitement for the future.

West began by talking about the environmental and economic indicators that measure our quality of life in Port Angeles, saying that those indicators were strong, healthy and moving in the right direction.

He particularly thanked the Lower Elwha Tribe for their contributions to preserving and restoring our rivers, shoreline, and harbor.

In terms of economics, West pointed out that building permits were up last year, and so were Sales, Lodging and Real Estate Excise Taxes.

West talked about the City’s two-year Strategic Plan, particularly the subject of housing and the soon-to-be-completed Housing Needs Assessment and how it will be used to come up with a strategy for creating housing for all economic levels.

West lauded his staff and the Council for the City’s balanced budget, accomplished without using any of the City’s Reserve Funds. He pointed out that expenditures are down, and that the City had 24% in Reserves, which he hoped would set a new standard.

West also drew attention to the many downtown construction projects expected to begin this year.

He ended by quoting the phrase “Together We Can” from a former City Council member.