HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/17/2026 - Work Study - MinutesDocusign Envelope ID: CB3BEDFF-2611-47DF-9461-2ABE999E878D
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ORCHARD
Meeting Location:
Council Chambers
216 Prospect Street
Port Orchard, WA 98366
City Council
Minutes
Contact us:
Phone (360) 876-4407
cityhall@portorchardwa.gov
www.portorchardwa.gov
Work Study Session of Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Mayor Putaansuu called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call was taken by the City Clerk as follows:
Present: John Morrissey, Mayor Pro -tern, Position No. 2
Shirah Dedman, Councilmember, Position No. 6
Mark Trenary, Councilmember, Position No. 1
Eric Worden, Councilmember, Position No. 4
Heidi Fenton, Councilmember, Position No. 5
Robert Putaansuu, Mayor
Absent: Jay Rosapepe, Councilmember, Position At -Large
Scott Diener, Councilmember, Position No. 3
Audio/Visual was successful.
Staff present: Public Works Director Ryan, Community Development Director Bond, City
Clerk Wallace, and Deputy City Clerk Floyd.
Staff present via Zoom Councilmember Morrissey and City Clerk Wallace.
1. CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Putaansuu led the audience and Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Community Event Center Update
Donor Program
Angie Tomisser with Rice Fergus Miller (RFM), Jemma Radick with Studio SC, and Cory
Binau, Studio SC, provided a presentation 'Port Orchard Community Events Center Donor
Program' which included tiered donor strategies, costs, donor recognition wall, donor room
naming and signage, material options, locations, Stories of our Shores, and donor wall
options.
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Additional discussion was held which included donor campaigns, the look of the donor
recognition wall, lettering for glass doors, bench plaques, stainless steel or black tipped
lettering options, donor room name costs -assigned value or names places per square foot,
fundraising and community outreach, concerns with donor pricing and constructing
before we are ready, and corporate sponsors.
Council direction: Council would like to move forward with the stone work donor
recognition wall, look into hiring a contracted development person to raise funds, and
using the rounded assigned values as a starting point.
Kraken Sculpture/Play Structure
Holly Williams with PSOMAS provided a brief presentation which included location,
vision, and quality.
Additional discussion was held which included liability on having a play structure instead of
a sculpture, features of the kraken sculpture, costs, different materials, play surfacing, scale
and maximizing the space, engraving and naming, fundraising, and next steps.
Council direction: Staff to negotiate a scope and fee for designing the kraken as pictured
in the presentation.
B. Tree Canopy
Public Works Director Ryan provided an update of the City's NPDES storm water permit.
One of the upcoming requirements is that we will have to maintain certain standards
for tree canopy, particularly in underserved areas.
Public Works Director Ryan and Community Development Director Bond provided a
presentation 'Tree Canopy Requirements' which included overburdened communities,
City of Port Orchard's overburdened population, and tree canopy planning -path forward.
Additional discussion was held regarding what an overburdened community is, 2022
overburdened communities assessment, key factors, overburdened audiences, set long-
term tree canopy goals, integrate stormwater management, prioritize equity,
McCormick Woods and McCormick West tree canopy, and enhancements to city owned
properties.
Council direction: No direction was given.
C. Washington Opportunity Zones Program 2.0
Community Development Director Bond said the City was just notified that the
Department of Commerce is soliciting proposals for opportunity zones and provided a brief
background. This opportunity zone proposal is focused specifically on incomes. At the end
of the year, the governor is going to identify which zones have been nominated and pick
them through that process.
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Port Orchard has two census tracts eligible for nomination, purely based on income; the
Bethel census tract north of Sedgwick; and and the Bethel census tract south of Bethel,
located in both Port Orchard and the unincorporated county. The threshold is for the
median family income to be 70% or below average. Our downtown census tract was an
opportunity zone but is no longer eligible because the income has risen and the criteria
has changed. Applications open March 11th and close April 10th.
Discussion was held regarding opportunity zones in Port Orchard and Kitsap County,
tribal land, incentives, and tax breaks.
Council direction: Community Development Director Bond will complete applications
and submit for both census tracts.
D. Town Hall Dates and Locations
Mayor Putaansuu explained there are tentative dates for the Town Hall meetings and
mentioned Councilmember Morrissey asked about not having them all on a Thursday.
The dates are Thursday, April 2, Thursday, June 4, and Thursday, September 3.
Discussion was held regarding the two Councilmembers who are not in attendance to
provide their feedback, locations, Easter weekend falls around the April 2nd date, not using
City Hall as a location, who is responsible for reserving the locations, possible changes to
the June 4th and September 3rd dates, and Mayor Putaansuu will add this discussion to the
next Council meeting agenda if there is time.
Council direction: Move the Town Hall meeting from April 2nd to April 9th and hold at
McCormick Woods, meet at Gathered [702 Bay Street Port Orchard] on June 4th, meeting
at a church for the September meeting, and Mayor Putaansuu will contact the two
Councilmembers who are not in attendance and provide an update.
3. GOOD OF THE ORDER
Councilmember Dedman voiced her concerns about opportunity zones, explaining that people
who are struggling to pay their property tax, property values can go up from people buying
and selling and not putting real investment into this community.
4. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m. No other action was taken.
Signed by:
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Brandy Wallace, MMC, City Clerk
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Robert Putaansuu, Mayor