04/01/2002 - Work Study - MinutesPort Orchard, Washington
April 1 , 2002
Council of the City of Port Orchard, Washington, called to order for a Study Session by Mayor Leslie J. Weatherill
8.! 7:30PM ;o,t City Hall, 216 Prospect Street.
Council members present: John Clauson, Don Morrison, Robert Geiger, Ron Rider, and Todd Cramer.
Staff present: City Engineer Larry Curies, City Treasurer Kris Tompkins, and City Clerk Parks.
Mayor Weatherill welcomed those present and opened the meeting stating the purpose of this Special Session is
to discuss telecommunications and the process to bring fiber optics to Port Orchard and the South Kitsap area.
David Jones representing Kitsap Public Utilities District (KPUD) outlined their efforts and progress to install the
backbone of a fiber optics infrastructure within Kitsap County. During the 2000 legislative session, SSB 6675 was
approved allowing public utility districts and rural port districts to provide telecommunication services.
KPUD fiber optics will be tied into the Northwest Open Access Network in the Olympia/Shelton area. The short-
term goal is to run the backbone from the Shelton/Belfair area north through Bremerton to the Kingston area.
Long-term goals are to loop the backbone infrastructure through Jefferson, Clallam, Island and Skagit Counties for
redundancy. As a wholesale provider KPUD will focus on providing access where retail customers have
requested services and where studies show a potential future need. At present fiber service io the Port Orchard
area is not included in the initial installation phase, however KPUD could include Port Orchard if the city and
community want access to their service.
Mr. Jones outlined project status and current issues facing KPUD. They must secure necessary right-of-way
access; are negotiating with Owes! for possible use of Owes! conduit across Warren Avenue Bridge in Bremerton;
and must coordinate with contractor's schedules. He also summarized the four primary things KPUD needs from
Port Orchard:
1. Help in locating a place to install routers and co-location spaces.
2. Help to identify qualified retail providers
3. Negotiation of a franchise agreement with the city
4. Help in attaining information for existing fiber optics, and future builds that may be planned in the
south end by companies such as Charter Cable and AT&T.
Council Clauson questioned what the cost would be for KPUD to bring their fiber to Port Orchard. Mr. Jones
responded with an estimate of $500,000. The cost for households and/or businesses to connect would be
approximately $1,500 -$2,000.
Mr. Jones stated that if the franchise is approved soon, KPUD could run fiber optics to Port Orchard as early as
July 2002. Mr. Jones suggested that city codes and policies be reviewed to clarify if any special requirements are
mandated to assure no surprises during the construction phase.
At 9:00 PM Mayor Weatherill adjourned the meeting. '4 .. =
Leslie J~erill, Mayor Patricia Parks, City Clerk