04/08/2019 - Minutes
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City of Port Orchard
Economic Development and Tourism Committee
Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 8, 2019
Committee Members Present: Council Members Bek Ashby (Chair), Scott Diener, Jay Rosapepe
City Officials and Staff: Mayor Rob Putaansuu, Deputy City Clerk Jenine Floyd, Community Development Director Nick
Bond, Long Range Planner Keri Sallee
Guests: Jack Edwards, Matt Murphy, Steve Sego, Axel Strakeljahn, Kathleen Wilson
Chair Ashby called the meeting to order at 9:31 am.
1. Update: Foot Ferry Ridership. Deputy City Clerk Floyd said that the Clerk’s Office had received the most up-
to-date ferry ridership counts, and staff are now working on advertising updates.
2. Discussion: Restroom Requirements for Special Event Application. Chair Ashby said that draft revisions to
the City’s special event application will require that each applicant provide a plan to provide restroom facilities.
Councilmember Diener said that it could be helpful to provide an example of a good restroom plan as guidance to
applicants, to be included online with the permit application. The Clerk’s Office will continue working on these
revisions for further review. Mayor Putaansuu said that the City may eventually need to provide janitorial service
and supplies to assist the Port staff with cleaning the public restrooms.
3. Update: Downtown Community Center. Port Commissioner Strakeljahn said that in order for the downtown
community event center proposal to succeed, it is essential that the City strongly indicate its public support for
the effort. Steve Sego said that there were more than 100 people at the Silverdale open house, and there is great
public interest in the project. He hopes the County, City and Port will move forward together in partnership on the
project to obtain the assistance of the Public Facilities District. Putaansuu said that he and Strakeljahn have a
meeting scheduled with County Commissioner Garrido to discuss the County’s support. He has also prepared a
draft resolution for City Council expressing the City’s support of the community event center. Diener requested
that the resolution indicate that the center will assist the City in attracting transit-oriented development,
including retail and office space, to the downtown area based on the ferry’s high-capacity transit potential.
Councilmember Ashby concurred and said that the community center will also support the development of
downtown affordable housing. Putaansuu will revise the resolution, and present it to Council at the April 23
meeting. Sego hopes that the County and the Port will pass similar resolutions of support. He will continue to
work with local businesses whose business locations will be displaced for the community center development,
and assist them with finding alternative locations. Matt Murphy said that the Chamber of Commerce will also
work with these businesses. Putaansuu noted that the City and its partners will also need to pursue state and
federal grant opportunities.
4. Update: EVI Video Production. The committee discussed the draft narrative options that EVI has prepared to
accompany the updated video, and provided Floyd with suggested revisions and additions. The Clerk’s Office will
continue to work with EVI on the narrative.
5. Update: Building Permits and Development Activity. Community Development Director Bond provided an
update on the current status of the City’s building permit and land use permit activity. There are 1,810 residential
units in the pipeline (preapplication and building permit stages), approximately half of which are multifamily. An
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application for a Chevron gas station at the new roundabout on Tremont has also been submitted. Stetson
Heights, McCormick Woods and the Sedgwick apartment project are all continuing their construction. Bond noted
that his department will likely need to contract with a special inspector for large residential developments such as
upcoming phases of McCormick Woods, to support the City’s building inspector.
Murphy said that the Argosy cruise ships will start visiting Bremerton in May, at the rate of two per month. The
Chamber and POBSA will continue to work on connecting Port Orchard to these visits, with ferry vouchers and
other tourism incentives.
Chair Ashby adjourned the meeting at 11:11 am.
Next Meeting: May 13, 2019, at 9:30 am in the Council Chambers.