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10/09/2017 - Minutes 1 City of Port Orchard Economic Development and Tourism Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, October 9, 2017 Committee Members Present: Council Members Bek Ashby (Chair), Fred Chang, Clancy Donlin City Officials and Staff: Community Development Director Nick Bond, Finance Director Noah Crocker, Assistant City Engineer Mike Pleasants, Long Range Planner Keri Sallee Guests: Brady Miller The meeting was called to order by Chair Ashby at 9:03 a.m. 1. Downtown Business Discussion: Chair Ashby introduced Brady Miller, who is the owner of the Bay Street Bistro and a strategic planning and management consultant. Miller provided the committee with a number of suggestions for creating a strong city identity, branding the city’s image and message, emphasizing its unique attractions and amenities, and improving public perception of the city as a desirable place to live and visit. People need to feel proud of living in Port Orchard. Council Member Chang said that Port Orchard has a friendly, unpretentious feeling, and it’s easy to meet residents and interact with elected officials and government departments. Ashby said that Port Orchard still has a reputation of being the working class or blue collar city of the county even though demographics have been changing for some time. The committee agreed that continuing and strengthening the city’s efforts to encourage quality residential development and community appeal is important, since higher residential costs elsewhere in the Puget Sound area will continue to drive interest in Kitsap County and its cities. These issues will continue to be a focus for the committee at future meetings. 2. Discussion: 2017 Foot Ferry Ridership. The committee discussed the foot ferry ridership numbers for holiday and event dates from May 27 through September 4, 2017. Miller said that the current ferry hours don’t provide optimum connections between Bremerton and Port Orchard. Ashby noted that ferry sailings were reduced after the passage of Initiative 695 in 2000 (car tab fees reduced to $30), which caused Kitsap Transit to lose funding. Additionally, federal funding requirements changed to require Kitsap Transit to provide bus service to and from all sailings, which was operationally and economically infeasible. Development Director Bond said that there may be an opportunity for Port Orchard and Bremerton to expand Bremerton’s existing regional center designation to include Port Orchard, which could allow both cities to apply for additional grants to support public transit between the cities, including the foot ferry. Ashby said it would also be advantageous if military installations are designated as regional centers. She noted that Kitsap County, the Port of Bremerton, the City of Bremerton, and Port Orchard all used to contribute to Kitsap Transit’s ferry funding, but the Port no longer does so, and the County has reduced its contribution. The City Clerk will set up a meeting with these agencies to discuss ferry funding for 2018. 3. Discussion: Welcome Package for New Businesses. The committee reviewed the City’s welcome letter and information package for new businesses. Bond said that the welcome package is proposed to be sent to everyone who obtains a City business license, but he is concerned that business owners may think that having a license means they are ready to start operating, and will not be aware that there may be other requirements, such as zoning compliance, building permits, etc. He also noted that he had received comments from a new business owner that the letter’s tone was abrupt and unwelcoming. Bond said that the City Council and Mayor may want to make additional attempts to reach out to new businesses and make them feel welcome and 2 appreciated. Bond said that additional refinements will be made to the letter, and he will coordinate with the City Clerk and Finance on how the package will be distributed and how Council will be notified when new businesses open. 4. Discussion: Feather Signs/Portable Signs Draft Ordinance. Bond said that potential regulations for feather signs and other types of portable signs were discussed at Council’s September work study meeting, and a draft ordinance was subsequently prepared. He presented accident data that had been requested by Ashby regarding the potential prohibition of signs that could distract drivers in high-accident traffic corridors, including Bay St, Tremont St, Lund Ave and Sedgwick Rd. Council Member Donlin noted that only 8% of total accidents on city roads were caused by distractions outside the vehicle, and none were caused by distracting signs. He also conducted an informal citizen and business survey: 7% of citizens and 0% of businesses thought feather signs should be prohibited, 84% of citizens and 90% of businesses thought 2 feather signs should be allowed per business, and 70% of citizens and 75% of businesses thought additional feather signs for a special event or other occasion should be allowed with a permit. The committee agreed that this issue should be sent back to Council work study for additional consideration. 5. Discussion: 2017 Comprehensive Plan Amendments. Bond presented the final 2017 comprehensive plan designation maps, and discussed items are proposed to be revised or added in the 6-year and 20-year transportation improvement programs (TIPs). The Bethel/Salmonberry intersection project would be moved from the 20-year TIP to the 6-year TIP due to existing level of service failure. A connector road between Vallair Ct and Bethel Rd will be proposed for the 20-year TIP to resolve Vallair/Bethel intersection issues. Ashby adjourned the meeting at 10:35 am. Audio-visual recording was successful. Next Meeting/Location: The next EDT meeting will be on November 13, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers.