001-07 - Resolution - Supporting Kitsap Transit's Passenger Only Ferry Investment PlanRESOLUTION NO. 001-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE CilY OF PORT ORCHARD,
WASHINGTON, SUPPORTING KITSAP TRANSIT'S PASSENGER-
ONLY FERRY INVESTMENT PLAN
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature has made it abundantly
clear that it has no intention of remaining in or returning to the provision of passenger-
only ferry service and the Washington State Legislature has provided funding only to
continue service between Seattle and Vashon Island until King County can assume it,
and;
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature has authorized Kitsap
Transit to provide passenger-only ferry service in Puget Sound in a public-private
partnership that enables Kitsap Transit to purchase boats, team up with ports to
improve and use facilities, and enter into contracts with private operators for ferry
operations, and;
WHEREAS, Kitsap Transit has developed a plan that encompasses all
aspects of cross-sound passenger ferry service connecting Southworth, Port Orchard,
Bremerton and Kingston with downtown Seattle, as well as local service connecting Port
Orchard and Bremerton, and;
WHEREAS, Kitsap Transit's passenger ferry service, at full development,
would provide weekday rush hour trips every 20 to 30 minute between Kitsap ports and
downtown Seattle and hourly service at other times and on weekends, and;
WHEREAS, the voters of Kitsap County will decide on February 6, 2007
whether to enact a sales tax increase to finance passenger ferries, facilities and
services, and;
WHEREAS, the proposed sales tax increase is three-tenths of one cent,
or $0.30 per $100.00 of taxable purchase, and;
WHEREAS, two-thirds of the capital costs in the initial six-year plan
would be funded from federal or state funds and one-third from the sales tax in Kitsap
County, and;
WHEREAS, at full development of Kitsap Transit's Passenger-Only Ferry
Plan, one-half of the annual operating costs would be funded from passenger fares, a
portion from miscellaneous income, and the balance from the sales tax in Kitsap and
t~1e motor vehicle excise tax on license renewals in Kitsap; and
WHEREAS, there are multiple economic development reasons to support
an expanded, frequent and rapid passenger ferry service from Kitsap, including the
following:
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(A) The passenger ferry service will help to retain existing primary
businesses in Kitsap and thereby provide jobs to Kitsap residents
because their owners-residing in Kitsap -can more easily access
suppliers in Seattle and its environs, while their technical service
providers in Seattle and its environs can more easily access
businesses in Kitsap; and
(B) The passenger ferry service will help to attract future primary
businesses to Kitsap because their owners-residing in Seattle and
its environs-can more easily locate their businesses in Kitsap and
thereby provide jobs to Kitsap residents, yet access their
businesses in a timely fashion even while maintaining their
established lifestyles in Seattle; and
(C) The ferry embarkation points are -with the exception of
Southworth -in the urban cores of Kitsap's urban growth areas
and therefore will reinforce commercial and light industrial growth
in their vicinity for the effective use of existing infrastructure; and
(D) The passenger ferry service will help to increase tourism to Kitsap
and thereby bring more funds and jobs to Kitsap; and
(E) One effect of business retention and recruitment will include that of
a more equitable distribution of real estate taxes in Kitsap between
residential and business property owners; and
(F) Another effect of business retention and recruitment will be the
increase of Kitsap County property values that will accrue to the
short or long-term benefit of their owners; and
(G)The passenger ferries will themselves generate new maintenance and
operating jobs in Kitsap County because the boats will be based at the
Kitsap ports rather than in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, all of the above direct and indirect results of passenger
ferries will help to diversify the economy of Kitsap County, make it less dependent on its
principal defense sector, provide opportunities for Kitsap residents to both live and work
in Kitsap, and thereby generally improve civic life in Kitsap, and;
WHEREAS, each generation should invest in its own and its children's
future by building on physical and social improvements made by prior generations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Port Orchard
strongly supports the Kitsap Transit Passenger Only Ferry Plan and urges Kitsap County
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voters to approve the ballot measure on February 6, 2007 authorizing necessary
increases in the sales tax for this purpose.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Orchard, SIGNED by the Mayor and
attested by the Clerk in authentication of such passage this sth day of January 2007.
;::~ ~-.~
KIM E. ABEL, MAYOR
Michelle Merlino, City Clerk