POULSBO — While city council candidate Stan Kennedy is pleased with the city’s recent move to plan for its future, he believes it should have been done earlier.

Kennedy, who has a background in engineering and strategic planning, is running against incumbent Ed Stern for Position 6.

“I’m very forward thinking and I don’t think the city has always prepared itself for what’s coming,” Kennedy said.

An example of this issue is the upcoming widening of State Route 305 and the apparent lack of planned alternate routes once construction begins, he said.

“What’s going to happen with that traffic,” he asked. “Why didn’t we talk to the sheriff’s office, state patrol and our traffic engineer? Things aren’t going to get any better.”

Downtown parking is another issue that the current council has failed to adequately address, he said.

“There are solutions within the constraints of real estate and budget, and I don’t think the present council has risen to that occasion until recently,” he said.

Many people either spend a lot of time looking for parking or choose not to come downtown for that reason, Kennedy explained.

“I have a vision of people milling around downtown at 9 p.m. with little shops and cafes being open, but that’s not going to happen until there’s parking,” he said.

The closure of the Marine Science Center is another issue Kennedy wants to continue exploring if elected to the council.

“Why was the Marine Science Center allowed to fail, because I think it was wonderful,” he said.

As a boater, Kennedy said he would like to see the city work to improve its relationship with the Port of Poulsbo.

“I love Liberty Bay and I consider Poulsbo one of the best destinations around,” he explained, putting Poulsbo near the ranks of Friday Harbor and Victoria, B.C. as far as boating destinations go.

With the city’s recent annexation blitz, Poulsbo needs to focus on ensuring it has enough a revenue stream to support that growth, he said.

“There’s really a finite order that we can annex up to and we can’t go beyond that,” he said. “Growth has to pay for growth.”

In the end, his reason for running for council stems from his love of the city, he explained.

“I love Poulsbo and want that opportunity to give something back,” Kennedy said.