With a coffee shop, please
At its July 20 meeting, the Poulsbo City Council learned the findings from the survey they commissioned to explore the feasibility of building a YMCA in Poulsbo.

Some of the highlights:

— The top fitness activities desired by all respondents were cardio equipment, strength equipment, group exercise, lap swimming, aquatic fitness classes and yoga and Pilates.

— The services in most demand were a coffee shop; art, music and theater classes; cooking classes; classes for seniors; and diet and nutritional services.

— The most popular programs desired by children and youth were family fun swim, child watch, open gym time, art-music-theater classes, and family exercise classes.

— The preferred location was near College Marketplace, as opposed to being located on Highway 305 or Viking Avenue.

“It was unusual how excited people got about it and how proud they are to be living in the area,” said Lori Swann of Triangle 2 Solutions, which conducted the survey.

“Good numbers. Huge response. Looks like it would go,” summed up Mayor Becky Erickson, who has been one of the key supporters of the project.

The next step is to work on a business plan. From the discussion, one of the key issues is going to be money — or more precisely, whose money. The city sees having the YMCA built on city land right next to the Olympic College and Western Washington University campus as a huge draw for students. “The city is contributing the land, Olympic College and Western Washington University will have to step up,” Council member Connie Lord said.

Bootstrapping higher ed
The proposed YMCA is one more piece in the city’s creative efforts to stitch together a university-level campus here in Poulsbo. The new classroom on the OC campus, WWU taking possession of the marine science center and aquarium, and the possibility of a university-style fitness center are all part of that vision. One major missing piece is student housing. Which brings us to the next issue …

Affordable housing for whom?
The city and the developer have differing views on who should move into a proposed housing development near the Olympic College campus.

At the July 20 meeting, Housing Kitsap executive director Steve Grogan updated the council on his organization’s plans for two more affordable-housing developments in Poulsbo. He opened his remarks by stressing the current crisis. Grogan said that before he came to the meeting he had looked up how many affordable housing vacancies were presently available in Poulsbo.

“I found one vacancy,” Grogan said.

If things go as planned, Grogan said, the development on Viking Way will create 72 new apartments. Housing Kitsap also has plans to build 50 affordable housing apartments on property it owns near College Marketplace, he said.

He saw the College Marketplace apartments as providing affordable housing for people and families working in the area.

Mayor Erickson and Council member Ed Stern said they would like the new apartments to be student housing.

Grogan said both projects are still in the early planning stage and these are the kind of issues that will need to be worked out.

Hunt for top cop
There were 23 applicants for the position of police chief; some were local, others came in from across the country.

If you would like to meet the top candidates for the job, there will be a public “meet and greet” for the finalists 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14 in the council chambers at City Hall. The next day, the finalists will be interviewed by officials. City Council members Ed Stern and Jeff McGinty will represent the city on the selection panel that also includes Erickson.

Mental health in the courtroom
Thanks to grants, there will be three mental health counselors working with the courts this year and supporting police and fire personnel. Last year, there was only one. A preemptive program, the goal is to identify and help individuals with mental health issues before they get into the criminal court system. “There should be one of these mental health counselors in every courtroom,” Erickson said.

Summerset redux
City planners and engineers recommended, and the council unanimously approved, Central Highland Homes’ request to proceed with the Summerset Division III final plat, which includes 29 additional single-family residential lots and a recreation area with a half basketball court. Approval was postponed two meetings ago after city engineers felt that all of the infrastructure work had not been satisfactorily completed. The property was inspected July 15 and again on July 20, at which time it was determined that all of the items on the punch list had been corrected.

Fab Five
Rainy Daze Brewing has gotten all of its permits from the state and federal government and will be opening its tasting room on Viking Avenue in August, according to mayor Erickson. Rainy Daze is moving into the old Sound Brewery tasting room. Plus, Western Red Brewing (www.westernredbrewing.com) has just announced it is moving to Poulsbo; its new taproom will be at 19168 Jensen Way. That brings the number of breweries in Poulsbo up to five. Skoal!

Gas work
In a good example of “proper prior planning,” the city has given Cascade Natural Gas permission to do night work to reinforce its gas main line on Hostmark Street while the city has the street opened up to repair and replace its own water and sewer lines. “Otherwise they would have to tear up Hostmark again next year,” one city employee said. All of the work is scheduled to be done by Aug. 31, before school opens. City officials stressed this work has nothing to do with the housing developments on Noll Road and everything to do with crumbling infrastructure.

Good taxes
Council member Ken Thomas reports that sales tax income is up 6.2 percent over last year. Thanks to brisk home sales, the city has already received 80 percent of the Real Estate Excise Taxes it projected for the entire year.

Stormwater charges public hearing set
Speaking of taxes, there will be an added stormwater general facility charge for all new construction. The proposed fee is $1,183 per impervious structure unit. An impervious structure is any building or paved area that creates runoff. One impervious structure unit is defined as 3,000 square feet, the size of the average new single family residential home. The public hearing to discuss this charge is Aug. 10 in the City Council Chambers.

Housing demolition
Bids for demolishing two houses on city property on 7th and 8th streets will be opened July 30. Originally, city engineers had hoped that by bundling their demo-ing in with the demolition of the old city hall, that the city could save money. When the bids for having one company do all three buildings came in well over the budget, the decision was made to go for a separate bid to take down the two houses. City engineers estimate they will need to come back to the council for an additional $35,000 to cover the cost of the demolition of the homes. Because the two homes are considered small jobs, city engineers hope more small businesses will bid on the project.

Coffee Oasis will help
Volunteers from the non-profit Coffee Oasis have volunteered to spruce up the two properties on 7th and 8th avenues once the houses on those lots are removed to make way for restoration of that part of Dogfish Creek.

Monday at 8
If you want to get your picture taken in front of the old city hall, do it before 8 a.m., Monday, July 25. That’s when they demolition company will start to raze the building. Removal of hazardous materials inside the building started July 18.

Why City Council members can’t answer
If a resident asks a question during the public comment portion of a City Council meeting, he or she shouldn’t expect an immediate response. Council rules forbid it. This rule was put in place several years ago to avoid just the kind of acrimonious outburst we saw recently. Rather, ask the council to speak to any questions you have during the public comment period. Likewise, protesting to council members about some project you oppose may make you feel better, but don’t expect a response. If it’s a matter that will come before the council in public hearings, they can’t be seen as taking sides. The right thing to do is to file your protest with the city planning department. Look for an official letter/email from the city giving more details.

Who can take photographs?
At the recent candidate debate presented by the League of Women Voters in the City Council chambers, a question arose as to who was allowed to photograph or record the event. In response, City Council members chose not to make a blanket policy, saying rather that it is up to each group to establish a policy in advance as to who can or cannot take pictures or video at their event. The issue has been sent to the Community Services Committee for formalizing.

Fewer flowers
The last Poulsbo Beat reported that the mayor had bought 2,000 dahlia bulbs to replant the traffic island on Hostmark Street. The correct number is 200. “I could wish I had bought 2,000,” the mayor said.