POULSBO — With the calendar marching on to 2008, city officials are busy planning the best way to celebrate 100 years of self-governance on the shores of Liberty Bay.

The city council’s community services committee has been tasked with leading the effort to ensure the historic event gets its proper due.

At a special Monday afternoon meeting, councilwomen Kimberlee Crowder and Connie Lord along with Councilman Ed Stern laid the groundwork in the form of three committees.

“This is an important event because it celebrates 100 years of government in Poulsbo,” Stern said.

The impact of that decision made by the city’s founders in 1908 is felt today as Poulsbo remains the only self-governed community in North Kitsap, he said.

But organizing and planning a yearlong celebration is a larger task than any one person or group can handle, so it will have to be a community effort, Stern said.

Already, several groups including the Poulsbo Historical Society, the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association and the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce have volunteered to aid in the effort, said city executive assistant Carly Michelson.

“Everyone is interested in different areas,” Michelson said. “Erica Varga (PHS curator) has asked to chair the centennial committee.”

The centennial committee will be divided into three subcommittees, which cover fund raising, outreach and events.

In terms of fund raising, local businesses will likely be asked to make donations to have their names associated with events much like the Olympics, Stern said.

If that were to happen, Crowder said she would like to see equality for both large and small businesses.

“It’s like Courtesy Chevrolet compared to Sluys Bakery, they should have equal representation somehow,” Crowder said.

The events coordinating committee will be tasked with ensuring collaboration between the city’s traditional events like the Third of July and Viking Fest and the one-time ventures dedicated to the centennial celebration.

One beneficiary of the centennial celebration will be the newly named Centennial Park, which should be one of the centerpieces of the celebration, Stern said.

“We talked about the centennial sculpture going downtown,” Parks and Recreation Director Mary McCluskey said. “Maybe it should go in Centennial Park.”

The park will also have a sign created with the possibility of other amenities to prepare it for the celebration, McCluskey said.