POULSBO — As part of its proposed expansion, the Port of Poulsbo has asked the city for control or ownership of Net Shed Vista. But before the proposal moves another inch, neighbors have the ability to stop it in its tracks.

The .85-acre park, located near the intersection of Fjord Drive and Ryen Street, currently has a couple of picnic tables, which provide the neighborhood a small waterfront gathering area, but if the port takes control of it, the property would be used to load and unload larger tourist vessels such as Argosy Cruises.

“What I really need to find out is if there are restrictions on the property,” Parks and Recreation director Mary McCluskey told the council’s community services committee April 11.

McCluskey said she and City Attorney Jim Haney have discussed the legal issues which would need to be resolved if the city opted to lease, sell or transfer of the property to the port.

“We need to write down how the public is going to benefit (from the transfer of the property),” she said. “We could also do a long-term lease.”

The ownership of the property is in question since its deed is either under the city’s sewer utility or the city’s parks department, she said.

Poulsbo has a sewage pump station on the shoreline of the property, but minutes from a 1984 city council meeting report that the purchase of the property was proposed to the council, McCluskey said. No record of any further action have been found.

While determining ownership of the park is important, public participation in the process is equally vital, Councilman Ed Stern said.

“We need to hear from the residents in the neighborhood,” he said. “I don’t live in that neighborhood.”

To the public it might appear the deal has already been made to give the park to the port, but that’s not the case, he said.

“We need to do this now before it gets much larger,” Stern said.

In response, McCluskey suggested an official public hearing be held concerning the proposal.

“We could have a public hearing at a city council meeting,” Mayor Kathryn Quade added.

The city needs to hear from the people in the neighborhood about how they use the park and what they want for its future before proceeding, she said.

“Maybe they aren’t going to like it,” Quade said.

Stern said the discussion should to take place sooner rather than later to avert any show-stopping issues from arising when the project is in full swing.

“I don’t think we need to wait for the port to do it,” Quade said. “It’s our park and it’s up to us to decide if we want to relinquish it or keep it.”

Either way it will probably take two to three years for the port to get all of the permits necessary to proceed with the project, Quade said.

“I still like the idea,” Stern said. “I just want to hear from the neighbors. We need to involve the neighbors early and often.”