(The notes below were culled from minutes of the KCAC meeting March 5, taken by Secretary Nancy Tietje. KCAC meets at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month in the Kingston Community Center. The next meeting will be April 2. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.)
The Kingston Sub-Area Plan workgroup meetings will continue in April and May. The schedule is printed separately in an adjacent article. At the March 5 KCAC meeting, results of the first workgroup which met Feb. 13, were presented. The three areas of focus were: Build a Sense of Community, Enhance Kingston’s Visual Identity as a Community, Establish Predictable/Defined Land Use Patterns that Support Kingston’s Community Vision. Ideas discussed included: walkability, ferries, a holding lot for ferry passenger cars, a new community center, Port of Kingston planning, streetscapes, stormwater management, parking (the design standards are great but county codes aren’t in line with them), density, enforced design standards, California Avenue, a new Kingston slogan and streamlining of permit reviews.
It was agreed that after all four workgroup meetings, many common themes and ideas will arise. A final workgroup will meet to create a list of actionable items from the items discussed, which will then be presented to the county.
County report
Peter Sullivan, of the county’s Department of Community Development and county representative on KCAC, said he was pleased with the first workgroup session and that Kingston is “in the spotlight” right now. Commissioner Steve Bauer is focused on improvements for Kingston. Sullivan introduced Anne Blair, Commissioner Steve Bauer’s assistant and District #1 manager. She will be working closely on the Village Green park project, and has experience in securing funding. She will also work with Arvilla Ohlde, contracted by the county Facilities, Parks and Recreation Department, who also has extensive experience in planning and funding. Blair, who has lived in the county for 31 years, welcomes comments and suggestions. Contact her at (360) 337-4426 or asblair@co.kitsap.wa.us. Contact Sullivan at (360) 337-4579, psulliva@co.kitsap.wa.us.
KCAC member Annie Humiston requested the county’s North Kitsap development update report include maps to help locate plats and projects.
Public Works is currently accepting suggestions for road improvement projects through April 15.
Sub-committee reports
Roads: Humiston was chosen to serve on the Kitsap County Transportation Commission. She reported that Representative Christine Rolfes is following up efforts to relocate Highway 104, traffic mitigation and ferry holding lane issues.
Communications: KCAC co-chair Greg Platz reported that KCAC member Betsy Cooper joined the county’s Wastewater Infrastructure Group and will be looking at wastewater issues. She planned to attend at meeting on the issue March 27.
Parks, trails and open space: A list of priority projects for parks and trails was provided. The 4th Avenue trail project is underway. There was brief discussion about how to increase public awareness of the Village Green park project; suggestions include putting in picnic tables on the site once the Navy housing is removed.
Community reports
Kingston Chamber of Commerce: Nancy Tietje told the council that the chamber’s two events in February including a banquet to recognize volunteers and install a new board, and the Westsound Business Expo were very successful. Similar events are planned in 2009.
Carpenter Lake and Creek: Steve Heacock reported that the culvert projects on South Kingston Road over the estuary have been postponed to 2009.
Kingston Farmers’ Market: Sue Duffin reported the market opens April 19 with hours changed to 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Volunteers are needed for the information booth and sponsors for the newsletter.
Rotary Club: Clint Boxman reported Rotary has raised $800 so far on the “Got 2 C 2 Play” campaign for lights at the Kingston High School playing fields.
Friends of the Library: Jan Richards reported Susan Thorsteinson transferred to the Bainbridge Island branch of Kitsap Regional Library and Susan Lavin transferred to Kingston from Poulsbo to replace Thorsteinson. KRL is working on a new levy for the November ballot. The next book sale is April 21 at the Kingston Community Center.
Kingston Garden Club/Downtown Kingston Association: Nancy Martin reported the Downtown Kingston Association applied for a grant from the Kingston Garden Club to put plantings in the parking strips. DKA is also working with the Port of Kingston on the Paddle Kitsap event Aug. 1-2. Kingston will be the site of registration for the event, as well as the stopping point at the end of day one.
In other business, community member Barb MacIntyre commented that she found it difficult to find out about KCAC. She feels the council needs to make itself much more public and asked that montly announcements be sent out to all households in Kingston or at least to residents in surrounding areas of projects being discussed.
