POULSBO — Sewer lines, sex offenders and the crowded Highway 305 traffic corridor were among the topics discussed at the Aug. 9 Poulsbo City Council meeting.
Sewer lines
Two sewer projects were on the agenda. One was approved, the other was postponed.
The first project involved awarding the contract to install a Cured-In-Place Pipe — or inner lining, aka CIPP— for the sewer main that runs along Highway 305 and carries all of Poulsbo’s wastewater.
The project does not impact the city budget; rather the unexpected expense was made possible by “shuffling some [other] CIPP monies around,” Poulsbo Public Works Supervisor Mike Lund said.
The crumbling pipe was discovered earlier this year as part of Public Works’ ongoing project to map the condition of all of the sewers and stormwater pipes in Poulsbo, using its Utility Video Inspection Truck that it purchased in 2016.
“Every bit of sewage from Poulsbo goes down that pipe,” Lund said. “If it were to blow out, it would be a really bad thing.”
The work will be done at night and it should be completed in 45 days from the beginning of construction.
The second sewer project involved a road closure to extend the sewer line on Bernt Road from its current location at the intersection of Bond Road, up Bernt Road approximately 650 linear feet. Project proponents asked for a reconsideration that the work be done at night as per city policy, stating that it would be a significant cost savings for the businesses along the road that are paying for the work to be done and would significantly shorten the time needed to complete the work.
The City Council continued the discussion to the Aug. 16 meeting.
Sex offenders
At present, there are 276 registered sex and kidnap offenders in Kitsap’scities: 218 in Bremerton, 36 in Port Orchard, 11 in Poulsbo, and 11 in the City of Bainbridge Island.
In a move to better track known sex and kidnapping offenders, the council approved a memorandum of understanding between the City of Poulsbo and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office to participate in the Registered Sex/Kidnapping Offender Address and Residency Verification Program. The project is being funded by a $175,267.20 grant from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The grant is for a one-year period from July 15, 2017 to June 30, 2018.
According to the memorandum, the requirement of this program is to provide written documentation of a face-to-face verification of a registered offender’s place of residence. Level I and Level II registered offenders’ places of residence must be verified every six months; Level III offenders must be verified every three months. In the event the registered offender has moved without notifying authorities, an incident report will be forwarded to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division for investigation.
Additionally, each agency sends a press release to local media on any new Level III offender within their jurisdiction, and conducts a community notification meeting on any new registered Level II offender within their jurisdiction.
The participating police departments will receive a percentage of the grant based on the percentage of offenders within their jurisdiction.
Highway 305 study
Because of the growing traffic demands, the council authorized Mayor Becky Erickson to sign an interlocal agreement to participate with Kitsap Transit, Kitsap County, the City of Bainbridge Island and the Suquamish Tribe for a joint needs and opportunities study on Highway 305. The Federal Transit Administration awarded a $367,625 grant that requires a local match of $71,720.
The city’s share of the costs will be $14,344.
The purpose of the study is to establish “transportation system performance measures” and develop a list of strategies and priorities for improvements the length of 305. Kitsap Transit received the grant and will work with Poulsbo and other communities along 305.
According to documents, the goal is “to create a comprehensive set of intermediate and long-term improvements” to address congestion and enhance all modes of transportation. Specific elements will include:
- Improving level of service.
- Improving bus and ferry transit travel times and connections.
- Improving safe access across Highway 305.
- Reduction of passenger vehicle congestion.
- Bike and pedestrian facilities, including the Sound to Olympics Trail.
- Access to commercial facilities.
- Improved intersection function.
- Development of transportation demand management strategies.
The principal scope of the work does not include Agate Pass Bridge. However, the study will include highway design concepts that “will be helpful in making future decisions regarding the replacement of the bridge and alternatives.”
— Terryl Asla is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. He can be reached at tasla@kitsapdailynews.com.
