Kingston Citizens’ Advisory Council notes

(The notes below were culled from minutes of the KCAC meeting May 7, taken by co-chair Greg Platz. KCAC meets at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month in the Kingston Community Center. The next meeting will be June 4. The public is welcome.)

The special presentation for the May 7 meeting of KCAC covered results of the third Kingston Sub-Area Plan Workgroup and were presented by co-chair Greg Platz. The notes from that meeting are as follows.

The workgroup looked at these topics:

• Improve and encourage economic development opportunities and downtown revitalization. Suggestions: partner with the S’Klallam Tribe or Port of Kingston for state of the art telecommunications; have a can-do attitude toward cottage industry; allow conditional-use permits; conduct an inventory of existing businesses to identify markets not currently served; create a unique identity for Kingston; relax planning requirements for restaurants; foot ferry connectivity to Seattle to support businesses; need for an additional ferry holding lot to be used as commuter parking lot during the week, increasing pedestrian traffic through downtown; California Avenue extention; re-routing Highway 104; partner with Edmonds as sister cities; develop and encourage destination businesses.

• Transportation. Suggestions: Shoulder work needed in greater Kingston area; create a LID for sidewalk construction; coordinate with Kitsap Transit on ferry schedule; county fund a streetscape study that includes pedestrian access, stormwater issues and aesthetic vistas. Other issues have been covered in previous workgroups, with the emphasis being “the need for tangible and measurable transportation results in two years.”

• Improve port facilities and waterfront (not covered due to time constraints).

County report

Peter Sullivan of Kitsap County’s Department of Community Development who represents the county on KCAC, outlined the need for amendments to the Sub-Area Plan regarding plan implementation and provided copies of the Keyport Community Building/ Plan Implementation Draft as an example. This spurred a lively discussion on exactly how to deliver the information that was gathered in the three Kingston Sub-Area Plan Workgroups and the planned prioritization meeting coming in June. Further discussion questioned the importance of amending the sub-area plan versus providing a list to Commissioner Steve Bauer as was previously suggested.

Sullivan said a plan amendment has more weight than a list sent to a commissioner. This is especially important if and when information/money for projects becomes available and goes before the Planning Commission for review.

This discussion led to the following tentative schedule.

June 4: At the KCAC meeting, prioritize list of ideas generated in workgroups through small groups made up of KCAC members and interested public. The results of this meeting would be drafted into proposed language for an amendment to the Kingston Sub-Area Plan.

July 9: Special KCAC meeting, to review/approve proposed amendment language.

Aug. 6: KCAC meeting/public open House to receive comment on amendment.

Sullivan also reported on proposed changes and updates to the KCAC Web page on the Kitsap County Web site. The plan presented was comprehensive and warmly received and approved by the group. It was suggested he add links for all represented organizations in KCAC.

Sub-committees reports

Ferries: KCAC member Walt Elliott reminded the council about a public meeting June 24 with Washington State Ferries in Kingston, an important opportunity to comment on future ferry strategies.

Parks, Trails, and Open Space: The sub-committee is collaborating with the Indianola Beach Improvement Club in a meeting with the White Horse Golf Community, county agencies and the community concerning the status of building the White Horse pedestrian/bicycle trail this summer. The trail project bond requires completion of the trail by this November. Also, a team from Windermere Real Estate will be doing trails development and maintenance June 20 to help a prospective Eagle Scout in developing the 4th Avenue trail. Work is also needed on the north end of the Kingston-Eglon trail. Finally, the county commissioners accepted the updated Village Green Plan. A developer has been located who is interested in collaborating with the Kitsap Housing Authority to apply for a federal grant to build low-income senior housing within the footprint described in the Village Green Plan.

Community reports

Schools: KCAC member and North Kitsap School District Superintendent Gene Medina reported he met with Kingston High School students and came up with the idea of meeting with community leaders (KCAC included). This is hopefully the beginning of conversations with community members on how KHS students can get involved in their community.

Downtown Revitalization Association: KCAC member Karen Ross reported the next Kingston cleanup will be 9-11 a.m. June 30. Work on the Fourth of July ball race has started.

Rotary Club: KCAC member Clint Boxman reported the club’s golf tournament fundraiser is June 13, and they are looking for business sponsorships and more participants.

Kingston Garden Club: KCAC member Nancy Martin reported the plant sale raised about $2,700, with proceeds funding the Aloha Wright grant program. Application deadline is June 1.

Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe: KCAC member Tom Karwaki reported the passenger ferry service will likely be routed through Lofall and Shine during the Hood Canal Bridge closure.

Kingston Stakeholders: KCAC member Rick Lanning reported the Stakeholders have investigated California Avenue as alternative route for local traffic; they are also working on writing parking code and streetscape design drawings. David Mosley from Washington State Ferries was invited to their next meeting at 9 a.m. June 6 in the Kingston Cove Yacht Club to learn about Kingston-specific, ferry-related issues.

Carpenter Lake/Creek: KCAC member Steve Heacock reported allocation issues with the Army Corp of Engineers have resulted in funding, once approved, no longer earmarked for Kingston. In response to this, Kitsap County is sending a letter to the ACOE and Heacock asked the council to do the same, asking for support of funding for the Kingston project. The council approved this.

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