PO
Box 173 Manchester, WA
98353-0173 www.manchesterwa.org
“it’s a great place to
live…”
Action Items:
1)
Arlene Rebelowski to add info on Puget Drive development public meeting
when available.
2)
JB Bartel to provide ~10 copies of this meeting’s minutes at the 3/22
meeting for review by participants.
3)
MCC to resolve how to charge other groups for inclusion on our web-site.
4)
Bob Ballard to establish a sub-committee to develop suggestions for
Manchester Plan revisions.
Minutes:
The meeting was called to order by Treasurer, Carol Kowalski at 6:30PM sharp. Carol welcomed the 37 people in attendance and then to remind all of our objectives, pointed out and read the posted MCC Mission Statement and Purpose from our Bylaws.
Carol next introduced our special speaker for the evening, Dick Hayes, Executive Director of Kitsap Transit. Mr. Hayes spoke on the topic of the proposed South Kitsap foot ferry and provided a handout which was an executive summary and investment plan for the system. For further information see the web-site: www.kitsaptransit.org.
Guest Speakers comments:
Mr. Hayes began his comments with the point that the Washington Legislature gave Kitsap Transit (KT) the approval to pursue foot ferry service from the County to Seattle. Later, a funding bill was proposed to the voters and rejected. A second plan was then assembled focusing primarily on foot ferry service during commuter hours. In this plan, KT would provide funding for facilities and equipment and a private contractor would be found to operate the system. The private operator is currently providing foot ferry service out of Bremerton and Kingston.
Our speaker pointed out that one of the critical issues on the Bremerton route is the management of vessel wake through Rich Passage. Federally funded wake research is currently underway and trials have commenced along the Passage. KT hopes to meet wake targets with a partial hydrofoil technology. At the present, the Bremerton run is fairly successful and is gaining about 25 daily passengers each month. The service from Kingston began about 2 weeks ago; this area has a high ridership and is expected to be pretty successful.
Attention has now turned to the Southworth area; it is being developed last because it was seen as the most challenging route to develop. One key development that will be helping this effort is the planned expansion of the Harper Evangelical Church Park & Ride lot by ~400 spaces next year. KT has looked at three different potential sites (Southworth, Harper, and Manchester). The Southworth site offers challenges in labor issues with the IBU crews and WSF, and eel grass adjacent to the existing dock. The Harper community has concerns about traffic, environmental, scuba diving, and eminent domain issues. Mr. Hayes stated that he has promised the Harper community that he will give the other potential sites close scrutiny due to their concerns. A KT bare-bones development of the facilities in Southworth are estimated at $2.5M versus the WSF’s prior $25M plan for foot ferry facilities there. The Manchester site presents security challenges with the mixing of private boats with the ferry; currently private boats must keep clear of ferries and this is impractical at the public Manchester dock.
Another key aspect in the KT foot ferry development is in the selection of 149 passenger vessels. This size was selected in order to fall within the Coast Guard’s less stringent rules applying to this size of passenger vessels. This also allows fewer mandatory crew members. Initially, two boats would likely be required on the Southworth run. Routing is also a key issue. A triangular route was considered, but found to be impractical. KT is considering a direct route from Southworth to Seattle. Currently there are four times the foot passengers originating from Southworth as there are from Vashon. KT is considering shuttling Vashon traffic from the Island to Southworth for the trip to Seattle. After beginning service in approximately two years, the prediction is that this route may see up to 1000 riders/day within 4-5 years. The service would start with three runs in the morning and three in the afternoon.
Mr. Hayes then took questions from the floor.
Q: How will the 149 passenger boats handle rough water?
A: In sea trials during 30knot winds, the biggest problem was caused by a large vessel wake and the boat had to slow down. The hydrofoils help to stabilize the boat, but if you are very susceptible to motion sickness, you may not want to ride these ferries.
Q: What about the proposed excursion runs?
A: The private operators would likely do this if they can make a profit on excursions.
Q: Could water-taxis use the dock in Harper?
A: It could be possible, but hard to make it work-out economically.
Q: How is the Bremerton use of the foot ferry?
A: There are about 400 riders/day paying the $10.50 round-trip fare.
Q: The fares from Kingston and Bremerton are the same, how about the fare from Southworth?
A: It depends on the traffic; it should be less since it’s a shorter distance.
In closing, Mr. Hayes gave us his vision for the future of any facility that might be developed at Harper. You have to respect the environment. We could see more people scuba diving in Harper and we need to protect that opportunity. Another way to protect the environment is to encourage less car driving; the foot ferry is a means to accomplish that.
Business
meeting:
Review and approval of past meeting’s minutes: The minutes for the 1/25/05 meeting have been previously distributed by e-mail and were posted in the Library. The minutes were approved as written.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Reports:
Treasurer: Carol Kowalski reported that our current treasury balance is $486.85 and we have 31 paid members. Carol reminded those who paid their dues with a check to MCC that those checks will not be cashed for several weeks while we establish ourselves as a non-profit group with a bank.
Sewers Sub-Committee: Ron Rada, chairman of the sub-committee, again presented the map illustrating the responses to the sewers survey and the area where LID#8(32 lots) has been formed. The request to form LID#8 was approved by the Commissioners on 1/31. On 2/28 there will be a hearing with the Commissioners seeking public input on the LID. Then there is a 30 day moratorium, during which dissenting members of the LID area can pool a 40% minority vote to stop the LID process. If the LID continues, then the engineering work would proceed, and under the current timetable, the work would be completed in Nov-Dec 2005.
Last week the sewers group held a meeting with others interested in forming LID’s. Bart Lovely from the Yukon Harbor area expressed willingness to pursue the extension of the sewers to Mile Hill Drive. Mr. Lovely will be in contact with Rick Gagnon to express that interest and begin the process to form another LID. A meeting will then be called by Public Works to present specifics on what this process would entail, and again a 51% majority would be required to proceed with the effort.
A question was asked whether adding the sewers would change allowed housing density. Mr. Rada responded that it would have no impact on housing density. Another question asked how far above Colchester could sewers be run to that trunk. Mr. Rada said that these would be gravity fed connections that wouldn’t require the addition of grinder/pumps, so could be fairly simple.
Mr. Rada went on to mention that Debby Trudeau has been pursuing the possibility of grants to offset some of the cost of the sewer extension. Debby has been in contact with Rep. Lantz’s office on the issue and received some encouragement. Debby is in the process of gathering more specifics on the affected areas, income levels, etc. to provide to Rep. Lantz. Ron Rada mentioned that any grants would be used to speed-up the payoff of the loans for the LID’s. Feedback from the constituents in our area to Rep. Lantz could only help to stimulate the process.
One final question asked whether the sewers committee would have any involvement on the proposed storm drain project in downtown Manchester. Ron Rada said the committee has not addressed this issue, but the might consider it in the future.
Crime Prevention Sub-Committee: Bud Larsen was unable to attend the meeting, but a committee member reported that approximately 10 people are meeting weekly at the Manchester Inn. The sheriff’s way-station is still a matter of interest. Sheriff Boyer will be invited to a future meeting to discuss budgetary considerations for the way-station. Joe Guariz, a member of the sub-committee reported that they are organizing a “safety fair” at the annual Friends of the Library Father’s Day Salmon Bake. They are planning booths with information on crime awareness, children’s fingerprinting, fire trucks/police cars, and other activities.
Public Facilities Sub-Committee: Bob Lamb, chairman of the sub-committee was also unable to attend this meeting, but the committee reported that there will be a meeting at Bob Lamb’s home on 2/24 at 7PM with 12-15 people expected to discuss the Haida property. Those interested in participating are welcome to attend.
Old Business:
Action items:
1)
John Winslow to maintain a file of potential changes to the Manchester
Plan and Council Bylaws for submission during the review process in 2007.
A file is established, please forward any input to John at his email
address or to our PO Box.
2)
Sewers committee (Ron Rada) to assemble “Frequently asked &
Answered Questions” on the ULID process and costs.
The list will be reviewed by Rick
Gagnon of Public Works next week and then published.
3)
The Public Facilities sub-committee is still seeking volunteers,
particularly those living close to the Haida property to join a group to discuss
potential changes to the property. Meeting
at Lamb’s on 2/24.
4)
JB Bartel to finalize the letterhead.
Still underway.
5)
John Winslow to e-mail Community Development Director Cindy Baker to urge
expedient action on Alaska Avenue building height review matter.
E-mail sent to Ms. Baker and she responded that the DCD was working the
matter. Mr. Asche reported that a
lawsuit was filed, but ultimately dismissed by the Judge.
It was found to not be a nuisance lawsuit as claimed by the defendant. The
plaintiff now has 30 days to file an appeal, which is expected. It was noted that the term “buildable lot” in the code is
ambiguous, John Winslow to add this to our file on Plan changes.
It was also suggested that we add some verbage suggesting that contiguous
neighbors be better notified on proposed construction so review can be thorough
in advance.
6)
John Winslow to include building height interpretation as an issue for
Manchester Plan review in 2006. Completed.
7)
Arlene Rebelowski is authorized to reserve the web address www.manchesterwa.org for
ten years and to pay for one year’s site maintenance (all not to exceed $150).
Completed.
New Business:
Carol Kowalski reported on the status of our non-profit group status and establishing a bank account. The Kitsap Foundation in not currently adding any new groups, but will reconsider in the summer. The Pro Bono work that is being performed for the MCC by Todd Smith of Davis/Wright/Tremaine is on-going. The 501c3 non-profit status appears to be the best alternative for this group. The voting members unanimously approved a resolution to proceed with the 501c3 approach.
A member from the floor pointed out that there is a significant development going in on Puget Drive. These will be connected to existing sewer lines. There will likely be a meeting for public input in Mid-March. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about the plans and provide public input. We will attempt to add specifics on the meeting to our web-site.
JB Bartel offered to print ~10 copies of each meeting’s minutes for distribution at the following meeting to facilitate feedback on corrections.
We discussed the addition of other community group’s information to our web-site. One individual asked whether we would accept advertising. It was agreed that at this point we would only offer the site to non-profit Manchester related groups. We also discussed how we might charge these other groups to help support the cost of the site. It was suggested that we should charge $20-25 per year, but the matter was tabled until we have more specifics.
Chairman Bob Ballard arrived late, but suggested that the MCC needs to develop specifics on where the Manchester Plan needs changes by the end of this year. Areas of the plan such as the vegetation ordinance have ambiguities which we need to clarify. It was proposed that we establish a sub-committee to start working on the plan. This will be an action item for Bob.
There being no other discussion from the floor, Chairman Ballard adjourned the meeting at 7:47 PM.
Next Meeting:
Our next meeting will be Tuesday March 22nd at 6:30-8:30PM in the Manchester
Library. The executive board will
meet on Thursday March 10 at a location to be determined.
Bob Ballard and
John Winslow will jointly develop an agenda for our next meeting
for distribution with the reminder, several days before the meeting.
If you have any additional items for the agenda, contact John Winslow
prior to March 15th.
Respectfully submitted,
John Winslow, Secretary-Manchester Community Council