MCP&PSG
COFFEE & DISCUSSION JUNE 29, 6:45AM MANCHESTER FAMILY INN
In attendance were John WInslow, Dan Mitchell, Ken Amo,
Ron and Joyce Rada, Joe
& Mary Ann Blazevich, Bob &
MC Edwards, Bud and Wanda Larsen. Three news releases from the Kitsap County
Sheriff's office were passed around and reviewed. One pertained to the
recent South Kitsap bank robbery, another with
Washington State Patrol investigates shooting, believed accidental, and finally
Bainbridge man wanted in connection with domestic violence, attempted assault,
and eluding. This man has turned himself in. These crime
reports are vital to our crime prevention and public safety efforts and we
thank the department for their cooperation in keeping us apprised of criminal
situations.
We thank Bob Edwards for
sending out this week’s reminder notice for the meeting. It is great to
have group members to turn to when we are out of town. Our trip up to Lake Cushman
this past week was great, hot and noisy but Bud caught 3 good size trout and we
got a lot of paperwork done. Bob Edwards and John Winslow both reported on
last nights MCC meeting at the Library. It was noted that the MCC has
sent a letter of support as regards our Appeal on the Manchester Main Street
Storm Water Outflow project with the hearing scheduled for July 10th at 10:20AM
at the Commissioners Chambers in the new building next to the Court
House. Bud will be presenting the facts we have obtained from several
agencies, as pertains to errors in the testimony and maps shown at the original
hearing. This is a closed hearing with audience allowed but Bud being the
designated applicant, being the only speaker. We will be obtaining
additional information this week and will discuss findings with you all at next
weeks meeting. Anyone with ideas or comments, please contact Bud
769-8793.
In last weeks notes we
reported "Richard Dillworth reported that after
long term negotiations it appears that the street (Hemlock) where Richard
Resides will at last have the part that has been unfinished for years
completed. Hemlock actually runs from Alaska
to the Beach past Colchester, but is not an
actual street due to the incomplete section. This will be a big
improvement for those living on either side of the unfinished
segment." In response to this statement Debby
Trudeau has asked for a correction to the minutes, and I
quote "I wonder why Richard Dillworth is
reporting on Hemlock street when he hasn't been
involved in the discussion the rest of the street owners who are involved with
the project? That particular stretch of Hemlock is not county road,
but county right-of-way and is considered private. We, the residents of
that street, are in the process of deciding what to Do
with the portion of that street that is unpaved (not unfinish)
and Mr. Dillworth has not been included in those
discussions, nor have there been any "long term negotiations".
As someone who is directly involved with this, I would appreciate a correction
in this part of the minutes. This, in fact, should not be reported at
all, because it is nothing more than what amounts to as private driveways being
paved. Dan and I are paying for this
ourselves. There is no county tax dollars paying for any part of this
project. My neighbors below me and across the street from me are paying
for their portion of it as well. The neighbors above me (including Mr. Dillworth) are not paying for any part of it because they
already have their portion of their roadway and driveways paved. The only
part that road that is in anyway considered public is approach from
Hemlock to Valley Street
and Alaska.
In fact, several of us on the street have concerned a vacation of that portion
of the right of way so the public does not use that portion of Hemlock, which
we have always had to pay to maintain! We pay for the paving and the
maintenance out of our own pockets. The county does not pay for it. In
our minds, it's purely private, although it's considered county right of
way. Just my thoughts....... Debby.” Our group
agreed we should make the correction and forward Debby's comments to members.
Bob Edwards and John Winslow
also commented on last nights guest speaker Bob
Cairns, who we have enjoyed on several occasions at our meetings. Bob has
indicated he would be happy to arrange organized tours of the Manchester
Fuel Farm by members of the MCC or our group with the understanding that
meetings be held in the evening and through prior arrangement with himself and
the group planning to participate.
What with the upcoming
Appeal Hearing on July 10th, meetings with Jon Brand next week and other
commitments. It was agreed that we will hold off for a few weeks
regarding meetings with Sheriff Boyer pertaining to the resolutions we have
agreed to update for the prosecuting attorney office that relate to resolutions
for All Ports and Port of Manchester. The resolutions to be in
conjunction with the Sheriff's office and subject to approval of the Kitsap
County Commissioners for ordinances that the Sheriff's department would then be
authorized to enforce specific activities. Bud also noted that he and
Joyce Rada will be waiting until things slow down a
bit to get started on identifying Neighborhood (Blockwatch)
Areas throughout South Kitsap. This is
for the purpose of reactive crime watch signed areas that are presently not
actively involved. Everyone welcomed Dan Mitchell who was in attendance
this morning for the first time. Dan is a Blockwatch
Captain and very interested in this very worthwhile program.
Wanda announced that she
would be picking up the petition clipboards for "Petition to minimize
impact of proposed closure of the Manchester Fuel Depot Fire/Emergency
Station". To date we have 134 signatures and 3 more clipboards and
petitions to pickup. The signatures and petitions will be delivered to
Norm Dicks offices in Bremerton
within a few days, along with a letter expressing our concerns and requesting
his assistance and response.
We have contacted Jeff
Donaldson, reporter for the Port Orchard Independent inviting him to meet with
Bud and review the Appeal information we have on hand. We have also invited
Jeff and Travis Baker of the Kitsap Sun to attend the July 10th Appeal
Hearing. This is a matter the public needs to know about in more depth
than they do. Wanda reported that Jeff has indicated an interest in our
Emergency Preparedness Program and the Blockwatch
Program. We will be putting together a packet of materials about both
organizations that are accepted criteria for emergency's and public
safety.
Joe Blazevich
reported on formation progress of the 10 new Neighborhood Blockwatch
groups in his area. The report is a summary of completion of inventory
requirements by the group dated today's date. The statistics are as
follows:
#done: 39 #promised:
13 Homes Occupied: 88 Homes Vacant: 8 Not
Interested: 5 Total Homes: 101 %done:
44 %done/promised: 59
This is a pretty awesome
group effort and Joe and his wife Mary Ann are to be commended for the months
of effort and dedication they have put in to this crime prevention
program. Joe will be sending copy's of the report to Deputy Pete
Ball-Community Resources Officer, Undersheriff Dennis
Bonneville, Sheriff Steve Boyer, Travis Baker and Jeff Donaldson. With a
majority of the inventories done in accordance with the requirements stated in
the program, it is hoped that we will soon be able to have the Crime Watch
signs erected in the various watch areas.
An email from Carol Kowalski addressing traffic futures was
read. Carol has some excellent ideas and questions which we will be able
to review with Jon Brand at next weeks meeting. The questions touch on
total number of parking spaces required to be allocated for residents and shop
users of the 3 different upcoming condominium buildings. Manchester Inn parking spaces where and how many?
With increased growth and increased use of the Port dock, how will they address
overflow boat dock parking during peak season, etc.
How will scarce parking be addressed on Colchester
and other side streets that essentially block bicycle lanes and our only
SAFE walking paths? Address side neighborhood streets with a 2-4 block
radius for impact from condominium resident's guests another downtown Manchester visitors
looking for parking space. Might this not displace current residents who
live on those streets? How about a solution to make the streets permit
parking for neighbors who live on those streets? How will issues be
enforced? Are there model communities similar to ours that have created
doable solutions? Thank you for your comments Carol,
we will be looking for answers and ideas. We are hoping that Carol
will be able to attend our meeting on July 6th and more fully express her
concerns and those of her neighbors.
On June 25 Phil Paquette
made note of the recent news items relative to Warren Buffet now donating a billion
and a half per year to the Gates Foundation and that it would be prudent to put
in for a grant pronto for rebuilding the Manchester Public Library and
establishing a Village Commons. Then turn it over to the Port to relieve
the tax burden and liability issues off the back of the Friends, etc. Then on to other possibilities in the future. It is
noteworthy that The Gates Foundation gives about $350M a year regionally.
See www.gatesfoundation.org.
Otherwise, libraries and education are two other giving priorities that the
Gates foundation has focused on: besides the world - ie.
human health issues. Carol doesn't see specific
giving guidelines in Buffet's annual 5% distribution ($1.5B for 2006).
Thanks for the information Carol we truly appreciate it.
Ron
Rada reported the the 501C-3 Manchester Community
Foundation paperwork has been completed and forwarded to Washington State
officials for review. Upon acceptance of the format, additional paperwork
including by-laws and trusteeships for each of the Manchester
organizations, can be forwarded to the IRS for final
approval of this important non-profit tax status for Manchester based organizations. Ron
deserves a giant vote of thanks for all the work that he has put in to making
this proposal move forward
Submitted:
Wanda Larsen