JULY 27TH MCP&PSG COFFEE AND DISCUSSION 6:45AM MANCHESTER FAMILY INN

Attending were Bob Lamb, Bud and Wanda Larsen, Bob and Mary Cathern Edwards, Dan Mitchell, Ron and Joyce Rada, Richard Dillworth, John Winslow, Joe and Mary Ann Blazevich.  Sheriff's Department Crime brochures were passed around and reviewed.   An email from David Hopkins was read, his hearing date for the Manchester Commons (to be changed to Manchester Anchors) has been changed to August 24th due to the County having neglected to advise property owners within a 400' radius of the pending hearing.  More information on this as the date draws closer.

Wanda read emails from Steve Boyer  relating to Joyce Rada's application to the next Sheriff's Citizens Academy.  Steve fully endorses Joyce and felt sure she would enjoy the class.   Also saying she was a great choice and a very nice person.  We were proud to endorse her as a hard working and dedicated member of our group.  Boyer also asked if Gary Simpson had contacted us to set a meeting to finalize the wording in the pending All Ports resolutions, we advised we would be meeting with him prior to the August 7th Port Commissioners meeting.  (NOTE:  This has been changed, Port Commissioner Dan Fullstrom has decided to take over on resolutions wording, etc.  We will advise the Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Department.  As to whether Fullstrom will use the resolutions that have been drawn up and ready for approval by the Prosecuting Attorney's office and the Sheriff's Department, or not, we will make them available to him.)

We discussed the MCC concerns about overlapping committees efforts.   It is important to remember that under the auspices of the Manchester Community Federation, our group is a separate group with our own by-laws and activity, as is the Manchester Historical Society, and are not part of the MCC Committee structure.  Our purpose is to work towards minimizing crime by increasing law enforcement presence in Manchester and promoting public safety.   Bud will be meeting next week with Helen Robinson, Chair of the MCC Recreation Committee and Mary Ann Blazevich, to provide them with pictures of Pomeroy Park, etc., which the Committee would like to become involved with, with the Port's permission on a beautification project.  On Tuesday late afternoon there was considerable excitement in Pomeroy Park, when the cruise ship ARGOSY made a visit to Manchester up to within a few feet of the two floats, with a shipload of tourists.  They stayed about 10 minutes.

Joyce Rada announced that she was ready to take on the previously mentioned project of determining where Neighborhood Watch/Blockwatch areas have posted signs but no record of whom is the person or persons involved.  Bud and Joyce will meet to go over the logistics and start a development study.  Our goal being not only more watches in the Manchester area, but throughout Port Orchard, Southworth, Yukon Harbor, etc.  They will be working with Public Works who are responsible for placing watch signs.  Joe Blazevich reported  on the updated statistics for the Puget Drive Neighborhood Watch progress report.  Our of a total of 101 occupied homes, they are 68% done, or 81% done or promised.  Out of all the homes contacted, only 5 homes expressed no interest in participation.  This is quite remarkable results, Joe and Mary Ann have worked long and hard on this project.  Next is to obtain the signs and get them installed. 

An interesting idea for the annual NATIONAL NIGHT OUT was reviewed.  The event will be held this year on the second Tuesday in August, and usually involves watch groups holding a neighborhood barbecue or picnic.  This has proved very successful in community involvement.  We felt the time frame was a little too close for this years scheduled date, but certainly a worthwhile event to think about for next year.

John Winslow was thanked for all the work he put in to prospective petitions for Manchester residents as regards the Main Street Storm Water Outfall project.  We have held off on sending the petitions out until after the Port meeting on August 7th.  John also discussed the survey being worked on by the MCC Village Commons group, at the Port's request for an opinion study on a few key questions the Port is interested in.  The Friend's of the Library were asked to donate funding for sending the survey out to at least 500 people, it was felt that if they were to fund the expenses, they would need to have it go out under the auspices of the Friends.  We will let you know, as this moves forward.

Bud reported that Kitsap County Public Works has had their people out doing the traffic survey we requested, several times.  They will be reporting back to us in a month or so with their findings.

It was agreed that we would look in to holding a Neighborhood/Blockwatch public meeting sometime in the fall.

Submitted:    Wanda Larsen