1-08-08 MCP&PSG COFFEE & DISCUSSION 6:45AM, MANCHESTER FAMILY INN

    In attendance were Ron and Joyce Rada, Joe Blazevich, Ray Pardo, Bud and Wanda Larsen, Paul Gilligan, and Peggy Warren.   John WInslow was excused.    A card received from our waitress Mary was passed around.  Mary said "Thank You Manchester Watch".  The gift was very kind of you all and I so enjoy being your server on Tuesday mornings.

Bud passed our pages 27 and 28 of the recently approved Manchester Community Plan Update 2007, entitled "goals and policies."  These are topics we will be addressing with today's special guest Jim Rogers, Transportation Planning of Kitsap County Public Works.

We discussed a number of issues relating to projects within the Port of Manchester that we have had an on-going interest in.    It was decided that we would attempt to get together with new Port Commissioner Steve Pederson, before the next Port meeting on the 14th, to outline what we have been working on.  We also hope to establish a group of citizens to work with all the Port Commissioners on an on-going basis to establish a good working relationship with the Community.  To also, express our willingness to assist on research of various projects that relate to the Port of Manchester and Manchester itself.  

It was noted that the recent informational documentary:  BEYOND THE MYTHS - FOCUS ON JAILS  show how our law enforcement officers and administrators are involved on behalf of the citizens of Kitsap County.  The 23 minute program was produced by NIC and hosted by Sheriff Steve Boyer and Chief of Corrections New Newlin.  It focuses on the purpose and mission of local county jails, their operations and impact on local communities.   The documentary was shown on BKAT (Comcast channel 12 and Wavecable channel 3, on Dec. 18, 27, and Jan 2, 4.    Well worth your time to watch.

Several new releases from Sheriff Boyer's office that related to the Bank of America robbery during the holiday season were passed around for review.

We will be arranging a luncheon meeting with Dave Tucker, Kitsap County Surf & Storm water Management Program, within the next few weeks.  Dave is unable to attend our early mornings due to a schedule conflict, however he is eager to meet with us to discuss the various serious storm water issues we have in Manchester.  As soon as a date is set, we will advise you of the date, time and place.    We all learned a lot from the serious December storm that wreaked havoc throughout Kitsap County.   It is anticipated that through meeting with Dave we can obtain some direction on who we need to be in contact with and how we can assist in storm water issues.

In addition, we hope to schedule a meeting with Mary Cathern Edwards in regards to the Emergency Management Public Education program established for building and strengthening disaster readiness among neighbors.  Mary Cathern is the official representative for this program, for our area.    She will be bringing the popular MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD - MYN materials to our attention.   This relates to the 9 steps - immediately following disaster.  Neighborhood gathering site and care center.  Neighborhood skills and equipment inventory,  Guidelines for neighborhood mapping.  Your neighborhood map and contact list. Finally, the HELP / OK cards.    This is just one of the SAFETY FIRST programs we will be bringing to you in the months to come.

Jim Rogers was introduced and gave us a brief background statement.    With an engineering background and his interest in long range planning of traffic patterns, goals, and providing a network for future growth, he joined the Transportation Planning department about 3 years ago and is well informed on issues both county wide and locally.   Our first topic for discussion was downtown parking expansion, plus Port of Manchester and other areas.    Jim and his supervisor Jeff Shea, toured Manchester just last week and were well aware of some of our concerns.    Several large pictures and a rough draft of the entrance to the Port of Manchester was looked at.     To revise current parking in the private land and county right of way on Main Street would first of all require approval by the Port of Manchester and the County.  Issues to be addressed and resolved are as follows:

#1    Relocate the fireplug through permission from Kitsap Fire & Rescue and our Fire Commissioners     Jim will obtain information on contacts for us.  Primary is not blocking fireplug access to emergency vehicles, this can be done with special funding and perhaps obtaining grants. Also look into ONE-WAY traffic for this area.

#2    Vacate a small portion of the main street right of way from Denniston Lane down to the already vacated area, for the purpose of turning boats with trailers going in to the Port of Manchester Launch area.   Parking on Main Street would be for Pomeroy Park and handicapped parking.  It is possible the bank on the South side of Main Street could be a concrete or rock wall to eliminate erosion from the Pappas residence, they are looking for an answer to the problem and with a join effort it is a possibility.   This would give additional turn room, as well as additional vehicle parking for visitors to Pomeroy Park and handicapped.

#3   Develop a workable outline as soon as possible and work from there.  The top priority is to get on the 6 year TIP list, this is excellent for smaller projects requiring less funds than major projects.   Include research of storm water planning underway for the County in order to work projects together.

The next topic for discussion was Planning for sidewalks in downtown area and Mosquito Fleet considerations.  The fact is that while sidewalks with curbs are the best option, they are also extremely costly.  It is necessary for the project engineers to define "walkways" as opposed to sidewalks with curbs, as well as determine right of way purchase and other related costs for the following areas:

#1    Main Street hill widen walkway from Beach Drive to the School at the top of the hill.   The Main Street Corridor.   4' expansion could be done, giving walkers  some safety coming downhill or going uphill.  This is a project that could be incorporated with the storm water improvements on the hill, at little cost.

#2    Beach Drive to Caraway, widen shoulder walkway.  This could be a two-part project with sidewalk and curb coming a later date when affordable.  Getting it on the TIP list is the prime issue.

#3   Jim will look in to the possibility of a driveway sign or pavement marks for the entrance to Denniston Lane.  This is a real problem area during fishing season, with boats and trailers blocking the drive and residents unable to enter for long periods of times.

The next topic for discussion was the potential for a Manchester Post Office drive through lane.  This would involve moving water department utilities.  The County has no problem with the idea.  It would also involve moving the transit station kiosk.  This could be an issue due to costs.   All would involve an agreement with the United States Postal Service as well.   We would need their approval, and payment of costs.   We should be able to obtain an estimate for this through prior similar changes at other postal facilities. The drive through would be with an entrance at the current entry location, then an exit lane near where the bus-stop is, with a postal drop box on the driver side of the approaching vehicle.

This was talked about as far back as 2002 and should be given considerable study.

We are looking for a volunteer to sort and file our 2007 meeting notes, and correspondence, projects, etc.  If you would have time and are interested, please call Wanda.

Submitted by:     Wanda Larsen