8-26-08 MCP&PSG WEEKLY TUESDAY COFFEE & DISCUSSION MEETING, 6:45AM, MANCHESTER FAMILY INN

Attending were, Ron Rada, Richard Dillworth, Bob and Mary Cathern Edwards, Paul GIlligan, Kerri Desjardin, Joe Blazevich, Jr., Bud and Wanda Larsen and Peggy Warren.    Special guest Dana Coggon of Kitsap County Noxious Weed Program was unable to attend today's meeting, as scheduled.     We were fortunate to have M.C. Edwards, our personal Master Gardner, to bring us up to date on some of the samples various members of the group brought to the meeting.    We not only learned what certain weeds are, but what can be done to get rid of them and whether they can be eliminated or not by digging, pesticides, etc.

Ron Rada discussed the proposal for the establishment of the Manchester Citizens Advisory Committee (MCAC) per the Manchester Community Plan.   The MCAC would be made up of the following individuals representing the following groups/organizations within the Manchester Boundary.   A total of 17 members. Chair and Vice Chair to be elected among members. Bylaws to be established and approved by members.  Recommended are Quarterly meetings to gather community concerns and pass the information on to the Board of County Commissioners

                    GROUP/ORGANIZATIONAL INITIAL TERM

MANCHESTER COMMUNITY COUNCIL - 1 YEAR

MANCHESTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION - 2 YEARS

MANCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY - 3 YEARS

                    MANCHESTER CRIME PREVENTION & PUBLIC SAFETY GROUP - 1 YEAR

                    FRIENDS OF THE MANCHESTER LIBRARY - 2 YEARS

PORT OF MANCHESTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE - 3 YEARS

                    KIWANIS CLUB OF SOUTH KITSAP - 1 YEAR

SOUTH KITSAP SCHOOL DISTRICT - 2 YEARS

                    BUSINESS COMMUNITY - 3 YEARS

                    COLCHESTER NEIGHBORHOODS - 1 YEAR (INCLUDES YUKON HARBOR & PUGET DRIVE AREAS)

ALASKA NEIGHBORHOODS - 2 YEARS (INCLUDES ALL AREAS EAST OF ALASKA TO CALIFORNIA)

CALIFORNIA NEIGHBORHOODS - 3 YEARS (INCLUDING ALL AREAS EAST OF CALIFORNIA TO ALASKA)

NEBRASKA NEIGHBORHOODS - 1 YEAR (INCLUDING ALL AREAS EAST OF NEBRASKA TO CALIFORNIA

                    NORTHERN NEIGHBORHOODS - 2 YEARS (INCLUDING ALL AREAS NORTH OF MAIN, MADRONA & CHESTER)

                    AT LARGE MEMBER 3 YEARS

                    AT LARGE MEMBER 2 YEARS

                    AT LARGE MEMBER 1 YEAR

The MCAC proposal will be an agenda item at the Manchester Community Council meeting this evening 8-26-08, 6:30 PM at the Manchester Library.  Everyone who is interested is invited to attend this important meeting.

Bud Larsen reported on the 8-21-08 Port Advisory Committee meeting  held at 5:30PM at the Manchester Library.   12 group members were on hand to hear a report from Kitsap County Assessor, Jim Avery.   Jim provided copies of the 2008 and 2009 projected levy limit calculations, that show the Port of Manchester District #8835 statistics.  It included the highest amount allowed since 1986, new construction before ANNX, current and prior utilities, change in utilities AV, and budget override.

Jim noted that 1% plus new construction is similar to other like type agency operations.   The 2008 levy limit was $92,952.00, the 2009 levy limit will be $94,897.00.  Manchester has one of the lowest levy amounts, and is similar to Waterman.

It was interesting to learn that it is typical that with a 3 to 4% a year property increase, the levy rate goes down.   How does this happen?  It is a budget controlled system.  To get approval for a levy lid lift it would take 50% plus one voter to approve it.   This means a Port could double and triple the levy limit amount, but it would take voter approval to do so.   Another thing that could be done to generate more funding would be a "industrial" levy more than 1%.  Also, 75% of the assessed value could qualify for a petition by property owners, that type of action would not require a vote.    Areas contingent to the Port of Manchester, including precincts #222, #246, and #247 that could possibly be added to the Port Boundary lines with 50% of the property owner voting for annexation.  This method for contingency increases is a slow and creeping process.

It was noted that in the past there have been discussions about the Port paying taxes.   Jim will research this and advise us of the answer, there should not be any property tax due, with a Port's non-profit exemption.  We also discussed ballot issues where a time frame is essential, options would include a 6 year primary and general ballot issue, or, the option of indefinitely having an increase in place.    We also reviewed the touchy issue of mergers.

Additional reports involved the 3 grant applications that are underway in Olympia.     Another topic was crating a garden type wall with lower seating inside the curve of the bank between the North and South piers, if permitting can be obtained, Norma Brady and Carol Campbell are developing a plan that could be done at low cost and assistance from volunteers.    The next Port of Manchester meeting on April 8th will include a report from Puget Sound Energy on lighting options for the port and library parking areas.    Another idea pertains to community signage for Manchester at the Mile Hill and Colchester "Y", Joan Winslow heads of this committee and is working with designer Mark Dalton to create a generic welcome sign, that can also advertise special events such as book sales, salmon bake, etc.  The Advisory Committee is doing an excellent job of reviewing ideas and suggestions that can become important community issues.

On September 16th our guests will be Neal Nicoliasen and Michael Drew of Kitsap County Public Health.    They will be speaking on solid waste issues, drinking water, outfall, etc.    Mark your calendar for this meeting and bring your questions.

Submitted by:      Wanda Larsen