Kitsap Caucus

Until 2007 county commissioner meetings, the regular meetings, were in the daylight hours. Thinking they would get more participation by holding them at night they moved them to the evening. That participation, according to the commissioners, has not happened.

The county has issued a press release saying the commissioners are considering changing the meeting times, but it reads as if the decision has been pretty well made. The board will reserve the right to hold special meetings at special times and in different places. The full discussion of this idea is scheduled for the board’s 7 p.m. meeting on Monday (Feb. 13).

The county’s press release follows:

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Brynn writes:

Here’s the week’s meetings:

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

Monday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m.: This meeting will include a legislative update from Tom McBride followed by board information sharing from 11 a.m. to noon. Adjournment will follow.

2 p.m.: Parks update from Jim Dunwiddie until 2:30 p.m.; grant request for safe route to schools until 2:40 p.m.; Water as a Resource meeting agenda prep until 3:10 p.m.; Title 16 & 17 post-hearing review will happen until 4:30 p.m. Adjournment follows.

7 p.m.: This special meeting is being held to have a public hearing for commissioners to consider public testimony on the “range and selection of land use alternatives to be analyzed in a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.” The hearing is part of a recent Growth Management Hearings Board decision regarding the size and composition of the county’s Urban Growth Areas.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m.: The board will receive the agenda for its Feb. 13 meeting until 9:45 a.m. Next they’ll share information until 10 a.m.; there will be a human rights council discussion from 10 to 10:30 a.m.; then talk about a sewer utility newcomer connection inspection fee increase will happen until 11 a.m.; the Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau will give a presentation until 11:30 a.m. The board will end the meeting at noon after an executive session regarding real estate.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 5 p.m.: Work study items include discussion over an extension of an inter-local agreement with Kitsap County Administrative Services for court security services; and a proposal to amend the inter-local agreement for Emergency Management Services to eliminate the city of Bremerton Council President and one at-large council member from the composition of the Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management Policy Board; discussion and instruction of use of tokens for council e-mail.

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

No meetings this week.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.: Agenda items include: an interlocal agreement with Kitsap County for stormwater education; a resolution indicating the city plans to enter into a lease agreement with Coffee Oasis for a teen shelter; and a workshop on the Shoreline Master Plan, continued from the council’s discussion last month.

Housing Kitsap (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1-3:30 p.m.: The meeting starts with the swearing in of Port Orchard Mayor Tim Matthes and then recesses into an executive session to discuss potential litigation. Additional items for discussion include covering old business: life expectancy of 550 Madison on Bainbridge Island / Housing Kitsap plans for property; progress update of jurisdictional review of ordinance defining process for elected officials appointing representatives to the Housing Kitsap board; update on selection process of resident commissioner; appointing community leaders to serve on Housing Kitsap board subcommittees; New business includes: AWHA publication; appreciation from Kitsap County Democratic Women; Housing Kitsap information covers.

One of the voices I had hoped to have in the story about methadone clinic zoning the council will consider Wednesday was Ron Jackson, director of Evergreen Treatment Services. I called him and he called me back three times and we never connected. Jackson, you will recall, was the one who wanted to locate a treatment facility here, at the request of the Kitsap County Health District and with the blessing of Mayor Patty Lent.

“Ironic, isn’t it?” Jackson said when I mentioned that two of the zoning proposals the council will consider Wednesday would allow a methadone clinic to go in the Skookum Building, which was Jackson’s idea.

Since Bremerton made the location of methadone clinics the subject of a six-month moratorium, Jackson has looked at three other locations in other counties, but state funding, or more accurately the idea that state funding could be withdrawn, has him putting on hold any expansion plans. “I need to see what the Legislature is going to do with the budget, because the mission of the agency is to provide services regardless of someone’s ability to pay,” Jackson said.

Jackson also is not sure there is an appropriate building in the Bremerton areas the council will likely approve. He looked for property up in the freeway corridor area and near the hospital and did not find something he thought would work. Skookum was the right place, he said, but as it turned out it was missing a key ingredient, too. “The one characteristic that it didn’t have was neighborhood support,” Jackson said.

Brynn writes:

February already, wow, where has the time gone?!

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

Monday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m.: This meeting will include a legislative update from Tom McBride followed by a commissioners staff meeting from 11 a.m. to noon. Adjournment will follow.

2 p.m.: The afternoon meeting includes the following discussion topics: emergency appropriations for Clerk’s Office 2011 budget for five minutes; and executive session re: existing litigation until 2:30 p.m.; a resource conservation manager update for 30 minutes; a Shoreline Master Program update and public outreach plan from 3 to 4:30 p.m.; and a review of the Puget Sound action agenda. Adjournment to follow.

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 8:30 a.m.: This meeting starts with a budget discussion about the correctional officer interest arbitration budget decision for an hour then ends with an executive session on real estate until 10 a.m.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 5 p.m.: This meeting starts upstairs with a briefing before heading downstairs for the general meeting. Agenda items include: approval of September 11 Memorial design concept for Evergreen Rotary Park; Awarding a construction contract to South Bay Excavating, Inc. for Park Avenue Plaza 4th Street east surface improvements as part of the Park Avenue Plaza Phase II Project; Public Hearing items include an ordinance approving a six month extension on the existing moratorium relating to Medical Marijuana collective gardens; an ordinance to amend the zoning code relating to opiate substitution treatment facilities; an ordinance to adopt the proposal to modify the City Council district boundaries for the city of Bremerton from 9 to 7 (1 of 2 Public Hearings; No action anticipated…).

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

No meetings this week.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m.: Agenda items include: Countywide planning policies; an oridinance on vehicle impounding; an ordinance on dangerous dogs; and an agreement with the investigative response team.

Marijuana decriminalization will be considered by the Legislature, and if it fails there by voters in November now that Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed’s office has certified that the move has enough signatures.

Reed’s press release follows.

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At least one radio talker thinks the Legislature is trying to get gay marriage passed to distract the citizens from the state budget, which has a hole in it. The argument makes for audacious radio and gay marriage is one issue that can divert an Olympia watcher’s attention. But the budget will get its time in the sun beginning in mid February when the latest economic forecast comes out. And there are at least three more rational reasons why legislators would want to push the marriage issue this year.

If you support same-sex marriage, then you want to try to avoid an election. Voters can be an unpredictable lot and I haven’t seen compelling evidence to predict a win for either side. By getting the Legislature to pass the measure without sending it to voters, it forces opponents to do what’s necessary to get it on the ballot. A referendum on the Legislature is not as difficult as a grass roots initiative, because it only requires half the signatures. Nonetheless, opponents are forced to get organized and get people to sign. If for whatever reason they don’t succeed, the law goes into effect on June 7.

Assuming opponents do succeed, and I think they will, this is the year you want this on the ballot. David Ammons from the Washington Secretary of State’s office said big turnout elections are the best for Democrats. Left-leaning voters will show up to vote for President Obama and his re-election and while they’re at it they will join libertarian-leaning righties and vote to allow gays to marry. Traditionally liberals would be less likely to vote at all if this were not a presidential year. I’m not sure that’s true here, because in 2010 Washington Democrats did very well in getting out the vote compared to the rest of the country. Overall, though, a presidential election year should be even better.

Another reason this is your best shot for a while is there is no guarantee your side is going to maintain the majority in Olympia in the coming years, especially in the Senate. You had to push to get the 25 votes you needed as it was. And Republican Rob McKenna, who opposes gay marriage, may very well be your governor next year if he beats Democrat Jay Inslee, who supports it. McKenna would probably veto the same bill you’re going to send to Chris Gregoire this year and you certainly won’t have the votes to override him. You would have to bypass him and send it to voters. And having voters decide is something you’re only reluctantly accepting, because you might have to.

If ever there was a good time to make a first try, 2012 is it.

And I think I can make the next point without shedding any of my Olympic objectivity. To some degree gay marriage would seem to be an inevitability in Washington. I can see pockets across the U.S. that will hold out for years, but this place is not one of them. As younger people become voters it is going to be harder and harder for opponents to hold this off.

If that point doesn’t set well with you, take comfort in the fact that I have been so wrong in reading the tea leaves in the past. I thought Barack Obama wouldn’t run in 2008.

Assuming opponents do get the question on the ballot, we are in for an advertising and street-corner campaign season the likes of which we have never seen.

Brynn writes:

When news broke that Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, would support a Senate bill legalizing same-sex marriage, I was asked by my editors to call our local supporters and opponents of the measure to get a reaction. Haugen’s announcement gives the Senate the votes it needs to pass the measure, which has become the most high-profile issue before the Legislature during this short session.

I was able to reach Marcie Mathis, co-chair of the Kitsap Pride Network, but I had no luck getting in touch with the three members of the Kitsap Marriage Alliance’s leadership team. I left phone messages and emails, but I had already left for the day before one of them got back to me.

Because I want to fairly represent both sides of the issue, I am posting leadership member Chris Moore’s response via email that he sent me on the issue. Moore was in Olympia yesterday for the hearings. He estimated there were around 50 people from the 23rd Legislative District that he knew at the hearing.

Here’s Moore’s email to me:

“On behalf of Kitsap Marriage Alliance, I would say that we are disappointed but not surprised. We anticipate that there will be a referendum drive and we will be actively engaged in collecting signatures.”

While in Olympia Moore’s group met with Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, and Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, to discuss the legislation. Moore said they talked about setting up a meeting with Rolfes and Appleton similar to the one the alliance held Jan. 9 at the Gateway Fellowship church where Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, and other anti-gay marriage advocates spoke about the need to voice opposition against the proposed bills.

During the meeting the legislators would make themselves available to discuss their views and would make themselves available to questions from constituents. Moore said his group will “actively seek to schedule such a meeting for some time after the current session closes.”

When a date has been set, I’ll let you know about it.

The Port of Bremerton Board of Commissioners devoted considerable time at a retreat last week to discussion of the port’s logo. Now, don’t get the idea that the board didn’t discuss larger issues, such as the port’s mission and direction now that it has a new CEO (former COO Tim Thomson, replacing Cary Bozeman), new commissioner (Axel Strakeljahn, replacing retiring longtime Commissioner Bill Mahan) and new board president (Larry Stokes).

All agreed on taking an aggressive approach to attracting new business and retaining the tenants they already have, especially SafeBoats. Strakeljahn suggested that the port should fill Thomson’s former position with a “salesman” who would be on the road four to six weeks of the year, knocking on the doors of prospective port tenants.

“We need to sell ourselves guys,” said Strakeljahn, store director for Port Orchard’s Fred Meyer, who urged his fellow commissioners not to count on Kitsap’s cities or the county to take the lead. “If we’re doing that, we’re riding the bus. We need to be driving the bus. … I don’t care what everyone else is doing. Let them do what they’re good at. We’re going to drive the bus. We’re the Port of Bremerton. We’re the leaders.”

Thomson mentioned that the logo created when Bozeman was at the helm has not exactly been ringing people’s chimes. Apparently, 95 percent of the staff would just as soon go back to the old logo, which shows a propeller and a couple of thin waves.

The new logo shows a thick blue wave, a building, a person waving, a sun and a plane flying stage right (see below).

The commissioners did their best to interpret the icons.

“You’ve got the little guy and the sun up there …,” Strakeljahn mused. “Were you here when they came up with this?” he asked Thomson.

“Yes, but I didn’t feel comfortable saying anything,” he replied.

The commissioners thought the buildings were meant to represent industry. And the sun? ” … because sometimes Washington is sunny?” Commissioner Roger Zabinski ventured.

Although the old logo was pronounced a little “old school,” the commissioners agreed they liked it better. Discussion of melding the two logos was nixed, apparently due to artist’s rights on the new design.

Stokes, who served on the board about 25 years ago, gave the history of the old logo, saying his successor Mary Ann Huntington had a contest at South Kitsap High School. The winning design was submitted by one of the students.

Thomson suggested the new logo be allowed to die a natural death. No new materials will be ordered with the sun and the little man. Staff will be allowed to drop the logo from their emails. The new logo, featured on some port signs, will be replaced as the signs need replacement.

“We’ll just slowly let it go away,” Thomson said.

Which logo do you think best represents the port?

The story about the parking on Fourth Street will get more attention in city council meetings and certainly here at the Kitsap Sun. The bids are in for the changes proposed for the eastern half of the street.

The overall design, as mentioned in the story, calls for elements that are supposed to make the area more attractive for shoppers. Whether that happens is another question. Gary Sexton, Bremerton’s redevelopment projects administrator (on contract) showed me around the garages and the theater Monday. The theater is supposed to open in late May, early June. The apartments planned for on top of the Burwell Street garage could begin construction around the same time.

The city council is supposed to approve the winning bid for the eastern portion of Fourth Street construction at its meeting Feb. 1.

Here is a video of the inside of the theater, including some still shots.

Brynn writes:

I received information about an open house that will be held Tuesday in a newsletter released by Commissioner Josh Brown’s office. Those interested in meeting with Brown are welcome to attend his “Open Office Hours” Jan. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Silverdale Library, 3450 NW Carlton Street in Old Town Silverdale.

According to a blurb from Brown’s office, he’ll make himself available to meet with citizens to hear their concerns and ideas and to talk with them about topics related to county government. He’ll be in the Hess meeting room of the library. People can just drop by, no appointment is necessary.

For more information, call 360-337-7080.

Brynn writes:

Wow, what a week last week huh? Since the weather canceled most meetings, many of them have been rescheduled for this week. Here’s what’s in the line up:

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

Monday, Jan. 23, 10 a.m.: This meeting’s pretty light. It includes a legislative update from lobbyist Tom McBride for about an hour, then an agenda review and information sharing from 11 a.m. to noon, before adjournment.

2 p.m.: From 2 to 3 p.m. the board will hear about the KITZ tower rental with Bud Harris.

7 p.m.: The board’s regular night meeting includes a $1.7 million contract with URS Corporation for project and construction management services for the Central Kitsap wastewater treatment resource recovery and process improvements project; Public Hearing items include: An ordinance amending Kitsap County Code restricting motorized vessel access in certain Kitsap County waters; an ordinance reducing the existing 35 mph speed limit to 30 mph on Ogle Road NE in North Kitsap; an ordinance amending portions of Kitsap County Code Title 16 “Land Division and Development”; an ordinance amending portions of Kitsap County Code Title 17 “Zoning”.

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 8:30 a.m.: This meeting starts with a closed session to discuss labor relations until 9 a.m.; it opens with the approval of meeting minutes from a previous meeting, then an hour-long discussion ion the comprehensive plan remand and preliminary alternatives; the board will take a break from 10:05 to 10:15 a.m. then come back to discuss the Forest Stewardship Policy until 11 a.m. The meeting ends with an executive session on real estate from 11 a.m. to noon.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 5 p.m.: This meeting is a study session upstairs. Discussion iems include: BKAT service contract with Kitsap County; Amendment No. 4 to the Professional Services Agreement with Willis of Seattle, Inc. for insurance broker services; 2012 excess liability; excess workers’ compensation; and crime insurance; Review of maps related to proposed Ordinance No. 5177, amending the zoning code relating to opiate substitution treatment facilities and to request a two week extension on the current moratorium; Bremerton Government 101; council member reports; and other council business.

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m.: The one public hearing item is on amendments to the McCormick West annexation; Business Items include: adoption of an ordinance that would repeal a resolution  and amend Port Orchard Municipal Code Chapter 10.12, and establish regulations and fees related to parking, stopping or standing in certain areas of the city; adoption of an ordinance amending/repealing Ordinance No. 018-11, McCormick West Annexation; adoption of a resolution repealing Resolution No. 008-10, and reestablishing Council committee assignments and rules ; approval of Contract No. 021-12, authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Calm River Demographics for population census survey for Bethel Annexation.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7 p.m.: There is a meeting this week, but the agenda isn’t online yet, likely because of last week’s weather. I believe the council is looking at site-specific amendments to its comprehensive plan at this meeting, but I don’t know what else could be on the agenda.

Central Kitsap Community Council (meeting at Haselwood Family YMCA in Silverdale)

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7-9 p.m.: The CKCC will meet in a new location for its meeting this month. The bulk of the meeting will center around a presentation by the Kitsap Regional Library system regarding its Silverdale branch and where it should relocated in the community. KRL leaders are looking to the public for guidance and hope for a large turnout at the meeting. (THIS MEETING WAS RESCHEDULED FROM LAST WEEK).

Port of Bremerton (meets at the Bremerton National Airport)

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 6 p.m.: The commissioners are meeting, but there are no action items and no public hearings, so it looks like it will probably be a short meeting.

Bremerton Housing Authority (meets at 4040 Wheaton Way, suite 210)

Monday, Jan. 23, 3:30 p.m.: The housing board’s development and finance committees will hold joint study session meeting to discussion the development budget and financial plan update.

The bulk of the Secretary of State’s announcement follows this brief conversation.

If you’re reading this blog you’re probably informed enough to know that when Washington votes in a primary the top two vote getters make it to the ballot in November. This is a fairly recent development that like many things sprung from problems in California. (I grew up there, so your problem with me originates there.)

In California it used to be that to vote in a party’s primary you actually had to be a declared member of that party. When the state changed that the parties sued and it ended up wrecking things for Washingtonians, who had voted for whoever the heck they wanted in the primary regardless of party. The Supreme Court struck down that system, and Washington eventually responded with the Top Two system.

The Secretary of State explains in what follows.

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We had a story Monday on state Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, having written a book on the “I have a dream” speech and his assignment to introduce a House resolution honoring King. Here is the speech Hansen delivered, in which he states he makes the case that King’s losses offer moments as instructive as his victories.

This on the left is the latest in the new world for me. I still don’t know what we use it for the most, but Dan Griffey, who’s running for a state House seat had one of these on the back of his card. I knew my new iPhone would read it, so I wondered what he had. I now have all his contact info stored.

Then I found out I could create one for myself, which is the image you see on the left. If you want to have my contact info handy at all times, there it is right there. You don’t see it? Your QR Code reader does. Ask it.

Brynn writes:

Buried in the middle of our Jan. 11 Classifieds section was a small blurb about the Port of Brownsville and its commissioners holding a public hearing that night on limited tax general obligation bonds.

After the Port of Bremerton formed a new taxing district to pay for the Bremerton Marina without taxpayer input, anytime the words “port”, “tax” and “bonds” appear in the same sentence our interest is piqued.

I called Port Manager Jerry Rowland to get the details about the bonds, and what exactly the port commissioners hoped to do with them.

The first thing to make clear is the port is not looking to increase its taxes, Rowland said. Let me repeat: The port commissioners are not going to raise taxes.

The limited tax general obligation bonds, or LTGO for short, would provide the port the money it needs to upgrade its docks, Rowland said.

“This is strictly to get money in the bank to start rebuilding the marina,” he said last week. “This would be to rebuild the existing docks and finger piers and not part of the extension we want to do.”

Currently the port has the capability to take out $3 million in bonds to pay for the installation of new aluminum finger piers, but Rowland said commissioners are only looking to take out about $1.8 million.

The port has already upgraded 16 of its finger piers from the aging wood slats to the all aluminum docks.

“We find them absolutely fantastic and so does everybody else,” Rowland said. “I’m hoping we can rebuild this entire marina out of aluminum docks.”

Commissioners were set to vote on the bonds last week, but withheld a decision when they learned the port’s credit rating wouldn’t be renewed until a financial audit was conducted. The port currently has a AA credit rating by Standard & Poor’s, but because the port is set to be audited this year the ratings agency is waiting for the results of that audit to issue its rating, Rowland said.

Rowland talked with someone at the State Auditors Office to see if the state could conduct a financial audit soon, with a more comprehensive audit coming sometime later this year.

Once the audit is complete and the rating in place the commissioners appear on board to approve taking out the bonds.

“They want to bond, they want to move forward with the project and rebuild,” Rowland said.

Once commissioners give the project a final nod Rowland will submit request for proposals for bids to install the first section of docks.

“We’re going to do this one small step at a time,” he said.

Brynn writes:

Here’s what we have for the week:

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

No meeting Monday because it’s a holiday.

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 8 a.m.: The meeting starts with a closed session regarding labor relations it will reopen at 8:30 a.m. with an agenda review for the board’s Jan. 23 meeting; information sharing follows from 9:15 to 10 a.m. and then a discussion about the Forest Stewardship Policy for 40 minutes; next is a legislative update by Tom McBride until 11:30 a.m. and then the board will recess back into executive session to discuss real estate until its noon adjournment.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 5 p.m.: The council will meet upstairs until heading down to the conference chambers for its 5:30 p.m. meeting. General business items are: approval of September 11 Memorial design concept for Evergreen Rotary Park; and construction contract for Park Avenue Plaza 4th Street East surface improvements as part of the Park Avenue Plaza Phase II Project (Bids to be opened on January 17, 2012); Public hearing items include: an ordinance to vacate Broadway Avenue from 13th Street to 16th Street; an ordinance to amend the zoning code relating to opiate substitution treatment facilities and to request a two (2) week extension on the current moratorium; and an ordinance to approve a six month extension on the existing moratorium relating to medical marijuana collective gardens

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m.: Work study session discussion items include: Council committee assignments and council retreat date; 2012 planning department docket; Port/City joint waterfront plan; draft parking ordinance, draft ordinance and Sage Court; Utility Committee update and Parks Plan and Parks Commission.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

Meeting has been canceled for lack of agenda items.

Central Kitsap Community Council (meeting at Haselwood Family YMCA in Silverdale)

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7-9 p.m.: The CKCC will meet in a new location for its meeting this month. The bulk of the meeting will center around a presentation by the Kitsap Regional Library system regarding its Silverdale branch and where it should relocated in the community. KRL leaders are looking to the public for guidance and hope for a large turnout at the meeting.

This picture is upside down. These mirrors and lights were on the ceiling, so in reality the people in them appeared to heels over head. This was a shot from Rob McKenna's visit visit the CK GOP Women Thursday.

During the business round table McKenna hosted in the evening he spoke with me as the small groups conversed. His main point on gay marriage is that it is inevitably going to go before voters, and that if Washington is going to change its policy that it should be voters who make that call.

McKenna said he voted for the domestic partnership law in 2009, which was supposed to give same-sex couples registered as domestic partners all the same rights the state allows married couples. If it isn’t working out that way, he said, then the state should address where a gay couples’ rights are being denied and fix it. He said it is not a constitutional issue, that the courts have upheld the state’s definition of marriage. “I support traditional marriage,” he said. “It’s a policy question. Do we want to redefine marriage?”

On his points about reforming workers’ compensation laws, Labor & Industries, health care, liability laws, I asked him where he thought he would get the most buy-in from the Legislature should both houses remain Democratic. He said the Legislature has already initiated some reform with workers’ comp, but that a move to privatize the insurance might be controversial. He said it doesn’t have to be for-profit insurers competing, that it could be limited to non-profits. He said Washington system is failing employees and employers because of the monopoly in place now.

McKenna also said he would think introducing tools like tax-increment financing (now unconstitutional) might be doable as well. A form of it is already in place in Gig Harbor with St. Anthony’s Hospital and in Bremerton with the parking garage that will be topped by a movie theater.

In health care he and Inslee are on the same page that Medicare reimbursements should be based on results rather than how many services are provided. Governors, McKenna said, would need to band together to influence the federal government to make those changes, that they already have successfully in some cases.

During lunch one in attendance said he thought McKenna’s chances of being successful in his challenge of the mandate portion of health care reform were great. I asked him if he was as optimistic. “I think the odds . . . are 5-4.” It only took me about 10 seconds to get the joke. Whatever happens, it won’t be surprising if the U.S. Supreme Court votes 5-4 one way or the other.

Back on the gay marriage issue I asked, in a roundabout way, if having it on a ballot favors him or Jay Inslee in the governor’s race. It’s something I addressed in the last paragraph of an earlier blog post about same-sex marriage. McKenna said there is a lot of debate about it, that he doesn’t know. In 2004 Republican Dino Rossi might have won the election had it been on the ballot in Washington as it was in other states. But many supporters of same-sex marriage rights believe public sentiment has shifted enough that it might work in Democrats’ favor now.

I’m not certain we’re going to find out. If the Legislature does pass a bill granting marriage to same-sex couples, I believe the question will end up on a ballot. Getting enough signatures will not be that difficult, I predict, especially because getting a referendum to undo a legislative action requires half the signatures a regular initiative does.

In either case, I tend to believe both sides would be able to gather enough signatures to get something ready for an election, but I’m not as certain gay marriage proponents will launch an initiative if the Legislature doesn’t act this session.

Initiative 71, the 2009 “Everything but Marriage” referendum, passed with 53.15 percent support. McKenna said he supported it, but he doesn’t want to call it “marriage.” Neither does radio talk show host Dori Monson.

Before the 2009 election I wrote on this blog:

Nationally, though, 71 seems to be getting little attention at all, and for me I wonder if it goes back to the fact that Washington would call gay committed relationships “domestic partnerships” and not “marriage.” I get e-mails from one of the chief opponents of gay marriage and in the most recent correspondences there were mentions of efforts in Maine, Iowa, the District of Columbia and New York. On Washington? Zero.

It’s early yet, but the energy this time, three years later, feels different. The opposition last time was splintered. Do you think there are lots of voters out there who, like McKenna, supported 71 but would not support calling gay couples “married?” Does the word mean that much?

That could have happened here, I know, but it didn’t. This was Fife. And the one-vote difference isn’t that big a deal, because the Fife mayor is picked by the city council. Rob Cerqui won the seat with a 4-3 vote of the council, according to the (Tacoma) News Tribune.

The weekend after the Nov. 8 election I was a guest on the Outlaw Radio Network webcast, which is generated locally.

The hosts asked me about the Port Orchard mayoral election and asked if I thought Lary Coppola was running behind because of his DUI arrest. In a race decided by five votes there is a long list of items that contributed to the loss. Do I think three people voted for Tim Matthes instead of Coppola because of the DUI? Probably. (I use “three,” because if three people had switched their votes Coppola would have won re-election.) Was it the biggest factor? I don’t think so, I said. I think the biggest issue was some people, and I said this in the kindest way possible, don’t like Coppola personally. I’m sure the ads played a factor, too.

But still, I think it was mostly a personality thing. Our editorial board, in endorsing Coppola, wrote about him, “Along the way, Coppola has stepped on a few toes — and on occasion his direct manner has rankled some people.” From this (as in me) outsider’s perspective, Matthes’ slogan for the campaign could have been “I’m not Lary.”

I would have brought this up before, but Chris Henry covered it beautifully in her story “A (too?) strong voice for Port Orchard?”

Today’s headline from Fife reminded me to weigh in, not that you asked. Cerqui’s DUI came on Nov. 20, less than two weeks after he was re-elected to the council. His opponent in the race for mayor said the DUI was a personal issue and that Cerqui would do a good job as mayor.

Brynn writes:

Here’s what we have for the week:

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

Monday, Jan. 9, 9 a.m.: The main point of this meeting is information sharing until 11 a.m.

2 p.m.: Meeting will start with parks update by director Jim Dunwiddie until 2:30 p.m.; the board will then go into executive session regarding labor relations until 3 p.m.; Animal Control and the Humane Society contract and license fees will be the topic from 3 to 3:30 p.m.; there will be an appeal by the County Clerk regarding a reclassification recommend until 4 p.m.; and then a meeting date and agenda for election official water reuse meeting will be the topic of conversation from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Adjournment will follow.

7 p.m.: This looks to be a light meeting with no public hearings on the agenda.

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 8:30 a.m.: The meeting starts with a closed session regarding labor relations it will reopen at 9 a.m. to review an ordinance on restricting motorized vessel access; next is an hour long talk about the status and future of the Arts Board and Human Rights Council; followed by Ogle Road NE Speed Limit Reduction; and then two executive sessions, one on potential litigation from 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. and the other on real estate from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Adjournment follows.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 5 p.m.: Click here for the full study session agenda.

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.: Business items include adoption of Resolution No. 001-12, confirming Mayoral appointment to the Planning Commission; aapproval of Contract No. 019-12, authorizing the Mayor to execute agreement with PACE for well No. 9 treatment final design and construction administration; aapproval of December 20, 2011, special council meeting minutes; aappointment of Mayor Pro-Tempore for 2012.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m.: The focus of this meeting will largely be about the city council’s review of its Shoreline Master Program.

When I wrote the story last week about Heather Purser, who lobbied to get same-sex marriages licensed and recognized within the Suquamish Tribe, it was done with the idea that the issue could be a big one in the upcoming legislative session. Gov. Chris Gregoire’s decision to put forward her own bill now guarantees it.

As part of the story the interviews included discussions about the possible political realities and addressed questions that were not part of the piece on Heather. A story has its focus, and that one was more about her and her possible upcoming role. This might be a good time to discuss some of those other conversations.

We should start with some of the arguments against expanding marriage rights. Two Republican state legislators’ e-mails arrived in my inbox. State Rep. Matt Shea of Spokane Valley said he was surprised the governor and Democrats were making this an issue when the state was still in a budget crisis. He referenced how people have taken advantage of the state’s domestic partnership rules.

State Sen. Val Stevens of Arlington was more direct about the issue itself:

“Marriage between one man and one woman gives strength to society. Marriage and the family, instituted since the beginning of time, is the cornerstone of our nation and gives stability in our society. Children look to their mother and father to teach them family principles, which gives them a foundation to become contributing members of society.

“Same-sex marriage will erode that foundation. It will undermine the value that is statistically upheld for children being parented by a mother and father.

“Domestic partnership claimed to be the goal of the homosexual community, in order to give them the legal foundation they claimed was needed. However, only one-quarter of one percent of Washington citizens have taken advantage of the domestic partnership legislation passed in 2009. But now they want marriage.

“This is a tactic to divert attention from the emergent issue of the state’s financial crisis.
“The Washington State Constitution protects freedom of conscience and our religious heritage. I will oppose this legislative proposal for the sake of maintaining our stable society.”

That third paragraph was a particular point I addressed with Joshua Friedes, director of marriage equality for Equal Rights Washington. I asked if Washington voters approved the “Everything but Marriage” measure in 2009, don’t gay and lesbian couples already enjoy all the same legal protections that straight couples do. He said it hasn’t worked out that way.

People pressed with legalities and policies and rules understand what “marriage” offers someone, particularly in a crisis situation. They can’t be assumed to understand what rights a “domestic partner” has, he said. The classic example of gay couples not being able to exercise decisions or even visitations in hospitals still exists, he said, even if the law has changed in their favor.

The bigger stumbling blocks are with federal rules, he said. Gay couples don’t get the same benefits straight married couples do when it comes to taxes and Social Security benefits, he said. Providing marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples won’t change that, he said, but it will send a message.

“What’s important is Washington will be making clear for the first time that gay and lesbian families deserve the same rights as other families. That in itself is very important. We will have equal dignity in Washington state as we continue to work for the federal rights and responsibilities,” Friedes said.

And, he continued, the federal government’s Defense of Marriage Act is bound to fall. When it does, Washington gay and lesbian couples would be among the first to benefit if marriage rights are extended.

State Rep. Sen. Christine Rolfes, a Bainbridge Island Democrat, will support a same-sex marriage bill and protections for religious institutions to be sure the churches are not forced into supporting something they are opposed to. I asked if she knew of any ways churches had been harmed by same-sex marriage laws in other places, and she didn’t.

The website for PBS NewsHour show sheds some light. Every expert takes time to illustrate that churches won’t have to marry same-sex couples, which when you’ve read that for the sixth time gets old. There are ways, however, that churches could be affected. Churches that deliver services to the public could be targeted if they’re found to be denying them based on marriages it doesn’t recognize. There are issues of health benefits for employees and hiring practices generally. Another site pointed to a lawsuit in New Jersey in which the owner (a church) of a park site, didn’t want to allow a same-sex marriage ceremony to be performed by someone renting space.

For Friedes I asked the question if they weren’t afraid the same-sex issue wouldn’t have the same impact some thought it had in 2004. Many states had measures they called, “Defense of Marriage” initiatives or ballot items and some thought it helped get George W. Bush re-elected, because it ignited a base on the right that might otherwise have skipped the election. Were that to happen in Washington, would it hurt the chances of Jay Inslee, who supports same-sex marriage, in his run for governor against Rob McKenna, who is against it? Friedes said he thinks public sentiment has changed dramatically in the eight years since that election. And, he said, they’re working to get the measure passed in the Legislature. He has no delusions that it wouldn’t likely end up on the November ballot anyway in the form of a referendum. But, he said, what was a wedge issue for the right has in the last eight years become a wedge issue for the left.