North Kitsap Beat

Part of Viking Way will be closed Friday and maybe parts of Saturday as state the drills holes in the road to test the soil. It’s because of a gasoline leak at the Poulsbo Junction Grocery.

Environmental reporter Christopher Dunagan wrote another story about it for today’s paper.

With all the uproar for the last (how long has it been?) over Poulsbo City Hall, a little humorous perspective is in order.

If you transplanted the Poulsbo City Hall debate in my hometown, it might go something like this:

Mayor: Where should we build a new city hall?

Resident 1: Downtown. The old Mervyn’s or Lamonts would work.

Resident 2: I agree, downtown. But I think the former Tony Roma’s across the parking lot would be better.

There was a Seattle Times story recently about my hometown, Federal Way, that got me thinking with some perspective.

Comedy writer, John Moe, formerly of FW (Pronounced Ef-Dub.), goes on a quest to find the soul of stripmallopolis. The quest revolves around finding “downtown”. Good luck with that.

In Federal Way there’s isn’t a downtown. Never has been. Most people think of the mall as downtown. Seriously.

The mall owner said he’s trying to recreate the mall into a quasi city center-type-downtown thing. Hmm.

I’m sure the disagreements in Poulsbo will continue about city hall. And really, it seems a lot of the debate boils down the issue to downtown, and what happens there. But there’s one thing you can all be thankful for and actually agree on.

At least the downtown you get to argue about isn’t lined with kiosks where girls beg you to try hand lotions and pushy salesmen ask if you’re satisfied with your cell service.

I didn’t see this coming.

In the ever-morphing story of Poulsbo City Hall (meaning the effort to build a new one.) a compromise is now being sought with the city and two remaining groups proposing projects.

What’s your take on this issue now? How would you grade the way the city’s handling the process?

I got an e-mail today that was new to me. A seal gave birth on “A dock” at the Poulsbo marina.

Seals are pretty common out on the log booms at the ends of the breakwater.

Apparently it’s not unheard of for nature to take its course on the docks, though usually it happens on the booms.

I haven’t talked to anyone who saw the pup and mother, but by about 8:30 the evidence was at the dock and the seals were gone.

Seals are protected, too, so if you want to learn more, and want to know what to do (and NOT do) if you see one, check out this link from NOAA.

Here’s yet another version of the Poulsbo city hall map. Better than ever and full of new info.

First, I’m not going to try and solve the “What’s downtown” debate, but I figured I could lend some perspective. I walked from the Community Recreation Center (the sidewalk) to what I consider the center of the shopping district (just past the four-way intersection.). I usually walk pretty fast, so I purposely slowed down for what I would consider an average speed. It took 7 minutes.

If you’re really into it, I’d suggest you walk it yourself to decide. What’s your take on the location? The remaining plan, by Pioneer Property Group, puts the hall on the current city-owned property.

That brings me to the second part of the map. Describing the locations of all this stuff has been confusing. Confusing for me to write, confusing for my editors to understand, and presumably for you, too. That’s why I created the map in the first place.

But reporter Steve Gardner, who used to live in Poulsbo, said it was still kind of confusing for him. His suggestion: Photos. It’s hard to picture locations based on a description and a Google map alone. Now, when you click on the colored pins for each location, a photo will show up. Hope that helps.

It’s not often the e-mail ferry alerts really get my attention. This one did:

On the morning of Friday, July 13, beginning at 7:00am the Edmonds-Kingston route should expect to see busy to possible overloading conditions by the 9:20 a.m. sailing. This will be due to an estimated 350-500 Ford Mustangs.

I’m sure you reacted the same way when you read the last sentence…WHHAAA!!?!!?!!

I did some Web sleuthing, and it’s part of a big Mustang festival in Bellevue. They’re driving down to Shelton on 101 Friday morning for drag racing.

If you’re a Mustang nut (I know there are tons of you out there.) and you want to gawk at a jillion ponies, they’ll be headed from Kingston to Port Gamble before crossing the Hood Canal bridge.

If I were going to catch a glimpse of a caravan, I’d either go near the Kingston ferry terminal (the road where the cars unload) or Port Gamble.

Here’s info on the festival.

UPDATE: I added a link to the Mentor’s letter below

There’ve been more twists and turns in the Poulsbo City Hall process.

Yesterday, the Mentor group pulled out of the three-way contest to partner with the city to build a new hall, parking garage and their own private developments.

If you want to read the Mentor’s letter,click here for PAGE 1 and click here for PAGE 2.

They cited concerns about the city’s ability to afford the project.

That’s big question number one.

(The Mentors also dropped their cooperation with the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority. KCCHA had proposed a hotel on the former Nilsen’s site, which the Mentors own. KCCHA Executive Director Norm McLoughlin says the housing authority’s had discussions about building the hotel on the current city hall site with a conference center they plan there, too.)

So, now that the city’s left with two options (Pioneer Property Group is the other.),
big question number two is whether either of the plans will get the four votes (It’s a 7-person council) it needs.

Big question number two.

Councilman Rudolph talked about a feeling that there should be consensus on the council before going forward with any plan (7-0).

Given the way the votes have gone on this issue so far, I’d say that’s a pretty tall order.

There was a third story last night. The heat. You can rest assured the city hasn’t thrown away millions on a Texas-size AC unit for the current city hall, which used to be a fire station.

Last night’s sweaty marathon of a meeting (Went till 10:30) was a prime example of why they’re going through all this to get a new building.

It was hot. It was crowded. People stood outside. Those inside fanned themselves, chugged the water the city provided and tugged at their clothes (me too) in futile attempts to get just a wee bit cooler. Fans, those on the ceiling and extras brought in, did little to quell the oppressive heat.

The clock died at 10 p.m.

“This building is a travesty,” Councilman Ed Stern said.

EDIT: Here’s a photo of the thermometer in my office today. Read the last part of this post if it’s like that at your grandma’s house, and she doesn’t have air conditioning.

Hot enough for ya? Isn’t that a lame question?

I think you know the answer to that first question.

It’s now just after 4 p.m. Wednesday. About as hot as it’ll get all day, so I decided to use weather.com to see how sweltering it says parts of North Kitsap got today.

Hansville, you’re downright chilly. Poulsbo and Keyport win special accolades today for being the hottest North Kitsap destinations. I’ve made you an imaginary, totally arbitrary award called the “Sweaty.” Congratulations!

Here are the results, according to the all-knowing Internet:

Hansville:
Temperature: 95
Feels like: 93

Kingston:
Temperature: 97
Feels like: 95

Suquamish:
Temperature: 97
Feels like: 95

Keyport:
Temperature: 101
Feels like: 99

Poulsbo:
Temperature: 101
Feels like: 99

My root beer:
Temperature: Frosty.
Feels like: I need another.

Good luck keeping cool!

On a serious note, if you’re in the Poulsbo area (or if you have relatives or friends in the area, especially if they’re elderly) and don’t have AC, the Poulsbo Fire Department (Just across from Poulsbo Village along Highway 305) is set up as a “cooling station” today and tomorrow. They’ll have water and juice, but you should bring something to keep you entertained if you plan on staying a while.

Tonight could be interesting in Poulsbo. Or not. Your guess is as good as mine.

The city council will again be discussing the three remaining proposals for public/private partnerships downtown, which would create private development and a new city hall and downtown parking.

Tonight could just be a discussion for the council. There could be a vote.

Given the way this process has gone, I’m not willing to guess what’ll happen. Based on my gut, tonight will be a long meeting.

I’ll have a story tomorrow, but probably won’t update the blog until morning. I’ll try to give you a sense here of the atmosphere at the meeting. If you’re interested, stay tuned.

Poulsbo’s got five candidates for their new police chief.

Here’s a bit of info on each:

Kenneth Clark: Clark is a captain for the Anacortes Police Department, and he has been in law enforcement more than 30 years. Previously he was a sergeant in Sedro-Woolley. Clark enjoys volunteering, including serving on the American Red Cross board of directors in 2000.

Paul Crain: Crain is a captain for the police department in Concord, Calif. He began his career 18 years ago in Calistoga, Calif. He is a supporter of community-oriented policing, and he graduated from California State University, East Bay, with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Gary David: David is a homeland security planner for Walla Walla County and has been in law enforcement more than 40 years. He has served as police chief in Milton-Freewater, Ore., and interim chief in King City, Ore., and Boardman, Ore. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Western Oregon University and graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Phillip Ribera: Ribera is a captain for the Hayward Police Department in California, where he began his career more than 29 years ago. He is a part-time instructor at Chabot Community College. He received his bachelor’s degree in vocational education from California State Long Beach, and he graduated from the FBI National Academy.

Dale Scobert: Scobert is the interim assistant chief for the police department in Oakridge, Calif., and has spent 30 years in law enforcement. He was the police chief in Sandy, Ore., for eight years and was the former Sandy Kiwanis president. He received his bachelor’s degree in managerial leadership from Northwest Christian College.