A tale of public process at work.
When the residents of Advantage Avenue in Port Orchard got sick and tired of not being able to find adequate parking street, they took their complaints to the city in the form of a petition. The result was a bouncing baby resolution, approved by the city council on Tuesday, specific only to Advantage Avenue.
Who knew such a creature existed?
City code allows the council to establish regulations and fees related to parking in the city. Before the resolution, parking was not allowed on either side of the street, which is a dead end. Seven of the 8 residents who live along the north 350 feet of Advantage Ave., asked that they be allowed to park long the east side of Advantage and at the north end of the street. They agreed that parking restrictions would remain in effect along the east side of the street. The petition was circulated at the request of the city to resolve the matter.
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue reviewed the proposal to ensure safety would be maintained.
The council approved the petitioners request with the following
conditions:
* On-street parking will be allowed through issuance of a permit,
with a limit of two permits per household.
* If the parking modifications prove to be problematic, the
resolution will be repealed.
Problem solved.
Now I wonder what kind of precedent this will set, if any, with other neighborhoods. Councilman Rob Putaansuu asked if the public property wanted the council to look at other areas. No, said Fred Olin committee chairman, “If something comes up, we’ll deal with it.”
Isn’t it amazing what can be accomplished when you use common sense to solve a problem? The City of Port Orchard works hard at being pro-active in responding to our citizen’s requests. Customer service our number one priority — and every citizen is a “customer” in our view.
This isn’t rocket science – and it is the kind of “change” people voted for two and half years ago. All that was needed to turn things around was leadership at every level willing to listen, and a true commitment from the top down to make it happen.
And while some folks may make jokes and/or snide comments about what Port Orchard USED to be, today, it has become a growing, forward-thinking, business-friendly, “green” City that’s highly responsive to its citizens.
We’re proud of the fact we haven’t furloughed or laid anyone off, cut any services, delayed any scheduled projects, and have cut crime more than in half in a little over two years — in spite of a 40 percent increase in population — and we’re still open for business 5 days a week. Not bad for this economy.
Do we still have room for improvement? You bet. And we’re working hard every day to make that happen. The bottom line is our City employees listen, they work hard, they find solutions, and most of all, they proudly deliver for our citizens.
Like Councilman Olin said, “If something comes up, we’ll deal with it.”
Lary Coppola, Mayor
City of Port Orchard