Thank you for checking out this edition of my quarterly newsletter! This year has been off to a busy start with my role on the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) leadership team, which has me travelling all over the state, and especially to Olympia when the legislature is in session, to advocate for our county. As part of my duties with WSAC, I serve on the State Shoreline Hearings Board as well.

Some of my favorite events of the year happen in the spring: the Kitsap County Public Works’ Earth Day Awards, the Water Festival and “A Time to Gather” fundraiser for the Suquamish Foundation at the Kiana Lodge.  

On the first Saturday of each month, I’m available for a “Walk & Talk.” I can be found at 9:30 a.m. at my Kingston office, which I share with the Sheriff’s Office at 26076 Illinois Avenue. Whoever shows up is welcome to walk around Kingston with me to discuss issues that are affecting your neighborhood or anything else you think I should be aware of. I can also be reached by email at rgelder@co.kitsap.wa.us.

The Suquamish Citizens Advisory Committee (SCAC) held a community open house on April 11 at the Suquamish House of Awakened Culture. Approximately 80 community members attended the event, which featured tables from various local government agencies, nonprofits, local clubs, restaurants, and even a fire truck from North Kitsap Fire & Rescue!

On Earth Day, April 22, the SCAC is sponsoring Suquamish Cleanup, which they have done annually for the last several years. Committee members pick up trash throughout the community to beautify Suquamish. The public is welcome to join. The group is meeting at 9 a.m. at the Suquamish United Chruch of Christ at 18732 Division Avenue NE. Bring work gloves and garbage bags.

The mission of the SCAC is to provide a forum for community discussion on the issues and interests of Suquamish. The group works towards improvements that benefit the community and help foster communication between Suquamish residents, the Suquamish Tribe and Kitsap County Government.

If you would like to be involved, applications are being accepted for new members to serve on the SCAC. For an application or more information, visit http://www.kitsapgov.com/volunteer/current/suquamishcab.htm or call Rebecca Pirtle at (360) 337-4650 or email rpirtle@co.kitsap.wa.us. 

Picture- SCAC Chairman Tom Curley, Commissioner Rob Gelder, Suquamish Tribal Chairman Leonard Forsman and Sheriff Gary Simpson at the Suquamish Community Open House.

First adopted in 2016, an ordinance to allow well-regulated homeless camps on private properties has become permanent. The ordinance, passed by the Board of County Commissioners in March, is one tool in a multi-pronged approach to dealing with increased homelessness throughout the county.

The original ordinance was adopted as a temporary solution to allow religious and nonprofit groups to sponsor and manage safe and sanitary homeless camps on private property for up to 180 days. Water, electricity, garbage containers and bathrooms are required to be available onsite. The new ordinance allows a 180-day permit, with allowance for an 180-day or indefinite extension. This will allow neighbors to observe the encampment in action, and make comments on the actual situation.

No non-profit groups have taken advantage of the temporary ordinance to date. It is unknown of any will in the future, although the Kitsap Rescue Mission is exploring sites. Homeless advocate believe that the ordinance is necessary to provide safe and sanitary living conditions for homeless residents. Many informal encampments in the woods have extremely unsanitary and unsafe conditions. For more information on the ordinance or other homelessness and housing issues, visit http://www.kitsapgov.com/hs/housing/housing_grant.htm.

Commissioner Gelder attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony in late February for a new emergency generator on Bainbridge Island. With a new high-capacity generator, the Island Church, located at Sportsman Club Road and Highway 305, will become an emergency shelter and warming center.

The generator was paid for by a grant from the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Foundation. Island Church’s generator was the fifth generator to be awarded to a nonprofit organization in PSE’s service area, and the first in Kitsap County under a five-year, $1 million campaign to award generators to deserving organizations. The PSE Foundation is a nonprofit entity that operates independently of Puget Sound Energy, but in the same service area. The foundation’s core focus is on public safety and emergency preparedness. More information is available at http://www.psefoundation.org/default.shtml.

The Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN) has a new facility under construction. Commissioner Gelder was able to tour the new complex in February. Slated to open this summer, the BARN is a 25,000-square-foot artisan campus on Three Tree Lane on Bainbridge Island. Its current temporary location in Rolling Bay is bursting at the seams, so the grand opening of the new location is eagerly anticipated.

The BARN will offer classes, workshops and open studios for writers, book arts, woodworking, small boat building, electronic and technical arts, printmaking, fiber arts, glass, metal work, jewelry, media and culinary arts. The woodworking studio was finished first, as it is tasked with making all of the cabinets and some furnishings for the building. The building features a commons area, a kitchen, large classroom, a meeting room on each floor, and a gallery, in addition to the rooms for each art type.

After six months as a pilot project, the Bainbridge Island Harbour Public House HORSE project has been extended another six months. HORSE stands for High solids Organic waste Recycling System with Electrical output. The project takes food waste from the restaurant and turns it into power, as well as liquid fertilizer to be used on crops that are served back at the Pub. 

The demonstration project in in partnership with Puget Sound Energy and Impact BioEnergy, and the first of its kind using nothing but food waste. Other systems are in place on dairy farms to convert manure to methane. These “digesters” imitate barnyard animals digestive systems and produce power. Project sponsors are hoping that once techniques are refined, they will be able to create the equivalent of a barrel of crude oil with each ton of food scraps.  For more information on this innovative project, visit http://www.psebainbridge.com/pse-in-the-community/a-horse-is-coming-to-the-harbour-public-house. 

Several recent Clear Creek watershed projects were celebrated with a bus tour in January. Commissioners Gelder and Wolfe were both in attendance, along with Clean Water Kitsap, Public Works staff and other guests. 

Besides the Bucklin Hill Road Bridge, completed in July 2016, the largest project was the restoration of the natural Clear Creek floodplain. The project removed 1,500 feet of existing road, replaced two culverts, created 500 feet of new stream channel and restored approximately 30 acres of floodplain. Invasive species were removed and native trees and plants were planted. Despite the extremely wet winter, the project held up very well. The portion of the Clear Creek Trail that was closed for construction reopened to the public March 3.

Picture- Commissioners Gelder and Wolfe with Public Works Director Andrew Nelson at the restored floodplain.

The Port of Kingston received a grant from the Community Economic Revitalization Board to conduct a feasibility study of two port properties, adjacent to the marina, that are being explored for development potential. The Port has partnered with a consultant to present options for the use of the properties, which were unveiled at public meetings last month.

The two properties are a Washington Boulevard site that currently contains parking, an event tent and a storage building, and a West Kingston Road site, which also contains parking, a house and wooded area. A community survey was conducted to get the public’s ideas and vision for the sites. To see some of the ideas for the properties and keep up to date on the process, visit http://portofkingston.org/downtownproperties/. Also, stay tuned for Commissioner Gelder’s upcoming “Commissioner’s Corner” broadcast on BKAT, where he will be looking at some of the proposed uses.

If you are a frequent visitor to Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park, you may have noticed some tree cutting that started last October. This was restorative thinning, and the work just wrapped up in March on 120 acres of dense, overstocked Douglas fir forests. The forests were planted as plantations for harvest by Pope Resources, which managed the land for 160 years prior to it becoming a park. 

The thinning consisted of removing the smallest Douglas fir while saving the largest fir, western red cedar, hemlock, grand fir, big leaf maple and red alder. Fifty shade-tolerant trees per acre, including red cedar, hemlock and grand fir, were planted in the thinned areas.

The thinning was conducted under guidelines of the Kitsap County Integrated Forest Stewardship Policy adopted in October 2012 with the goals of:

1. Enhancing natural ecosystem complexity and health;
2. Protecting and enhancing soil, water quality, and fish and wildlife habitat
3. Remaining biologically, socially and economically self-sustaining; and
4. Providing safe, appropriate public access to forested County parklands. 

The dark, dense Douglas fir plantations have been transformed with light penetrating to the forest floor. Other benefits include enhanced wildlife habitat and activity, and a much more diverse plant community. Songbirds and deer can be seen moving through the forest more easily. Park visitors have commented on how much lighter and warmer the park feels as a result of the thinning.

Picture-Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park before thinning.

Open for approximately a year, Butcher and Baker Provisions, located in Port Gamble, is a farmhouse restaurant, butcher shop and bakery. They offer locally produced foods such as pastas, milk, eggs, bread, honey, various sauces and farm fresh produce, among other items.

The Butcher, Adam Sawasy, makes several types of sausages and cured meats, as well as different cuts of fresh meat. The Baker, Patricia Horton, makes breakfast pastries, and desserts to eat on site or take home.

To try some of the delicious offerings at the restaurant or make a purchase to take home, visit Butcher and Baker Provisions at 4719 NE State Highway 104 in Port Gamble. For more information, visit their website at https://www.butcherandbakerprovisions.com/