Hopefully, the third time is the charm.

Since 1992, there are have been several attempts to establish a group within Suquamish that addresses local issues of concern, such as crime and traffic safety. Each time a group tried to form, there was the energy behind it, but it would quickly fade.

However, the past few years have seen a slow growth of that energy again and it looks like it’s here for good. The Suquamish Olalla Neighbors formed following the desecration of Chief Sealth’s grave in 2001, establishing a stronger community of fellowship. Voices from all over the community and the region were heard as the Suquamish Tribe worked with the state to transfer the ownership of Old Man House park to the tribe. Resident Julia Smith has been instrumental in establishing the annual Suquamish Clean Up Day the past several years, generating support from all sorts of groups, from the tribe to the Suquamish Garden Club. She is now being recognized by Kitsap County with its Earth Day 2006-Clean Kitsap Award for her work. The end result of the Imagine Suquamish workshop in 2004 was a document of residents’ wants and desires, such as building a community hall. Smith, Kevin McDonald, Niki Quester, Bruce Goodrich and others worked tirelessly last year to update the community’s subarea plan, highlighting projects that residents have wanted to see take place for years, but no one really knew where to start.

If that’s not generating some energy, we don’t know what is. Now, it’s time to kick it into high gear and the community is right on track with forming a Suquamish Community Advisory Council. However, there’s been debate on how the committee should be structured — what and who should be represented and how?

After watching the Kingston’s Citizens Advisory Council operate like it has, having members represent various groups within the community has been key to making sure goals are met, such as keeping the Little City by the Sea the quaint town it is. From Kiwanis and Rotary members, to environmental supporters and developers, having such a diverse group of folks allows for input from all sides. It may get a little tense sometimes, but no one ever said activism was easy.

The primary key for the community council, too, has been the fact that when members talk, the county listens. That’s what Suquamish residents want and through the formation of such a group, we think they’ll finally get a piece of the county’s ear.

Establishing an SCAC is going to be key in pushing Suquamish in the direction that so many residents have been talking about the past few years — having better relations between neighbors, dealing with living on reservation land, creating more accessible green spaces and improving traffic and pedestrian safety. Just keep in mind there needs to be equal representation from all over the community, from ALL neighbors, in order for there to be results — tribal, non-tribal, youth, seniors and everyone in between, residing from as far south as Sandy Hook up to the far reaches of Widme Road and east to Angeline Avenue.

It’s not going to be easy and it’s not going to happen overnight, but having a centralized group that gets together and brings in the issues and visions from their own respective neighborhoods and groups will make for a stronger and much more cohesive community.