City Council moves a step further to purchase building for annex
Published 9:15 am Thursday, August 11, 2016
Port Orchard City Council members moved forward during their Aug. 9 meeting to approve the first reading of an ordinance amending the 2016 city budget in order to purchase a building to use as a city hall annex.
The City Council earlier approved the start of negotiations to purchase an existing building at 720 Prospect St. that could handle overcrowding, especially by the planning and engineering departments.
Kitsap County currently has the building’s appraised value at $275,900, Mayor Rob Putaansuu said.
The council at its Aug. 26 meeting approved a sales price of $230,000 for the building and up to $70,000 for ancillary furnishings.
On Aug. 9, council members authorized $3,500 to pay for a building appraisal performed by Richards & Associates. It also gave the go-ahead for $2,800 to fund an environmental review by Associated Earth Sciences, Inc.
The Economic Development/Tourism committee chair, council member Bek Ashby, also asked council members for input on goals the city can address for tourism in 2017.
Ashby said she has discussed with residents the prospect of using youth athletic tournaments in Port Orchard as an economic generator.
She did concede that Port Orchard has insufficient hotel/motel space to take full advantage of its benefits. Ashby and the tourism committee expect to develop a list of goals the city can focus on to generate more economic activity.
Council members offered support for extended hours and funding for the Port Orchard-to-Bremerton foot ferry, a kiosk at the Waterfront and a regional emphasis for the city’s marketing efforts.
Ashby said she plans to invite an official from the Visit Kitsap tourism group to speak to the council. The group specifically markets the Kitsap Peninsula to a regional audience.
“I’m interested in getting our tourism brochures distributed regionally, including the Visit Kitsap brochure, which goes to hotels,” Ashby said.
She said Visit Kitsap is active promoting the peninsula at a number of regional festivals and recreational shows.
