POULSBO — The Poulsbo City Council discussed its priorities for the coming year on Aug. 20, laying out everything from selling off old city property to revamping the city’s website, and even tackling congestion on Highway 305.

The council’s nine goals for 2015 provide a significant peek into future potential actions of the city. The goals help guide the city, especially when considering where to direct the city’s budget.

Some of the goals have already been partially implemented, such as the sale of the old city hall property on Jensen Way. Part of that goal, however, is to move directly onto selling the city’s old police station. The old police station, at the end of Hostmark Street near downtown, has been available for sale since the police department moved into the new city hall in 2011.

Another item that has already begun is a goal for Highway 305. Poulsbo recently hosted a joint jurisdiction meeting between Kitsap County, the Suquamish Tribe and the City of Bainbridge Island with the intention of improving the highly relied upon roadway. The region’s traffic and population are expected to increase in the coming decades, placing more strain on the road. Local traffic and commuters to the Bainbridge Island ferry regularly use Highway 305.

Officials also discussed the possibility of improving Agate Pass Bridge, which acts as a bottleneck for commuters. The Poulsbo council would like to develop a shared vision with the city’s neighbors to improve the highway as its use increases.

“That’s great. When we have a shared vision with Bainbridge Island around 2100, then we can bring it to the state,” Councilman Ed Stern quipped.

Downtown parking is also on the council’s radar for 2015, however, the goal for adopting a downtown parking policy was removed from the council’s list of goals. Instead, the council’s economic development committee is going to review a completed study on the parking situation to determine the next steps to take.

“I think we’ve studied this thing to death,” Councilman Jim Henry said. “No matter how many times we study it, we aren’t going to get more room, or any more buildings. But I’ll go with this last step.”

The council also has a parking program in place that the mayor is supervising, which incorporates volunteer parking monitors who place reminders on cars that remain past the allotted parking limit.

Parking wasn’t the only item removed from the list. A goal of implementing a trial plan was also removed. The goal included exploring funding, including the Liberty Bay Trail in the Capital Improvement Plan and coordinating placement of Poulsbo area trails on the Sound to Olympics Trail. The trail plan has also been sent to the council’s public works committee for review.

Poulsbo City Council’s 2015 goals

Develop and implement a “Neighborhood Streets Maintenance Program”

Task 1: Explore and revisit maintenance program” and related costs.

Task 2: Explore funding sources for “Neighborhood Street Maintenance Program.”

Task 3: Implement program based on funding.

Complete sale of old city hall property and market police station

Develop long-term economic development plan

Task 1: Review Chapter 9 of Comprehensive Plan and update if necessary.

Increase public awareness of city information and simplify access

Task 1: Investigate resources for simplifying public access to city information.

Create joint regional transportation vision for State Route 305 corridor

Task 1: Adopt resolution to work with the Suquamish Tribe, Kitsap County, and the City of Bainbridge Island.

Task 2: Reach out to state officials.

Task 3: Continue to organize joint meetings with the Suquamish Tribe, Kitsap County and the City of Bainbridge Island to establish objectives and funding plan.

Task 4: Establish funding for Agate Pass Bridge engineering study.

Construct new public works facility

Task 1: Redevelop deign, scope of work and proposed budget.

Implement Dog Fish Creek study

Task 1: Review Dog Fish Creek study.

Task  2: Establish funding.

Task 3: Complete 8th Avenue culvert replacement.

Task 4: Work on stream restoration along State Route 305.

Lindvig Bridge beautification

Task 1: Create design/plan as approved by council, and identify cost.

Task 2: Establish timeframe and identify necessary permitting for design/plan implementation.

Task 3: Establish maintenance plan for finished project.