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As local populations continue to grow, the Puget Sound
Regional Council (PSRC) and its partner jurisdictions are planning ahead. PSRC’s
VISION 2050 plans for future needs while sustaining a healthy environment,
thriving communities, and a strong economy. The PSRC is made up of officials
from King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap Counties who will identify challenges
facing the region and then create a vision and goals for the next 30 years.
The Puget Sound Region is projected to grow by 1.8
million people and add 1.2 million jobs by 2050. Around 830,000 new homes will
be needed. Throughout the region and in Kitsap, planning is essential to
maintain the quality of life and healthy natural resources. The region needs to
prepare for changes, as the Baby Boomer generation continues to retire in large
numbers, (senior citizens comprised 11% of the population in 2010 and are
projected to be 18% in 2050).
Commissioner Garrido, along with other local elected
officials, planning directors, and interested citizens was on hand for a listening
session with PSRC officials earlier this year. The meeting attendees shared
their ideas and visions on land use, transportation, housing, economy, and
other important topics with PSRC planners.
The VISION 2050 project continues until at least May of
2020. Commissioner Garrido serves as the 2018 Chair for the Kitsap Regional
Coordinating Council, which is tasked to review and approve the plan at
the local level. The KRCC Board held a retreat on May 29 to renew a common
vision and goals for the future. She invites all who wish to contribute
concerns and ideas about future growth to do so. For
more information about opportunities to be involved, visit the VISION 2050
website at https://www.psrc.org/vision
or the KRCC site at http://www.kitsapregionalcouncil.org/.
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 This year’s Waste Wise @ Work Business of the Year goes
to Bremerton’s own F.R.O.G. Soap! Commissioner Garrido was pleased to present
the award to owner and founder Laura Kneib. The F.R.O.G. business name stands
for “From Reclaimed Oil and Glycerin” and Laura makes the soap from recycled
local restaurant oil. It doesn’t get much more earth friendly than that. F.R.O.G. soap has reclaimed nearly five tons
of oil for soap to date.
F.R.O.G. Soap is not new to awards. They earned the
Recycler of the Year award from the Washington State Recycling Association in
2017; and Best New Product and Best Gift Shop (twice) in the Bremerton Patriot
Readers’ Choice Awards. F.R.O.G. Soap was also a semi-finalist twice in the
Kitsap Bank Edg3 Fund competition.
Their store has a F.R.O.G. Soap webpage so you can make
purchases online – although visiting the store to smell the merchandise is
highly recommended! In addition to soaps, you will find bath bombs, hand
creams, foot butter, lip balm, shaving products, pet shampoo, and insect
repellent. Laura also offers workshops on making soaps and other products. They
even have a soap of the month club.
For more information on this unique, sustainable
business, visit the shop at 530 5th Street in Bremerton or their
website at http://frogsoap.com/.
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 The Homes for All coalition continues to meet monthly with
a goal to develop a tiny home village in South Kitsap that will provide homes
for those who are currently unhoused. The group, led by Commissioner Garrido,
is a partnership of county departments, civic groups, social service agencies,
non-profits, businesses, churches, the United Way, Habitat for Humanity and
residents who are concerned about issues facing those who have no home. Twelve
tiny homes have been constructed, with plans for placing them on properties
soon.
The Board of County Commissioners is revising the
transitory accommodations ordinance, to allow extra housing units, including
tiny cottages for the homeless, on some unincorporated Kitsap County properties
to help alleviate the homelessness crisis.
Commissioner Garrido has a passion for finding solutions
to this growing problem, and is working closely with advocates to make
homelessness rare, brief, and one-time. Stay tuned for updates! For more
information, visit https://www.kitsapgov.com/BOC_p/Pages/HomesForAll.aspx.
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April 2 was a great day for Kitsap County’s veterans as
ground was broken for a new Veteran’s Administration outpatient clinic in
Silverdale. Commissioner Garrido joined Commissioners Gelder and Wolfe, U.S.
Representative Derek Kilmer, State Representative Sherry Appleton, dozens of
veterans, and members of the design and construction teams for the festive
event. As an added bonus, Commissioner Garrido got to climb Central Kitsap Fire
& Rescue’s new 105-foot ladder truck, which provided a magnificent view of
the area.
The clinic, located on Ridgetop Boulevard, will serve Kitsap
County’s veterans who need care. Currently, many must travel to Seattle or
Tacoma for medical attention. The new clinic will provide more space, more
medical professionals, and is conveniently located in Kitsap County along a bus
line.
When the clinic opens in 2019, Kitsap’s 37,000 will receive
the care they deserve right here in Kitsap County.
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 Image courtesy of Jeremy Stitt
 Colchester Road has been opened and the work
completed for the Yukon Harbor sewer project. The $6.9 million project is generally
complete, with smaller items, such as road striping, to be done shortly.
The project replaces several aging septic systems with
force mains, gravity pipes, a pump station, side sewers and individual grinder
pumps. Other properties along the new sewer line will have the option to
connect later, as needed or desired.
The project enhances sewer capacity in Manchester,
provides water quality improvements for Yukon Harbor and Puget Sound and
improves public health. For more information, visit the project website at http://kitsap.paladinpanoramic.com/project/2233/55112
or call (360)337-5777.
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Homeowners with waterfront property on Long Lake voted to
approve formation of a Lake Management District in 2017. Because there have
been toxic algae events in past years, which can sicken pets and children who
have contact with the water, the Lake Management District levies an annual fee
on the property owners for five years. The funds will be used to treat the lake
to avoid future toxic algae blooms.
The County has hired a consultant Tetra Tech to perform
the lake management activities, and lakefront volunteers are being recruited to
take monitoring samples. For more information, contact Commissioner Garrido or Jennifer
Haro at (360) 337-7080 or jharo@co.kitsap.wa.us. Documents
relating to the lake management district can be found at https://www.kitsapgov.com/BOC_p/Pages/LLLMD2016.aspx.
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