Hello Kitsap County Residents of District 1!

The daffodils are blooming and Spring and longer days will be here soon. There is a lot going on in our part of the world, and since the beginning of the year I have been closely tracking the legislative session in Olympia as well as the unprecedented changing environment at the federal level.

Just a few examples of proposed national changes we are following include:

• The proposed elimination of tax-exempt municipal bonds (which could impact the ability for local governments to borrow funds for large projects like new schools and sewage treatment plants);
• the uncertain impacts of new tariffs on the costs of construction and equipment;
• the dramatic reductions to Medicaid impacting the 54,000 county residents (20% of us) who rely on this kind of health insurance;
• cuts to emergency management and public health protection;
• And, of unusual interest, we were notified recently that federal transportation funding will now include marriage and birth rates among the new award criteria!

Today, I can report that the county remains steadily on course, but we will be adjusting our sails as needed and preparing our organization and our county’s residents for sudden and possibly dramatic shifts from our state and federal partners. We’ll know more about changes at the state level when the legislature adjourns at the end of April.

Every year our community comes together to honor military members and their families as well as local veterans, with a kid-friendly event at the Fairgrounds. Organized by the Greater Kitsap Chamber and sponsored by local businesses and your county government, the event showcases our community and shares our thanks. On March 14, I was proud to stand with Commissioner Katie Walters and Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler to welcome folks to this special day. There are over 34,000 members of the military in Kitsap County, and as many veterans. That’s 25% of the people who live here!

Following years of work between the Washington Department of Natural Resources and Kitsap County, Eglon Forest was officially added to County’s portfolio of park land. With its addition, the County adds an additional 705.8 acres of open space park land.

Completion of the transfer brings the total acreage of county park open space to approximately 11,400 acres! The next steps for the Eglon Forest include officially naming the new park, adding signage to clearly establish rules, and trails, expanding and developing a relationship with Kingston Parks, Trails, and Open Space, and developing future plans for the land that includes public outreach, natural resource condition assessments, and developing more public access and recreational opportunities in the park.

The County is excited for this new park and looks forward to welcoming all Kitsap residents and visitors to enjoy its acres of natural beauty.

For more information about you Kitsap County Parks please visit: Find Your Kitsap County Park

Spring cleaning just got easier! Mark your calendars for the Kitsap County Solid Waste Division free Styrofoam™ Collection Event - April 19, 2025 (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.). Dispose of your Styrofoam™ responsibly at our free collection event at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, Sheep Barn and Van Zee Building, 1200 NW Fairgrounds Rd., Bremerton, WA. Bring one vehicle load per household. This is the ONLY Styrofoam™ event scheduled for 2025, so don’t miss out!

For more information and to see what is and is not accepted visit the Public Waste and Recycling Events Page.

Kitsap County Emergency Management has contracted with Perimeter to implement a new wildfire evacuation system for the county's 278,000 residents.

The software platform will create clear evacuation zones, enable real-time coordination between agencies, and improve public alerts through multiple communication channels. It includes traffic management features that account for vulnerable populations.

This initiative addresses the growing wildfire threat facing our community, along with other hazards like severe weather and tidal surges.

The system will launch first in Hansville and Seabeck as pilot project sites, with full county-wide implementation expected later in 2025.

1) How to Check Your Family's Vaccination Status

There are several easy ways to access your family's immunization records at the Washington State Department of Health website:

• Option 1: Sign up for MyIR Mobile to view and print your family’s immunization information, including COVID vaccinations.
• Option 2: Request a complete immunization record from your healthcare provider, clinic, or local pharmacy.
• Option 3: Request a complete immunization record from your child’s school.
• Option 4: Request a complete immunization record from the Department of Health.

For additional information, you can refer to these helpful resources:

• Access Your Family's Immunization Information Flyer
• Tips for Locating Old Immunization Records

2) Important Public Information on Measles

On  Friday, 2/28/2025, KPHD Community Health shared important public information about Measles. Stay informed and read the full update here: Measles Public Information Bulletin

3) KPHD-Sponsored Clinics for Children (Up to Age 18)

For families with children up to 18 years old, KPHD offers convenient clinics where you can schedule an appointment online or simply walk in. For more information visit: KPHD Immunization Clinic Schedule

4) MMR Vaccine for Adults

If you’re an adult seeking the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine, please contact your primary care provider or make an appointment at a local pharmacy that offers vaccines.

Did you know that public transit began on March 18, 1662, in Paris? Since then, transportation systems have evolved worldwide, including right here in Kitsap County! As a public transportation service, Kitsap Transit has provided safe, friendly, and reliable service since 1982. The dedicated bus drivers work hard every day to ensure we get to our destinations safely and on time, and they truly make a difference in our lives.

This March 18th, join us in celebrating the incredible efforts of Kitsap Transit bus drivers by showing your appreciation. A simple smile, wave, or thank you goes a long way! Let’s make this Transit Driver Appreciation Day a special one by recognizing the people who keep our transit system running smoothly.

Thank you, Kitsap Transit drivers, for all you do!

The Commissioners' Office public service counter is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For questions or appointments with the Commissioners, please email kitsapcommissioners@kitsap.gov or call 360.337.7080.

For County services or questions, email help@kitsap1.com or call 360.337.5777.

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