POULSBO — The Poulsbo City Council could vote Nov. 4 on whether to suspend downtown paid parking, two weeks after downtown merchants said the program was costing them customers.
At the council’s Oct. 28 special meeting, Councilmember Doug Newell asked that parking and enforcement be placed on the Nov. 4 business agenda, where the council takes action, rather than discussed in a workshop. Councilmembers agreed. Newell said waiting would push any decision into December.
Mayor Ed Stern said at the same meeting that he still intends to issue a mayoral directive Nov. 4. In an Oct. 30 comment on West Sound News’ Facebook page, Stern wrote that his directive will be to end the paid parking program, keep time-limit enforcement for free parking, move the enforcement job into a regular city position and cancel the city’s contract with LAZ.
Another proposal, from a presentation Councilmember Pam Crowe distributed at the Oct. 21 meeting, would suspend paid parking from Dec. 2 until Feb. 1, 2028, switching to enforcement only. Under it, the city would keep enforcing time limits but stop charging for parking for 14 months, then collect data on whether enforcement alone works. The presentation says paid parking would resume through the mobile payment system in February 2028.
If the council keeps paid parking, the presentation lists alternatives. These include turning the outer waterfront spaces on Anderson Parkway into free three-hour spaces, extending free parking on Front Street from one hour to two, cutting the citation fee to $24, offering a reduced-rate pass through the senior center and free placards for Purple Heart recipients, and keeping employee parking free or under $25 a month.
Crowe’s presentation had laid out a discussion Nov. 4 and a vote Dec. 2. Councilmember Michael Fitzpatrick said he expects Crowe to bring an updated presentation and other councilmembers to offer proposals of their own.
Fitzpatrick said Oct. 28 he had hoped for a workshop first so residents could weigh in at a parking town hall the Sons of Norway is hosting Nov. 5. Councilmember Rick Eckert asked that the city attorney be available Nov. 4 because the council has not handled a mayoral directive before.
At the council’s Oct. 21 meeting, several merchants said their revenue had dropped about 30% since paid parking began roughly two months earlier.
The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at Poulsbo City Hall, 200 NE Moe St. Other items include:
Utility rates: The consent agenda includes an ordinance raising water, sewer and stormwater rates Jan. 1. Each rate would rise 6% on top of a 4.5% inflation adjustment. Monthly base charges for a single-family home would total $126.64 before usage: $23.46 for water, $77.46 for sewer and $25.72 for stormwater. The ordinance also schedules further increases, including 7% for water in 2028 and 2029 and 6% for sewer in both years. The city said the increases are needed partly because its share of Kitsap County’s Central Kitsap Wastewater Treatment Plant project grew from $13 million to $24 million. No one testified at the Oct. 21 public hearing on the rates.
Budget and taxes: The council will hold its first public hearing on the 2027-2028 biennial budget. It will also vote on the 2027 property tax levy, which would increase by $13,396, or about 0.4%, over this year’s $3.32 million levy. With new construction and refunds, the city estimates a total levy of about $3.41 million.
Park land: The council will consider buying land at the end of Fourth Avenue downtown from Housing Kitsap for $75,000 plus closing costs. The property would be restricted to open space or park use. The city said it would connect a trail and support a long-term goal of a central park at the north end of Liberty Bay.
Tourism grants: The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommends $484,600 in 2027 tourism grants. That is $119,600 more than the $365,000 the city expects to collect in lodging taxes, so the difference would come from reserves. Eighteen applicants asked for $646,413. The largest award, $225,300, would go to the city itself for a special events coordinator, repairs to the Austin-Kvelstad Pavilion and a visitor-tracking tool.
Court: An amendment to the municipal court judge’s contract would raise the position from 0.52 to 0.65 of a full-time job, or 26 hours a week. The city said new traffic camera and parking enforcement calendars have added to the court’s workload. The change would cost about $40,000.
The consent agenda also accepts a $13,680 donation from AMFM Healthcare, which will provide a substance use disorder professional at the city’s Recovery Resource Center at no cost through the end of the year. Mayor Edward Stern and Councilmember Michael Fitzpatrick will present a new guide on online harassment, free speech and law enforcement that they developed with the city attorney.
After a break, the council will hold workshops on its 2027 legislative agenda and its 2027-2028 goals. The draft legislative agenda includes an $880,000 state request to help pay for land the city bought next to the Poulsbo Event and Recreation Center.
Residents may comment in person for up to three minutes. Written comments can be emailed to cityclerks@cityofpoulsbo.com by 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting; they will be given to the council but not read into the record. The meeting will also be shown on Zoom (webinar ID 898 4841 6447, or by phone at 253-215-8782), streamed on the city’s website and broadcast on BKAT. The agenda packet is posted at poulsbo.gov.
This story was updated Oct. 30 to reflect that the parking item is on the council’s business agenda and a vote could occur Nov. 4, and to add the mayor’s comments.
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