Port Orchard meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Port Orchard budget hearings set stage for Oct. 27 adoption votes

Public hearings on Port Orchard's 2027-2028 biennial budget and the 2027 property tax levy were scheduled at City Council meetings this month, with adoption votes listed on the agenda for Oct. 27. Agendas for the five meetings held between Oct. 13 and Oct. 23 have been published, but minutes for all five have not, so no decisions, vote tallies or final dollar figures are available from the records summarized here.

Budget hearings top the month's agendas

At the Oct. 20 City Council meeting, the agenda called for public hearings on the 2027 property tax levy and revenue sources, and a separate public hearing on the 2027-2028 preliminary biennial budget. The same agenda listed a resolution confirming mayoral appointments and a chair to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, plus discussion of the city's Fee Resolution.

A week earlier, the Oct. 13 council agenda included presentations on the 2027/2028 Biennial Budget and a school district capital levy. Also listed were renewal of temporary construction easements for the SR166/Bay Street Improvements Project and a Conservation Credit Pre-Sale Agreement with the Puget Sound Partnership. The remaining items were an interagency agreement with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission for safety patrols, a road closure for the Holiday on the Bay special event, and dedication of property along Ramsey Road.

Finance Committee reviews revenue reports

The Finance Committee's Oct. 20 agenda listed the proposed final 2027-2028 budget and the city's Fee Resolution (Bond). Members were also scheduled to take up a Sales Tax & REET Revenue Report and a preliminary treasurers report.

Land Use Committee: animal control and burial grounds

The Land Use Committee met Oct. 21 with an agenda stating that no action would be taken. Listed topics were animal control (Wallace), family burial grounds related to SHB 2239, and a review of the quarterly inspections report.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee

The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee met Oct. 23, also with an agenda stating no action would be taken. The agenda listed a review of RCW 67.28 regarding the committee's role and required training, discussion of allocated funding, and a review of the application, presentation and deliberation allocation process.

What the record does not show

Because minutes for the Oct. 13, Oct. 20, Oct. 21 and Oct. 23 meetings have not been published, this roundup cannot report what each body decided, how members voted, or any budget or levy amounts. The agendas are the only official records available for those dates.

Coming up

The City Council meets Oct. 27. Its agenda lists a public hearing and adoption of the 2027-2028 Biennial Budget, and adoption of an ordinance for the 2027 Property Tax Levy. Also scheduled: a professional services agreement with Terraphase Engineering for Well 7 Rehabilitation; right-of-way acquisition offers for the TIP 1.8/1.9 Bethel-Blueberry & Salmonberry RAB Project; and an emergency declaration and waiver of procurement for repairs at 730 Prospect.

That meeting is the one on the calendar where votes on the budget and the levy are scheduled, making it the week's most direct opportunity for residents to watch decisions on city spending and property taxes. Agendas and any published minutes are available from the city; the official documents remain the authoritative record.

Port Orchard budget hearings set for Oct. 20; recent agendas list easements, conservation credit and drone-delivery review

Port Orchard's fall budget season moves to public hearings Tuesday, Oct. 20, when the City Council is scheduled to take comment on the 2027 property tax levy and revenue sources and on the 2027-2028 preliminary biennial budget. A review of the meeting records available for the past two weeks shows agendas only: no minutes, vote tallies or dollar amounts have been published for the three most recent meetings. What follows is what those agendas list, not what was decided.

Budget hearings and fee resolution

The Oct. 20 City Council agenda lists two public hearings — one on the property tax levy and revenue sources for 2027, and one on the 2027-2028 preliminary biennial budget. The same agenda lists a resolution confirming mayoral appointments and a chair to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, and discussion of the city's Fee Resolution.

The Finance Committee also meets Oct. 20. Its agenda lists the proposed final 2027-2028 budget, the city's Fee Resolution regarding bonds, a sales tax and REET revenue report, and the preliminary treasurer's report. No dollar figures appear in the summaries provided for either meeting.

Oct. 13 council agenda: easements, conservation credit, road closure

The Oct. 13 City Council agenda listed presentations on the 2027/2028 biennial budget and a school district capital levy. It also listed the following items for decision:

• Renewal of temporary construction easements for the SR166/Bay Street Improvements Project
• A Conservation Credit Pre-Sale Agreement with the Puget Sound Partnership
• An interagency agreement with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission for safety patrols
• A road closure for the Holiday on the Bay special event
• Dedication of property along Ramsey Road

Minutes from that meeting have not been published, so the outcome of each item is not established in the record available here.

Planning Commission takes up drone-delivery rules

The Planning Commission met Oct. 6 at 6:00 PM at City Hall, 216 Prospect Street, with in-person and Zoom attendance. The main business item was a presentation and discussion of potential amendments to the Port Orchard Municipal Code addressing land use regulations for commercial drone-delivery, with staff contact Jim Fisk, AICP. No public hearing was scheduled. The agenda also listed approval of the Sept. 1, 2026 meeting minutes, audience comments limited to three minutes on topics not listed for public hearing, and a Director's Report. The next Planning Commission meeting is Nov. 3, 2026.

Utility Committee: SKWRF draft budget

The Utility Committee met Oct. 6 to review the 2027 South Kitsap Water Reclamation Facility (SKWRF) draft budget. Members were also listed to receive project and planning updates for 2026 on facility infrastructure and the 2026 budget. Other agenda items included NPDES permit updates, MBR aeration diffusers and blower updates, the Digester Design Capacity Project, and the Facility Comprehensive Plan.

Coming up

• **Tuesday, Oct. 20 — City Council:** public hearings on the 2027 property tax levy and revenue sources and on the 2027-2028 preliminary biennial budget; resolution on Lodging Tax Advisory Committee appointments; discussion of the Fee Resolution.
• **Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Finance Committee:** proposed final 2027-2028 budget, Fee Resolution (Bond), sales tax and REET revenue report, preliminary treasurer's report.
• **Wednesday, Oct. 21 — Land Use Committee:** discussion of animal control (Wallace), family burial grounds related to SHB 2239, and review of the quarterly inspections report. The agenda states no action will be taken.

Readers should consult the official agendas and any published minutes for the authoritative record; the summaries above reflect only what those documents list.

Port Orchard Council Interviews Candidates, Weighs Park Agreement and Water Plan

The Port Orchard City Council held two special meetings this month to interview candidates for a vacant council seat, and its Aug. 11 regular meeting included a public hearing on a park agreement and consideration of the city's water system plan. The Sewer Advisory Committee also met to review wastewater projects. Minutes for these meetings have not yet been published.

Council interviews for vacant position No. 5

The council held two special meetings to interview candidates for an elective office vacancy. On Aug. 4, it interviewed Paul Fontenot, Wayne Wright, Jewel Shepherd-Sampson, and Tiffiny Mitchell. On Aug. 6, it interviewed Cami Lewis, Mark Lewison, Lisa Williams, and Cindy Lucarelli, followed by an executive session to evaluate qualifications for Council Vacant Position No. 5. No appointment has been reported.

Council to consider park agreement, water plan, and lease

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the council held a public hearing on an ordinance approving the McCormick Urban Village Park and Open Space Mitigation Development Agreement. It also considered:

• A resolution approving the City of Port Orchard Water System Plan (2024/2025 Update)
• A lease agreement with Special Olympics Washington for Van Zee Park
• A resolution declaring certain personal property as surplus (Wallace)
• A resolution approving a pedestrian easement at 429 Bay Street (Bond)

A discussion on the Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park was scheduled, with no action to be taken.

Sewer advisory reviews projects

The Sewer Advisory Committee met Aug. 11 to approve minutes from Feb. 10, 2026, and receive updates on wastewater treatment projects, including NPDES permit compliance, MBR aeration diffusers and blower rebuild exchange, digester design and fine screen replacement, and a DOE grant payment update. The agenda was largely informational, with no formal decisions listed beyond the minutes approval.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Port Orchard Council Weighs Intertie Loan, Interviews Vacancy Candidates; Minutes Pending

The Port Orchard City Council held three meetings in the past two weeks, but official minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed. The council's July 28 agenda included a proposed loan agreement for the Old Clifton Intertie design and an emergency fueling agreement with Kitsap County. On August 4 and 6, the council interviewed candidates for a vacant council position.

Recent council meetings

July 28 regular meeting – The council considered several business items, including:

• A resolution authorizing a Public Works Board loan agreement for the Old Clifton Intertie design.
• A resolution authorizing an interlocal agreement with Kitsap County for emergency fueling.
• Amendments No. 21 and No. 23 to Contract No. C066-20 for the Community Event Center.
• An ordinance amending POMC 10.12.460 and 10.12.500 on stopping, standing, and parking.
• Resolutions for contracts with Specialized Pavement Marking, LLC for striping and thermoplastic application.

No vote tallies or dollar amounts were listed in the agenda. The meeting also included discussion items on council vacancy interview questions and water consumption, with no action expected.

August 4 special meeting – The council interviewed four candidates for a position, likely a council vacancy. Interviews were scheduled with Paul Fontenot at 5:15 PM, Wayne Wright at 5:50 PM, Jewel Shepherd-Sampson at 6:25 PM, and Tiffiny Mitchell at 7:00 PM. No other business was listed.

August 6 special meeting – The council interviewed four candidates for Council Vacant Position No. 5: Cami Lewis at 5:15 PM, Mark Lewison at 5:50 PM, Lisa Williams at 6:25 PM, and Cindy Lucarelli at 7:00 PM. Following the interviews, the council entered an executive session to evaluate candidate qualifications for the appointment.

Because minutes are not yet published, the outcomes of these interviews and any decisions from the July 28 meeting are not known.

Upcoming meeting

August 11 regular meeting – The council will hold a public hearing and consider an ordinance approving the McCormick Urban Village Park and Open Space Mitigation Development Agreement. Other agenda items include:

• A resolution approving the City of Port Orchard Water System Plan (2024/2025 Update).
• A lease agreement with Special Olympics Washington for Van Zee Park.
• A resolution declaring certain personal property as surplus (Wallace).
• A resolution approving a 429 Bay Street pedestrian easement (Bond).

A discussion on the Sherman Avenue Stormwater Park is scheduled, with no action to be taken.

Coming up

The August 11 City Council meeting is open to the public and includes a public hearing on the McCormick Urban Village park agreement. Residents interested in the Water System Plan or the Van Zee Park lease may also want to attend. The meeting is scheduled for August 11, 2026. Check the city's official agenda for time and location.