City of Poulsbo - June 2024 Newsletter

City of Poulsbo June E-Newsletter

Engineering Department Update

Noll Road Corridor Project

The City is quickly working toward finalizing design for the next phase of the Noll Road Corridor Project. The project will complete the missing gap of shared use path along Noll Road just south of Poulsbo Elementary. Additionally, the project will construct a new roadway and shared use path connection from the Noll/Mesford intersection to Lincoln Road along Languanet/Kevos Pond/Maranatha. See the City’s website https://cityofpoulsbo.com/noll-road-corridor-project/ for additional information. The City expects to advertise the project for construction bids in July and begin construction as early as September 2024. Additional information will be provided as we near construction.

ADA Curb Ramp Replacement Project

The City is actively working on the design of approximately 70 curb ramp replacements across the City. As part of the City’s ADA (American Disability Act) Transition Plan, we are required to actively work towards upgrading/replacing all non-compliant ADA curb ramps within right of way throughout the entire City. The City received a $600,000 grant to complete our first major ADA project. This project is expected to advertise for construction in early fall 2024 and will be constructed through winter and into early spring 2025.

Developer Projects:

Eliason Building- Renovation on the Eliason Building on Front Street is well underway for Phase 1, going into Phase 2 with foundation work taking place. The underground parking garage is complete, and the ground floor has been poured, while contractors work on second floor support beams. This multi-use commercial and residential space will include luxury apartments, retail shops, a restaurant, and an outdoor gathering area, as well as covered parking for residents.

Winslow Ridge- 65% of the site work has been completed for this residential development on Rhododendron Lane, with model homes being constructed along with landscaping and a multi-use trail. The development will include 86 new single-family homes when finished later this summer/fall.

College Marketplace (CMP) Apartments- This 90-unit apartment complex located at Olhava is well underway. The apartment clubhouse and Building B are currently being constructed. Building D, the first phase of the project, wrapped up in April and the Certificate of Occupancy was issued.

4^th Avenue Apartments- Final plans and a pre-construction meeting are in progress for this 72-unit apartment complex on 4^th Avenue. Construction is set to begin this summer with two buildings and a detached clubhouse.

Oslo Bay Apartments- Groundbreaking is expected to begin the first week of June on the Oslo Bay Apartments residential community located at the intersection of SR 305 and SR 307 at Bond Road. This 56-acre development will include thirteen apartment buildings for a total of 468 muti-family residential units and a community building with swimming pool, dog wash, lounge, play and picnic areas, and a community garden.

Johnson Ridge Final Plat- The Final Plat will be presented to City Council this month for approval of this new residential development comprised of 61 single-family lots. The Johnson Ridge Plat is a 13.74-acre parcel located adjacent to the roundabout intersection of Sunrise Ridge Avenue NE and the newly constructed Johnson Parkway.

Audrey Estates Final Plat- The proposed Audrey Estates Preliminary Plat is a residential subdivision comprised of 60 single-family lots averaging 7,500 square feet each with open spaces throughout. Approximately ~14 acres of the 25.18-acre site are proposed for development. The project will access from Jonhson Parkway NE via extension of Sunrise Ridge NE. A presentation to the Planning Commission is complete, and a meeting with the Hearing Examiner is scheduled for June.

Planning and Economic Development Department Update

Oslo Bay Apartments-

A highly visible project located at the crossroads of our community and 13 years in the making is about to break ground. The project is commonly referred to as the Oslo Bay Apartments and is located northwest of the intersection of State Route 305 (SR305) and State Route 307 (Bond Road, SR307). The majority of the 56-acre site is undeveloped forest, including two on-site wetlands, Dogfish Creek, and an existing stream.

The finished project will consist of 468 multi-family residential units including 244 one-bedroom, 208 two-bedroom, and 16 three-bedroom units on three levels within the thirteen buildings. A variety of common areas and residential amenities are located throughout the site and within the Community Building. The project also includes the construction of private roads, parking lots, pedestrian pathways, utilities, landscaping, and stormwater management systems. The project will also develop a public road system from SR305 to Viking Ave NW. The Vetter Road NW right-of-way (ROW) which bisects the site is proposed to be improved as a residential collector. A portion of this ROW is proposed to be vacated and relocated to facilitate connection to SR305.

The engineering, planning, building and public works departments held a pre-construction meeting with the contractor, Seton Construction on Wednesday, May 29. Seton plans to mobilize the first and begin logging the second weeks of June. Almost 13 acres of the site will be retained as protected streams and wetlands and over 6 acres will be landscaped. For more information: https://cityofpoulsbo.com/oslobayapartments/

The recommendations from the Poulsbo Downtown Parking Advisory Committee were presented to the City Council for their consideration on Wednesday, May 15. Recommendations included 1) improved signage and wayfinding, 2) increased employee parking, and handicap parking 3) enforcement and 4) limited paid parking. Overall, the recommendations were accepted in concept, and staff will return to the city council with additional information about timing and cost for their consideration at their June 26th special council meeting.

The Olhava Moratorium, passed by the City Council on August 9, 2023, was repealed with the passing of Ordinance No. 2024-09 on May 1, 2024. The Ordinance amended the C-4, College MarketPlace and Business Park zones to increase height, modify uses and slightly reduce parking, as well as increase height for institutions of higher education in the R-L zoning district.

Following a public hearing with the planning commission on May 28, 2024 and a recommendation to increase height and modify uses in the C-3/SR-305 zoning district, the City Council is expected to hold a study session (June 5) and a public hearing (June 26) to repeal the SR305 moratorium passed via Ordinance 2023-13.

Collectively, the newly adopted Olhava and SR-305 regulations will enable increased height for mixed use structures within these zoning districts from 45’ maximum to 55’ to 65’ with underbuilding parking. The intent of these changes is to increase housing choices and options in our commercial centers.

Finance Department Update

Utility Billing Auto-Payment. The City offers auto-pay as an option to pay your utility bill. Have your payment automatically deducted from your bank account on the 20th of every month. Click here for additional details and an application. If you’d like an application mailed to you, please contact the Finance Department at (360) 394-9881.

Effective July 1, 2024, the City of Poulsbo will implement a Business and Occupation (B&O) tax.

As an incorporated City, one way the City of Poulsbo will collect revenue to support operational expenditures is through the B&O tax, which will be levied on businesses operating within city limits. This gross receipts tax will apply to the gross revenue measured on the value of products, proceeds of sales, or gross income the business receives. Gross receipts tax means there will be no deductions for labor, materials, or other costs of doing business.

The City of Poulsbo B&O tax is not the same as the Washington State B&O tax and will need to be filed separately from your state taxes.

As a reminder, to do business in the City of Poulsbo you must:

Have a City of Poulsbo business license in good standing.
File a business license tax return.

Tax Rate and Exemptions

In 2024, the tax rate for all categories of business is .2%, (.002) and there are two thresholds for exemptions:

Exemption 1: The first $20,000 of taxable gross revenue earned annually (or $5,000 per quarter) that is not subject to retail sales tax is exempt from the Poulsbo B&O tax.

Exemption 2: The first $125,000 of taxable gross revenue earned annually (or $31,250 per quarter) that is subject to retail sales tax is exempt from the Poulsbo B&O tax.

Businesses will be exempted from paying the City’s B&O tax if their gross receipts are less than $20,000, however B&O tax filings are required, even if there is no balance due. Nonprofit organizations will also be exempt from paying the City’s B&O tax but must also file a return.

A full listing of exemptions may be found in Chapter 3.34 of the Poulsbo Municipal Code, linked in the Resources section.

How to Calculate your Taxes Owed

Your gross revenue will determine the amount of tax you pay. To calculate this amount, multiply your taxable gross revenue amount by the tax rate, considering the applicable exemption.

Exemption #1 example: The 2024 retail B&O tax rate is 0.002 (.2%). If your business grosses $200,000 of taxable income that is not subject to retail sales tax in Poulsbo during 2024 you would list $200,000 as your gross revenue, then deduct the allowed exemption of $20,000 from the gross. The taxable revenue is $180,000 which is multiplied by the tax rate .002, for an annual tax liability of $360.

Exemption #2 example: Alternatively, if your business grosses $200,000 of taxable income that is subject to retail sales tax in Poulsbo during 2024, you would list $200,000 as your gross revenue, then deduct the allowed exemption of $125,000 from the gross. The taxable revenue is $75,000, which is multiplied by the tax rate .002, for an annual tax liability of $150.

Tax Periods

Businesses will be required to submit the tax quarterly unless the City grants an allowance for annual reporting. Late returns will be subject to penalties and interest.

*For due dates that will fall on holidays or weekends, returns will be due on the following business day.

The City is currently exploring different platforms for payment and submittals. As the details are finalized, details will be updated. The City intends to continue community outreach in the next several months.

Resources

You can read the Poulsbo Municipal Code (PMC) Chapter 3.34 or visit the webpage https://cityofpoulsbo.com/b-and-o-tax/ for more details about the Poulsbo business and occupation tax.

Please contact tax@cityofpoulsbo.com for further information.

Housing, Health, and Human Services Department Update

Hello from Housing, Health and Human Services!

Nursing students and social action. A cohort of nursing students at Olympic College is working at Poulsbo’s Hostmark Apartments, this year, as a part of a population health project. They are also recruiting volunteers (at Hostmark and elsewhere) for the City’s Senior CARES program. Senior CARES connects volunteers in our community with older adults who are struggling with social isolation; volunteers are assigned a buddy to call for friendly conversation once a week. The students, under the guidance of Professor Allyson Whalen, have made multiple presentations about the program and are attracting new attention and volunteers. It’s been great to get to know Patrick Yoshikawa, Nohelani Usita, Arthur Nguyen, Emma Coultas, Kelsey Forslund and Mikaela Nichols and work together to reduce loneliness in our community.

Nelson House is now a Gambit House. The City, working in partnership with Gambit Recovery, has opened a recovery residence in Nelson Park. The historic Nelson farmhouse, starting this spring, will offer a structured living environment for men in drug and alcohol recovery—with an emphasis on vocational training and local work opportunities. Residents will also take over caretaking duties in the park from the City’s Public Works Department. More on this partnership here. https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2024/02/19/poulsbos-nelson-house-could-host-drug-recovery-residence/72616442007/

Recovery Center Expanding! Thanks to funding from the Washington State legislature (and the advocacy of Representatives Tarra Simmons and Greg Nance), the City’s Recovery Resource Center is expanding to an additional suite this spring to host support groups and offer community training. Watch the RRC webpage https://cityofpoulsbo.com/recovery-resource-center/ for information about upcoming activities—and let Kim know if you’d like to use the space for a recovery-oriented function. We’re in Upper Poulsbo Village above Centennial Park.

Public Works Department Update

Viking Fest was a tremendous success! Many thanks to all our Public Works crews who staffed the event this year.

Josh Jones, Tom Barnes, Miss West Sound, Miss West Sound Teen, Victor Cienega and Gordon Guthrie

Viking Fest Road Race - Bob Macht (Public Works)

The Kitsap County Solid Waste Division, DTG Recycle, and 1 Green Planet are hosting a free scrap metal and household electronics recycling event for Kitsap County residents on Saturday, June 29, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Public Waste and Recycling Events (kitsap.gov)

Job Openings

The City of Poulsbo is currently hiring. Click here to learn more details about open positions!

Poulsbo Garden Club

The Poulsbo Garden Club wants to thank everyone for making their 2024 Plant Sale such a great success. Despite a cool and misty morning, the plant sale at Raab Park was nearly sold out after a few hours! Thanks to all the members and friends for supplying plants and hard work in setting up, selling and cleaning up. Thanks to the GREAT community for coming to the sale and we will be excited to be offering gardening grants again in 2025 thanks to your generosity. Thanks to EVERYONE!

Our June meeting on Saturday, June 8 will feature Bess Bronstein and she will lead us on a walk through Centennial Park (and maybe the Poulsbo Library grounds) to learn to ID the plants and recognize common problems, pests, and diseases. Bess is a well-known horticultural consultant, educator, and ISA Certified Arborist based on the Kitsap Peninsula in Kingston, Washington. She has 35 years of experience in arboriculture, landscape management and garden design. The public is invited to attend and we would love to share the time and place of the meeting and ask you to email us at PoulsboGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Judge's Corner.

A Closer Look at the Alphabet of Life

Sometimes modern life seems fast-moving and complicated. Many people would argue we are past the easy paced “good old days.” Not so. The rules of a happy, well-centered life haven’t changed any more over time than has the alphabet.

A: Attitude. The alphabet begins with “A,” life begins with your attitude. Most events can be construed positively or negatively. A positive attitude can make the skies seem brighter, people nicer, and the days more enjoyable.

B: Better. Always leave things better than when you arrived. Conversations. Relationships. Campsites.

C: Be concerned for others. What goes around comes around. Some day you will need a sympathetic ear or shoulder to cry on.

D: Have a dream, something to look forward to.

E: Enjoy people you have contact with. Each of them has a one-of-a-kind story to tell and the potential to be a positive addition to your life.

F: Have fun!

G: Be good and do good. You have no idea how many people you impact.

H: Be honest. It is the best policy.

I: Indulge yourself from time to time. Do something out of character just for the fun, just for you.

J: Don’t judge too quickly. They may be right! And accepting new ideas is the foundation of growth and education.

K: Keep going. Michael Jordan got cut from his junior high basketball team. Abraham Lincoln lost a couple of elections before becoming President. Had they given up – and if you do – many great opportunities would be missed.

L: Love all you can. There is no richer soil for adventure and taking a step into the unknown than someone knowing they’ll be loved even if their experiment fails.

M: Don’t be mean. You only win through intimidation for an instant. Soon you will be alone. No one wants to spend time with people who make them feel inept or insignificant.

N: Never say never. Today’s opponent may be tomorrow’s friend. How you feel on an issue today may change as you grow, have new experiences, and see things from a different perspective.

O: Be optimistic. Those who are, have more friends. And more fun.

P: Be patient. Sometimes life’s great gifts take time. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Q: Question yourself from time to time. An honest self-evaluation can be difficult but bears great rewards.

R: Read a lot. One characteristic that separates humans from other life forms is our ability to learn from others’ experiences. This knowledge can be gained easily through the written word.

S: Speak softly but carry a big smile.

T: Think before you speak. Words can pierce like a sharp knife. Or warm a cold heart.

U: Try to understand other’s points of view before you criticize or reject what they are saying.

V: Take a long-term view. Life shouldn’t be at a zenith when you are 20 or 30.

W: Work hard. It is good for the soul, one’s reputation, and bank account.

X: How you treat people who can do nothing for you is an x-ray of your character. Be generous, caring and kind.

Y: Be yourself and proud of your uniqueness. There is no one like you. You are an individual spice added to this world and everyone you meet.

Z: Live your life with zeal. No one ever wishes they’d been less active or enthusiastic.

When life seems to be getting the better of me, I go back to the basics. Those truths that never change. Those rules which have defined successful, happy lives for centuries. Suddenly the world seems to slow down and become as simple as the ABCs.

Parks and Recreation Department Update