Mayor's Corner

by Mayor Ed Stern

Here, pictured, is the ‘Velkommen til Poulsbo’ display proudly designed and choreographed by the dozen students of Peninsula High School we contracted with for the show, earning both technical training, career skills and minimum wage in the bargain for them in their Vocational Class!

Here’s a question for you, the reader, to ponder - - whether you might prefer to see an annual show and new tradition for our community be associated with a July 4^th event (that would have to stretch until late in the evening to have enough darkness to put on, at the height of summer and all) or instead as this year, to close out the Summer Concert Series in mid-August, itself an evening affair, with darkness upon us an hour earlier than July? Do let us know as City Council reaches a decision point as you help ‘shed light’ 😉 on the subject, and Thank You. Ed

City Administrator's Vennlig Hilsener

By City Administrator Rob Gelder

September is here and the change in weather is already beginning. Since our last newsletter, paid parking has gone into effect for Anderson Parkway lots from Wednesdays through Mondays with Tuesdays and federal holidays being free. The hours for payment are just between 10 am and 6 pm. We've been working with downtown business owners to develop and publish the downtown parking guide below. It will be added to the top of our Parking page on the City Website and distributed through social media channels as well.

We know that change is never easy, but hope this guide can provide a quick, understandable reference to how the parking program works.

Thanks for the read.

Finance Department Update

The Office of the Washington State Auditor completed the City’s Financial Audit, including a Federal Grant Compliance Audit, on June 29, 2026. The official audit report can be found online at sao.wa.gov, or to view the report, please click here.

Additionally, each year the Finance Department produces an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ending December 31. Starting in 2001, and every year since, the City has won the Government Finance Officers Association’s “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting”, the highest achievement for government reporting. The 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report has been submitted to GFOA for award consideration and can be found on the City website under the Finance Department, or by clicking here.

Engineering and Building Department Update

3rd Avenue Improvements Project

A public information meeting will take place at the end of September for the 3rd Avenue Improvements project to inform the public of the design status and share feedback. This project will improve 3rd Avenue from Hostmark Street to Moe Street, with a new roadway surface, sidewalk, curbs and gutter, bike lanes, and improved parking zones, in addition to storm drain improvements. The project will provide multiple local benefits which will reduce congestion and delays on adjacent Front Street.

More information will be provided soon. Please refer to our website and social media for an announcement on the exact date, time, and location of this public meeting.

Noll Road North Segment Improvements Project

The City has completed this portion of the Noll Road corridor improvements project. The project connected Langaunet Lane, Kevos Pond Ct, and Maranatha Lane to create one new and improved stretch of roadway named Langaunet Avenue that extends from Mesford Road to Lincoln Road. Some components of this new road include roadway illumination, sidewalks, and a new shared-use path. A compact new roundabout was completed at the intersection of Mesford Road and Noll Road, with raised crosswalks to provide traffic calming and enhanced pedestrian safety. 

Other improvements to this project include new paved travel lanes, a storm drain system, landscaping, sidewalks, and shared-use path improvements between Noll Road and NE Bjorn Street, including sidewalk improvements at Poulsbo Elementary School.

Construction on this phase of the project began on May 5, 2025, by SCI Infrastructure, LLC, and was completed in July 2026 with construction costs at approximately $9.7M.

Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention Program

The City has been working with VEPO CrossConnex to set up our Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention program. VEPO offers an online cloud-based platform to manage backflow device annual testing and reporting requirements. As a reminder, owners of backflow devices are required to have their device inspected and tested annually by a certified tester. The VEPO platform will go live on September 15, 2026, and any backflow tests completed after that date will be required to submit through the VEPO portal. Backflow tests completed prior to September 15^th will be accepted by the City and the report will be updated in VEPO. All future reports will be required to be submitted through the VEPO portal.

VEPO offers a web portal and a phone app for both android and iphone users: https://www.vepocc.com

VEPO is offering two virtual training sessions for certified backflow testers to learn how to use the system and input tests. The first training session will be held at 8:00 am on Wednesday, September 9^th via Zoom. The second training session will be held at 8:00 am on Friday, September 11^th via Zoom. The sessions will be recorded, and the recording will be available if you are unable to attend either training session. Please email publicworks@poulsbo.gov to obtain a link to the training session or for any questions about the program.

The City will also be mailing letters to owners who have backflow devices per City records. These letters will be going out within the next couple of weeks, and they will contain a VCC number which will need to be provided to the certified backflow testers. Additional information on the device will be included within the letter as well. Property owners may also reach out directly to the Public Works Department to confirm the VCC number and device information, or to correct our records if the letters have been sent out in error.

Building Department

A new Valvoline Instant Oil Change center is moving into a previously vacant lot on Olhava Way in between Taco Bell and Wendy’s! The new 1,432sf building will be comprised of two service bays for indoor auto repair operations once completed. 

Just a reminder!

Current average plan review time is 6 weeks for residential permits and 8 weeks for commercial building permits from date of complete application. You can check on the status of your permit anytime through the portal on our website at https://poulsbo.gov/building-department.

The City issued 31 new building permits during the month of July for a total valuation of $3,456,434.05. Building Department monthly reports are always available on our website at https://poulsbo.gov/building-department.

Parks and Recreation Department Update

Other new senior active programs include S.A.I.L.- Stay Active and Independent for Life, a new program that can help you increase your strength and balance, and Creative Movement for Adults and Seniors, using the BrainDance curriculum that is a full brain-body experience that can be done standing, seated, or even lying down! And for some more Social Activities, join our Senior Book Club, Needles and Notions: Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery and Needlework Group or Senior Social Hour. All programs are FREE.

We will also have our other popular programs, such as Coffee and a Class, Senior Tech Clinic, Lifelong Fitness and more. Look for our new Senior section in the FRONT part of the brochure! While1classes are free, please register in advance so we know how many will be attending. 

Homeschoolers are welcome to attend after-school programs or check out the activity guide for our current homeschool activities!

WELCOME TO OUR NEW INSTRUCTORS!

We’re excited to welcome all our new instructors for fall, including three new instructors who will get the creative juices going for both youth and adults alike.

William McGuire is a professional illustrator, concept artist and cartoonist who has worked for companies such as Nickelodeon, Paramount and Elevate Games. He’s also the author of 12 children’s books. Mr. McGuire will be offering a variety of art classes for children and adults such as Kids Art Concepts and Skills Workshop, Intro to Illustration, Cartooning, and Intro to Procreate: Illustration.

Mackenzie Ryan will introduce both children and adults to the joys of multi-media through the creation of art. Preschoolers will learn while they create in STEAM Art Adventures. Youth will explore texture and composition in Leaf Litter Art, create their own monster caricatures in Monster Mayhem Art and discover the magic of negative space in Winter Wonderland Resist Art. Adults will enjoy making a Yarn Autumn Wreath, Autumn Leaf Garland, Moon Phase Wall Hanging and creating a one-of-a-kind pumpkin in the Marbled Pumpkin Studio.

Interested in Creative Writing? Jesse Pearson will help adults get that story that’s locked in their minds down onto paper. Explore Writing Creatively, Writing with Myths, Fairytales and Modern Story, a Short Story Workshop, an Editing Workshop, and more!. 

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS!

Many programs are brought to you by collaborative partnerships between Poulsbo Parks and Recreation and our local community businesses and organizations.

We’re excited to partner with Western Washington University to offer two new college preparation classes this fall. The Kitsap Humane Society is offering three new animal education classes, and Councilmember Fitzpatrick is continuing his series on the Constitution in partnership with Kitsap Regional Library.

These valued partnerships enable us to offer even more educational programs taught by experts in their fields.

For more information, visit https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/parks-for-pollinators-2026-city-of-poulsbo-parks-and-recreation. Join us for this month-long celebration of our local pollinators.

Job Openings

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