You've been thrown under the bus, again!

YEP!!!!! You’ve been thrown under the bus again!! (Are you frustrated and angry?)
Results of the January 25 Council REZONING Public Hearing

 
     The council chambers were full and standing room only. During the Public Hearing the developer’s representative was the ONLY person who spoke in favor of rezoning 112^th Street.  This will result in higher density housing (up to 100 homes) and greater traffic gridlock.

Council members, Payne, Perrow, Ekberg and Kadzik voted to advance rezoning 112^th Street to the Planning Commission for their stamp of approval. Council members Arbenz and Lovrovich were absent and did not vote.
 Only Council member Malich supported the citizens and voted NOT to rezone 112^th Street.

It is rather interesting Council member Payne reminded folks he voted for the marijuana ban. Does he think this gives him the right to destroy your neighborhood?
By the way it appears he doesn’t want to hear any complaints from anybody about adding higher density housing (100 new homes) and traffic gridlock.  It is your right as a voter to complain or applaud. 

  paynet@cityofgigharbor.net  (may need to copy and paste)

 

EXCEPT….Gig Harbor Has Been Put On Notice.

     Washington State and the Puget Sound Regional Council has also weighed in on Gig Harbor’s out of control development. The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is a  planning organization that develops policies and makes decisions about transportation planning, economic development, and growth management in the area surrounding Puget Sound. The PSRC has advised Gig Harbor:

• Gig Harbor is growing too fast and too dense.
• Gig Harbor needs to slow down development and density.
• Gig Harbor needs to rezone areas to limit density and out of control growth. 
• Gig Harbor needs to have a plan in place for fully funding streets, parks, and schools before development is allowed.
• Gig Harbor needs to institute development standards appropriate to retain our small town character.

Rezoning 112^th street for 100 high density housing will create more traffic and increase growth and stress on our schools. This is the very thing Gig Harbor is not prepared to do.
     Washington State, the Puget Sound Regional Council and the overwhelming majority of Gig Harbor voters insist the city council stop this disastrous over development now.      The state is watching you. Citizens are watching you. 

 The city council needs to start doing the right thing now.

 Citizensforgigharbor@gmail.com

     Nov 2017 1 mayor, 4 council seats up for re-election.   

"I am only one, but still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.  Because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do something that I can do." Helen Keller

Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor.  Committed to leaving Gig Harbor better than we found it!

Public Hearing...Traffic Gridlock, higher density housing! Secret Meetings!

 

 Public Hearing  
Monday January 25  5:30pm
City Council
Comprehensive Plan Updates
Rezoning...Rezoning...higher density housing
The city council wants everyone inside or outside the city limits to speak.

 Gig Harbor voters overwhelmingly re-elected Ken Malich to the city council because he takes into consideration their views and votes accordingly.
            This landslide of voters said solve the traffic problem first.  Voters supported Ken in his issues to limit housing starts, limit density and to stop this rezoning. Before any rezoning, fix the traffic problem and provide a school for kids.
            The developers who purchased land on 112^th st and Canterwood Blvd knew the zoning regulations before they spent their money.  Why would they purchase and then expect to have their property rezoned?  Citizens are stuck to deal with the negative impacts developers and builders leave behind.
            This rezoning will continue to allow the high density housing voters have rejected. This is exactly what the voters did not want. This high density housing will add to the existing traffic gridlock at #16 and Borgan.
            Any improvements to Hwy 16 is highly doubtful.  The already dangerous on and off ramps will become more treacherous.  How would like more cars in those roundabouts?             The City Council needs to  first solve the traffic problems before any rezoning is considered. 

  That’s what voters in Gig Harbor voted for. 
            Gig Harbor voters want the council to change out of control developement now.  At certain times of the day, Hwy#16 on and off ramps and Borgan roundabouts simple cannot accommodate any more traffic.  Fix the traffic before you add to the congestion.
   Ken Malich earned our votes by respecting and voting for the public who want to stop this out of control development. Council member Malich represents the public’s views with his vote. 
          The mayor and 4 council seats are up for re-election in 2017.
The Mayor and City Council needs to listen to the wishes of the voters and vote accordingly.
  Mayor and Council members,  do the right thing.  It worked for Ken.
 

Some of you are concerned about those secret meetings.  When meetings are not recorded and when the public is barred from attending...they are secret meetings. The time to speak to this is during the Public Comment time.  It is listed on the Agenda.  Citizensforgigharbor@gmail.com      Nov 2017 1 mayor, 4 council seats up for re-election.    "I am only one, but still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.  Because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do something that I can do." Helen Keller Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor.  Committed to leaving Gig Harbor better than we found it!

Do you want secret meetings in Gig Harbor

January 22, 2016 Guest Opinion in Gig Harbor Life

Do secret meetings belong in Gig Harbor?

 “Too often decisions are made before the public becomes aware of the implications.”  Council member Ken Malich.

There is a secret committee in Gig Harbor.

Mayor Guernsey and the city council have created a secret committee in Gig Harbor. This is the Harbor Element Subcommittee.

 (The mayor and council members Kadzik, Payne, Lovrovich, Perrow, Ekberg and Arbenz refused to open these meetings to the public. Council member Malich was the lone council member who has spoken in favor of opening these meetings to the public.)

The intent of this SECRET subcommittee is to discuss rezoning, vertical zoning, building size and higher density in downtown Gig Harbor. 

This secret committee will interview some citizens.

Those citizen interviews are not recorded.

The public is barred from attending these meetings. 

These meetings are secret.

Consequently, there is no accountability as to what the questions and citizens answers really are.   For months the planning commission has been chugging along formulating regulations.  The majority of the council wants high density housing in downtown.  Their search is on for people who will support high density housing and the council‘s questionable motives.

The purpose of these regulations is to double the housing density and require parking for only 1 vehicle per small residential unit in Gig Harbor.

  High density housing has been renamed Small Residential Units, aka SRU.   The goal of small residential units is to double the housing density and reduce the parking capability downtown.

• ·         This could mean that a ½ acre piece of land would have 8 – 12 homes.

• ·         Only 1 parking garage per home could be required.

• ·         Distance between homes could be 10 feet.

• ·         These homes with 1 car garages could have only 900 square feet on ground level.

• ·         2 stories would probably be required.

• ·         Most households have multiple cars. Where would the other car park?

Higher density housing will result in even greater traffic gridlock throughout downtown.

            Could this happen to Gig Harbor?  You bet!

      The Olympic Property Group is the development company that developed Gig Harbor North and brought us all these high density homes and traffic.  We have a Downtown Waterfront Association. Beginning the end of January, The Olympic Property Group will sit on the Board of Directors of this Waterfront Association.

              

The overwhelming majority of Gig Harbor voters re-elected Ken Malich to the Gig Harbor City Council.     In Ken’s landslide re-election, voters sent a message to the mayor and rest of the council to limit housing starts, cut down on the housing density, and solve the traffic gridlock before allowing more out of control chaotic development.

What can you do to help?

#1.  Tell the mayor and city council ABSOLUTELY NO secret meetings in Gig Harbor.  Send your email to Gig Harbor City Clerk Molly Towslee.   TowsleeM@cityofgigharbor.net

ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY is needed to speak.

#2.  If you call Gig Harbor home and live inside or outside the city limits, now is the time for you to act. The city is waiting for your phone call.  Contact Lindsey Sehmel sehmell@cityofgigharbor.net, (253) 853-7615.  Tell Lindsey you would like to be interviewed by this secret committee and personally speak to proposed changes scheduled for Gig Harbor.  It is a good idea to make a copy for yourself of your contact with the city.

Make no mistake about this, the majority of the council wants to hear that high density housing is missing and is wanted.  So you need to speak clearly.

You will be asked to discuss:

 

      What is currently missing in The Harbor? 

    ( Appropriate notification to all of our  citizens when changes are being discussed for downtown.  How about there is no parking and we are missing our view is going away.  In some cities a person cannot rezone or put in a use unless 50% of their neighbors are on board.  That is a rule that is missing from The Harbor. What do you think?)

·         What does The Harbor currently have too much of? 

     ( traffic gridlock, it needs to be fixed before more commercial or high density residential residences)

·         Are there uses in The Harbor that do not belong or are out of character?

     (How about anthing that blocks the view of the harbor, high density housing with no parking, how about any buildings over 2 stories high in the commercial zone.  No 2 stories anywhere else.  Any private developer agreements without citizen control do not belong in the harbor.  Anything that takes away the view, restaurants in the commercial zone, allowing businesses or residences that  have not enough off street parking. 

      How about anything that destroys our historic Millville.

     Ken Malich was re-elected by a landslide of Gig Harbor voters.  He ran to preserve our fishing village atmosphere and to keep Gig Harbor unique.  He ran to limit housing starts and high density and solve the traffic issues before more zoning is allowed.  

     What do you think?)

    Citizensforgigharbor@gmail.com

     Nov 2017 1 mayor, 4 council seats up for re-election.   

"I am only one, but still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.  Because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do something that I can do." Helen Keller

Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor.  Committed to leaving Gig Harbor better than we found it!

Did YOU find it?

Congratulations to Mayor Guernsey with her puzzling letter in the January 20th Gateway.
  It is comforting to know the Mayor and City Council are trying for open communication.

EXCEPT…..OOPSY!

Search as I might it was not possible to find the part in her letter about “secret meetings”.

Nope, I couldn’t find it,
 Did you find it? 
 Did anyone find it?


     The Mayor did not mention these “secret meetings” are taking place.  The mayor did not deny the “secret meetings” or state their purpose.
     Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor will make sure you hear about the purpose of these “secret meetings” this weekend.

 

With all this so called open communication from the city, surely you know about
the Public Hearing?

In case you didn’t know, there is a Public Hearing being held
 Monday, January 25^th, 5:30 pm at the City Council meeting.

            This Public Hearing will address the possibility of rezoning 2 areas.  Rezoning 112^th street and rezoning Canterwood Blvd.  If this rezoning happens there is the likelihood for higher density, multi-family housing, bringing more traffic to these streets, intersections and roundabouts.

We drive on these streets. We must to be heard.
  It is our tax money that fixes the street problems. We must to be heard.
   Families are a wonderful addition to our community. All kids must have a school to attend.
Citizens must to be heard! 

 Notice of this Public Hearing might be of special interest to folks living in the Henderson Bay Estate area and McCormick Ridge. Be a good neighbor and spread the word.          

Were you able to find any information about these proposed zoning changes?  Maybe not.

The Mayor and Council wants citizens to visit the city website
to find out everything they need to know.

 

  

 When should a citizen visit the city website?  It is unclear when to look, were to look and what you are looking for?  Not user friendly!  Our citizens should not have to look that hard.

   

As Council member Malich wrote, “Too often decisions are made before the public becomes aware of the implications”.  Of course, he is right.
            Council member Malich was re-elected by an overwhelming majority of Gig Harbor voters.  His campaign was to limit housing starts, limit density, and solve the traffic gridlock before allowing more out of control chaotic development.  Ken was re-elected by a landslide. These issues are what we voted for and the mayor and council need to be reminded of we the voters and what we want.

See you Monday at the Public Hearing

Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor  LLC 
citizensforgigharbor@gmail.com

C4GH:  Citizens committed to making Gig Harbor better than we found it!  JOIN US!!

     Mayor and 4 council seats up for re-election in 2017!

 

  "I am only one, but still I am one.  I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do."  Helen Keller.

 

Did you read it?

Hi Everyone,
  The Gateway printed a opinion from Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor.  Not allowed to use an organization name. Since  I have been investigated by Tim  Payne, Stan Stearns, John Moist,  and others, we use my name. 
Jeni

Gateway  January 13, 2016

Gig Harbor Needs To Be Open

“Government officials should not automatically close a meeting or deny a record simply because a legal exemption allows them to; openness should be the default setting.”  (Gateway 1/6/16)
    Gig Harbor Council member Ken Malich took his oath on Jan 11.  One of his campaign points was the need for better transparency in GH government and better public noticing.  His voter pamphlet read “Too often decisions are made before the public becomes aware of the implications.”
  Gig Harbor has transparency issues.
 #1.  Gig Harbor has a secret subcommittee called the Harbor Element subcommittee.  The council directed this subcommittee to discuss rezoning Harborview Dr, downtown and housing density.  There are no recordings made of these committee meetings and the public is barred from attending.
   Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor learned of these secret meetings and made a public comment at the September City Council meeting.  We asked each of the council members if they would support having this subcommittee be recorded and opened to the public.  Council members Kadzik, Payne, Lovrovich, Perrow, Ekberg, and Arbenz declined to support opening these meetings to the public. Council member Malich was very concerned that the public is blocked from these meetings.
 Mayor Guernsey and City Administrator Williams stated this subcommittee was created with the intent to not be open to public involvement.
   #2.  Last November, during the Gig Harbor city council Intergovernmental Affairs Committee meeting the council members Payne, Perrow and Arbenz voted to ask the legislature to limit the public’s right to public information and lift the 1% property tax cap.  Lifting the 1% property tax cap provides the opportunity to increase property taxes.
  Last December, the entire council voted unanimously to ask the legislature to limit the public’s right to public information and to lift the property tax cap. These items were not listed on the council agenda and nobody had any idea what was being voted for.
  There is no transparency if you are unaware. When your property taxes or limiting your right to public information is discussed it is your business.
  #3 In 2013 there was a proposed downtown building height amendment. Inadequate noticing left the citizens unaware of this proposed amendment.  Citizens for Gig Harbor suggested the city erect a sign board in Skansie Park so folks would learn about the meeting.  Gig Harbor City refused.  Then Council woman Guernsey was asked if the city would put an ad in the Gateway to inform folks of the meeting. She said the ad would be too expensive, nothing was done.
  This proposed amendment resulted in petition of 1,600 Gig Harbor citizens stepping up to say No to increased downtown building heights.  Only 5 people wanted taller buildings.  Council member Malich was the only council member to vote No to tall buildings on the waterfront.
  #4.  Last summer there was a public hearing regarding the traffic gridlock at the Olympic and Pt Fosdick intersection.  The city scheduled this hearing for 1:30 pm, when most people were unable to attend.  Public meetings need to occur for the convenience of the public. One might get the impression the majority of the council doesn’t want to be bothered by informed citizens.
  Council member Malich stated his goal has always been to listen to the people and have his vote reflect the wishes of the people.  That is why council member Malich was re-elected by a landslide. 
  2017 will see the mayor and council seats of Kadzik, Payne, Ekberg and Arbenz up for re-election.  Citizens will be watching council voting records to see what they will do.
Jeni Woock
Citizens for the Preservation of Gig Harbor