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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/11/2014 AGENDA CITY COUNCIL 345 6th Street, Suite 600, Bremerton, WA 98337 ❑ Phone (360) 473 -5280 ** *AMENDED * ** JUNE 11, 2014 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION Beginning at 5:00 PM in COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM 603 The Study Session is open to the public but there will be no opportunities for input or participation; no action is anticipated during the Study Session; and the content of these items is subject to change. If approved by the City Council, the items will be placed on the June 16, 2014 "Special Meeting" Agenda. A. NO PRESENTATION PLANNED — The following items are budgeted items or have already been reviewed by the appropriate Council Committee: 1. Confirm Appointment of Chasaba Constable to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee 2. Confirm Appointment of Bill Benson to the Public Services Committee of the Community Development Block Grant/HOME Grant Recommendation Committee 3. Proposed public hearing for Police Department's Local Solicitation of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Application 4. Reclassification of "Application Support Analyst" to "GIS /Application Support Specialist ", and Wage Grade Adjustment from 15 to 17 on Appendix A of the Collective Bargaining Agreement 5. Interlocal Agreement with Chelan County for Incarceration of City Prisoners in the Chelan County Regional Justice Center 6. Contract Award to Western Industrial, Inc. for the Interior Coating Replacement of Reservoirs 19 and 20 7. Approve replacement of one FTE WWTP Industrial Maintenance Mechanic and two (.42) FTE part-time Seasonal Laborer II positions, with two FTE Laborer - Utilities positions B. BRIEFINGS & FULL PRESENTATIONS 8. Approve two Temporary Part-Time (.19) FTE Laborer positions for Forestry Division Added... 9. Ordinance to amend Title 15 of the Bremerton Municipal Code (BMC) entitled "Municipal Utilities" C. GENERAL COUNCIL BUSINESS • Public Works Committee Briefing (6103114 Meeting) — Dino Davis, Chair • Public Safety and Parks Committee Briefing (6111114 Meeting) — Leslie Daugs, Chair • Other General Council Business (As necessary...) D. ADJOURNMENT OF STUDY SESSION ® Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations provided upon request. Those requiring special accommodations should contact the City Clerk's Office at (360) 473 -5323 at least 24 -hours prior to the Council meeting. (PW r MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor, City Council FROM: Tom Knuckey DATE: June 9, 2014 SUBJECT: Lower Wheaton Way — Cost Saving Modifications for the Street Fund The cost of the street funded component of the Lower Wheaton Way project exceeds the budget as -bid. This memorandum presents the plan to close the budget gap. BACKGROUND AND DIRECTION Following the bid opening for the captioned project, costs were allocated across the street and utility funds and a shortfall of $318,000 was identified in the street fund. This calculation was subsequently found to be inaccurate since the cost of three bid items were allocated wholly to the Street Fund which should have been shared by the utilities. These items are Mobilization, Traffic Control, and the Traffic Control Supervisor. Allocating these costs proportionally across all funds reduces the calculated Street Fund shortfall to $157,000. To close the budget gap, staff reviewed alternatives to modify the scope or payment method for several items (detail listed below.) The alternatives have been coordinated with the Contractor to identify the following path that preserves the project integrity, while addressing the budget issue. This direction was discussed with the Public Works Committee at their June 2, 2014 meeting and in subsequent correspondence. While the projected cost reduction required is $157,000, the staff recommendation exceeds that amount to preserve funding for upcoming projects. Changes to the project are as follows: • Revise pavement overlay thickness to 1.5- inches — savings is approximately $124,000, • Revise contracting method for Traffic Control and TCS — savings is $47,000, • Reduce CSTC (gravel) under the sidewalk — minimum savings is $40,000, • Reduce the number of luminaires by two, and revise to single head over the bike lane — savings is $45,000. DISCUSSION OF COST REDUCTION ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED Reduce Pavement Thickness: Typical pavement overlays are 2- inches. Based on core samples obtained during design, the existing pavement thickness varies between 6 and 12- inches throughout the project limits. The asphalt pavement overlay was designed and bid at 2.5- inches thick with Kevlar fiber reinforcement. Three cost reduction alternatives have been coordinated with the contractor: 1) reducing the pavement thickness to 1.5 inches; 2) reducing the pavement thickness to 2 inches, or 3) maintaining the 2.5 -inch thickness but deleting the fiber reinforcement. An associated savings with reducing the overlay is a reduction in planing the existing pavement. Page / of 3 611012014 The savings associated with the alternatives are: • Reduce thickness to 1.5- inches while keeping the Kevlar reinforcement = $121,000, + $3,000 for reduced planing = $124,000 • Reduce thickness to 2- inches = $33,600, + $1,250 for reduced planing = $34,850 • Eliminate Kevlar fiber reinforcement = $33,000 The final cost savings will likely be a bit less than these calculated values since any dig -outs will reduce the calculated savings. The Public Works Committee indicated a preference for the Kevlar Reinforcement to be provided as this is a relatively low cost item with significant benefits as advertised by the supplier. Delete the Proposed Chain -link Fence The design includes chain link fence behind the sidewalk on both sides of the road at Schley Canyon; the as -bid value of this work is $11,600 (bid item 84.) Staff had initially mistakenly believed this fence was to replace the existing, older rail fence near the roundabout (and could therefore reasonably be deleted); however, the fence must be included for public safety. Traffic Control and Traffic Control Supervisor All traffic control bid items JCS, flaggers, signs and other delineators) were bid lump sum; upon review, the cost appeared to be a bit high. The contractor has proposed a unit price cost with an upper limit that would result in a savings of $47,000. Reduce CSTC under Sidewalks The sidewalks are designed to be constructed with 4- inches of concrete over 4- inches of crushed surfacing top course (CSTC) base material. Staff reviewed the geotechnical report completed during design and have concluded the CSTC can be reduced in many locations to a compacted leveling course with a minimum thickness of 2- inches. The as -bid cost of the CSTC is $161,000; reducing the thickness to 2- inches where appropriate is anticipated to result in a minimum savings of $40,000. As concerns have been raised over reducing the thickness of CSTC, staff conducted a cursory internet search which confirmed that reducing the base thickness to a 2 -inch minimum would not be unprecedented: • City of Edmonds identifies base material as optional; ( http: / /www.edmondswa.gov /images /COE /Services /Permits and Development/Standar d Details /Roads /E2 -13 Conc Sidewalk- Layout1.pdf • City of Seattle specifies compacted subgrade (no base); http: / /www2.cityofseattle. net / util/ standardplans /r)lans2005 /40OSeries.pdf • City of Portland identifies a 2 -inch minimum base; ftp://ftP02.portlandoregon.gov/PBOT/CDS/ Standard %2ODrawings %2OPortland /P- 551.pdf • Articles that discuss base requirements — both indicate imported base material can be omitted if existing subgrade is adequate; http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete- subgrades- subbases /what - is.html and http: / /www.cement.ca /en /Highways /Subgrade- and-Subbase.html Page 2 of 3 611012014 Illumination As bid, the project would install 39 architectural luminaires that include dual heads; one over the sidewalk, and the second over the street. Retaining the architectural luminaires in the project scope was a major goal voiced by the public and elected officials during project development. In reviewing the design, two luminaire poles were found to be redundant, and will therefore be eliminated, reducing the number of luminaires to 37. A second revision will reduce the dual head design to a single head design, with the single luminaire head centered over the bike lane. This layout will look great architecturally, and will provide lighting at appropriate levels throughout the project, as confirmed by a lighting analysis. These reductions will reduce the cost of the lighting system by $45,000. Page 3 of 3 611012014 LOWER WHEATON WAY PROJECT REVENUE Street Grant Match Subtotal Req'd (20% of TIB AS Fund (Grant +AS) W Fund WW Fund SW Fund Total Total) TIB Design (exist) 95,272 95,272 95,272 23,818 TIB Construction (exist) 1,272,812 1,272,812 1,272,812 318,203 Stormwater Fund - existing 0 104,780 104,780 Arterial Street Fund - existing 237,271 237,271 237,271 Subtotal 1,368,084 237,271 1,605,355 0 0 104,780 1,710,135 ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL REVENUE: TIB 746,708 746,708 186,677 TBD 250,000 250,000 Utility Fund contributions from Final Cost Estimate 94,807 211,492 691,890 998,189 TOTAL 2,114,792 2,602,063 94,807 211,492 796,670 3,705,032 528,698 EXPENDITURE Street W Fund WW Fund SW Fund Total Lower Wheaton Way 2014 Bid (Sch A, C, D and part of B) Design /Bid 160,000 15,000 70,000 55,000 300,000 Total, sch A, B, C, D. Doesn't Construction Including Sales tax on appropriate SW and SS include cost of Improvements 2,273,739 60,714 316,096 789,644 3,440,193 5W outfall CM ind in Const Const Mgt/Inspection/Testing Lab 132,187 3,530 18,377 45,907 200,000 Cost PSE Coordination and Tree Removal 10,000 10,000 Demolition of Maple Leaf Tavern 18,000 18,000 Prior year expense, Survey (2011 -2013) 34,000 34,000 Priority for Additive items, potential deductions: deduct Reduce CSTC under sidewalk ($75K) 1 0 Replace handrail by bridge ($22.5K) 3 0 Eliminate additional illumination ($120K) 5 0 Eliminate basic illumination ($60K) 7 0 Eliminate electrical conduits throughout ($100K) 8 0 Eliminate intersection at 14th ($33K) 4 0 Eliminate Lebo/Wheaton Way ($300K) 6 0 Eliminate east sidewalk from 18th to Store ($45K) 2 0 Pavement thickness reduced to 1.5- inches - 114,000 Modify Traffic Control and TCS Contract Method - 47,000 Reduce CSTC Under Sidewalk - 40,000 Reduce Luminaires to 37 and Eliminate Head over Sidewalk -45,000 Subttotal 2,371,925 79,244 404,473 890,551 3,746,193 Contingency at 5% 118,596 3,962 20,224 44,528 187,310 TOTAL -2014 Cost 2,490,522 83,206 424,696 935,078 3,933,503 TOTAL - FROM FINAL COST ESTIMATE 2,602,063 94,807 211,492 796,670 3,705,031 SHORTFALL (OVERAGE) - 111,541 - 11,601 213,204 138,408 228,471 Bid (dgn is Const Contingency complete) Contract Const Mgt 8% Total 2015 Stormwater Outfall 5,000 223,895 33,600 21,000 283,495 Arterial Street Fund Total Expense = 2,490,522 Water Fund Total Expense = 83,206 Wastewater Fund Total Expense = 424,696 Stormwater Fund Total Expense = 1,218,573 C) Crene w C044 A 4 '-���`� - THE NEWS TRIBUNE, Shore leave: A Sailor takes a long overdue liberty in Bremerton A Sailor takes a long overdue liberty in Bremerton BY CRAIG SAILOR - craig.sailorri, comJune 6, 2014 EA MU 683 E TM �r Nil " . - -___- - - - •i 1 _._ rte• - Above, the sail of the LISS Parche submarine sits outside the Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton. Left, The Valentinetti Puppet Museum is a small storefront operation that displays only some of its 1,500 puppets. I missed Bremerton. More precisely, I've been missing Bremerton. Though I've lived in Puget Sound for 18 years, I had never explored the city that is a quick drive from Tacoma. For years now, homegrown punk rockers MxPx have urged me to "Move to Bremerton." And my surname is the occupation of many of the city's residents. But until this week I had always disrespectfully sped by the naval city on my way to the Olympic Peninsula or Vancouver Island. So, on Tuesday, I set out to explore a city that I soon learned is filled with museums, restaurants, parks and, yes, big gray ships. NAVY MUSEUM The Puget Sound Navy Museum has a home in a stately and historical structure at the edge of the Naval shipyard. In front of the building, as if it's bursting through Arctic ice, is the sail of the USS Parche, the Navy's most decorated submarine. With its sister museum — the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport — the Navy Museum offers a glimpse into naval life civilian museums can't match. The museum reflects Pacific Northwest naval history from 1840 to the present, but exhibits tend heavily toward two local subjects: the shipyard and Bremerton's resident aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis. Though the Stennis is currently in port, it's undergoing maintenance and not open to the public. Beyond the museum is a beautiful city park with fascinating structures that erupt every few minutes with whalelike plumes of water. It's a great place to get views of the Seattle ferry and the shipyard with its iconic hammerhead crane. USS TURNER JOY One ship that is always open to the public is the USS Turner Joy, docked just to the north of the ferry terminal. The Vietnam -era destroyer was decommissioned in 1982 and now is maintained by the nonprofit Bremerton Historic Ships Association. The $12 entry fee made it the priciest item on my itinerary, but it also was the most interesting. The 418 -foot- long Turner Joy was built in Seattle in the late 1950s. It carried 17 officers and 275 enlisted sailors. The self - guided tour covers 90 percent of the ship (only the bilge and a few other dangerous areas are off limits) and offers civilians a firsthand look at what Navy life was like in the 1980s. The ship looks like the crew just left for shore leave. "The goal is to make it look like an active ship," employee April Alvarez said. Sailors must have grown sympathetic with sardines in the tightly spaced bunks. The captain's cabin, by contrast, could have housed a dozen men. At one point, on the lowest deck, I found myself lost for a few minutes until I found the ladder I had descended on. The ship's barber shop is ready for its next client. Dinner trays are neatly stacked in the galley while the ship's silver is lined up in the wardroom mess, a map of the Korean Peninsula on one wall. But the most fascinating room is the Combat Information Center, glowing red and filled with green radar screens and other equipment. The ship still is the site of enlistment and retirement ceremonies as well as "haunted ship" tours in the week preceding Halloween. PYREX MUSEUM Longtime Bremerton figurative painter Amy Burnett maintains this studio on Pacific Avenue. But her vibrant paintings are only part of her gallery. A good chunk of space is devoted to Pyrex. Yes, the glass cookware. "It's the craziest thing I've ever been involved with," Burnett tells me. Neatly arranged bowls, butter containers and enough casserole dishes to outfit an army of church ladies line the shelves. The museum gets a steady and enthusiastic stream of visitors, Burnett says. The appeal, she says, is part mid -20th century resurgence, part kitsch and part nostalgia. "It's mom's cookware." PUPPETS Across the street from the Pyrex collection is another of Bremerton's quirky museums. Because it is closed Tuesdays, I had to pull some strings to get in. The nonprofit Valentinetti Puppet Museum is a small storefront operation that displays only some of its 1,500 puppets at any one time. They include marionettes, hand puppets and shadow puppets from all over the world. Some are works of art, others are whimsical and a few are just creepy. The organization hires puppeteers several times a year to put on shows, board member Mary Hamlin told me. She says her puppet skills are akin to a first - grader's, but she enjoys volunteering at the museum. "I love theater and I love art. It's a good match," she tells me. The museum is dominated by a 10- foot -tall Pinocchio puppet. He often rides in cars during local parades for his own safety. "If you have a wind blowing, he becomes quite buoyant," Hamlin says. I carefully watch her nose but it stays the same length. The museum is currently highlighting Mexican puppets. EATS Given that the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard disgorges thousands of workers every day, it's not surprising that there is an unusually high number of eateries crammed into downtown. One name kept getting repeated to me: El Balcon. This Mexican - Salvadoran hole -in- the -wall is owned by Mario and Maria Amaya. He's the Salvadoran, she's the Mexican. Together they cook up some of the tastiest south -of- the - border cuisine you'll find this far north of the border. The Amayas were living in Tacoma in 2008 when Mario lost his lumber job in the recession. The couple, then amateur chefs, began to cook food on their apartment's balcony ( "balcon" in Spanish) to sell to local residents. "We knocked on doors," Mario recalls. In 2010, they created a food cart, prepped their goods in Tacoma, and took them to Bremerton to sell. "There wasn't a lot of sleep," Mario says. In 2012, they opened their brick - and -mortar establishment. Now, lines stretch out the door. Soon, the restaurant will quadruple in size and go two- stories high when the Amayas take over the space next door. It's a phenomenal rise for the humble and religious couple who, for a few months in 2010, were homeless after city officials banned their food cart. Scarred by that experience, Mario gives a plate of food to any homeless person who asks for it. "I can't forget those months when we were homeless, when my children were hungry," says the father of five. On my visit, the restaurant's menu was offering 15 burritos ($7.49 - $10.49 each), 10 tortas ($7.49 -$9.49 each), seven tacos (four for $6.49) and five pupusas ($3 each). I ordered a cheesy and spicy spinach pupusa that melted in my mouth and carne asada tacos that I adulterated with a smoky garlic salsa. Maybe I was just hungry but it was about the best taco I've ever eaten. If you're feeling adventurous, you might want to try the "Bremerton" burrito. It contains nachos (yes, chips too), jalapeno, pulled pork and vegetables ($8.49). Don't miss these Puget Sound Navy Museum Where: 251 First St., Bremerton When: 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Mondays— Saturdays, 1 -4 p.m. Sundays Admission: Free More information: 360- 479 -7447, pugetsoundnavy museum.org USS Turner Joy Museum Ship Where: 300 Washington Beach Ave., Bremerton When: 10 a.m. -5 p.m. daily Admission: $12 adults, $10 seniors, $7 children (5 -12), free for those younger than 4 and active military in uniform, half price for active military and dependents with ID Information: 360- 792 -2457, ussturnerjoy or_g_ Amy Burnett Gallery and Pyrex Museum Where: 402 Pacific Ave., Bremerton When: 11 a.m -6 p.m. Thursdays- Saturdays Admission: Free Information: 360- 373 -3187, amybumettgallery.com Valentinetti Puppet Museum Where: 257 Fourth St., Bremerton When: 11 a.m. -4 p.m. Wednesdays- Saturdays Suggested donation: $2 adults, $1 student, $5 family More information: 360- 373 -2992, ectandpuppets.org El Balcon Where: 326 Pacific Ave., Bremerton When: 11 a.m. -7 p.m. Mondays- Fridays, 11 a.m. -5 p.m. Saturdays Information: 360- 813 -1617, facebook.com /Bremelba Icon BUG MUSEUM 10 a.m. -5 p.m. daily 1118 Charleston Beach Road W., Bremerton 360 - 373 -7691, bugmuseum.com This free, privately held bug- and - reptile zoo has a wide variety of fascinating live insects and scaly — creatures, including Eddie the iguana and Sssstella the boa. Frogs, snakes and insects eating leaves and insects resembling leaves round out the collection. KITSAP HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM 280 Fourth St., Bremerton, 360- 479 -6226, kitsaphistory.org This small museum in the downtown core has a recreated "main street" that rivals those of big -city museums. You'll feel like your time machine just landed in the 1800s. THE NEWS - \ Cheers tog° Cry's Endless loop of boom TRIBUNE Italian eatery he fill a * ** Cruise's latest sci -fi j \ void of tasty options in fiick'Edge' is big on bangs, URGUI tr ,, JUNE 612, 2014 1 Y r University Place ; L , not on plot �e ;L. � '�. I ,. , • y{. �� "i.. .Yw,).'I I \ t �• "yam" � :r �•� • • "�t,,�`'� Fi . � � t � � .ti, it •i '.�;� '_fl•� • fin, i� ' At A ZZ r-M tin I - r , GET YOUR EVENT PUBusmED Go to calendarthenewstribune. com and click on "Add to our listings." Follow the prompts to create the event. The News - - Tribune uses that database to _ _ — ''� PUGETSOUND HAW compile Its calendars for the MUSEDM Printed edition. ' _ WhetC251 First st, DEADLINE Bremerton - Listings must be posted online by — r _ NAVY t Where 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Friday a week prior to publication. MUSEUM Mondays - Saturdays, 1-0 p.m. Sundays CONTACT US _ Adttrlsslore Free ENTER11A1NMENT WRITER More Informal- Craig Sailor. 68 r ^^ tbtc 360. 479 - 7447, craigsailorCanhenewstrnbune.com i. pugetsoundnavy, THE ARTS museum.org Rosemary Ponnekantl: rosemary.ponnekanti USSTURNERJOY Lmthenewstribune.com _• MIl5g1L1511IP E Where: 300 Washington E COT Beach Ave,Bremerton r FOOD Where 10 am. 5 p.m. m University Place's options for _ dally J 9 semi- upscale dining doubles with �., _ Ado kdm $12 adults, the addition of Grassi's 3 •' - _ Restaurant updates 3 T . _ �. $10senlors,$7 children (5 -12), free forthose ai ARTS _ - - younger than 4 and active r Photos by military in uniform, half Laval act ing troupe doesn't think S leave --�� �,Bas�R/ n laughed 5 with improvisation is something to be CRA IG —n R/ and d de pendenenden de ts With ID ur Critic's Pis ickss_ Above,tlresai Infrrrr oadorc360792- C Arts blog snippets 6 oftheuss 2457, usAumedoy.org ASadorW=along 7 FE GO FOR FREE t/UG /i�ZI,e � .- rhtesitsorttside AFAYBuRNETTGALLERY The Maritime Gig Festival In Gig Z j Zn D the Puget S=W ANDPYRER MUSMIM Harbor doesn't stop at the water's w"r ".'V lJ m Navy Musei In Wherry 402 Pacific Ave, `r edge T Bremerton N 7 DAYS OUT BY CRAIG SAI LOR Where it am 6 p m. ricket/Beyand &9 Sta1/writer �'� Thursdays Saturdays m MOVIES missed Bremerton. 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Where 11 arr -7 p.m. heavily toward two local A fountain erupts next W the terry NAVY MUSEUM Naval shi U S TURNERIOY terminal In Bremerton z Mondays - Fridays, ll py s front subjects: the shipyard and am: 5 p.m. Saturdays Craig Sailor/SteHwriter Museum has a ho The Puget Sound Nary of the building, as if ifs Breme resident aircraft One ship that is always BtMrmatlgm 360.81} me in bursting through Arctic carrier, the USS John C. open to the public is 1617, facebook wrrV a stately and historical ice, is the sail of the USS Stennis. Bremelbalcon structure at the edge of the Perche, the Navy's most Though the Stennis See EXPLORER, 4 Business spotlight: NK tourism group touts waterfront appeal : Kitsap Sun Page 1 of 2 Ktsa Su Printor- friendly story? Read mo at kitsapsunxar Business spotlight: NK tourism group touts waterfront appeal By Tad Sooter Sunday, June 1, 2014 NORTH KITSAP — To commuters, they're a ride to work, part of the daily grind. To tourists and day- trippers visiting Kitsap, the ferries are something else entirely, says Nancy Langwith: a stress reliever. "You can get away from the traffic, the chaos, the hustle and bustle," said Langwith, chairwoman of the North Kitsap Tourism Consortium. "When you get off the ferry, it's just a completely different experience." That's the message the consortium hopes to convey to visitors as it rolls out a new marketing push tailored for the communities at the north end of the county. The group, which includes chambers of commerce and business leaders from Bainbridge Island, Hansville, Kingston, Poulsbo, Port Gamble and the S'Klallam and Suquamish tribes, is working to rebrand North Kitsap as "Washington's Sanctuary Shore." The concept was developed through a yearlong, $15,000 study, led by community marketing consultant Roger Brooks. The "Sanctuary Shore" will be used as an umbrella brand, under which each North Kitsap community will develop its own pitch. Bainbridge Island boosters, for example, plan to tout a culinary theme, while Kingston will focus on its natural surroundings, and Poulsbo will continue promoting its Norse heritage. Langwith said the "Sanctuary Shore" captures the calming serenity of North Kitsap's waterfront and trails. "It's an invitation to leave your world and come to ours," she said. The brand will anchor a new website for North Kitsap ( www.wasanctuarYshore.com ), touted on social media and eventually incorporated in visitor brochures. Founded in 2011, the North Kitsap Tourism Consortium has built up to a splashy marketing effort. Langwith said the group was born from the realization that North Kitsap towns needed to work together to get a bigger bite of the tourist trade and encourage locals residents to spend locally. "We have six charming communities and everyone is trying to get out and do their thing," she said. "But none of us were really large enough to have a presence." http: / /www.kitsapsun.com/news/ 2014 /jun/01 /business- spotl ight-nk-touri sm-group-touts-ap... 6/11/2014 Business spotlight: NK tourism group touts waterfront appeal : Kitsap Sun Page 2 of 2 More tourists hopping the Bainbridge and Kingston ferries means more business for the region. "Anything that enhances this side of the sound benefits all of us," said Russ Steele, CEO of Port Madison Enterprises, the business arm of the Suquamish Tribe. Steele noted 40 percent of visitors to White Horse Golf Course arrive from outside Kitsap, as do many visitors to the Clearwater Casino Resort. "We think it has potential to be a lot more than it is," he said. While uniting north end groups, the emergence of the North Kitsap Tourism Consortium has created friction with the Visit Kitsap Peninsula, the county's established tourism agency. Visit Kitsap launched its own rebranding effort for the peninsula in 2009, under the slogan "... the Natural Side of Puget Sound." John Kuntz, president of Visit Kitsap and owner of Olympic Outdoor Center, said the group already is marketing North Kitsap heavily. He worries the consortiums' efforts will confuse visitors and spread limited marketing resources thinner. "Obviously you're better off working and putting money into one strategy rather than multiple strategies," Kuntz said. "We have a very strong brand, and you can see all the things we've been doing." Members of the new consortium say it makes sense to take a targeted approach to marketing North Kitsap, given the geographical diversity of the county. "We have an understanding of our backyard that's a little different than anyone else's," said Jon Rose, CEO of Olympic Property Group in Port Gamble. Both groups say they are open to working with each other. "The only way for us to make a real impact is to all align our efforts," Rose said. "I think this is a great opportunity for the organizations to come together." © 2014 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online http: / /www.kitsapsun.com/news/ 2014 /jun/01 /business- spotlight -nk- tourism - group: touts -ap... 6/11/2014