City hall nets five proposals

POULSBO — If the Riddler were Norwegian and city officials were the Caped Crusaders, he would likely say, “Major decisions might fill my halls, but after a score and three propositions I remain an empty void.”

Mayor Kathryn Quade spoke briefly about the latest effort to solve that enigma at Wednesday night’s council meeting.

In February the city released a request for proposals for the city hall project, Quade said. It received five, including the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority, The Mentor Company, Egis Real Estate Services, Careage Development Co., and Pioneer Property Group.

Details about the specific proposals weren’t available to the public, even though several leaks hinted to sites on both ends of Front Street and the existing city hall site on Jensen Way.

“I’m sure you are all very curious, as is the press and the public,” Quade told the council.

Following Thursday’s city’s long range planning committee, copies of the proposal were made available to the public.

The committee will conduct an extensive critique and review of each proposal throughout the month before releasing its findings to the full council, Quade said.

“I hope to have the two finalists make their presentations to the council sometime in June,” she said.

At that time, council members will have the opportunity to ask questions about each proposal before beginning the decision process, she said.

“I am hoping the council will deliberate and decide that one of the proposals meets the city’s needs,” Quade said.

For all that was said about the city hall project, it’s what wasn’t said that concerned longtime city government watchdog Muriel Williams.

“It doesn’t allay any of my fears,” Williams said. “I don’t feel the public is keeping very well-informed.”

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