Lots happened this week! Check out Kitsap Transit’s rendering of their proposal for the Pier, and tell us if you want a yard sign! ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏

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Sunrises on the pier are so special! We’re creating a gallery on the website to highlight photography at the pier. Please submit your favorite sunrise photo.

Kitsap Transit’s Executive Director John Clauson led the Harper Community meeting this Wednesday. Around 100 people attended in-person, and more than 53 people watched online. Watch the full meeting on Youtube.

There are many reactions to the meeting posted on the Friends of Harper Pier Facebook group page. Check them out!

Kitsap Daily News and Kitsap Sun wrote about the event.

At the meeting, Kitsap Transit revealed three renderings of their idea. They’re proposing to extend a gangway from the end of the Pier to their float (approximately 110’ x 32’) less than 100’ away.

KT’s commissioned Harper Pier feasibility report is due at the end of the month.

We’re watching for the release of the November 2nd agenda to see if Clauson follows through on his word to allocate funds for a comparable study evaluating moorage at Southworth.

Bill Murtha stood up at the meeting and passionately expressed his opposition to the proposal to John Clauson in front of the crowd. Listen here.

“I’m one of the few left that took down the old ferry dock—tore it down with the help of the Port of Bremerton… it was going to be strictly for pleasure—not for any business to come in. Once businesses get a foothold, they seem to keep growing until the people in the community that actively use it for pleasure, which it has served very well over the last 50 years almost, maybe more... If we start the facility, it’s going to keep growing until it’s not going to be a fishing pier anymore; it’s going to be a business pier.

I don’t think that we really need it. You have facilities. I would think that working with Washington State Ferries would be much better for the community than to take away our pleasure spot.”

Watch a follow up interview with Bill on our website.

Let the KT Commissioners know what you thought of the meeting! Did you get your questions answered?

Submit a public comment to Commissioners anytime now through Monday, November 1st at noon. Jill Boltz, KT Clerk of the Board will compile the emails and forward them to the Commissioners before the November 2nd meeting.

Public comments (community letters or recorded phone calls) are a direct way to express our concerns and suggestions to the Kitsap Transit Board of Commissioners. We need to keep our concerns in front of the Board. It is best if the letters are frequent and from a WIDE variety of Friends of Harper Pier. We need the squidders, SCUBA divers, walkers, birders, kayakers, photographers, etc to all write in. That includes YOU!

Op-eds and letters to the editor in the Kitsap Sun are another way to increase awareness.

If you’re new to writing elected officials or would just like some help writing your thoughts up, Tom Piscitelli would like to help. Just call him up (425-985-4534) or send him a message via Facebook. He’ll work with you to craft a compelling message about your concerns.

Are you interested in a yard sign? They’ll cost somewhere between $10-20. We’re placing a bulk order and need to know who is interested.

Jeff Adams, the marine ecologist with UW’s Washington Sea Grant, shared his knowledge about the Harper Estuary and its ecological connection to Harper Park during the Orca Recovery Day beach walk this Saturday. Click here for Kitsap Sun’s coverage of the event.

Upcoming Events - Click on links for event details

Port of Bremerton Board of Commissioners Meeting
Thursday, October 21st, 10 AM, Zoom

Senator Randall Constituent Meeting
Thursday, Oct 28th, 5:30 – 6:30 PM, Zoom. State Senator Emily Randall wants to hear what you think about Kitsap Transit’s plans. Click here to send an email, requesting a Zoom invitation.

Kitsap Transit Board of Commissioners Meeting
Tuesday, November 2, 8:30–10 AM, Zoom

And, we’ll end this email with a cool squidding video taken this Saturday evening.

We love our pier!

Banner photo of the Pier by Molly Rainey.
Photo of Tom Piscitelli and catch by Carey Ensign.
Bill Murtha and beach walk photos and squidding video by Caitlin Lee.