Bremerton Patriot, July 31, 2015

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PATRIOT BREMERTON

KITSAP WEEKLY SONGS FOR THE SEA: Port Gamble festival celebrates our maritime heritage

FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2015 | Vol. 18, No. 21 | WWW.BREMERTONPATRIOT.COM | 50¢

IN THIS EDITION

Callow casino proposal at an impasse BY RICHARD WALKER AND PETER O’CAIN RWALKER@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM POCAIN@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM

NEWS Stennis scores high on INSURV test

A6

OPINION Work together on Callow property

A4

BREMERTON — At 0.79acre, 1321 N. Callow Ave. is arguably one of the smallest pieces of Indian Country in the United States. Under the U.S. Code, Indian Country — Nativeowned trust land, including allotments and reservations — falls under the authority of Tribal and U.S. governments, which means 1321 N. Callow Ave. is in the jurisdiction of the Suquamish Tribe because the site is within Suquamish’s historical territory. But the site is surrounded by the City of Bremerton. So, how the site can be developed is being tested. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original allottee, Roberta Law Ross, a woman of Quinault Peter O’Cain / staff photo

SEE CASINO, A9

This is the proposed site for a 34,000-square-foot casino. It’s met opposition from the City of Bremerton and the Suquamish Tribe.

City exploring annexation Ferry fares rising

NEWS LeMieux reunites with old friend

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SPORTS BlueJackets earn first road sweep of year

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BY PETER O’CAIN

BY CHRIS TUCKER

POCAIN@SOUNDPUBLISHING.COM

CTUCKER@CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COM

BREMERTON — There’s been talk of annexing areas adjacent to Bremerton for years, but the cost of doing so was largely unquantified. But the City of Bremerton commissioned BERK Consulting to do just that. The firm presented their findings to the Bremerton City Council July 22. The study looked at four urban growth areas: Navy Yard City, Rocky Point, West Hills and Gorst. In 2014, it’s estimated the areas had a combined population of 4,900, along with 630 jobs. If adopted, annexation could begin as early as 2016. Assuming the areas were annexed in the near future, the study found annexation would cost the city about $193,000 in 2017. However, the study found the city would net about $536,000 in 2020 and about $256,000 in 2032. File photo Factored into those figures are staffing and cost impacts. The city would need to hire The City of Bremerton is looking to annex Rocky Point, West Hills, Navy Yard City and Gorst.

BREMERTON — Passenger fares for the Bremerton-Seattle, Bainbridge Island-Seattle and Kingston-Edmonds ferry routes are set to go from $8 to $8.10 in October, and then to $8.20 by May, 2016. Several citizens spoke with members of the Washington State Transportation Commission – the board in charge of the fares – at a July 22 meeting at the Kitsap Conference Center. They asked the commission to tweak fares. Commission members listened to what they had to say, but noted that, ultimately, the commission’s options on the new fares were limited. The commission must set rates to cover ferry system operating and maintenance costs of $357.2 million for

SEE ANNEXATION, A9

the 2015-2017 biennium, as directed by the state legislature. To meet that goal, the WSTC determined automobile ferry rates must go up 2.5 percent and passenger fares 1 percent in October, and then again by 2.5 and 1 percent in May, 2016. For standard size vehicles the rate would go from the current fare of $13.90 to $14.25 in October and then to $14.60 in May, 2016. A key feature of the proposal is to continue the process of widening the price differential between vehicle and passenger fares. Widening this differential reflects the lower cost of carrying passengers and encourages more customers to travel as walk-ons. “It changes the relationship between vehicle fares and passenger fares to favor SEE FARES, A2

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