Council Goals & Priorities

2025 - 2026

Community & Employee Engagement

1. Increase public engagement
   1. Develop Community Outreach Policy 
   2. Public outreach pre-budget season
   3. Re-establish outreach program with High Schools within Bremerton City Limits    

Economic Development

2.  Continue work with the Greater Kitsap Chamber, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, Downtown Bremerton Association, etc. to promote economic development initiatives
3. Promote economic development initiatives 
   1. Main Street Certification    
   2. Historic preservation policy 
   3. Chronically vacant building policy development
   4. Incentives & funding to include but not limited to commercial areas 
      1. Wheaton Way Corridor 
      2. Charleston District
      3. Harrison Heights 
4. Develop Annexation Strategy in collaboration with Kitsap County
5. Update Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Policies and Procedures

Housing Equity  

6. Ensure rental housing standards are met
7. Set Policy for surplussing excess city-owned parcels for affordable housing projects 
8. Support creative humane housing solutions for wide variety of housing types
   1. Support community partners in development of low-barrier hybrid shelter and low-income housing
   2. Continue to evaluate and adopt regulations that foster the development of housing for low income and support creation of “missing middle” housing
   3. Review Multi-Family Tax Exemption Policy 
   4. Develop policies and ordinances that address displacement impacts to low-income residents in all housing types, including manufactured homes and mobile home parks

Parks and Environmental Stewardship

9.  Develop policies that encourage environmental stewardship
10. Continue support of Kitsap Lake Water Quality Program 
11. Support sustainable funding for Parks operation
12. Manage the watershed for water quality 
    1. Update Utility Lands Management Plan 

Public Safety and Support

13. Increase public safety funding
14. Communicate impact of current public safety policies and programs

Transportation and Multimodal Support

15. Increase residential street maintenance funding
16. Establish ranking system for scoring transportation projects in collaboration with Public Works 
17. Prioritize multimodal connectivity 
    1. Trail network throughout Bremerton  
    2. Development of Jarstad Park to Kitsap Lake Trail 
    3. Warren Ave bridge
    4. Develop data-based traffic-calming policy prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists 
18. Prioritize Council-initiated Public Works Policies
19. Update the Complete Streets Ordinance including a resident-led commission 

Download the 2025-2026 City Council Goals & Priorities (PDF).