Council approves property‑management agreement with Housing Kitsap for Nordic Cottages

The Poulsbo City Council approved a property‑management agreement Oct. 15 to have Housing Kitsap manage the city’s newly completed Nordic Cottages affordable‑housing units.

City staff and Housing Kitsap representatives described the contract as a standard management agreement with additional duties added since an initial workshop on Sept. 10. The document includes indemnification language and termination provisions reviewed by the city attorney and the Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA), staff said.

Kim Hendrickson, senior staff coordinating the project, introduced Dean Nail of Housing Kitsap. Nail told the council that Housing Kitsap has reviewed applicant materials and that a number of candidates have completed much of the intake process. “They were able to identify several candidates who are essentially ready but the process took a little longer than expected,” Nail said, stressing that final leasing will begin once the agreement is in place.

Councilmember McVay moved to approve the agreement; the motion carried by unanimous vote. Staff said eight units will be leased and that applications numbered in the high‑60s to low‑100s depending on completeness; about a dozen applicants met the city’s priority ZIP‑code criteria identifying residents who live and/or work in the immediate area.

The agreement includes a provision for a council update after initial move‑ins; staff said they will return with a status report on actual occupancy and any lessons learned from tenant selection.

Why it matters: Nordic Cottages are among the city’s near‑term affordable‑housing initiatives and are intended to provide deeply affordable, small‑unit housing. The property‑management agreement assigns ongoing tenant screening, tenant services and operations to Housing Kitsap.

Next steps: Housing Kitsap will finish screening and begin lease execution for qualifying applicants; city staff will receive a post‑move‑in update.