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Residents and business owners criticize Port Orchard council conduct, permitting delays
Summary
Several residents urged the Port Orchard City Council to improve professionalism and transparency, citing interruptions of councilmembers, social-media disputes, and permitting delays that have harmed small businesses.
Several residents used the council's public-comment periods on Nov. 18 to press Port Orchard officials on conduct and on permitting processes that they say are harming local businesses. Christie McGee told the council she was "shocked" by what she saw on Oct. 28 and said interruptions of Councilmember Fenton reflected a "culture" that dismisses women and public criticism. "You cannot lead a community when the foundation of our leadership is fractured," McGee said.
Robert Parker said a council member removed his posts and comments from a council-related Facebook page and asked the city to preserve and restore public records, saying the removals risked violating his rights. "I'm now asking the city to go after those public records that he has created online," Parker said.
Tawny Cowan called for "integrity" and said repeated public contradictions and what she described as dismissive treatment of women undermine trust. "We deserve a city government whose actions match its words," Cowan said.
Small-business owner Shane Hannon described repeated delays and inconsistent feedback from the city's permit center that have delayed his youth-sports business opening by weeks. He said staff returned comment sheets multiple times and sometimes told him information was "above our pay grade," after supplying requested documents. "We just want a process that ... is straightforward," Hannon said.
Mayor and staff primarily acknowledged the comments. No formal action was taken; several councilmembers referenced ongoing work to improve permitting and communications and encouraged use of a newly launched business page on the city's website intended to help prospective tenants avoid lease commitments before consulting permitting staff.
The council did not vote on policy changes in response to the comments at the meeting; staff said a plans-examiner position is posted and the city is adding overtime to address backlog in permitting reviews.
