HomeMy WebLinkAboutWSAC Kitsap Jeff Joint BoCC Slides - FINAL PRESENTATION 07242025WELCOME
to
Jefferson
County
WSAC Regional Meeting
July 24, 2025
3 Districts
1 City
2 UGAs
Jefferson County Population
s
Introduction to
DISTRICT 1
Jefferson County
•Includes City of Port Townsend + 1 other
large precinct
•PT: Jeff Co’s only city, county seat, 1 of 2
UGAs
Maritime Trades and Working Boat Yards
National Maritime Heritage Area – Port of Port Townsend – NW Maritime
Center – Marine Science Center
2 Nationally-recognized Historic Districts
Downtown and Uptown – Creative District
Fort Worden State Park433-acres, attracting almost 900,000 visitors a year
Fort Worden Partners: Centrum, School of Woodworking, KPTZ, Madrona,
Copper Canyon Press, PT School of the Arts, PS Coast Artillery Museum
Jefferson Healthcare
Rural Critical Access Hospital with satellite clinics
Tourism and Economic Development
EDC Team Jefferson, Port ED Mission, WA State Ferries
(Jefferson Transit)
Arts and Culture:
Theatre
Visual Arts
Writing Community
Northwind Arts
Galleries & Studios
KPTZ
Centrum…
Year-Round
Festivals:
Rhody Fest
Fiddle/Jazz/Blues
Wooden Boat
PT Film Fest
Victorian Heritage
StrangeBrew
First Night
…
Production Alliance
Families in Poverty: 25% of Jefferson County households are considered ALICE families (Asset
Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These families earn more than the Federal Poverty
Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county. Among Jefferson County's combined
ALICE/poverty households, 40% have school-aged children.
Food Security: Almost half of all children in Jefferson County live under 185% of the federal
poverty level and qualify for free or reduced lunch. One in five 8th thru 12th graders report
missing meals or eating less due to lack of money. 53% of infants born to families in Jefferson
County qualify for WIC, and half of births are to families who qualify for Medicaid, compared to
41% statewide.
Disengaged Youth: Half to ¾ of high school graduates do
not earn a credential beyond their high school diploma. 1
out of 4 young people ages 16-24 are not working, not in
the military, and not in school. THIS IS TWICE THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
Homeless Response: Researchunderway by Housing Fund
Board to consider assuming the Continuum of Care
responsibilities.
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY: 48 % of PT renters are cost-
burdened; and rent vacancies remain below 1%.
Major Employers
Port
Townsend
Paper Mill
(largest private
industry employer)
Jefferson
Healthcare
(largest
public/private
employer)
Tourism,
Retail and
Restaurants
Maritime
Trades
(largest combined
employing industry)
County, City,
Port, PUD and
Fire Districts
(government and
quasi-gov’t
employers)
Introduction to
DISTRICT 2
Jefferson County
Port Hadlock grows up!
Sewer turns on UGA zoning,
welcomes housing.
Jefferson County District 2 is
urban growth &
housing!
Jefferson County District 2 is
recreation!
Happening Now! Olympic
Discovery Trail extension
Anderson Lake State Park
Phased two just added –
JUMP! Jefferson Universal
Movement Playground
at HJ Carroll Park
And someday soon…
a new aquatic center
Before After
Jefferson County District 2 is
forestry &
farming!
Introduction to
DISTRICT 3
Jefferson County
35
JEFFERSON COUNTY: 2,183 SQ MILES
DISTRICT 3: 1,755 SQ MILES
KITSAP COUNTY: 395 SQ MILES
JEFFERSON COUNTY POPULATION: 34,586
KITSAP COUNTY POPULATION: 286,100
MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK
Collaborations:
Intergovernmental Collaborative Group
RECOMPETE North Olympic Peninsula Recompete Coalition
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement
Group Bridge and Floodplain project
South County Task Force
Challenges:
Lack of infrastructure
Rural environment
Expenses outpacing revenues
Degrading trust in the public sector
“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world: indeed, it’s the only
thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead