Community Government Police & Fire

City council adopts three-year strategic plan

The Gig Harbor City Council adopted a three-year strategic plan for 2024 through 2026 on Monday, July 8.

The plan calls for:

• Updating public works standards.
• Exploring new revenue sources, including a business and occupation tax.
• Completing Phase 1 of the Sports Complex and finding funding for Phases 2 and 3.
• Designing and building the Commercial Fishing Homeport.
• Transitioning the city’s vehicle fleet to renewable diesel fuel.
• Developing a Cultural Access Program and conducting a feasibility study for creation of a community/cultural center.
• Providing funding for a permanent home for a senior center.
• Installing speed cameras near city parks and schools.

The 2022 strategic plan included six priorities:

• Fostering a healthy city organization.
• Ensuring sustainable future for public services and facilities.
• Maintaining small-town character and historic preservation while growing responsibly.
• Promoting environmental sustainability and preserve Gig Harbor’s natural beauty.
• Promoting and enhancing a dynamic and robust economy.
• Providing a safe, healthy, and inclusive community.

Since 2022, the city built a new public works operations center, established a Historic Preservation Commission and implemented an urban forest management plan. In addition, the council authorized a hybrid platform for city meetings, revised the city’s Municipal Code regarding short-term rentals and developed new staffing guidelines, among other actions.

The city updates the plan every year. The council adopted the 2024-26 plan by a vote of 5-0. (Council members Le Rodenberg and Seth Storset were absent.)

Police Department update

Police Chief Kelly Busey reported on his department’s 2023 activities.

Crime is down statewide, although not as much as it’s down in Gig Harbor, Busey said.

Crimes against property, especially retail theft, declined. That is partly due to policies by some corporations that  limit employees’ options for reporting crimes. But GHPD has implemented a “business check” policy, in which an employee asks officers to check on the store without violating corporate policy by reporting a crime.

“It’s kind of secret code that something is going on. We can’t quantify it, but we know that that program and our retail theft emphasis operations are successful,” Busey said. Word has spread that Gig Harbor is watching closely for retail thefts, he added.

The Pierce County Jail has eased restrictions after COVID, allowing officers to book more suspects. That contributed to the lower crime rate. Legislation enacted last year making drug possession a gross misdemeanor is also a factor.

Motor vehicle theft also declined significantly, from 130 reported incidents in 2022 to 73 in 2023.

Police made 22 juvenile arrests in 2023, up from five in 2022. Busey said he is watching that closely.

Overall Gig Harbor had a 32.2 percent reduction in reported crimes last year, the second-largest reduction in Pierce County (trailing Roy, which reported just 14 crimes in 2023).

Upcoming meetings

The council next meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 22, at the Civic Center on Grandview Street. Council meetings can also be accessed via Zoom.