Public Hearing: Developing New Inns in Neighborhood Centers

Tonight at City Council, a public hearing (accepting written and verbal testimony) will be held regarding the current moratorium on accepting and processing applications for inns outside Winslow.

By the City's definition, an Inn consists of up to 15 rooms, any more than and it becomes a hotel. COBI allows Inns within any neighborhood center, but hotels only in Winslow.

After the owners of Pleasant Beach Village submitted an planning application to construct a new 15-room building (and 3 affordable housing units), council at the Dec 13, 2022 business meeting adopted an emergency moratorium to allow planning staff to reexamine and reassess the relevant city code.

Read the moratorium agenda item

Tonight is the chance for the local community to stand up and have their say on the matter - in person at City Hall or remotely via Zoom (and meets a requirement to hold a public hearing within 60 days of declaring any emergency moratorium).

Public Hearing: Reducing Island-Wide Speed Limits

At what is a packed City Council meeting tonight, also up for public input is a plan to standardize speed limits around the island. In Ordinance #2023-03, city staff is recommending speed limits on parts of many Island roads are reduced by 5-10 mph (and that any neighborhoods without posted speed limit signs go down from 25 to 20 mph).

See an overview of the proposed changes

In part, the City's recommendation is based on a review of local policy and road safety delivered by traffic engineering consultants, Transpo Group USA, Inc., and COBI's Public Work Department in September 2022.

To add your voice to the discussion, please head to City Hall or log on to Zoom tonight, starting at 6pm.

Local Eagle Scout Fundraising for Ferry Terminal Flagpole

Brad Staniewicz is working to replace the 65-year old flagpole at our Bainbridge terminal.

He is at the head of a team of Islanders raising money to replace the flagpole, originally installed as a memorial for Walter Keys, a Chamber leader and Bainbridge citizen that had a profound influence on the modernization of the island's infrastructure for more than 20 years.

Keys also built and opened the bowling alley that is now home to Island Fitness and owned a car dealership at the corner of Madison and Winslow.

Brad is part of Troop 1496, who also recently worked to move rocks in a creek at the Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility.

Vote BI as the Best Western Small Town Today (& Everyday) Until Feb. 20

The island has been nominated as among the Best Western Small Towns as part of USA Today’s 2023 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel awards!

It's a great honor to be nominated and can do a lot for our community and our businesses to drive visitation and continue economic recovery post-pandemic.

Learn more about USA Today's 2023 10 Best Choice Awards

Bainbridge Island was nominated alongside other incredible destinations like Carmel-By-The-Sea, California; Ketchum, Idaho; Whitefish, Montana; Sitka, Alaska; Hatch, New Mexico; and Moab, Utah by a slate of travel editors and writers. 

Please take time daily until Feb. 20 to vote for the island and bring that award home to Bainbridge.

New Dept of Commerce

Hospitality & Manufacturing Grants Coming Soon

The Washington State Department of Commerce has released information on two grants that appear to be able to help support Bainbridge businesses:

Hospitality and Lodging Grants

Program will provide assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, lodging establishments and other qualifying businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evergreen Manufacturing Growth Grants

Program will award $2 million in grants to eligible manufacturing and research and development businesses as well as organizations defined as innovation clusters. Submissions will be evaluated according to ability to generate manufacturing and R&D jobs as well as strategic alignment with the state’s key sectors.

The application portal will open in March 2023.

Bainbridge Community Survey Results Are In

Data will be presented tonight from a 2022 project run by Polco and the National Research Center, featuring representative input from more than 800 Islanders, as part of an effort to compare 500 communities across America.

Among the key findings:

• Bainbridge ranks itself comparatively high for the local Economy, Natural Environment, Mobility and Governance.
• The Island considers itself challenged in the areas of Health and Wellness, Education, Arts & Culture, Utilities, and Community Design.

Special Bainbridge-only questions were also asked around short-term vacation rentals, city-owned affordable housing, code enforcement, and where specifically Island growth should be concentrated.

January 2023's Chamber After Hours Is SOLD OUT!

Thank you to all of the Chamber members who have already RSVPed to this week's After Hours event - it sold out minutes before this newsletter went to press...

Thursday night's event is graciously hosted by Paula Weissinger- State Farm Insurance at her new Knechtel Way office.

Eleven Winery will provide complementary wine, accompanied by delicious culinary treats from Erika Thayer and the Bainbridge Apothecary & Taco Barn.

For those of you already on the list - we look forward to seeing you there!

Save the date - Stay tuned for the details of our next Valentine-themed Chamber After Hours on Feb 9 in Winslow...

Inviting Clubs & Organizations to Submit Info for the BI Almanac

There is still time to submit your business's or organization's information for the 2023 Bainbridge Almanac, deadline on Jan 25.

Use this Google Form to add or update your group's information.

Olive Public Relations

Olive Public Relations is a national boutique public relations and marketing agency based on the West Coast with offices in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest on a mission to amplify the stories of the most positively powerful brands and people.

They are known for hard-hitting media relations results, robust and engaging social media campaigns, and thoughtful activations that create a buzz.

Learn about their work & visit their site

You're invited! Non-motorized Improvement Project

Wed January 25 - 6pm, City Hall

Learn about the Eagle Harbor Dr./Wyatt Way Non-motorized Improvement Project scope, schedule, budget, and provide input on prioritizing project improvements and facility types.

Visit the COBI website for more info

Seniors for Seniors: Breakfast Sandwich Fundraiser

Thu January 26, 7-10am

Stop by the Madrona House (8800 Madison Ave N) to pick up a breakfast sandwich and help raise money for Grad Night Out's 2023 Scholarships.

A suggested $5 donation per sandwich.

Thanks to Bainbridge Senior Living, all proceeds fund the scholarships.

For information or to donate directly

Kick Off 2023: Rockaway Bluff Preserve Open House

Sat January 28 11am - 2pm

Sign up for a tour of Rockaway bluff preserve and walk the tail with your neighbors.

Park at Pritchard Park and take the shuttle to the tour site.

Pastries and warms drinks will be available for you and your family, friends and neighbors.

Register today for free

Carden Country School Open House

Sun January 29, 1pm

Come check out the open house on Sunday, January 29th!

Enrollment is now open and I know they have spaces in the K-2nd grade classes.

To bid and for more info

Business Plan Competition Sponsored by Homestreet Bank

Submit by February 3

Open to all WA state college students including 2020-22 grads.

Grand prize is $30,000.

For rules & timeline & more info

This month the Kitsap Chambers are asking their readers to share how often they eat at local eateries (such a buying a meal via dine-in, take-out or delivery out).

Need Help Establishing a Professional Domain, Website, & Email for Your Business?

Grow with Google is here to help and discuss the benefits of owning a domain, and helpful web terms to know.

No registration is requited to attend this live seeing on Wed Jan 25 at 9am.

Add to your Google Calendar/click to join

How to Prepare Your Business for Success in 2023 & Beyond

Thu January 26 at 11am

The economic outlook for 2023 is full of uncertainties – rising interest rates, inflation, economic growth, filling key positions, supply chain issues.

Join the webinar to hear insights from business thought leaders on the 2023 outlook and what companies are doing to prepare to weather the storm and how they are preparing to thrive.

Free registration at Biz Journals

COVID Cases per 100,000

Jan 1 - Jan 9, 2023

• Kitsap County: 48 cases
• WA State: 71 cases

Washington State County External Resources:

• Department of Health Summary
• Testing Clinics
• Vaccine Clinics County-wide