In this weekly update, we announce a new City of Bainbridge Island holiday, Juneteenth. The article below explains a little about the importance of the day and why we are embracing June 19 as a holiday. It is a date, whose importance and significance only recently entered into the general public consciousness, but it has been a well-known and an important day to the African-American community for centuries.
For a manager nothing is simple. There are always details, and celebrating a new holiday has details. The City of Bainbridge Island previously provided 12 paid holidays to its employees. We now have 13 holidays. Most of our comparable cities will have 13 paid holidays as well. A paid holiday generally costs the city approximately $56,000 annually. There are some city functions, for example Police and Wastewater, whose employees receive compensation in-lieu of time off. An important job for my position is to keep an eye on costs while implementing the direction of the City Council.
We absolutely embrace the reasons for celebration of Juneteenth, and we want to make sure that we communicate those reasons to our workforce. The city is preparing to provide all city employees with four hours of Diversity and Inclusion training over the next 12 months. We want our workforce to support diversity and inclusion for all segments of society, and the link between the Juneteenth holiday and Diversity and Inclusion training is perfectly aligned.
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Best,
Blair King
City Manager
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Celebrate Bike Everywhere Month in May!
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Today (May 20) is Bike Everywhere Day! Almost 50% of car trips are less than 3 miles long - a great distance for a bike trip! If big hills are keeping you from making those short trips by bicycle, an electric bike may be a good option.
City employees celebrated a few days early with a Bike to Work event on Wednesday, May 18. Despite a rainy, windy morning, at least 11 employees commuted by bike. All employees were invited to a lunchtime celebration with information on electric bicycle options, best practices for commuting by bike, the city’s commute trip reduction program, and basic bicycle repairs.
While May is Bike Everywhere Month, you can take steps to drive less all year long! Check out this short video for easy actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint when getting around town as part of our Climate Smart Challenge.
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Housing Resources Bainbridge |
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Due to a mailing error, the public participation meeting for the Housing Resources Bainbridge (HRB) project on Ericksen is being re-noticed and held for a second time on May 26, 2022 at 6 p.m. during the Planning Commission meeting.
The HRB project on Ericksen proposes a multi-family apartment building with 22 affordable units. The project is located at parcel # 262502-2-066-2002 on the east side on Ericksen Ave NE at Knechtel Way NE.
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Police and Municipal Court Facility Construction Update |
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On May 12, 2022, the City issued Clark Inc. a notice to proceed on the construction of the new Police and Municipal Court at 8804 Madison Avenue. Work started last week with the installation of security fencing, a job-site office trailer and building walk-throughs by various subcontractors who will perform work on the project. The first phase on the project, includes minor exterior and major interior demolition, which is expected to commence the week after Memorial Day. The demolition will facilitate the start of exterior additions and renovations of the building façade, as well as the wood framing for the new interior.
The contractor is planning ahead to keep the project moving forward by identifying exterior and interior materials such as wood cladding, cabinetry and plumbing fixtures, and other reusable materials for potential re-purposing. Procurement of new project materials that are subject to supply-chain delays are also being identified and ordered to prevent long lead times from impacting the project schedule.
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The city’s Building department is celebrating Building Safety Month in May by going out into the public. They set up a table at Bay Hay giving out safety information and swag earlier this week and plan to do the same thing next Wednesday (May 25) outside of ProBuild. Come on by to learn more about Building Safety. |
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See Something, Say Something |
The Police Department continues to address theft occurring both on land and on the water. Two recent examples include:
Last Thursday, police were alerted to two individuals who dumped mail into a trash can in front of the Ace Hardware Store. Thanks to alert employees who noticed the activity, police were called to the store and detained the individuals inside. The mail was from four different addresses on the island and did not belong to either individual. Both were taken into custody and their vehicle was impounded pending a search warrant for additional evidence. One individual had an outstanding warrant for theft.
In a separate incident on Saturday, a boat owner alerted police to a prowler aboard his boat at the Winslow Wharf Marina. Cameras recorded the intruder who apparently spotted the camera and left without taking anything. Officers searched the area but did not locate anyone. The owner believes the intruder arrived by dinghy. Contact BIPD If you know who the individual might be.
To protect your property:
Check your mailbox regularly. Mail is particularly vulnerable to theft and attractive with the increasing popularity of gift cards. Keep track of gift card numbers. You may be able to cancel them if stolen. Avoid sending cash in the mail. Register for the US Postal Service’s Informed Delivery to receive notifications about mail and packages scheduled to be delivered to your home. You can use this service to hold delivery of your mail while you are away.
Lock your car and remove any valuables. Never leave the keys in your vehicle.
At home, lock your windows and doors.
When traveling, have a friend check on your home. Set timers to activate interior and exterior lights during evening hours. You can request a Vacation House Check from the police department during your absence.
Preventing theft and other crimes takes the eyes and ears of the entire community. If you see unusual or suspicious activity, make note of descriptions or license plates, and notify 911. If you have additional questions, or any information about the recent thefts, contact BIPD at 206-842-5211.
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The next scheduled City Council Regular Business Meeting will be on May 24. Key topics include:
- Proclaim Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Awareness Month
- Consider action to maintain the Transportation Benefit Fund Vehicle license fee at $30
Ways to Watch
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City website livestream (visit the Agendas & Minutes page, then click on "In Progress" when the meeting starts)
- BKAT (Channel 12 on Comcast & Channel 3 on WAVE
The public is invited to contact members of the City Council to express concerns, questions and praise. Some council members are holding virtual office hours and others are available to meet upon request.
Please visit the City Council page for more information on individual City Council members.
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City to hold Public Hearing for Adoption of the 2019 Stormwater Management Manual of Western Washington on June 14, 2022 |
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The City of Bainbridge Island is preparing to adopt the Washington State Department of Ecology 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW) to continue to support the City’s Comprehensive Plan policies and goals, uphold the Clean Water Act and meet State and Federal requirements for controlling runoff from new development, redevelopment, and construction sites to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff. The anticipated effective date to adopt the 2019 SWMMWW in BIMC 15.20 is July 1, 2022.
The 2019 SWMMWW builds on the guidance of the previous manual regarding Low Impact Development (LID) as a preferred approach to stormwater mitigation and adds more Source Control Best Management Practices (BMPs) for preventing sources of pollutants in runoff. Additionally, the 2019 SWMMWW incorporates text revisions and consolidates sections to avoid confusion or conflicting information. Most jurisdictions in Western Washington are adopting this manual so there is consistency throughout the region.
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Bainbridge Island and Poulsbo 3 by 3 Kickoff Meeting |
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On May 13, the City of Bainbridge and the City of Poulsbo held a kickoff meeting - the first of its kind creating a subcommittee of the Bainbridge and Poulsbo City Councils. Three members from each City Council met informally to discuss and collaborate on mutual issues. The City of Bainbridge Island’s representatives included Mayor Deets, Deputy Mayor Fantroy-Johnson, Councilmember Schneider, and the City Manager.
It was a productive meeting covering items of mutual interest such as improving State Route- 305, healthcare needs, collaboration on affordable housing efforts, supporting each other in state lobbying efforts and striving for alignment in the Regional Action Plan among other topics. The group agreed to meet regularly with the location alternating between cities. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for June.
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Meet and Greet Patricia Charnas, new Planning & Community Development Director
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The City is pleased to welcome its new director of the Planning and Community Development Department, Patricia Charnas. She started at the city on May 16.
You are invited to meet the new director at an informal meet and greet on Tuesday, May 31 at City Hall from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A resident of Kitsap County since 2004, Ms. Charnas brings extensive experience in many aspects of planning, including being responsible for updates to Comprehensive Plans, Shoreline Management Plans and Critical Areas Ordinances.
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The City of Bainbridge Island has a newly created Housing Specialist position open for immediate hire. The role of the Housing Specialist is to assist the City in its efforts to broaden the affordable housing options on Bainbridge Island. The ideal candidate has a background in housing services, affordable housing policy, project development, and management, with a passion for local government, housing policy and proven track record for effective service delivery.
The Housing Specialist is responsible for managing all aspects of the affordable housing development process for new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation projects, ensuring financial cost efficiency and operational viability in development.
This individual will pivot quickly as needed and offer a range of approaches to develop affordable housing. The ability to collaborate with a variety of partners is key for success, as is the ability to identify and cultivate projects of interest on an ongoing basis through engagement with the community, staff and stakeholders.
This position is open until filled. The cutoff for first review of applications is 8:00am, June 2, 2022.
For more information and to apply, or to view all City employment opportunities, please visit our career page.
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The City of Bainbridge Island has added Juneteenth to the list of approved federal holidays. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. Juneteenth falls on Sunday, June 19 this year, so City Hall will be closed Monday June 20. We will use this time to remember the past and to acknowledge all are free and all are equal. More information about activities related to Juneteenth will be shared as the holiday approaches.
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The votes are in and the public has chosen “Fertility” as the People’s Choice of the 2021-2022 Something New art rotation. Something New brings art to five locations in Winslow for a one-year display, during which voting is held.
Congratulations to regional artist Jennifer Kuhn who created the people’s choice award-winning sculpture, which has been displayed on Winslow Way near the intersection with Ericksen Avenue.
The City financially supports Public Art via Arts and Humanities Bainbridge. Last month, the City Council approved an increase of the budget to $2,000 to artists selected to participate in the something new art rotation, which provides an opportunity for the winner to receive the $1,000 prize for the People’s Choice Award.
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Learn more about how to support the Climate Action Plan |
Looking for more information about climate action programs and resources on Bainbridge Island?
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May 15 - 21 National Public Works Week
May 20 Bike Everywhere Day
May 21 8a.m. - 2 p.m. Fire Extinguisher Safety Event, Winslow Wharf Marina parking lot (141 Parfitt Way SW)
Tuesday, May 24 Bike Everywhere Day
Tuesday, May 24 @ 6 p.m. City Council Regular Business Meeting
May 26 @ 6 p.m. Planning Commission Special Meeting
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May 26 @ 6 p.m. Public Participation Meeting during the Planning Commission Meeting
Monday, May 30 City Hall closed in observance of Memorial Day
June 13-15 Cascadia Rising Emergency Response Exercise
June 14 City scheduled to hold Public Hearing for Adoption of the 2019 Stormwater Management Manual of Western Washington
Monday, June 20 City offices closed in observance of Juneteenth
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