This week marks one year since the first line of duty death, Officer Kurt Enget, experienced by the City of Bainbridge Island Police Department. Officer Enget’s passing left a hole in the department and community which is, and always will be, unfilled. Please join me in offering ongoing support and condolence to his family, friends and colleagues. In alignment with the current COVID public health guidance, a private service will be held this weekend.
Last week, I wrote about the importance of volunteerism in our community. We continue to benefit from the extraordinary service of our volunteers. I learned this week that each weekend of the vaccine clinic is made possible by 1,300 hours of volunteer labor. As you become eligible for the vaccine and if you are able to sign up for a vaccination, I hope you will share a thank you with those in our community who are helping in the efforts to move to the next phase.
I’ll also put in another plug for applying to serve on a city advisory group. You can review the options on the City’s website and apply anytime through 4 p.m. April 21.
At the Study Session on April 6, Council and staff discussed the timing of the Police-Court Facility project. Due to the arrival in mid-May of our new city manager, staff will use the time between now and his arrival to finish the last steps in the permitting process and prepare to brief him on the project. Also, we reviewed next steps for City regulations pertaining to small wireless facilities, and held a discussion about the recruitment and selection for City advisory groups.
The April 13 Business Meeting agenda includes business topics such as consideration of changes to the land use code and a request to provide additional funding to support more meetings for the Sustainable Transportation initiative.
Best wishes,
Ellen Schroer
Interim City Manager
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Vaccine clinic at Commodore continues |
The Bainbridge Island Community Pharmacy received first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week. Our vaccine clinics are open to people who qualify under Phase 1a, Phase 1b, Tiers 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Appointments for first doses at our April 10 and April 11 Commodore clinics are full at this time.
If you are eligible beginning April 15, the first Bainbridge Prepares Pfizer clinic you are eligible for is on Saturday and Sunday, April 17 and 18.
Register for Nixle alerts
Text 98110 to 888777
Sign up at Nixle.com
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Kitsap Public Health expands standby list |
The Kitsap Public Health District is offering a standby list for its COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Bremerton and Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island's Commodore Clinic. The list allows Kitsap residents to sign up to be on call for vaccination appointments if unused vaccine doses are available at the end of a day.
This list is now open to people 16 and older who have at least one health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Kitsap Public Health is prioritizing vaccination for people who are at higher risk from COVID-19. See the Centers for Disease Control website for a list of qualifying health conditions.
Learn more and register here:
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Travel top reason for tests administered at City site |
The City closed its test site at Town Square last week to allow emergency management staff and volunteers to focus efforts on vaccine distribution efforts.
The City, in partnership with the University of Washington Medicine and volunteers from Bainbridge Prepares and Rotary Club, started the drive-thru COVID-19 test site Nov. 4 at Town Square to support public health goals and the reopening of schools and businesses in our community. During the five-month operation, a total of 2,415 tests were provided with 21 positive cases.
On average, the test site served 63 tests per day. There was a peak Feb. 8 with 70 people coming through the test site.
Below are the top reasons for receiving a COVID-19 test:
- Travel
- Symptoms
- Close contact/exposure
The City Council approved up to $50,000 from the City's General Fund for the test site.
The City will be able to offer testing on an as-needed basis if an outbreak occurs and City support is needed.
A list of Kitsap County COVID-19 test providers can be found here. |
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All adults become eligible for COVID-19 vaccine next week |
All Washington residents 16 and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination beginning next Thursday, April 15.
Over the past four months since Washington began administering doses of the vaccination, the state has followed a tiered eligibility system, beginning with those most at risk of hospitalization and death.
The governor and the state Department of Health (DOH) have also prioritized equity issues in each phase to ensure vaccine access to populations disproportionately affected by the virus, including communities of color and low-income communities.
More information is available at the governor's website. |
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Upcoming hazardous tree removal planned in Waterfront Park |
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In the next few weeks the City is preparing to improve public safety in Waterfront Park by removing a second round of hazardous trees. The initial phase of work was completed in 2020. The current plan will include the treatment of 24 hazard trees – five dead trees will be removed, 14 dead trees will be converted to habitat snags, and five live trees will be appropriately pruned.
The recommendations were developed by the City’s arborist, who also made recommendations for the re-planting that is required by City codes. The plan for replanting includes six full size trees and 10 large native shrubs, and is intended to add significant diversity and heterogeneity to the Waterfront Park plant community. Notifications will be posted in the Park prior to the start of work.
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Development moratorium ended April 3 |
The City’s Development Moratorium, originally approved on January 9, 2018 when the City Council passed Ordinance No. 2018-02, ended on April 3, 2021. The moratorium originally applied broadly Citywide, halting most building and land use permits, but was then amended to apply primarily to large development projects, and later, to apply only in the greater Winslow area (with the exception of the Central Core Overlay District.
Key concerns expressed by the Council in adopting the moratorium were the Council’s consideration of the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) update, and the urgent need to address affordable housing issues and analyze design review standards and guidelines and long subdivision review process. Given the significance of the update to those regulations, the Council expressed a need for a temporary “timeout” to allow for additional public outreach in determining how best to protect the Island’s environment.
Under state law, the moratorium could only be authorized for 6-months at a time, and was originally set to expire on July 9, 2018. However, given the complexity of land use concerns, the City Council extended the development moratorium six times in order to complete updates to the land use code identified by the moratorium.
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Police-Court Facility Replacement project timing update |
At the Council meeting on April 6, staff notified Council and the community of their plan to wait until the new city manager arrives in May to finalize design of the Police-Court Facility Replacement Project and advertise for construction bids.
Between now and mid-May, staff and consultants will continue to work to finalize the bid documents and building permit, so the project will be ready to proceed without further delay should the decision be made to continue as previously approved.
This project has been the subject of significant council and community discussion over the past several years, and in particular since last fall. Additional information about this project is available on the project page on the City website.
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Council to consider final approval of land use code updates |
The City Council next week will consider final approval of Ordinance No. 2021-03 that would update and revise portions of the City’s land use code, including related to banning new hotels in some downtown districts.
Ordinance No. 2021-03 is part of a series of recommendations developed by a joint City Council and Planning Commission land use subcommittee that was formed in June 2020 to clarify an approach for affordable housing initiatives and to prioritize and develop a process for land use code revisions.
Ordinance No. 2021-03 relates to what is being referred to as Triage Phase 1 code changes. In summary, the proposed changes:
- Prohibit new hotels in the Central Core, Gateway and Ferry Terminal Districts of the Mixed-Use Town Center. These districts have red, brown, and blue boundaries, respectively, on the adjacent map.
- Continue to allow hotels in the High School Road 1 and 2 zoning districts. These districts have green and purple boundaries, respectively, on the map. The ordinance would allow the Planning Commission and the Council to review the City’s regulations, including use standards, to determine if and how new hotels within these zoning districts could be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
- Continue to prohibit hotels in the Madison Avenue and Ericksen Avenue zoning districts, shown with yellow and orange boundaries.
- Clarify that the Planning Director and Hearing Examiner should give substantial weight to the Planning Commission recommendations on land use permits, including recommendations of denial.
On March 23, the Council discussed the ordinance and forwarded a revised version of it for consideration of approval at the April 13 meeting. Watch the March 23 Council meeting (click on 9A).
More information will be included in the April 13 Council agenda packet.
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Upcoming City Council agenda |
The April 13 City Council meeting will include the following items:
- Proclamation declaring April 2021 as "Heritage Tree Month"
- Proclamation declaring April 22 as "Bainbridge Island Earth Day"
- Council to consider approval of a contractor award for the Sound to Olympics Sakai Pond Connector Trail
- Council to consider approval of land use code updates
- City Council to recognize the service of community members Charles and Linda Schmid and Olaf Ribeiro
- Council to set a public hearing on ordinance to extend interim control of small wireless facilities design standards
If you would like to receive the City Council agenda by email when it's published, sign up on the Council Agendas webpage.
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)
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City Advisory Group Updates |
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City installs new race equity welcoming signs |
City staff recently installed 18 signs across the island as part of a race equity awareness project to inform visitors and residents that all are welcome on Bainbridge Island.
The welcoming sign project started in 2019 as an effort of the City's race equity advisory committee. The committee selected three designs for signs that were placed in six locations across Bainbridge Island:
- Agate Pass
- Waypoint Park
- WSF ferry terminal
- Lynwood Center
- Blakely Harbor
- Battle Point Park
The signs, which cost $6,700, were paid for through funds set aside for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
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Race Equity Advisory Committee to host vigil, rally to honor Asian-American communities |
The Race Equity Advisory Committee is planning two events to "Stand Together in Solidarity" with the Asian community and all other people of color.
Saturday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. - Candlelight vigil at Waterfront Park
Sunday, April 18, 2:00 p.m. - March from Highway 305 and Winslow Way to City Hall.
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Kitsap County to host free tire and metal collection event for households |
See the message below from Kitsap County Solid Waste.
In partnership with the Washington State Department of Ecology and Navy City Metals, Kitsap County Solid Waste has scheduled a free tire and metal collection event for households.
Bring your old grills and barbecues, tires, and other qualified items to this two-day event at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds - Thunderbird Arena on April 30 and May 1, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Share your feedback on Washington State Ferries |
See the message below from Washington State Ferries.
Customers are encouraged to participate in the current Ferry Riders Opinion Group survey to share your thoughts on all things WSF. The survey is hosted by the Washington State Transportation Commission and helps us hear feedback and suggestions directly from you.
The safety of our customers and crew is WSF’s top priority. Please remember that all traveling customers are required to wear face coverings inside the terminal, at the tollbooth and aboard the ferry. Please also consider limiting your travel to only the most essential trips while service continues to be constrained by the pandemic. For additional travel information regarding COVID-19, visit the COVID-19 Travel Updates webpage. |
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April 17: Candlelight Vigil - organized by the Race Equity Advisory Committee; 7:00 p.m. at Waterfront Park |
April 19: Design Review Board meeting; 2 p.m. on Zoom |
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April 18: March - organized by the Race Equity Advisory Committee; 2:00 p.m. Starts at Highway 305 and Winslow Way |
April 19: Ethics Board meeting; 6:30 p.m. on Zoom |
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April 21: Climate Change Advisory Committee meeting: 5:30 p.m. on Zoom |
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April 21: 4 p.m. deadline to submit application for City Advisory Group openings |
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April 22: Planning Commission meeting; 6 p.m. on Zoom |
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April 23: Sustainable Transportation Task Force meeting; 9:30 a.m. on Zoom |
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Contact Information
280 Madison Avenue North
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone: 206-842-7633
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