The April 27 business meeting included a presentation on island groundwater by the Environmental Technical Advisory Committee, as well as approval of a design contract for upcoming renovations at the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center (BISCC). The project at BISCC is a two-year planned joint effort between the Senior Center and the City. 

We have extended the application deadline for several City Advisory Groups due to the lack of applications received during the first round of recruitment. Please consider volunteering your time to serve on one of the following committees that assist and advise the City Council:

Each year, the City provides significant financial support to local nonprofit organizations to support human services programs in the community. In 2021, the City will provide $335,000 to these efforts through the Human Services Funding Task Force process.

“This funding is critical to Helpline House operations. It allows Helpline to continue to provide essential services for our community,” said Executive Director Maria Metzler. During previous award cycles, Helpline House received funding to support its community mental health program.

Members of the Human Services Funding Task Force review funding proposals and develop a recommendation for the City Council's consideration and approval.

In 2021, members will meet August to October to review project proposals for a one-year funding cycle. The award process typically involves member participation in 1-2 orientation meetings in August and September, and then 2-3 meetings in October and November to receive and review proposals.

Members cannot currently serve as active board members or paid staff of organizations that will apply for community services funding.

"Volunteering on the Human Services Funding Task Force is a short-term spurt to make a long-term difference," said Island Volunteer Caregivers Executive Director Laura Van Dyke. "Here’s your chance to decide how much money applying nonprofits get—how many people get to do that?! The bonus is that you get an intimate view of the work these nonprofits do. With this knowledge, you’ll know even more about your community and you’ll potentially become an ambassador (maybe even a volunteer) telling anyone who wants to hear about the collective efforts to help Bainbridge Island be a better, inclusive, and equitable place to live."

For 25 years, IVC has connected a network of volunteers with older adults and people with disabilities and medical conditions in our community. The City funds allow IVC to offer free services, from transportation to medical appointments to grocery pickup to a Kreaky Knees walking group, Van Dyke said. "Our caring volunteers have been able to drive thousands of miles, deliver hundreds of summer bouquets, and devote hundreds of hours a year to people like Shirley who is grateful that IVC’s assistance 'allows me to live independently in the home I love.'”

Van Dyke adds that the City funding also provides IVC with the flexibility to offer new programs and new approaches. "Our older adult community has ever-changing needs, and we need to keep up with those changes," Van Dyke said.

Learn more about the committee openings and apply at bainbridgewa.gov/222.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. Friday, May 14. Applicants must be available in May for interviews. Terms begin July 1, 2021.

Questions? Contact Executive Assistant Roz Lassoff at 580-6735 or rlassoff@bainbridgewa.gov.

The COVID Response Team, consisting of the City, Bainbridge Island Fire Department, Bainbridge Prepares and Bainbridge Island Community Pharmacy, is offering a limited number of single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccines this weekend. Please sign up at https://covidbi.timetap.com/

The team will offer three more weekends of second-dose Pfizer vaccine clinics at Commodore. The last second-dose vaccine clinic of the spring is scheduled for May 15.

The team will hold additional vaccine clinics for 12-15 year olds if the Pfizer Emergency Use Authorization is granted.

The COVID Response Team is also planning on vaccine clinics for later in the fall/winter if it is determined that booster shots are needed.

Please see the message below from the Kitsap Public Health District that was posted Wednesday, April 28.

As COVID-19 activity continues to surge across the region, Kitsap County is at risk of being moved back under the state’s Healthy Washington recovery plan.

Kitsap is currently in Phase 3 of the plan. We expect the state to evaluate COVID-19 activity in each county next week and determine which counties can remain in Phase 3 and which will move back to Phase 2.

A move back to Phase 2 would mean tighter restrictions on gatherings, indoor dining and retail, sports and entertainment, and other activities. Learn more about what’s open under each phase: https://bit.ly/3aOS7sC

To remain in Phase 3, we need to meet at least one of these two metrics set by the state:

As of this week, Kitsap County is failing to meet the case rate metric and is on the edge of failing the hospitalizations metric. Our rate of cases per 100,000 has surpassed 200 for the first time since late January and dozens of new cases are being reported daily.

If Kitsap’s rate of cases remains above 200 and our rate of hospitalizations rises above 5, it is likely the state will move our county back to Phase 2. See the state’s Roadmap to Recovery data dashboard here: https://bit.ly/3xqguqd

Please see the update below from the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation.

Weed-munching goats will clear the way for an extension of the Sound To Olympics Trail in mid-May.

A 100-goat herd from Vashon-based “Rent-A-Ruminant” will be turned loose in a fenced area at the northwest corner of High School Road and SR305, to “mow” the lot clear of ivy and other vegetation.

The goats will arrive May 10 or 11, and will graze for six days. Visitors are invited to watch the goats in action, mindful of nearby traffic and the electrified goat pen.

Once the goats have done their work, the City of Bainbridge Island can begin construction of the STO Sakai Pond Connector, a new non-motorized trail linking High School Road with Sakai Park to the north.

The paved, 10-foot-wide shared-used trail will be the STO Trail’s first new segment on Bainbridge Island since the Winslow Connector opened in 2018 between Winslow Way and High School Road.

The goats are an eco-friendly way to clear the land for trail construction, and have previously been used for vegetation control in Blakely Harbor and Fort Ward parks.  They are funded through the Parks Foundation’s Friends of the Sound To Olympics Trail Fund.

STO Sakai Pond Connector trail construction is funded by the City of Bainbridge Island.

Find out more: www.bainbridgewa.gov/1293

The City Council this week approved an architectural design contract with Coates Design for the renovations design to the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center (BISCC).

The BISCC facility, which is owned by the City and leased to BISCC, is located adjacent to Waterfront Park in Winslow. The renovation project will reconfigure and upgrade the building entrance and east wing of the facility to better serve the Center’s program needs, and will also expand the thrift store area. Other minor maintenance and repair upgrades will also be made throughout the facility.

The renovation project design and construction is estimated to cost $440,000, with $160,000 of those funds being contributed by the Senior Center.

The City Council this week approved a six-month extension of the interim regulations for small wireless facilities following a public hearing to allow staff time to complete the proposed permanent regulations.

The City is currently working to adopt permanent regulations for small wireless facilities in response to recently adopted Federal standards that establish limits on how local municipalities may regulate the installation of such facilities.

The Planning Commission has made several recommendations related to regulations in place in Kitsap County, including regarding design standards, and City staff is engaged in ongoing research and analysis that will be provided to the Council as part of consideration of the proposed permanent regulations.

The interim regulations will now expire Nov. 14, 2021.

City staff presented an update to the Council this week on the proposed tree and vegetation updates. Ordinance No. 2021-07 is intended to update the tree and vegetation maintenance chapters of the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code (BIMC) to reflect current best management practices and address concerns related to the removal and loss of trees on Bainbridge Island. The proposed changes in Ordinance No. 2021-07 will clarify language, enhance organization of the written code, provide more helpful tools for residents and replace outdated terminology and concepts.

The Council discussed the proposal, and chose to forward the topic to a future meeting due to several concerns raised about Ordinance No. 2021-07.

Staff will provide an update to the Council related to the Triangle Property mining site, located at the intersection of Bucklin Hill, Fletcher Bay, and Lynwood Center Roads, during next week’s May 4 study session.

In early April, the site operator notified the City and State agencies of its intention to enter the reclamation phase of the Triangle Pit operations. Doing so will mean no further mining of sand at the site, although the previously stockpiled sand pile at the north end of the mine site may still be utilized.

The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will serve as lead agency to oversee the state mining reclamation permit when operations cease.

On May 4, staff will present an overview of the Multifamily Property Tax Exemption (MFTE) program to the City Council for consideration on Bainbridge Island.

MFTE, a property tax relief program authorized by Washington State (RCW 84.14), is a financial incentive to encourage development and redevelopment of multifamily and affordable housing.

The Planning Commission completed a set of MFTE policy recommendations to the City Council at the Feb. 11, 2021 meeting, and the Council will consider those recommendations on May 4.

Staff will provide an update to the Council next week on progress made on the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) periodic review to date and to provide clarification on the desired scope of work and the approach to the review process.

The City may choose to broaden or continue a narrow scope of work to address updates and clarifying edits, and will choose if the City should continue to update policy areas such as aquaculture regulations and sea level rise or potentially address these topics in a subsequent amendment.

Periodic reviews are required by state law every eight years to ensure consistency with state regulations and City codes.

The May 4 City Council meeting will include the following items:

If you would like to receive the City Council agenda by email when it's published, sign up on the Council Agendas webpage.

The City recruited for a Salary Commission in the fall of 2019 to help determine how much members of the City Council should be paid. As of 2019 (Ordinance No. 2019-23), a new Salary Commission is appointed every seven years to perform a salary review.

A six-member commission was appointed by the mayor with approval of the City Council in October 2020 and met six times to discuss compensation for the City Council. The commission reviewed the history of Bainbridge Island City Council salaries, salary information for other Washington cities, and cost of living adjustment schedules.

On April 12, 2021 the Salary Commission determined salary increases were warranted and approved the following salary schedule:

On April 19, 2021, the Salary Commission approved its report and transmitted it to the city clerk. The determination of the Salary Commission is not subject to approval by the City Council or City staff. It is effective for the remainder of 2021 and future years.

Learn about the role of City Council at bainbridgewa.gov/217.

Below is information submitted by Michael Cox of the City's Climate Change Advisory Committee.

Several bills related to climate change have passed this session of the Washington State Legislature. These bills will help us achieve the ambitious goals outlined in the Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and prepare our community and natural systems for the current and future impacts of climate change.

Learn more about the bills at https://www.waclimateleg.info/  

The Kitsap Public Health District has issued a no-contact advisory for the east shoreline of Bainbridge Island, from Yeomalt Point to Agate Pass Bridge and North Kitsap shoreline, from Agate Pass Bridge to Point Jefferson through May 5 due to a sewage spill in King County.

During a no-contact advisory, the public is advised to avoid contact with the water in the affected area. This means the health district recommends against swimming, wading, or types of water recreation or play where water could be swallowed or get in the mouth, nose or eyes. People should also avoid direct skin contact if possible, and immediately wash with soap and water if they have exposure to the water.

Signs will be posted at public access points in the affected area.

A shellfish harvesting advisory is in effect through May 19. The public is advised to not harvest shellfish in the affected area during this closure period. All existing shellfish advisories remain in effect.

Congratulations to Deb Rudnick, a member of the City's Climate Change Advisory Committee, on

being honored as a 2021 Kitsap County Earth Day award recipient. The award was presented in a virtual ceremony April 26.

Rudnick, an educator, scientist and environmental advocate, has served on the Climate Change Advisory Committee since 2018, and helped to develop the Climate Action Plan. She is the Chair of the Bainbridge Island Watershed Council and runs the annual Bainbridge Island fall salmon monitoring program. She trains volunteers to identify and count adult spawning and juvenile salmon. This science program has resulted in a robust set of data and experiential education for islanders.

Rudnick is also the co-chair of the Rotary Auction Green Team, founder of the BI Earth Month organizing committee and the annual BI Beach Cleanup. She is an active member of BI Zero Waste, BI Weed Warriors, and West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery.

Deb works with schools on waste reduction, participates in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's mussel cage monitoring project and much more. "Whether serving as a leader, steering committee member or active participant, her big picture thinking is an invaluable element in driving effective outcomes," an online bulletin on the announcement said.

Since 1993, Kitsap County Public Works and the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) have recognized groups and individuals for their dedication to sustainability and environmental restoration.

Award recipients were nominated by the public for their work in environmental education and advocacy, habitat restoration, recycling and litter control.

As part of PSE’s solution to improve electric reliability on Bainbridge Island, they are planning to build a new “missing link” transmission line between Murden Cove and Winslow substations. The new power line will create a transmission line “loop”, which means all substations will be connected to two transmission lines. If one substation experiences a power outage, the other line can still feed the substation to provide power to customers.

A virtual community workshop will be held on Monday, May 3, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the project and gather community feedback on the route options connecting Murden Cove and Winslow substations.

RSVP to get a virtual seat!

Bloodworks Northwest is declaring a “Code-Red” alert, calling on our community to combat the ongoing blood shortage affecting local hospitals and trauma centers across the Pacific Northwest. A sustained increase in patient demand for blood, combined with low donor turnout, means only 85% of the blood needed by patients is now available.

Now is the time to give. Make your appointment at bloodworksnw.org or call 1-800-398-7888.

Read the full update.