This first week of November met our expectations in two respects: the arrival of some typical seasonal fall weather, and the predicted layers of complexity related to the US presidential election. Islanders are accustomed to the weather shifts, and we happily avoided significant outages or impacts from the winds and rain this week. Our community also navigated concerns about election logistics, as voting went smoothly and turnout was quite high (over 83% of registered Kitsap County voters). Throughout 2020, we have continued to learn a lot about one another, our priorities, and our capacity to respond to challenges. I am proud of Bainbridge Islanders’ ongoing commitment to dialogue and connection on a range of issues, and I expect we will carry that commitment forward to whatever next problem-solving lies ahead.

At the City, this week also marked the launch of our community COVID-19 testing site. Not only is this important project for the benefit of Bainbridge Island, but the testing site is also notable because it is staffed and supported with trained island volunteers. It is a remarkable effort that has been put forward with a relatively short lead time, thanks to combined efforts of the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator Anne LeSage, COVID-19 Safety Officer Chris Rubin, the many members of our local Medical Reserve Corps, and other support from Bainbridge Prepares and Rotary Club volunteers. The goal is for this site to supplement and expand the testing capacity available from local medical providers, and to thereby support Bainbridge Island community schools, businesses, workforce and families as we prepare to resume increased levels of activity and contact.

This week, the City Council held a special meeting dedicated to budget issues, as the Council works to complete the City’s Biennial Budget for 2021-2022.

Next week, the Council business meeting will begin with a recognition of service for outgoing North Ward Councilmember Kol Medina, who is resigning from his position due to his family’s relocation. A number of other topics are scheduled, including continued deliberations on the next City budget, plans for the process the Council will use to review finalists for the City Manager position, consideration of the Climate Action Plan, and proposed revisions to the City’s Ethics Program.

For more information about some of these topics and other items of interest, please see below.

The City's COVID-19 testing site, which opened this week, is seeing high demand as appointments are now booked through Nov. 30 and the December appointments are filling up.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, please get tested through your primary care physician or urgent care. A list of medical clinics and pharmacies in Kitsap County offering COVID-19 testing can be found here.

We are assessing our operations and will inform the community if additional testing dates and times will be offered.

Many participants booking appointments have said the test is needed to return to work or they recently traveled to an area with a high prevalence of COVID-19 cases.

Additional testing options are available through at-home test kits that can be purchased at Costco online and Safeway pharmacies. These are a good option for people who want pre-travel testing. The COVID test offered by Albertsons Companies Pharmacies (Safeway) does not currently meet the requirements for pre-travel testing to Hawaii, per a message on the company website.

Emergency Management Coordinator Anne LeSage will provide an update on the testing site to the City Council at the Dec. 8 Council meeting.

During this week's Nov. 4 budget workshop, the Council affirmed majority support for the following adjustments to the 2021-22 biennial budget.

During the Nov. 4 budget workshop, the Council approved the following motions as preliminary potential changes to the proposed 2021-22 budget:

The Council will hold additional discussion on these preliminary motions during next week's meeting on Nov. 10.

The proposed 2021-2022 budget can be viewed here.

The public will get an opportunity to comment on the 2021-2022 budget during a public hearing at next week's Council meeting on Zoom. Instructions for how to comment will be included in the Council agenda when it's published later today.

We’re seeking input on the cable television services provided by Comcast on Bainbridge Island, as part of a franchise agreement renewal process. If you are a City resident or the owner of a business located on Bainbridge Island, please join us for a Zoom meeting Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. to share your thoughts.

A cable television franchise agreement is a legal agreement between the City and Comcast that is required by state and federal law. The agreement allows Comcast access to the City’s rights of way to deliver its services, and the franchise addresses other issues such as access to public educational and governmental access channels, non-discriminatory rates for customers, permitting, notice requirements before digging in the right of way, and payment of applicable costs and fees. In June 2016, the City granted Comcast a franchise for its cable television system located within the City. The 2016 franchise agreement is set to expire in June 2021.

The purpose of the Nov. 18 meeting is to hear the community’s views on the cable television service they receive from Comcast to help the City understand the needs of the community as the City reviews Comcast’s franchise agreement.

The Nov. 18 Zoom meeting will include a presentation from the City’s consultant team, River Oaks Communications Corporation, on current cable communications policies and the Cable TV franchise renewal process.

The City conducted a community web survey July 30 to Sept. 30 to gather feedback from the community on Comcast services. Read the results of the survey here.

For more information on the franchise agreement and the renewal process, please visit the City’s Comcast Cable TV Franchise Agreement webpage.

A Zoom link will be posted soon. Registration is not required for the event.

The contractor for the Wyatt Way reconstruction project and City staff are working together to solve an ongoing water line issue that has delayed the project construction.

When new water lines are installed, they must be sanitized, flushed with clean water, and tested to ensure that no bacteria or other contamination is present prior to be being put into service. A majority of the water line segments at the project site have been cleaned and tested without a problem. However, one segment continues to not pass the post-cleaning tests despite numerous attempts and different process approaches. Until the project team resolves this issue, the paving and sidewalk work cannot be scheduled. Adding to the delays are weather conditions, which are less and less favorable to paving work as mid-November approaches.

As the work progresses over the next couple weeks, the project team will be looking ahead to the road, sidewalk and stormwater work that remains to be completed at the Wyatt Way-Madison Avenue intersection. There is a possibility that once the project work (west of the Wyatt-Way Madison Avenue intersection) is mostly completed this fall, the intersection work may be postponed until early spring 2021 when weather conditions will be more favorable for smooth completion of the project.

We are grateful for the patience shown by neighboring residents, and those impacted by the temporary detour.

As of Thursday afternoon, the City has not received any applications to fill the north ward vacancy following the resignation of Councilmember Kol Medina.

Residents interested in applying for the Council vacancy must have lived in the City of Bainbridge Island for at least one year prior to Council appointment, must currently live in the north ward, and be registered to vote. Click here to view the ward map on the City’s website to confirm your residence is in the north ward.

The term of the vacated position will begin once a qualified candidate is appointed by a majority vote of the Council. The appointed Councilmember will hold office until a person is elected to the position at the next general municipal election, in November 2021, and after the results of that election have been certified.

Applications are due to the City Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Application forms are available on the City’s website at bainbridgewa.gov/217.

Click here for more information about the vacancy.

Medina was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. A recognition of service for Medina will be held during the Nov. 10 Council meeting. Medina is leaving to take the position of President of the Blue Mountain Community Foundation in Walla Walla, where he spent his childhood.

Below are some of the topics to be discussed during the Nov. 10 City Council meeting.

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

The Planning Commission will meet Nov. 12 & Nov. 19 this month due to the Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 26. Below are the topics to be discussed during the November meetings.

If you would like to receive the Planning Commission agenda when it's published, sign up on the Agendas & Minutes page. The meetings are livestreamed on the City's website (similar to the City Council meetings).

The Planning Commission will hold a public participation meeting at 6 p.m. on Nov. 19 to provide an opportunity for the community to learn about the Wintergreen Townhomes proposal, a 74-townhome long subdivision proposal that incorporates affordable housing (as defined in the Municipal Code) on two lots totaling 2.94 acres. The project site is located at 1332 Wintergreen Lane.

The applicant is in the process of slightly modifying the proposal in response to comments from the Design Review Board’s Design Guidance meeting on Nov. 2. Learn more about the project proposal here.

Members of the public who wish to participate in the public participation meeting, can join via Zoom. Instructions will be included in the agenda when it's published.

The upper parking lot at the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal has reopened following asphalt and repaving work. The before and after photos show the front of the building's main entrance.

Ofc. Carla Sias is retiring after dedicating 21 years of service to the Bainbridge Island community.

For part of that time, Carla served as the community resource officer -- sharing birthday doughnuts, organizing our Community Police Academy, hosting Cops and Kids Camp, visiting classrooms and museums (sometimes with her guinea pigs), and so much more!

Thank you for your service, Ofc. Sias. Congratulations on retirement!

Click on the video below to learn more about Ofc. Sias' career.