"Other duties as assigned." This is is the phrase common in many job descriptions that covers unexpected and overlooked duties. This past week, I had the opportunity to observe other duties as assigned in action.

On Wednesday, June 2 a tree fell across State Route 305 during the morning commute. The tree blocked the northbound lane, which backed up traffic in both directions. Morning commuters were anxious. Bainbridge Island Police Officers Jonathan Bingham and Cameron Lewis responded to the scene. They saw the traffic backing up and knew it might be some time before Department of Transportation personnel arrived to remove the tree. One officer happened to have an ax in the trunk of the patrol vehicle (which is there for this very purpose, as I’m told it’s common for trees to fall in the roadway here). I am sure that the officers know that DOT personnel would have a chainsaw. But rather than waiting, the officers channeled Paul Bunyan and began to whale away on the fallen tree with an ax to clear the roadway. This allowed anxious commuters to continue unimpeded. For Patrol Officers Bingham and Lewis, this was simply other duties as assigned.

As a manager, it is my desire to highlight City employees going above and beyond, performing above expectations. In my opinion, Bingham and Lewis performed beyond expectations.

The final COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Commodore is scheduled for this Saturday, June 5. This clinic will offer second doses to people who were vaccinated May 14 and 15; the appointments are full.

The Commodore clinic operations are ending as general vaccine demand has decreased, a large portion of Bainbridge Island has already been vaccinated, and additional providers are offering vaccine in Kitsap County. Those providers include:

Please visit the Washington State Department of Health's COVID-19 vaccine finder page to learn more about how to find an appointment and the types of vaccine being administered.

People who received one or both COVID-19 vaccinations at the City's vaccine clinics will have one opportunity to get a new COVID-19 vaccination record card printed for their records at the Commodore clinic this Saturday, June 5. You can book an appointment on TimeTap.

Otherwise, you can get a copy of your immunization record by visiting https://wa.myir.net/ or emailing [email protected]. Do not request a replacement card from the vaccine provider. The federal government did not provide extra CDC cards and vaccine providers are not able to provide a duplicate.

If you are unable to locate your vaccine record through https://wa.myir.net/ or get assistance through the Department of Health, check with your primary care provider. They have access to your immunization record and may be able to help. The state has also released a document with additional information on acceptable proof of vaccination.

Roughly one mile of Eagle Harbor Drive, running north from McDonald Avenue to the shoreline

segment of the road, will soon be safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. Beginning next week, the City's contractor will start work on the Eagle Harbor Drive Phase II Non-Motorized Improvements project.

The project features will include:

During the early stages of construction, a traffic lane will be periodically closed as the crew loads the dump trucks. Flaggers will be used to alternate flow directions of traffic when loading occurs. Follow the City's traffic notifications for any updates on traffic changes.

The Public Works staff is hosting two virtual open houses on traffic safety improvements at four locations around Bainbridge Island as part of an effort to slow down traffic and improve conditions for people walking, biking or rolling in neighborhoods. The open houses will provide the community an opportunity to share experiences, concerns or ideas for addressing speed and non-motorized safety at each location and hear feedback on potential solutions.

The City Council authorized staff to begin preliminary analysis of the four specific areas below for traffic calming and safety improvements. Those areas are:

In addition to seeking feedback on the four proposed project sites, City staff is seeking ideas that will improve safety in other neighborhoods. These safety enhancements may include physical designs or radar speed signs on existing roads to reduce vehicle speeds. We’re using an interactive web tool that allows you to pinpoint the areas where you have safety concerns and submit ideas for projects. Proposals may be submitted through Friday, July 16.

Suggestions will be evaluated and prioritized using data and other metrics related to speed, safety and other factors. Any solutions to traffic calming problems will be developed in accordance with a "handbook" of traffic calming measures that the City is developing. The proposals will be presented to the City Council in the fall.

Learn about the status of other non-motorized projects at www.bainbridgewa.gov/216.

At the June 1 study session, the City Council heard a presentation from staff on the findings from a study of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The City Council proposed funding for a study in the 2018-19 biennial budget to evaluate upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant that would address contaminants of emerging concern. In 2020, City staff contracted with Murray Smith, Inc. to perform the study, and also address other emerging issues at the plant.

The study evaluated the strength and impact of industrial/commercial dischargers, sampled and evaluated options for dealing with Contaminants of Emerging Concerns (CECs), and investigated options for upgrading the plant to increase capacity. In brief, the report identified that the plant is approaching capacity, which is in line with predictions from the last upgrade in 2007. Next steps for staff include investment in minor upgrades to address plant performance, and a longer-term study to determine what types of infrastructure and process improvements are necessary to serve the next 20 years of growth in Winslow.

A complete summary of the study findings and next steps can be found in the memo and presentation that was provided to the Council.

The City Council will hold a public hearing June 8 to gather input from the community on the proposed designation areas for the Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program. The program would encourage developers to build multifamily and affordable housing in Winslow and Lynwood Center in exchange for a partial property tax relief for 12 or 20 years.

Council previously discussed the MFTE program at the May 4 and May 11 meetings.

The MFTE program is a financial incentive to encourage development and redevelopment of multifamily and affordable housing. The program provides a partial property tax exemption for qualifying projects for either 12 or 20 years, on the value of residential improvements for qualifying MFTE housing developments and does not apply to the value of land or any non-residential development. The exempted amounts shift to other taxpayers, in a manner similar to other property tax exemptions.

The Council is considering the following areas as MFTE eligibility locations:

Background information about the program and next steps in developing a City MFTE program will be included in the June 8 City Council agenda materials. Information can also be found on the City’s website at www.bainbridgewa.gov/1291.

The City Council next week will consider approval of a contract to support the City’s assessment of the Manzanita Watershed for stormwater improvements.

Herrera Environmental Consultants has been selected to assist the City with completion of the work identified in the assessment of the Manzanita Watershed. This work is being funded by the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program, administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Herrera will help by identifying, designing and engineering facilities to repair the hydrologic cycle.

The hydrologic cycle supplies water to our wells for drinking and domestic uses as well as to the local streams and wetlands for the benefit of wildlife. One hundred years of development, including roads, houses and lawns, has short-circuited the cycle by converting rain directly to stormwater runoff. While in predevelopment times, the rain remained in the soil and aquifers for much longer. This project will develop facilities to slow down the runoff and replenish the shallow aquifers, increasing summer baseflow in the streams and keeping riparian corridors wet, which are crucial wildfire breaks.

Learn more about the project at www.bainbridgewa.gov/1268.

The City Council will hold a public hearing during the June 8 business meeting to consider a six-month extension of the Landmark Tree Ordinance, which is set to expire June 26.

The extension is being requested to allow staff additional time to complete the landmark tree regulations following the Council’s April 27 discussion and proposed revisions related to Ordinance No. 2021-07 on tree and vegetation management chapters of the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code.

Under the proposed changes in Ordinance No. 2021-07, the Landmark Tree Ordinance will apply islandwide except for the R-1, R-2 and R-0.4 zoning districts, which are more forested and less densely populated and currently have tree protection requirements. This represents a minor expansion of the ordinance’s current applicability but will improve a resident’s ability to determine when it applies to them.

Notable proposed changes include requiring mitigation sequencing prior to the City’s approval of the removal of a landmark tree. Mitigation sequencing ensures that impacts are avoided or minimized, and when removal is necessary, that the impacts are mitigated.

If Council adopts the LTO extension, the interim regulations would expire Dec. 26, 2021, unless terminated earlier or further extended by the Council.

In addition, the Planning Commission is addressing the Council’s proposed changes to the Landmark Tree Ordinance and will hold a public hearing during its June 10 meeting to consider revisions to municipal code Chapter 16.32 (protection of landmark trees).

The City Council adopted landmark tree regulations in 2018 to protect landmark trees after hearing from concerned residents about the loss of such trees on Bainbridge Island due to land clearing and development activities. The ordinance designates landmark trees based on their size, age and species, requires a permit to remove any landmark tree and imposes fines if a landmark tree is removed without a permit.

The summary and video of the June 1 City Council meeting can be viewed at bainbridgewa.gov/1101.

Some of the June 8 meeting topics will include:

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

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.

The Civil Service Commission seeks community members to serve on interview panels as part of the police officer hiring process.

The Civil Service Commission, a volunteer board, ensures the hiring examination processes for the Police Department are open and competitive at entry and promotional levels and hears appeals or complaints against public safety employees. Overseeing the selection of police officers is one of the Civil Service Commission’s most important duties, and is an area where the Commission supports community involvement. The Commission seeks input from a diverse range of Bainbridge Island residents.

Interviews are typically held over the course of a full day (currently online), every few months or as needed.

If interested, please complete the application form at www.bainbridgewa.gov/223.

The deadline to apply is 8 a.m. Monday, June 28.

Contact Secretary/Chief Examiner Lena Wilson with any questions: