This April marks 30 years since President George H.W. Bush declared April to be National Volunteer Month. Since then, we’ve recognized this month nationally and it’s particularly fitting to observe it here on Bainbridge Island. Our community’s spirit and willingness to volunteer to help others is truly something to celebrate. We’ll be recognizing our volunteers throughout the month of April and, in particular, during the third week of the month.
I want to give a special shout out to those who have volunteered in the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Credentialed volunteers held key roles in the City’s emergency operations center (EOC) in the earliest days of our City response, and we have been able to organize and offer both the COVID testing site and COVID vaccine distribution with the help of our cadre of trained volunteers.
Just in the first three months of this year, we’ve already logged 8,000 volunteer hours! This impressive and noteworthy community effort builds on last year, when we recorded 4,300 hours for 2020. I know there are many hours that go unrecorded, as well. Thanks to each and every one of you who raised your hand to help others.
In addition to the emergency response roles, the City benefits from volunteers in other areas of service. We have more than 100 members of City advisory groups and task forces, harbor stewards who help at the City dock, and water resource testing monitors. Without the help of the community, we would provide fewer services to others.
This week, we did not hold a City Council meeting as it was the fifth Tuesday of the month.
Looking ahead to next week, please join us for the study session at which time Council will receive information about the next steps with regulations pertaining to the small wireless facilities, hold a discussion about the recruitment and selection for advisory groups and discuss the next steps for the Police-Court facility project.
Best wishes,
Ellen Schroer
Interim City Manager
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Vaccine eligibility expands to all adults April 15 |
Gov. Jay Inslee announced March 31 that all Washington residents 16 and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination beginning April 15.
The governor and the state Department of Health (DOH) have also prioritized equity in each phase to ensure vaccine access to populations disproportionately affected by the virus, including communities of color and low-income communities.
The expansion of eligibility comes, in part, in response to a recent uptick in COVID cases in the state.
“We must do everything possible to ensure that we can keep cases down," Inslee said during a press conference Wednesday. "We have concerns about the trends we are seeing across the state and we must be cautious. Opening up full eligibility will be one tool to help in the fight against the virus."
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Bainbridge Island added to COVID-19 vaccine standby list |
The Kitsap Public Health District is offering a standby list for its COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Bremerton and Poulsbo and has now added the Bainbridge Island Commodore vaccine clinic to the list. 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.
If you already signed up for the Bremerton or Poulsbo waitlist but would like to be added to the Bainbridge Island standby list, please resubmit and select Bainbridge Island as your clinic of choice.
Commodore clinic
First-dose appointments at the Commodore vaccine clinic this weekend are full. Details on the clinic are available at bainbridgewa.gov/COVIDvaccine.
Future clinics
When we receive shipments of first-dose vaccines, we will notify the community with a Nixle alert.
Register for Nixle alerts
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City's drive-thru COVID-19 test site now closed |
The City COVID-19 test site at City Hall is now closed.
The planned closure of the testing site at City Hall allows emergency management staff and volunteers to focus entirely on supporting vaccine distribution on Bainbridge Island.
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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Wyatt Way project nears substantial completion |
The City’s contractor for the Wyatt Way Reconstruction Project completed most of the asphalt paving work during the last two weeks. The accessible ramps and concrete crosswalks will be installed next Wednesday, which will mark the project substantially complete. The last remaining work will be signage, painted bicycle symbols and landscaping.
Separate from the Wyatt Way Reconstruction contract work, but next to the project location, the contractor will likely be starting the replacement of existing drainage facilities further east along Wyatt Way near the middle of April. That work, which is part of the City’s annual drainage program, will alleviate flooding of the public right of way and private property in the vicinity.
The work will include the removal of a large willow tree at the eastern end of the work area. The roots of the willow tree have contributed to failures of the existing drainage system. The tree is not a landmark or heritage tree, and has been reviewed and approved for removal by the City’s arborist due to its current condition and contributions to drainage issues.
While we appreciate the public art proposal for the “mini roundabout” that was posted this week on the Bainbridge Islanders Facebook group, there will not be any public artwork in the center of this roundabout at Wyatt Way and Madison Avenue. The "mini roundabout" is intended to facilitate traffic, and also increase safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Additionally, large trucks will be mounting the center island, so a sculpture would prohibit those vehicle movements. There will be future opportunities for public art proposals for the Sportsman Club and New Brooklyn intersection improvements project.
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New signage posted near school zones |
The City is working to improve safety at school zones islandwide with new high-visibility signage and reflective sleeves on sign posts.
The High School Road roundabout last week saw eight new crosswalk signs installed to replace the old ones, on metal posts with reflective sleeves below flashing beacons.
Twenty-nine “School Ahead” signs have been improved in school zones, and new signs were installed at school crosswalks.
City staff worked with community groups earlier this year to establish "pop up" projects to provide safer ways for kids to walk and bike to school since many kids are not riding the bus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Police-Court Facility Replacement Project update |
At this time, staff are nearly ready to advertise for bids for construction of the building, a final step before awarding a construction contract. If we advertise in early April, typical timing would indicate that staff would bring the contract to the Council for consideration of contract award in mid-May.
Because the City will have a new city manager beginning his role at the City on May 17, and because of the ongoing Council and community conversation about the project, staff recommends waiting until May to advertise for bids to ensure that the Council and its new city manager continue this very important community project with a shared understanding of its development and ongoing approach.
During this time, 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.
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Upcoming City Council agenda |
The April 6 City Council meeting will include the following items:
- Discussion on the Police-Court facility project
- Discussion on the City Advisory Group selection process and general feedback.
- Discussion on small wireless facilities interim control.
- Discussion of ward meetings.
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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Public Art committee seeks new submissions |
The Public Art Committee is accepting applications for "Something New IV", a program that aims to provide both a dynamic public art experience and an ongoing opportunity for sculptors from around the Pacific Northwest to exhibit their work.
The project brings a collection of sculptures to five outdoor sites around Winslow for a yearlong exhibition.
If you or someone you know is a public artist, apply today!
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Island Center steering committee discusses residential density |
The committee focused its discussion on what should be the residential density and bonus density for affordable housing in a future Island Center zone.
The committee is considering R-2 (2 units per acre) as the base density and between 2 and 4 bonus units per acre, with any bonus unit required to be designated as affordable housing. R-2 is the current residential density in the Island Center Neighborhood Center zone.
The Steering Committee may complete its review and recommendation on a draft Subarea Plan at the next meeting in late April (date TBD). The draft Subarea Plan would then be reviewed by the Planning Commission and forwarded to the City Council for final consideration.
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Share your thoughts on recycling in a survey |
Have any thoughts on recycling in Kitsap County? Is there anything you wish you could recycle at a drop-off center that is not currently accepted? Let Kitsap County know in a survey!
Your input will used to improve recycling programs, guidelines, websites and signage throughout Kitsap County.
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Thursday, April 8: Planning Commission meeting; 6 p.m. on Zoom. Members will provide early policy input on aquaculture and future flooding from sea level rise to be incorporated into the SMP Periodic Review. |
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Contact Information
280 Madison Avenue North
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone: 206-842-7633
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