Recognizing that time outside is an important component of physical and mental health, City of Bainbridge Island employees are participating this month in a wellness walking program sponsored by our health insurance administrator. Employees are encouraged to walk during lunch breaks or before or after work, with teams competing internally and across jurisdictions. As someone who is always ready to walk or wander, I’m looking forward to finding some new trails and sidewalks near City Hall, my home, and other parts of the island. As Kitsap County continues in Phase 3 of the governor’s Roadmap to Recovery plan, I encourage you to look for new outdoor gems on Bainbridge. Try a new trail, visit a new (or old favorite) restaurant or store, have a socially distanced chat with a neighbor, but continue to be vigilant about public health. If you have a recommendation for a walk to try or a story to share, I’d love to hear it. 

I want to continue to acknowledge our fantastic volunteers who support the COVID vaccine partnership. We expect to administer our 25,000th vaccine dose this weekend!   

The May 4 study session centered on land use and housing. Members of the Planning Commission joined the discussion at times to provide Council with their perspectives and preparation. Topics at the Study Session included a presentation on a multifamily housing incentive program (known as the multifamily property tax exemption program, or MFTE), intended to support development of new affordable housing, and an update on the Shoreline Master Program.  

Next week’s business meeting on May 11 will include actions to schedule a public hearing related to the MFTE program discussed on May 4. This public hearing will be one of several points in the process of implementing the MFTE program at which public input is important. Also, Council will review ordinances next week which will make changes to the municipal code sections related to City advisory committees. 

 I hope that you can join us. 

There are still appointments available this Saturday, May 8 for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.

The clinic will be held at the Commodore Options School Gym. Sign up online at https://covidbi.timetap.com.

Johnson and Johnson is only approved for individuals 18 and over.

Learn more about vaccine distribution at bainbridgewa.gov/COVIDvaccine.

If you lost your Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 vaccination record card, the best way to get a copy of your immunization record is to visit wa.myir.net or email covid.vaccine@doh.wa.gov to obtain proof of vaccination.

Please do not request a replacement card from the vaccine provider.

The federal government did not provide extra vaccination record cards and vaccine providers are not able to provide a duplicate.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could be authorized for kids as young as 12 years old as early as next week. The company applied to expand Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its vaccine for teens and children ages 12 to 15 after a clinical trial showed the vaccine is safe and extremely effective for the age group. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing the data and would need to amend the EUA for the Pfizer vaccine, which is currently authorized for people 16 and older. Following the FDA’s decision, the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) will schedule a meeting. The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup will also meet to review the findings and offer guidance.

Expanding vaccine eligibility to adolescents 12 to 15 will help us slow the spread of the virus, protect kids and teens in the classroom, at sporting events, during summer activities, and more.

Read the full vaccine distribution update from the Washington State Department of Health.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced this week that all counties will remain in their current phases of the Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan for two weeks. The pause was prompted by signs of a statewide plateau in COVID-19 activity.

At the end of two weeks, each county will be re-evaluated. Read the full announcement.

Kitsap County remains in Phase 3 of the plan.

Kitsap Public Health District has launched a survey to better understand local impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination.

The survey will be open through May 16. All Kitsap County residents are invited to participate. Responses are anonymous.

After completing the survey, respondents will have the option of entering to win one of six $25 gift cards. Kitsap Public Health will choose winners at random.

The City Council this week directed staff to continue creating a program that 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.

The program, known as Multifamily Property Tax Exemption (MFTE), is a financial incentive to encourage development and redevelopment of multifamily and affordable housing by exempting qualifying new housing development from property taxes on the residential improvement value. The amount of the tax exemption would then be shifted to and divided among other property taxpayers on Bainbridge Island.

The program does not modify or reduce any development standards or permitting requirements, such as setbacks, density or building heights.

On May 4, the Council chose to begin development of 12-year and 20-year MFTE programs.

See the May 4 presentation to the City Council for more detailed information, including the 2020 AMI table.

If the City adopts this program, qualifying multifamily projects would be exempt from property taxation on the residential improvement value for a period of 12 or 20 years after construction is complete. The tax levy would be shifted to other property taxpayers through a slight tax increase divided among property owners islandwide. In Bremerton, for example, there are four developments enrolled in the MFTE program, resulting in about a $24 per year increase for a home valued at $300,000 during the time of the tax exemption.

The Council is considering applying the program to the following areas of Bainbridge Island, as recommended by the Planning Commission:

During the May 11 business meeting, the Council will schedule a public hearing for June 8 to gather input from the community on the proposed MFTE eligibility locations.

Watch the May 4 presentation and Council discussion.

The City Council this week approved four motions to revise the Shoreline Master Program periodic review process and work plan. The clarifications and changes include:

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

The Department will be posting updated project information to the Engage Bainbridge SMP Periodic Review page in the coming weeks.

The May 11 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 Island Center Subarea Planning Steering Committee on May 5 completed its recommendation for the Island Center Subarea Plan following three years of extensive discussion, outreach, review and analysis. The draft Subarea Plan (Plan) includes recommendations for land use alternatives, traffic calming, bicycle and pedestrian facilities and trail connections. Some of the proposed improvements include:

At the May 5 meeting, the committee made several changes that would enhance policies in the plan related to non-conforming uses, supporting agriculture, and improving the City’s Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program, in response to committee member proposals.

The Steering Committee focused its May 5 discussion on what should be the residential density and bonus density for affordable housing in a future Island Center zone.

The draft Subarea Plan discussed at the May 5 meeting can be viewed here, and you can watch the meeting here. Once the updates approved by the committee on May 5 are integrated, the final recommended draft plan will be published on the City’s website.

The draft plan will be forwarded to the Planning Commission for review. The Planning Commission dates have not been set. The City Council will have final consideration of the plan. There will be opportunities for public comment throughout the process.

Sign up for project updates at https://www.bainbridgewa.gov/List.aspx.

Please consider volunteering your time to serve on one of the following committees that assist and advise the City Council:

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 206-580-6735 or rlassoff@bainbridgewa.gov.

The City of Bainbridge Island former Salary Commission made a determination April 12 to increase salaries for City Council members.

The six-member commission, consisting of all community volunteers, 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.

The commission approved the following salary schedule:

On April 19, the commission filed the new salary schedule in the form of a report provided to the City Clerk.

On April 30, the former commission provided a press release to the City on its determination.

As of 2019, per Ordinance No. 2019-23, a new Salary Commission is appointed every seven years to perform a salary review of the City Council. The determination of the Salary Commission is not subject to approval by the City Council or City staff.

Washington State Ferries announced additional service changes due to the Wenatchee fire and pandemic-related crewing challenges.

Beginning Thursday, May 13, Bainbridge and Bremerton will temporarily switch slips (where passengers load and unload) at Colman Dock for about seven weeks.

This will also mean a change for vehicle holding areas at Colman Dock-- make sure you get in the correct line!

Other service changes:

Sign up to receive WSF rider alerts to stay informed on route changes.

Please see the message below posted on the Kitsap County Auditor Facebook page on May 3.

Increased salaries for Bainbridge Island City Council members will result in an increase in the filing fee for those positions.

State law, RCW 29A.24.091, states, “A filing fee equal to one percent of the annual salary of the office at the time of filing (emphasis added) shall accompany the declaration of candidacy for any office with a fixed annual salary of more than one thousand dollars per annum.”

The salary increases for council members took effect in April. Filing week is May 17-21. Candidates running for a council position on Bainbridge will pay a fee of $360.

Curious about a City project?

Want to learn about a specific City process?

Have a story idea you’d like to see covered in a future COBI Connects?

Please share your thoughts with us at communications@bainbridgewa.gov.

COBI Connects is a newsletter mailed to all 98110 addresses to inform the community about City topics. The May online version is now available at bainbridgewa.gov/1151.

Thank you for your interest!