Dear Bainbridge Islanders,
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I hope that the new school year is off to a great start for Island students, teachers and their families. It is a busy and exciting time of the year and, while summer isn't fully over, the change in seasons is not far off.
At the City, we are accelerating our work to complete key projects for the year. This includes annual maintenance work on the City's road network, the Olympic Drive non-motorized improvements near the ferry, and the installation of new buoys within the Dave Ullin Open Water Marina (DUOWM).
Inside City Hall, we are also working hard to complete significant policy initiatives that have been areas of focus for Council throughout 2019. These include new design guidelines for development, regulations related to subdivisions, changes to the sign code, plans for the new Police-Court facility, revisions to the City's ethics program, and planning for the Suzuki property affordable housing. Each of these topics will have significant decision points in the coming weeks as we continue to make good progress on this year's highest priority tasks.
At the
study session this week, the Council received a presentation on the 2020 U.S. Census, reviewed the process to issue an $8.0 million bond to fund the Police-Court facility, received a report on the City's midyear financial performance, and discussed an option via
HB 1406 that would allow the City to receive roughly $40,000 in additional State sales tax funds to use for affordable housing.
At the business meeting next week, the Council will discuss the upcoming expiration of the City's development moratorium, and whether to extend the October 3 deadline. The Council may allow the moratorium to expire, or may consider an extension of some or all of the moratorium's conditions. This discussion is planned to establish the Council's preferred approach, in order to prepare to hold a public hearing. The Council will also continue discussion on policies related to ADUs, tiny homes and RVs, and will consider whether to approve action to "refund" (refinance) Open Space Bonds at a lower interest rate in order to generate savings of over $300,000.
Please see below for more detailed information about these topics and other work in progress.
Best wishes,
Morgan Smith
City Manager
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ADU, tiny home discussion continues at September 10 Council meeting
The City Council will continue the discussion about tiny home communities and allowing recreational vehicles (RVs)
as permanent residences during the September 10 business meeting. Staff from the Kitsap Public Health District will join Council for this discussion to answer any questions about septic requirements.
During the
July 23 business meeting, the City Council confirmed that the City should work to make the following code changes related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs):
- New ADUs will not be sold separately from the primary single-family dwelling.
- In Residential zones, the City should create a process for tiny homes and recreational vehicles (RVs) to be considered permanent residences, and they could be allowed as types of ADUs. A property could also have a tiny home or RV serve as the primary dwelling on a property.
- A property could have two tiny homes or RVs serving as ADUs, in contrast with allowing only one traditionally-sized ADU.
- For properties less than 40,000 square feet in size (just under an acre), ADUs won't count towards a property's lot coverage limit.
Ultimately, policy direction from the Council will be integrated into a
draft ordinance that will be reviewed by the Planning Commission.
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Council to consider two-month extension of development moratorium
During the September 10 business meeting, t
he City Council is expected to set a public hearing for September 24 to consider extending the
moratorium (set to expire October 3) by two months.
The extension may include all the moratorium's conditions or a limited number of items, including m
ultifamily projects within the Winslow Master Plan Study Area and possibly neighborhood centers; p
rohibiting development along certain roads that meet a failing level of service; and c
ompletion of the groundwater management plan.
Council members
said
the extension would also allow for staff training and public outreach about the proposed new regulations, including subdivision and design guidelines.
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WSDOT: Marion Street Bridge now permanently closed
As of 10:30 last night (Thursday, September 5), the existing Marion Street Bridge permanently closed for construction. Please see the message below from WSDOT.
Until further notice, walk-on customers should use sidewalks from First Avenue to reach the existing Colman Dock terminal building. Stairs and elevators are available to enter the terminal building on Alaskan Way between Marion and Columbia streets.
Uniformed police officers will be at key locations to help pedestrians cross Alaskan Way. Access will remain unchanged for customers headed to the dock in a vehicle, bicycle or motorcycle.
The Marion Street Bridge closure is in conjunction with the demolition of the portion of the Alaskan Way Viaduct still standing at Marion Street. We appreciate your patience while we work to complete the new Colman Dock terminal building and pedestrian connections.
Click
here for more information about the upcoming changes for walk-on passengers in Seattle.
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Join Municipal Court staff for Passport Saturday
Need a passport? Join Municipal Court staff for Passport Saturday on September 28. On that day,
the Court will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accept passport applications on a walk-in basis. An appointment is NOT needed for this special event. The court is located at 10255 NE Valley Road.
This event is to help families with children and people who are not able to take time during normal working hours to come to the court.
Please click
here
for a list of items needed for your passport application.
The event is being held in coordination with National Passport Day as
September is designated by the U.S. Department of State as National Passport Awareness Month.
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City kicks off 'Three Days of Preparedness' with speaker series on wildfires, earthquakes
What's a disaster plan? How much food and water do I need to store in my home for a disaster? Do my neighbors have supplies and equipment? Are there any elderly people nearby who will need assistance? How do I prepare my small business to withstand a disaster?
If you've been asking any of these questions, then please consider joining us for Three Days of Preparedness activities later this month to get answers! The activities are designed to help you be ready when there's a disaster. "Individual and neighborhood preparedness is the cornerstone of community resilience," said Emergency Management Coordinator Anne LeSage. "If all of our residents and businesses are prepared today for what could happen tomorrow, our community can withstand even the most challenging situations."
Three Days of Preparedness will begin with a speaker series on wildfires and earthquakes
Friday, September 27. Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz will lead a discussion on future wildfire danger to the state and region, what DNR is doing to mitigate the risks, and what we can do locally to minimize our risks. She will also briefly discuss earthquake preparedness. Dr. Erin Wirth, a U.S. Geological Survey Geophysicist, will talk about what researchers are learning about Cascadia's next earthquake and why this topic is so important.
If you'd like more information about preparedness resources in our community and how you can prepare for a disaster, then stop by Expo Day 2-5 p.m. at City Hall
Saturday, September 28. Click
here to learn more about the free workshops and presentations offered on Expo Day.
The event will conclude
Sunday, September 29 with a Hubs (shelter) demonstration and overview at the Senior Center 2 to 3:30 p.m. If there's an emergency, Hubs will be used to provide limited support services including food, water, shelter, first aid, and psychological support to those who have nowhere else to go.
In addition to Three Days of Preparedness, the City will also continue outreach and training in the community this month through the
Map Your Neighborhood program, the
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) basic training class, and the
Community Classroom series at the Bainbridge Island library Wednesday, September 18. This month's Community Classroom will include information on how the City and County are preparing for natural disasters and other emergencies.
Finally, on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 10 City staff and Bainbridge Prepares volunteers will be on the Wenatchee ferry to share information about how to prepare your household for emergencies, writing your personal disaster plan, ways to get involved in preparedness efforts, and how to be notified of emergency situations happening on Bainbridge Island and in Kitsap County. Stop by their table in the galley to learn more!
Click
here for more information on emergency preparedness.
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City officials to attend September 11 Day of Service and Remembrance event
Interim Police Chief Jeff Horn, Mayor Kol Medina, Deputy Mayor Matt Tirman and Councilmember Sarah Blossom are attending the event that will include a
special presentation called "Oceanside" presented by Legion patron Mark Power and his musical group.
The public is welcome to attend this event.
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COBI Connects - missed delivery?
We've recently heard from a couple people who have not received the
COBI Connects newsletter in their mailboxes.
If you have a mailbox on Bainbridge Island and have not received the monthly newsletter, please send an
email to Communications Coordinator Kristen Drew that includes information about where you live and your mailbox type (individual, cluster, apartment, etc.), so that we can use the information to follow-up with the postal service.
In the meantime, we have also posted
online versions of the newsletter on the City's website and there are extra copies at City Hall.
For those who have received the newsletter, we hope you're enjoying the City updates!
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Kitsap Transit seeking input on ridership
Kitsap Transit wants to know the perspectives of those who ride and those who do not ride public transit.
Please take a few minutes to fill out a survey and
be entered into a raffle drawing for a $150 grocery gift card (you must be a resident of Kitsap County or work in Kitsap County to be eligible for the drawing).
Please answer all questions and provide contact information to be entered in the raffle drawing.
The survey closes Wednesday, September 18.
If you require assistance to complete the survey, please call 800.501.RIDE.
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Upcoming Events & Meetings
- Tuesday, September 10: City Council Business Meeting; (Executive Session 6-6:30 p.m.)
- Thursday, September 12: Staff will be on board the Wenatchee & Tacoma ferries during the evening commute to share information about the Olympic Drive improvement project
- Thursday, September 12: Planning Commission Meeting
Click
here
for the full calendar list.
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