Innovative and exciting ideas are abundant for local government. There are ideas for green building, affordable housing, reducing our carbon footprint, improving pedestrian safety, and innovations in sanitation and waste management, just to name a few. The list is quite long. I am fortunate that the community sends me many of these new and innovative ideas on a regular basis.

I have my favorites. This week I read in “Public Management” magazine about Wooster, Ohio’s (population 26,560) innovative Wastewater Treatment Plant. Wooster transformed its old sewage treatment plant into an energy-efficient water resource recovery and bioenergy facility. Wooster’s old treatment plant was failing to meet standards for digestion and solids handling. Wooster turned its digesters into vaults that could handle organic biosolids, which could create methane gas. They turned the plant into an anaerobic digestion facility that turned effluent into gas into electricity, which allowed the plant to become fully electrically self-sufficient.

Bainbridge Island is looking at our waste management practices. We are looking at our recycling policies and ways to reduce organic waste. Perhaps there is an anaerobic facility in our future. At the same time, we have just entered into a contract with HDR Engineering Inc., for a Wastewater Beneficial Re-Use Analysis. The question is, how can we use our clean treated wastewater better? Concepts include, but are not limited to, irrigation, stream flow restoration, and groundwater re-charge.

The frustrating thing about cool new innovative ideas is the lack of time, staff, or resources to pursue them. We are doing what we can. We have many competing priorities. I enjoy the innovative ideas that the public forwards to City Hall. We will do our best to continue to seek out innovation, while at the same time providing consistent, reliable, and predictable service.

We’re looking for volunteers to serve on our City Advisory Groups to assist and advise the City Council on topics that range from climate change and ethics to land use and utility-related policies. Our boards and committees do important work and add value to topics under Council consideration.

The workload varies for each committee; some meet just once a month and others more often. Most committees require a three-year commitment.

For a full list of openings and to learn about the committee responsibilities, please visit bainbridgewa.gov/CAG. You can apply online or pick up a paper copy of the application at the City Hall front counter.

 The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. April 29. Interviews will be held in May.

At the City Council business meeting on April 12, the City Council approved increased funding to support the fifth annual "Something New" public art program. The "Something New" project was first approved in 2017, with three artworks installed annually since that time in the downtown area. In 2021, the program expanded to five sites, which will also be used in 2022. This program is managed by the Public Art Committee, with support from Arts and Humanities Bainbridge and City staff.

The proposal approved by the City Council includes five sites, and increases the annual payment for display to selected artists from $1,000 to $2,000. The increase payment to artists is intended to generate a broader and more diverse applicant pool. The total approved budget is $26,450, which includes program fees, administration costs, and a digital marketing campaign.

The artwork that is part of "Something New" is located on the south side of Winslow Way at Ericksen, two in Waterfront Park, at City Hall, and at the terminus of Madison Avenue.

Saturday, April 30 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day: the perfect time to clean out your medicine cabinet! Bring your unwanted or expired medications to the police station between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to dispose of them in a safe, convenient, and environmentally responsible way.

If you can’t make it to the event, please don’t flush your old medications down the toilet. There is a drug drop bin at the BIPD station open year-round, or you can hold your medications until the next event. You may also consider visiting the DEA website for recommended methods of home disposal.

The next scheduled Council meeting will be on April 26. Key topics include:

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.

Happy Earth Day! Earth Day is an annual global event at which participants demonstrate their support for environmental protection. The first designated Earth Day was in 1970; it's now celebrated in countries around the world.

Here on Bainbridge Island, there will be a community Earth Day event at Rotary Park. This family-friendly event includes planting wildflowers and removing invasive weeds, all while learning more about nature and local programs to protect our environment.

Please join us at the City table at the event to enjoy climate-themed kid’s activities, learn about the new Climate Smart Challenge, and explore actions you and your family can take to help implement our Climate Action Plan.

The event takes place on Sunday, April 24th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Rotary Park, located at 969 Weaver Road with local food vendors and live music. Ride a bike to the event and get a free sticker!