Inflation is beginning to be felt at City Hall. The City is already feeling the effects of a labor shortage. Now inflation is becoming a factor too. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) from April 2020 to February 2022 increased by 10.59%.  According to the Auto Club, regular gas in Washington is at an all-time high – the most expensive it’s ever been. There are delays in receiving supplies. It seems everything is quickly becoming more expensive. 

As we try to fill our 22 vacant positions, our top candidates are asking for more compensation. Our contractors, the ones who are performing well and we like, are asking for increases. I am holding my breath on what to expect from construction bids we expect to award in the next few months. I assume we will have some sticker shock.

All of this is happening as we begin to prepare the 2023-24 Biennial Budget. The budget process will kick off with the City Council reviewing and approving significant budget revenue and expense assumption, along with adoption of budget principles in April. The budget preparation process will continue from April until the final public hearing and adoption of the budget in early November.

The City will do our best to control costs, but with inflation, labor, fuel and everything costing more, it appears we are looking at increased expenses in 2023.

Picklers, get ready to celebrate! Gov. Jay Inslee on March 28 will sign a bill making pickleball the official sport of Washington. To mark the milestone, a bill signing ceremony will take place at the original pickleball court on Bainbridge Island (photo below).

The sport, as you likely know, started on Bainbridge Island in 1965. The original badminton court was repurposed by the three creators and founders of pickleball: Bill Bell, Barney McCallum and Joel Pritchard.

Senate Bill 5615 reads in part, "The legislature finds that pickleball is a game that can be

played by anyone, one-on-one or as a team, and has expanded far beyond Washington to become a nationally and internationally beloved game."

A community event will be held 4 p.m. at the Founders Courts at Battle Point Park to celebrate the signing of SB 5615. It’s expected that Governor Inslee, sponsors of the bill and members from the USA Pickleball Association will attend.

Supporters of the Bainbridge Island pickleball community are hosting the event, with support from the BI Metro Park and Recreation District, and look forward to the celebration.

"I just can’t think of a state more fitting than our state for it since the game was invented here," said pickleball player Bill Walker who is helping coordinate the Battle Point Park event. "Our community is really happy about it. Very proud of the legacy that the founders left for us."

All are welcome to attend the Battle Point Park celebration. Bring your paddle!

The deadline to apply for the Ethics Board is next Thursday, March 31. The Ethics Board provides training to the Council and committee members on the City’s Code of Conduct and Ethics Program; reviews complaints; and may prepare advisory opinions.

"Ethics are a linchpin to guide the conduct of servant leaders who seek to earn and maintain the public’s confidence in democracy and government," said Doña Keating who serves on the Ethics Board. "Facilitating the highest standards and training helps to create a system where transparency and integrity result in policies that are accountable to the community – and where responsible stewardship of public resources is paramount. As someone who has advised clients regarding ethics and leadership standards for decades, I chose to serve on my city’s Ethics Board because doing so is an opportunity to impact the framework and decisions that promote the public good, preserve the public’s trust, and improve quality of life."

The Ethics Board meets on the third Monday of the month.

You may apply online or pick up a paper copy at the City Hall front counter.

The road striping work that was expected today on Eagle Harbor Drive has been postponed due to the wet road conditions.

One the pavement markings are complete, the remaining work will be additional hydroseeding and the installation of select areas of fencing along the ravine edge near McDonald Ave. This work will be completed in April. The planting of the larger vegetated strips will happen in the fall.

The City Council this week adopted the Sustainable Transportation Plan and identified “Connecting Centers” Scenario 2 as the preferred implementation plan.

A copy of the plan can be viewed here.

Staff will now develop a work plan of next steps for the Council’s review and direction.

After years of planning, it’s expected the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will begin the roundabout safety improvement project on Bainbridge Island in late summer or early fall.

WSDOT is planning to add two roundabouts on State Route 305 at West Port Madison Road and Adas Will Lane.

As part of the improvements, Agatewood Road will become a right in/right out intersection.

The project will work as a system to address significant safety issues at these intersections, which have a high rate of car crashes.

The work is part of a larger project to improve conditions on State Route 305 from the ferry terminal to Hostmark Street in Poulsbo. The intended purpose of the project is to reduce collisions, improve traffic flow and access, and provide safer intersections for people walking and biking.

This week, the Council authorized the transfer of a small City-owned property at the northwest corner of SR 305 and West Port Madison Road to WSDOT to complete the roundabout construction. In exchange for the property, WSDOT will install larger trees and provide landscaping along the project periphery.

For the first time in 16 years, the City is increasing the fees for development permits to recover costs for service. The Council approved the changes during this week's business meeting. The increase is significant but reflects the amount of time the fees have not been adjusted.

In 2019, the Council directed staff to hire a consultant to study the fees to recover 100% of the City’s costs to provide development services. Development fees are intended to pay for development-related reviews. This includes time spent reviewing, issuing, and inspecting permits.

The fee increase will reduce the transfer required from the General Fund to subsidize development-related costs. The transfers have ranged from $800,000 to $1 million annually. The new fees will take effect on Sept. 1.

Staff will return to the Council at a later date to propose a policy that discounts fees for affordable housing applicants.

Please see the March 22 Council meeting to learn more about the fee increases.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for April 12.

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 Planning Commission on April 14 will continue discussion on an updated draft of Ordinance 2022-02 related to an affordable housing pilot project on the Bethany Lutheran Church property, at the southwest intersection of NE High School Road and Sportsman Club Road NE.

On March 24, the Planning Commission discussed the ordinance and approved several motions to refine the draft ordinance.

Ultimately, the Planning Commission will make a recommendation on the ordinance to the City Council. The City Council will then take up the ordinance for its own review and decision. Additional information is available on the affordable housing page.

ReFashion Bainbridge, a project of Bainbridge Island Zero Waste and Sustainable Bainbridge, with funding assistance from a City of Bainbridge Island cultural funding grant, is thrilled to announce that the 18th annual Bainbridge Environmental Conference will take place Sunday, March 27 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at IslandWood.

Entitled "We All Get Dressed: Garb, Gear, and Growing a Sustainable Clothing Economy", this conference aims to encourage us all to rethink our role in the fashion industry and empower us to make informed choices as we learn how what we put on our body every day impacts the world around us.

The conference will feature keynote speakers discussing the psychology of consumption, innovation in textile recycling, and local fibersheds. There will be two breakout sessions with a variety of hands-on workshops and panel discussions that cover a broad array of topics, from mending and extending the life of our clothes and gear to understanding and reducing their social and environmental impacts on a local to global scale.

Registration is $10 (please reach out if financial assistance is needed) and is now open. Please join us!