Bainbridge Islanders,
Race Equity Advisory Committee Member, Jing Fong, reminds us it’s rhubarb season! Last year I shared Jing’s Rhubarberry Crisp Recipe with rhubarb and strawberries. I have made it several times, and it was a winner each time. This year Jing gave me a recipe for Rhubarb-Ginger Coffee Cake. The coffee cake is moist and delicious. Here is the link: Rhubarb-Ginger Coffee Cake Recipe | King Arthur Baking. Both the crisp and coffee cake recipes are classics.
This week several members of the REAC committee and other community members helped interview candidates for our first Equity and Inclusion Manager. Thanks to the work of the City’s Human Resources staff, there was an extremely large candidate pool. The pool of candidates was narrowed down, and eight candidates were invited to interview. Six accepted our invitation. Two different panels interviewed each candidate and recommended the highest rated candidates for further consideration. We are now in the process of interviewing the final candidates and conducting reference checks.
This position is an important cornerstone in the City’s efforts to be a more equitable and open community. It provides an additional set of hands to help the City work on its pragmatic goals in the areas of handicapped accessibility, procurement policies for Disadvantaged Minority and Women businesses, and applying an equity lens to policy and implementation tasks. I anticipate this position will be filled by the end of summer.
Best,
Blair King
City Manager
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City Manager Spotlight
Flowers are blooming on Winslow!
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Program, Project & Operation Updates |
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Eagle Harbor/Wyatt Way Non-Motorized Improvements |
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City Council authorized additional data gathering and design development for two preferred alternatives for the Eagle Harbor/Wyatt Way Non-Motorized Improvement Project. Both preferred alternatives were largely informed by public input. Alternative D consists of a widened bike lane with a mix of a protected and buffered lanes mainly along Wyatt Way and south along Eagle Harbor Drive around the Head of the Bay. Alternative E proposes a bi-directional lane with a protected curb along Wyatt Way, Eagle Harbor Drive, and continues along Bucklin Hill Road. Further design refinement and input from the public will be gathered before a final decision at the June 13 City Council Meeting. |
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Public Benefits for Lost Valley Trail Partnership |
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This week, the City Council approved the Lost Valley Trail project, a mile-long trail connecting the Head of the Bay area with Fletcher Bay Road. The City has purchased an easement that the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation (BIPTF) secured, allowing non-motorized access across the Lost Valley property. The BIPTF will prepare the environmental documentation needed to secure the permits and construct a trail that will traverse the property and adjacent easements. The Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation District will maintain the trail. This project is a partnership of all three organizations. |
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At this week’s City Council meeting, Council formed a short-term Ad Hoc Committee to look at best ways to utilize City Advisory Groups for efficient and effective work. A survey of City Advisory group committee members and a review of City staff members were completed earlier this year, with the most recent Council discussion of this topic in March of this year. The Ad Hoc Committee will be meeting and reporting back to the rest of Council by the end of the year. |
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Consider if and how you pressure wash. All soaps are detrimental to natural habitats and wildlife. Keep soaps and detergents out of streets, storm drains, ditches, wetlands and waterbodies.
When pressure washing incorrectly, water, soaps, sediment from driveways and roofs, as well as auto fluids, can be carried into storm drains, streams, wetlands, and the Puget Sound without being treated.
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If you must pressure wash a surface, please consider the following:
- Start with dry methods to pre-clean, such as treating small oil spots with an absorbent and sweeping up trash/debris/dirt.
- Place barriers around washing area to prevent wastewater flowing to storm drains, ditches, or waterbodies.
- Use water rather than chemical cleaning products.
- Use the least amount of water possible to reduce quantity of wastewater produced.
If chemicals or soaps are used, you must contain and collect wastewater and make sure it only goes into a sanitary sewer or septic system to be treated before being released to the environment.
Please email Public Works Water Resources at waterresources@bainbridgewa.gov with questions or for more tips. Please report real or potential stormwater pollution issues to Kitsap1 (360-337-5777). Learn more about code that relates to this by clicking on the button below (Bainbridge Island Municipal Code 15.22, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination).
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Vote on the Next BI Reads |
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The next BI Reads choices are:
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“Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants” by Robin Wall Kimmere
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“The House of Broken Angels” by Luis Alberto Urrea
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“A Tale For the Time Being” by Ruth Ozeki
Vote online or use the physical ballot boxes located at City Hall, Eagle Harbor Book Co, the Bainbridge Island Library, and the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center. The book choice winner will be announced on July 25 at the City Council Regular Business Meeting.
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Police & Bainbridge Prepares |
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New Police/Court Facility Name Update |
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City Council considered a name for the new Police Department and Municipal Court facility at this week’s Regular Business Meeting. The Police and Municipal Court Ad Hoc Naming Committee met three times, going over public input and determined a list of five finalist names for City Council consideration. Council is expected to make a proclamation for “Ted Spearman Justice Center” as the name for the Police Department and Municipal Court facility at the June 13 Regular Business Meeting.
More information will be coming soon.
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EV and Electric Bike Expo Highlight Video |
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As part of the City’s Climate Smart Challenge, we’re calling on Islanders to complete “Shift Your Ride” actions in the month of May. If you’ve been thinking about an electric vehicle, but aren’t ready to make that commitment, consider a hybrid vehicle!
Did you know? Hybrid vehicles combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor and batteries. Combining electric power with gas gives hybrids about 30% better fuel efficiency than comparable gas-only cars and can save $50/month or more on fuel costs! You can help reduce climate pollution and earn points by completing the “Buy or Lease a Hybrid Vehicle” action in the Challenge.
Everyone who completes actions and earns at least 10,000 points in the Challenge by the end of May will be entered to win one of five outdoor or indoor composting bins! It’s not too late to complete actions and get in the running to win a composting bin. Review your actions in the Challenge this weekend and mark them complete by Wednesday, May 31 for your chance to win!
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The next scheduled City Council Regular Business Meeting will be on June 13. Key topics include:
- Authorize Final Design for Eagle Harbor/Wyatt Way Non-Motorized Improvement Design
- Consider Planning Commission Recommendation on Adopting Housing Action Plan
- Introduce Composting Procurement Ordinance
- Consider Interlocal Agreement between City of Bainbridge and Salish Behavioral Health with Regards to Opioid Settlement Funds
- Consider Planning Commission and Race Equity Advisory Committee Appointments
- Proclamations
Ways to Watch
- In-person at the City Hall City Council Chambers
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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)
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.
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