City Manager's Report
Bainbridge Islanders,
There is a 2000 movie named Frequency. It starred Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel. The plot is about radio time travel that allows a father and son to speak to each other across time via ham radios. The move is fiction. On the other hand, in the real world, ham radio operators are an important communication link, particularly during disasters, when Bainbridge Island may be cut off from the rest of the world. 

The City of Bainbridge Island, along with the Bainbridge Island Fire District, Bainbridge Prepares, and the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island is working to establish a robust reserve of community ham radio operators. On Saturday, May 21, we had 29 community members successfully pass their amateur radio license exam, or ham radio operators’ license. Working with Bainbridge Prepares’ Bainbridge Emergency Auxiliary Radio Service (BEARS), interested persons were introduced to amateur radio operations and then given two weeks of self-study to prepare for a required Federal Communications Commission exam.
 
These new ham radio operators will get the chance to enhance their emergency communication skills via participation in the upcoming emergency preparedness drill named “Cascadia Rising 2022,” which is a multi-day post-earthquake simulation. We are grateful to these members of the community who took the time to earn their ham license and are available for assistance and aid in the event of an emergency.  
Best,

Blair King
City Manager
Celebrating Juneteenth
You're invited to the first Bainbridge Juneteenth Community Celebration at the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center and Waterfront Park on Sunday, June 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

There will be local speakers from Bainbridge’s Black Community, West African Food from Aunt Dolly’s for purchase, Black music streaming, a free art exhibit and general celebration honoring Juneteenth.

2022 is the first year that Juneteenth is an official Federal and Washington State holiday. The event is being hosted by the City of Bainbridge Island Race Equity Advisory Committee in collaboration with the Bainbridge Black, Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union 3000.

Come and celebrate the liberation of Black people from slavery and hear about the ongoing work of race equity on Bainbridge Island. Everyone is welcome!

City Hall will be closed Monday, June 20 in observance of Juneteenth.
Calling all nominees for the Blakely Awards!
The City’s Historic Preservation Commission is seeking nominations for this year’s Blakely Awards; the submission deadline is June 15, 2022.       
 
Since 2011, Blakely Awards have recognized individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to historic preservation on the Island. 

There are two nomination categories:
1) Project of Excellence - In recognition of outstanding historic preservation projects which are of significant value to the community.

To qualify as a Project of Excellence, the property should be listed on the Local Historic Register or meet the Historic Register eligibility criteria (BIMC 18.24.040). The project must be located on Bainbridge Island and have been completed within the five years prior to the nomination date.   

2) Preservation Leader - In recognition of community leadership in promoting historic preservation by an individual or organization.

To qualify as a Preservation Leader, the nomination should demonstrate how their efforts have advanced the cause of historic preservation in our community through public outreach and education, community leadership and promotion of historic preservation, and/or management of a significant preservation project. 

Individual nominees must be island residents or island property owners. Organizations must conduct some historic preservation activities on the Island. 

The nomination form is available on the Commission’s webpage. 
Ride Transit Month!
Celebrate Ride Transit Month in June!

With high gas prices and warmer, drier days on the way, now is a great time to try riding the bus. Take at least one trip on public transit in June to celebrate Ride Transit Month.

Did you know? You can ride the bus without cash! Purchase an ORCA card online, at the ORCA vending machine at the Bike Barn by the ferry terminal, at our local Safeway or you can even download the Transit GO Ticket app to buy tickets with your smartphone. Be sure to select the "Take the Bus" action to earn points in the Climate Smart Challenge!

Other ways to reduce your carbon impact, include:
1. Drive less. Try combining errands into one trip or choosing places to dine or shop close to home.
2. Leave your car behind. Take public transportation, carpool or telework if your place of employment offers it.
3. Go electric or hybrid on your next vehicle purchase.
4. Fly less - travel to local sites instead. Or when you must travel by air, consider participating in an “offset,” which is to make a small donation to an organization working to reduce climate impacts.

Check out this short video to learn more about how to reduce your carbon footprint when getting around town as part of our Climate Smart Challenge.
Project Updates
Roads Construction Contract Award
During their Regular Business Meeting, the City Council authorized a contract award for the 2022 Annual Roads Program construction project to Granite Construction Company, in the amount of $477,000. 

The 2022 Annual Roads Program consists of Island-wide asphalt repairs, full depth patches and patching, including pulverizing existing road surface, grading, and paving for the roads around the Island. 

The repair locations were prioritized using a pavement preservation analysis, as well as visual field inspections, to ensure a positive cost-benefit ratio as well as maintenance of the City’s overall pavement management score, which is a metric that rates pavement condition on a scale of 1-100. 

The City aims to maintain an average score of no less than 70. The City’s current score is 68.
To view the project webpage, visit www.bainbridgewa.gov/270
Police and Municipal Court Facility Groundbreaking Ceremony
Today the community celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Police-Court facility.

The new facility is seismically sound, will provide the ability to maintain safety and privacy for victims and witnesses via interview rooms, will offer increased storage space for evidence, will provide accessibility by public transit, and add space for jury trials, among other improvements.
Police Updates
See something, say something!
Preventing theft and other crimes takes the eyes and ears of the entire community. If you see unusual or suspicious activity, make note of descriptions or license plates, and notify 911. If you have additional questions, or any information about the recent thefts, contact BIPD at 206-842-5211.
City Council Updates
The next scheduled City Council Regular Business Meeting will be on June 14. Key topics include:

  • Proclaim Juneteenth City Holiday
  • Proclaim June LGTBQI+ Awareness Month

Ways to Watch
  • In-person at the City Hall City Council Chambers 

  • Zoom

  • 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.
Other Updates
City to hold Public Hearing for Adoption of the 2019 Stormwater Management Manual of Western Washington on June 14, 2022
The City of Bainbridge Island is preparing to adopt the Washington State Department of Ecology 2019 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington (SWMMWW) to continue to support the City’s Comprehensive Plan policies and goals, uphold the Clean Water Act and meet State and Federal requirements for controlling runoff from new development, redevelopment, and construction sites to reduce pollutants in stormwater runoff. The anticipated effective date to adopt the 2019 SWMMWW in BIMC 15.20 is July 1, 2022.
 
The 2019 SWMMWW builds on the guidance of the previous manual regarding Low Impact Development (LID) as a preferred approach to stormwater mitigation and adds more Source Control Best Management Practices (BMPs) for preventing sources of pollutants in runoff. Additionally, the 2019 SWMMWW incorporates text revisions and consolidates sections to avoid confusion or conflicting information. Most jurisdictions in Western Washington are adopting this manual so there is consistency throughout the region.
 
Bainbridge Island Municipal Code 15.20, Surface Water and Stormwater Management currently adopts the 2012 Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, As Amended in December 2014. In 2016 the City conducted a thorough review and update of BIMC 15.20 to adopt the 2012/2014 SWMMWW with the intention of streamlining future stormwater manual adoptions.
Thanks for the warm welcome!
Thanks to all of you who came by to welcome the new director of the Planning and Community Development Department, Patricia Charnas to the city.
  
A resident of Kitsap County since 2004, Ms. Charnas brings extensive experience in many aspects of planning, including being responsible for updates to Comprehensive Plans, Shoreline Management Plans and Critical Areas Ordinances. 
We're hiring!
The City of Bainbridge Island has a newly created Housing Specialist position open for immediate hire. The role of the Housing Specialist is to assist the City in its efforts to broaden the affordable housing options on Bainbridge Island. The ideal candidate has a background in housing services, affordable housing policy, project development, and management, with a passion for local government, housing policy and proven track record for effective service delivery.
 
The Housing Specialist is responsible for managing all aspects of the affordable housing development process for new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation projects, ensuring financial cost efficiency and operational viability in development.
 
This individual will pivot quickly as needed and offer a range of approaches to develop affordable housing. The ability to collaborate with a variety of partners is key for success, as is the ability to identify and cultivate projects of interest on an ongoing basis through engagement with the community, staff and stakeholders.  

This position is open until filled. The cutoff for first review of applications is 8:00am, June 2, 2022.
 
For more information and to apply, or to view all City employment opportunities, please visit our career page.
Learn more about how to support the Climate Action Plan
Looking for more information about climate action programs and resources on Bainbridge Island?

Visit the City’s Climate Action website at www.bainbridgewa.gov/climateaction and sign up for notifications about “Climate Change” activities by clicking on "Notify Me" and then selecting Climate change.
Important Dates
Monday, June 6, 2 - 5 p.m.


June 12, 1- 4 p.m. ReFashion Show, Islandwood

June 13-15 Cascadia Rising Emergency Response Exercise
June 14 City scheduled to hold Public Hearing for Adoption of the 2019 Stormwater Management Manual of Western Washington

Monday, June 20 City Hall closed in observance of Juneteenth