This week Washington Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck spoke at the Annual Conference of the Association of Washington Cities. Lt. Governor Heck spoke of the need for civility in government and the danger of the decline in civility. He said that “when civility erodes, government becomes less efficient and effective.” Compromise has always been a keystone piece our democratic process. The Lt. Governor told a wonderful story of how a two-time political opponent of his helped him assemble his stationary rowing machine after he had defeated him in an election. He said that can only happen when the debate focuses on the substance of policy and not the person.
This past week I thanked the City Council, my bosses, for their efforts to treat each other with respect. I can say with confidence that during my tenure the City Council has worked hard to be respectful of each other during Council Meetings and conduct the work of the municipal corporation in a professional manner. I know that City Council members have their differences, but they work hard to work for the collective good.
Local government has always been the cornerstone of our democracy. While civility seems to be slipping away at the national level, we can work hard to keep civility alive locally, and in the process, maybe leaders at the federal level will learn from their local government counterparts.
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Best,
Blair King
City Manager
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The City of Bainbridge Island, in partnership with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department, Bainbridge Prepares, Bainbridge Island Community Pharmacy, and the Bainbridge Island School District will hold a pediatric vaccine clinic for six month-to-five-year-olds on Saturday, July 9 at the Commodore Options Lower Gym.
First dose appointments only are available only for children in this age range. Appointments are open online at our Clinic Registration site.
The clinic will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with follow-on 2nd dose and booster clinics for that vaccine in the future. A potential clinic with Moderna vaccine is in the planning stages.
For additional information, please check the Vaccine Finder here:
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Take public transit to support a Climate Smart Bainbridge |
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Travel in personal vehicles is responsible for approximately 12% of our community greenhouse gas emissions. Public transit is one of the lowest cost forms of transportation - a benefit to any budget. It can also significantly lower your climate emissions, by 80% or more, compared to driving a car.
It’s easy to take the bus on Bainbridge Island from Monday through Saturday with both fixed-route buses and on-demand bus service from Kitsap Transit! Select the "Take the Bus" action in the Climate Smart Challenge to learn more and access local resources to help you bus, bike and walk more.
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Warm weather tips for the coming weekend |
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The US National Weather Service Seattle Washington is forecasting the first heat wave of the year this weekend for our area. Temperatures on Bainbridge Island are expected to reach the mid-80s on Sunday and Monday. Follow these tips to stay healthy and safe this weekend:
- Stay hydrated
- Eat and dress light
- Try to avoid being outdoors in the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM
- Never leave children or pets in a vehicle
- Stay in a cool place during the heat of the day
- Use life jackets or floatation devices on the water
Evaluation of opening the City's cooling center, located at the Bainbridge Island Senior Center, occurs when temperatures exceed 90 degrees for four or more hours. It's not expected that this will occur over the coming weekend.
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Looking for volunteers for the Grand Old Fourth - Celebrate Bainbridge |
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After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID public health emergency, the Grand Old Fourth Celebrate Bainbridge events will return over the upcoming holiday weekend.
To make the July 3 Street Dance and July 4 festivities a success, organizers are looking for more volunteers.
Volunteer here for a two to four hour shift.
Responsibilities range from standing at a barricade to ensure safety to staffing a water station to many other key aspects of providing this signature community event.
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New Brooklyn & Sportsman Club intersection improvement project |
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Preliminary work began this week on the New Brooklyn/Sportsman Club Road Intersection Improvement project.
The contractor and their surveyor will be installing clearing and construction limits and fencing, performing roadside clearing, pavement sawcutting and sidewalk and curb demolition. As more equipment and material are brought to the site the eastbound lane of New Brooklyn between Sportsman Club Road and Grizdale Lane will be closed to traffic.
After the 4th of July weekend and Rotary Auction event both lanes will be closed to traffic until late August. The project is scheduled to be completed in advance of school starting in September. The project will increase safety for school students, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized users crossing at this junction.
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Council to consider Request for Proposals for Lodging Tax Awards |
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On June 28, the City Council will take the first steps to initiate the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) awards for 2023 by reviewing and discussing the Request for Proposals for this year's awards. The City expects to award roughly $350,000 through this award cycle, for eligible projects in accordance with state law. The Request for Proposals will include certain criteria established by the Council. Later this summer, the City Council will appoint members to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC), which reviews project proposals and provides the Council with recommendations on project funding.
The revenue is generated by a state tax on overnight stays in lodging establishments, including hotels, bed and breakfasts and short-term vacation rentals. The revenue is awarded to local organizations which complete projects that promote tourism on Bainbridge Island. This year, the City expects to award roughly $350,000 to support projects in 2023.
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Fourth of July fireworks ban |
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As we look forward to a fun and safe Fourth of July holiday, we want to remind everyone that fireworks are prohibited on Bainbridge Island per ordinance (BIMC 8.28). This includes sparklers, Roman candles, rockets, cones, and firecrackers.
On the Fourth of July, concerned citizens can call 9-1-1 to report illegal fireworks or any of the following:
- Someone injured from a firework
- A fire started by a firework
- You witness someone attempting to start a fire with a firework
- You witness someone assaulting someone with a firework
Between July 1 through July 4, during the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., nuisance fireworks complaints can be made by calling the Bainbridge police department directly at 206-842-5211. Calls that include a specific location where fireworks are being discharged will be prioritized over those reporting a general area.
Bainbridge police will be out in the community and available to assist as needed throughout the holiday weekend.
We appreciate your cooperation as we work to keep everyone in our community safe.
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The next scheduled City Council Regular Business Meeting will be on June 28. Key topics include:
- Introduce the consulting team who is preparing the Housing Action Plan
- Consider recommendation to purchase a piece of public art (Cardinal Connection)
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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City Celebration of Juneteenth a Success |
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The City of Bainbridge Island had its first community celebration of the Juneteenth holiday this past weekend, June 19, 2022. The event was hosted by the City’s Race Equity Advisory Committee, in collaboration with Bainbridge Black, Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union 3000.
Over 100 community members attended the event, where they enjoyed music, food, and speakers. Speakers included a wide range of community and regional residents, such as:
Suquamish Tribal Member and Education Specialist, Barbara Lawrence and her granddaughter; Councilwoman Brenda Fantroy-Johnson; Multi-cultural Advisory Committee Chair, Chas Malatesta; Bainbridge Black member, Darkeim Brown; Living Life Leadership member and BHS student, Izaya Brown; Former REAC Co-chairperson. James Friday and Living Arts Cultual Heritage Director, Akuyea Karen Vargas.
Event organizer and REAC member Peggi Erickson said "For Juneteenth, REAC wanted to elevate the voices of Black Bainbridge Islanders and honor their history, which is part of everyone's history. The speakers brought a clear message that in order to progress we must all join in the work of moving racial equity forward here on Bainbridge."
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Community Police Academy Graduation |
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On May 4, the Bainbridge Island Police Department resumed its Community Police Academy with 15 residents. The class was last held in 2020 but cancelled mid-session due to the COVID outbreak. Several of this year's participants were returning members of that cancelled class.
The Community Police Academy met once a week to learn about the operations of the Bainbridge Island Police Department. Topics covered included patrol operations, investigations, traffic enforcement, use of force issues, emergency management and our K9, Officer Whitney. The class also participated in activities such as a tour of the Kitsap County Jail, tactical scenarios officers face, and a trip to the firing range. The community members had opportunities to engage in conversations with members of the police department, the Chief of Police, and the opportunity to participate in a ride-along with a Bainbridge Island Police Officer on patrol. The jail tour included an opportunity to talk with the Kitsap County Sheriff who shared his role in serving the entire Kitsap County community.
The final class met on Saturday, June 18th at the Bainbridge Island Sportsmen’s Club where participants interacted with officers and engaged in training scenarios. Members of the Sportsman Club were on hand to provide lunch to the class during the event.
The next class will be held in February 2023.
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Environmental Protection Agency briefs Council on Wyckoff Remediation Project |
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remedial project manager Jacob Moersen presented to City Council the Federal government’s project schedule for the Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor superfund site cleanup on June 21. Video of the presentation is available on the City's website.
Work will focus on three areas of remediation: replacement of the temporary eastern and north shoal sheet pile walls with a permanent structure, dredging and removal of beach sediments and replacement with a capping layer, and in-situ solidification and stabilization of the creosote by locking it underground into concrete monoliths in the upland areas of the site. The upland, which formerly housed the processing area for creosote, will be capped and may serve as a potential park in the future.
The work is expected to be complete by 2030. Earlier proposals sought to truck away the dredged beach sediment material via Eagle Harbor Drive, however, EPA now has plans to remove the sediments via barge to reduce impacts to our local roads.
The site housed a creosote wood treating plant in the 1940s and was placed on the National Priorities List in 1987 for hazardous materials contamination.
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Celebrate Ride Transit Month with Trivia |
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Local quiz masters Trivia Time Live will be adding a transportation twist to their usual trivia night on Wednesday, June 29, at The Marketplace at Pleasant Beach on Bainbridge Island. Grab your team and join us in celebrating #RideTransitMonth with Transit Trivia!
The Marketplace (Bainbridge): 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., June 29
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June 30, 6 p.m. Planning Commission meeting
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Monday, July 4 City Hall closed in observance of Fourth of July.
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