Where do City of Bainbridge Island employees reside? Several members of the community asked this question in response to the information shared in last week's newsletter on the racial and ethnic composition of our workforce. Below is a chart that shows 38% of Bainbridge Island employees reside on Bainbridge Island, 28% reside in Poulsbo, 18% in unincorporated Kitsap County, and the remaining 14% in other locations (note: the sum does not equal 100% due to rounding and data classifications).

The percentage of employees who live on the island has varied over the years. In 2018, approximately 46% of employees lived on Bainbridge Island. This was the high-water mark. The percentage has not been over 50% for the past decade.

I am a horrible commuter. I have been lucky. I have always lived in the city I worked with very short commutes. In fact, the six or so miles from City Hall that I now live may be one of my longer commutes.  

Employees are free to live where they want or can afford to live. I found that living in the community increases my knowledge and appreciation of the community and increases job satisfaction. It is enjoyable being part of the community, joining clubs, socializing, and patronizing local businesses. Bainbridge Island has a lot to offer. I hope that we can increase the percentage of employees who live here as well.   

The City Council this week determined that it will spend more than half of the $7 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on affordable housing projects, with the remainder supporting sustainable transportation, wastewater treatment upgrades, emergency hubs and human services. The projects include:

ARPA, a $1.9 trillion national economic stimulus bill passed by Congress in March, aims to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City Council discussed potential projects in June and August and sought input from City Advisory Groups and the community in September through Engage Bainbridge. Nearly 700 community members reviewed the online survey, with over 400 responses provided.

The City Manager will return to Council with additional information and implementation steps.

Please see the message below from the Kitsap County Assessor's Office regarding inspections that will begin on Bainbridge Island during the week of Oct. 4.

Appraisers from the Kitsap County Assessor’s Office are now conducting on-site inspections throughout Bainbridge Island. Washington State Law (RCW 84.40.025) requires inspections of all real property throughout the county at least once every six years. The current inspections should be completed by April 2022.

Appraisers from the Kitsap County Assessor’s Office will be following social-distancing protocols to ensure the safety of the public and staff. Appraisers will attempt to stay in their vehicles while conducting onsite inspections, however if an appraiser does need to approach an occupied residence, they will be wearing a mask and will maintain at least six feet of physical separation from anyone on the premises. If you need to approach an appraiser we ask that you please also maintain at least six feet of physical separation.

Our appraisers do not drive county-issued vehicles, however their vehicles are marked with the proper county identification on both sides. Other verification options are to request to see individual credentials, contact our office at 360-337-7160, or check our inspection area progress map on our website at: www.kitsapgov.com/assessor.

The cooperation of the public is always appreciated by our staff. We look forward to working with you and answering your questions.

You might have noticed black tubes across many roads on Bainbridge Island. These are traffic counters that the City is using to gather traffic data at 126 locations to inform the traffic-calming program. The traffic counters measure speed and count how many cars travel that road.

The City has also installed cameras at 33 intersections to gather information on how many people are riding bicycles on the island. This information will serve as a baseline for bicycle use around the island and support future Sustainable Transportation Plan (STP) project planning and evaluation.

The project also includes an inventory of the speed limit signs to create a snapshot of the island’s existing speed limits and aid future traffic-calming evaluation efforts.

The last time the City collected this type of data was in 2019.

This new set of data will be compiled into a map for departmental use and by the Traffic Operations Committee to address speed limit modification requests.

The City Council this week approved an emergency declaration for repairs of a critical slope failure on NE Yeomalt Drive.

Approximately 150 linear feet of the Yeomalt Point Drive roadway embankment experienced landslide activity in early spring, as evidenced by sloughing soil and mud down the embankment’s north slope.

The existing conditions of the Yeomalt Point Drive north slope represent a significant hazard to the life and private property of occupants of the downslope residence and to the stability of the public road.

The timescale of a failure of the slope and road cannot be determined due to the episodic nature of landslides, but a worst-case scenario would result in loss of life and an impassable public road, which is currently only 20 feet wide and serves 30 to 40 properties below.

The City contracted with a geotechnical engineering services firm to perform a site reconnaissance of the slide, perform a boring of the soil layers under the road, and prepare recommendations for repairs as necessary.

Given the risk and uncertainty associated with this slope failure area, staff recommended an emergency declaration for the Yeomalt Point Drive Roadway embankment that would allow the City to waive competitive bidding requirements to make emergency procurements, including construction and engineering services contracts.

Construction on the slope repair, which will likely be a combination of shotcrete retaining wall and soil nailing, is expected to begin in October.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 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.

This year's 'Day of Preparedness' clinic, held Sept. 25 at Commodore Options School, provided 263 flu vaccines and 97 COVID-19 vaccines (some first-dose; second-dose and third-dose vaccines for those who qualify).

Those who attended received information on emergency preparedness and programs, including Map Your Neighborhood.

Each year, the City hosts a preparedness event in September (National Preparedness Month) to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies.

The City is accepting proposals to fund cultural projects and activities that will benefit Bainbridge Islanders and visitors.

Each year, the City provides significant funds to local nonprofit organizations to support cultural activities in the community through the Cultural Funding Task Force process. In 2021, the City will award $300,000 in grants to these efforts for use in 2022-2023.

Local organizations may submit a proposal seeking funds between $5,000 and $30,000 for programming (including operating support) that support the cultural and economic elements of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. These may include projects related to visual, performing, and literary arts, museums, historical sites and landmarks, and many other cultural institutions.

Please visit the City’s website to apply and review a presentation with background information on the funding cycle process.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 15.

Even if you think you’ve hiked them all, you may find a surprise or two on the new Trails On Bainbridge Island map. Such is the pace of change on the island’s public trail network, now 42 miles and getting longer almost by the month.

Trails On Bainbridge Island is produced by the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District, with support from the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation and a grant from the City’s Civic Improvement Fund.

Fully redesigned and updated, Trails On Bainbridge Island is now available at visitor-facing venues around the island. The full-color, large-format map has a range of features to guide islanders and visitors alike.

The newly revised and updated Trails On Bainbridge Island map is now available at City Hall, the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, Bainbridge Island Recreation Center, Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center, and the Parks Foundation office in the Marge Williams Center.

The Kitsap County Fire Marshal has lifted all burn bans in the county. As of noon Thursday, all outdoor burning may resume subject to the normal rules and regulations.

Please visit the Bainbridge Island Fire Department website to learn more about the current burning regulations on Bainbridge Island.

As the Nov. 2 general election nears, please be aware that Bainbridge Island voters in the general election vote for positions in all wards (north, central and south).

Four seats on the Bainbridge Island City Council are up for election this year:

The ballot drop box on Bainbridge Island is located at the Bainbridge Island School District property, located at 8489 Madison Avenue NE. Ballot drop boxes are available 24 hours a day beginning Oct. 15 until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Learn more on the Kitsap County Auditor elections page, voter registration page, and Local Voters Pamphlet.