Accreditation, Certificates, and Certifications are important measuring tools to evaluate the City of Bainbridge Island’s performance. Unlike the private sector, where business success is judged by profitability or percentage of market share, local government’s standards for performance and determination of success are murkier and more nuanced. This is why, when given the opportunity, we want to measure ourselves against published standards and submit our practices for review.

Below you will see that the Bainbridge Island Police Department has been reaccredited. A noteworthy accomplishment. Earlier in the year, the Government Finance Officers Association recognized the City of Bainbridge Island for excellence in financial reporting. This is a voluntary evaluation of the City’s financial reporting against standards set by an International Association. Bainbridge Island received the highest recognition. This week, City Clerk Christine Brown received word that she has been recertified as a Certified Public Records Officer by the Washington Association of Public Records Officers (WAPRO). WAPRO provides a certification program to promote and support the Public Records Act. This is a reflection upon Brown’s professionalism and hard work.

When asked, “How do we know if we are succeeding as a municipal corporation?”, part of the answer, and only part, is we point to our Accreditation, Certificates, and Certifications as signs of the best practices that we employ.

On a different subject, as a city manager, probably nothing bothers me more than pointless vandalism. It destroys public assets for no reason and causes the City to expend time, effort, and costs to repair and restore. Then, when hate is added to the mix that puts the vandalism into a whole different classification. As one will read below, an art piece was vandalized. Within City Hall, we struggled with wording to acknowledge the vandalism and the pain and hurt it caused, but not to do so in such a way that it would bring attention to the act – something the perpetrator wants.

The City of Bainbridge Island is distressed with the racist vandalism of the art in our public park. This vandalism does not represent the open and welcoming spirit of the Bainbridge Island community. Our condolences are extended to those who have been harmed or experienced pain due to this racist vandalism.

The Race Equity Advisory Committee condemns the behavior of those that chose to bring their racist ideals to our community and to deface the art. We as representatives of the community of Bainbridge Island realize that we must be vigilant in our pursuits to be a community that embraces equity for all of our citizens and visitors. We are committed to keeping our community free from racist activity and promoting safe and understanding relationships between all here on Bainbridge Island. We applaud the efforts of our community to instill values in our community that are bringing change to the understanding of what "Equity For All" means.

The City expects the repairs will be completed soon. With the restoration, the City of Bainbridge Island will recommit itself to being a welcoming community, open to all races, people, and faiths.

This is an opportunity for the community to pledge to be anti-racists and to look for ways to extend friendship to neighbors, residents, and visitors.

The Bainbridge Island Police Department has received reaccreditation by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs – an accomplishment that recognizes the highest professional standards in law enforcement.

“Maintaining accreditation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the community to pursue high standards and accountability through external review of our policies and practices,” said Chief Joe Clark who accepted the award this week at the Association’s annual fall conference.

The purpose of accreditation is to provide a review process for agencies to be certified as operating under industry best practices and standards. In 1976, the Association was directed by the Washington State Legislature to develop standards and goals for Washington State law enforcement. The Association has maintained an operational accreditation program since that time.

To receive accreditation, agencies must complete a process that scrutinizes the agency’s goals and objectives, role and authority, use of force practices, management, staffing, organization and utilization of personnel, records management, information technology, unusual occurrences, health and safety, fiscal management, recruitment and selection, training, the performance evaluation process, code of conduct, internal affairs, patrol function, investigative function, evidence/property control function, and prisoner security.

The process includes an onsite assessment and evaluation prior to review by the Accreditation Commission. To maintain accreditation, agencies must repeat the process every four years.

The Bainbridge Island Police Department received its initial state accreditation in 2017, and is among only 63 other departments in the state that hold this designation (approximately 25% of all Washington State law enforcement).

More information on this extensive process can be found on the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Law Enforcement Accreditation Program site at http://www.waspc.org/accreditation.

The next vaccine clinic is a second-dose pediatric clinic for 5- to 11-year-olds on Saturday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 5.

The appointments have already been scheduled for the kids that came through the previous pediatric clinics.

To date, the COVID-19 vaccine partnership has vaccinated approximately 1,850 kids.

We are currently monitoring updates to the federal guidance on booster doses for everyone over 18 and may schedule a booster clinic in mid-December.

The community-based COVID-19 test site continues to operate on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rolling Bay Presbyterian. The test site will stay open at least through the end of the year. Changes to the schedule or closure of the site will be determined by demand as well as the current case rate.

The staff-led Traffic Operations Committee will meet virtually Wednesday, Dec. 1 from 9 to 10 a.m.

Topics for the agenda include:

The first two topics are in preparation for a discussion with the City in the first quarter of 2022.

The agenda and Zoom link will be available on the agendas page.

Public Works staff completed the NE Yeomalt Drive slope repairs that were authorized by the City Council in September along with an approved emergency declaration.

The roadway embankment experienced landslide activity in early spring, as evidenced by sloughing soil and mud down the embankment’s north slope.

Approximately 100 linear feet of the roadway was stabilized using soil nailing and a shotcrete retaining wall. Shotcrete is a concrete that is placed through a spray (rather than pour) technique

With the slope stabilized, Public Works staff will be working over the next few months to determine appropriate fencing or other barrier for the location, as well as upstream drainage improvements that will further reduce the risks of landslides in the area.

The City hosted a virtual public meeting this week to gather input on a proposal to build trails in the Lost Valley properties. The Lost Valley encompasses approximately 36 acres between Eagle Harbor Dr. and Fletcher Bay Rd. The valley is wooded and contains a part of the Cooper Creek watershed.

More than 60 people attended the meeting and provided input on the proposal. Most people who have responded expressed support for the plan. There were comments on both sides of issues regarding parking on the site and the width of the “transcreational” trail (wider trail allows for access by a wider range of users).

Click on the video below to watch the meeting.

Learn more about the project and share your feedback on the Engage Bainbridge page. Comments may be submitted until Nov. 30.

The Planning Commission on Nov. 18 recommended approval of draft Ordinance No. 2021-35 to extend the City’s Housing Design Demonstration Projects (HDDP) program for two years. The program, which applies in the Winslow area, is intended to promote the development of projects that increase affordable housing and meet green building certification standards with incentives such as increased density and flexible development standards.

To qualify for the HDDP program, development projects must provide at least 50% of residential units as affordable housing.

The Commission also recommended amending the program to specify that all the affordable housing units serve households at or below low-income levels (80% Area Median Income).

Ordinance No. 2021-35 will now be provided to the Council for consideration. If the Council takes no action, the HDDP program will expire at the end of 2021.

Watch the Nov. 18 Planning Commission discussion.

The City recently received a letter from Puget Sound Energy in response to an Oct. 8 letter the City sent to PSE regarding PSE's transmission line project.

At the Sept. 28 meeting, the City Council discussed writing a formal letter to PSE regarding PSE's upcoming reliability projects. Specifically, the “missing link” transmission line between the Winslow and Murden Cove Substations.

The “missing link” new transmission line is a critical component of PSE’s plan to improve electric service reliability, reducing the frequency and duration of power outages for customers on Bainbridge Island. Two substations, that don’t have backup transmission, serve two-thirds of the island. PSE is planning to build the new "missing link" transmission line between the Winslow and Murden Cove substations to create a transmission loop. This means each substation will be connected to two transmission lines. If one line goes out, the other line can still feed the substation and provide power to customers.

The City understands from PSE that there will be a formal announcement on PSE's preferred “missing link” route on Nov. 30.

We're looking for volunteers to serve on the Civil Service Commission.

Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29.

The Civil Service Commission oversees the hiring processes for the Police Department. This includes entry level and promotional testing, adoption of rules and regulations, and hearing appeals related to testing and employee discipline.

Commissioners are appointed by the City Manager and serve four-year terms. The Civil Service Commission is made up of five appointed Commissioners and is supported by a Chief Examiner; there are two positions to be filled beginning in January 2022.

A member of the Commission must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Bainbridge Island, and an elector of Kitsap County.

The Commission currently meets at 3 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month (remote at present).

Learn more about the Civil Service Commission and complete the online application at bainbridgewa.gov/223.

The City of Bainbridge Island on Nov. 9 celebrated its 30th anniversary of becoming an all-island City government with a small gathering at City Hall.

The event was open to all community members. Some visitors included current and former council members, City staff, and Home Rule Committee members who led the campaign to form an all-island government.

Photos, documents and mementos from the City’s 30-year history were on display during the event.

Thank you to those who participated in this special gathering.

We've added some of the 30th anniversary memories at bainbridgewa.gov/30years.

City offices are closed next Thursday, Nov. 25 and Friday, Nov. 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

We will not be publishing a City Manager's Report next week.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! May your holiday be filled with peace and joy.