A fantastic collaboration of three different organizations has been underway for the past several months. Three organizations have been working together to help businesses prepare for new regulations that deal with disposable food service products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our waterways. Beginning Jan. 1, retail food establishments on Bainbridge may only provide single-use food service products to customers upon the customer’s affirmation or request. Examples of single-use food service products are utensils, straws, condiments in packaging, and cold beverage cup lids. Restaurants are not allowed to make these products available in self-serve bins, dispensers, or containers.

With financial support from the City, the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce, Bainbridge Island Zero Waste/ Sustainable Bainbridge, and the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association have formed the Bainbridge Business Ambassador program to help businesses comply with the City’s new waste reduction ordinance.

The Business Ambassadors have personally contacted more than 90 affected Bainbridge businesses. The Business Ambassadors report that as of Dec. 6, 62% of Bainbridge businesses are already in compliance. The remaining 38% of businesses are gearing up to be in compliance at the start of the year. The Business Ambassadors have been offering suggestions and listening to what impediments businesses face in complying. The cost of the educational program is a little under $3,000.

These new regulations are intended to reduce the amount of waste we generate, which often ends up as pollution in our local waterways and the ocean. Single-use food service products are ubiquitous, and it takes a lot of energy to manufacture and distribute those products. Although they are used for just a few minutes before being discarded, the environmental impacts last long into the future. (Yes, I, too, use plastic utensils but I am committed to doing a better job using reusable foodware.)

The City Council has adopted additional restrictions on disposable food service items, which will become effective Jan. 1, 2023. A grant application for $60,000 has been submitted to the Washington State Department of Ecology for additional funds for more education, promotion, and incentives to help reduce waste, shrink our contribution to landfills, and lessen our carbon footprint.

It is important to acknowledge and thank businesses that are complying with Bainbridge Island’s waste reduction efforts. The best way to acknowledge and thank businesses is to patronize them. Financially support those businesses who have good environmental practices.

The COVID-19 test site will be open Monday, Dec. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church lower parking lot. It is a good idea to have out of town guests and students returning from break get tested before any holiday gatherings. You can make an appointment online at https://www.testdirectly.com/patient/home

The test site will be closed Monday, Dec. 27 and will reopen Monday, Jan. 3.

The City of Bainbridge Island and its partners have now administered more than 37,000 COVID-19 vaccines at 88 clinics since Dec. 23, 2020.

The booster clinic on Dec. 11 was the final COVID-19 vaccine clinic of 2021. The partnership, which consists of the City, Bainbridge Island Fire Department, Bainbridge Prepares, and the Bainbridge Island Community Pharmacy, is planning for a limited number of booster clinics in 2022, and expects to host a pediatric vaccine clinic when children under 5 become eligible. Additional information will be shared in early January.

A group of dedicated Emergency Management volunteers gave more than 36,000 hours during 2021 to the vaccine and testing efforts. Thank you to everyone who made this happen. This is a true community effort!

Learn about the vaccine distribution demographics on the Kitsap Public Health District website.

Watch a video below with responses from volunteers and kids at the Dec. 4 vaccine clinic at Commodore Options School.

The City Council this week directed the City Manager to execute a contract with Toole Design for the remaining field survey and schematic design of the Madison Avenue Sidewalk Project.

The Council action follows the Council’s Aug. 17 support for an expanded scope of the project that would include the bundling of three priority projects (Madison Ave Sidewalk, Village Basin Sewer Improvements, and Madison Reconstruction) into a single project that could also include a separated bike facility on both sides of one or more segments of the Madison Avenue corridor between Winslow Way and SR 305. Bicycle counts collected in September 2021 indicate that Madison Avenue is one of the most highly trafficked bike routes on the island, which substantiates the need for safe, all-ages facilities along the corridor.

The advantage of combining and expanding the scope of these projects is that it would create cost efficiencies by overlapping utility and road replacements, minimize public inconvenience, reduce the amount of cuts to the road surface, and mitigate limitations on staff resources by focusing on a series of improvements along one corridor in a single project.

The estimated savings from bundling the projects could be as much as $500,000. Additionally, the separated bike lane element of the project would create an all-ages north-south corridor through Winslow that could potentially connect downtown with the library, schools, parks, and other commercial establishments.

As part of this task, staff and the consultant will perform the remaining field survey work, refine the project design elements based on input from the City Council received Aug. 17, and engage the public on the design. Staff will bring a final schematic design and cost estimate to the City Council for review and approval in early spring 2022.

The final Sustainable Transportation Task Force meeting will occur Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom.

The Task Force will review the groups of projects and programs identified for a Near-term Implementation Plan, encompassing the next six to 10 years of transportation infrastructure. Public comment will be taken at the end of the meeting.

Traffic Impact Fees in 2022 will increase by approximately 5% to $1,811.

Transportation Impact fees, which were established by the City Council in 2015, are fees related to the development permitting process. Assessed fees are collected at permit issuance to fund improvements that add capacity to the transportation system, thereby accommodating the travel demand created by new development on Bainbridge Island.

The fees are applied to residential permits (Single-Family, Additional Dwelling Units, Multi-Family Units) and new commercial space permits, including changes of use of existing commercial sites. The fee amount is based on the proposed use and is calculated based on the number of trips generated by the new development, and then paid at a “per trip” rate. The dollars generated are applied to the transportation elements of City capital projects as they are designed and constructed. The City collects, on average, about $175,000 in fees each year.

In February, City staff will recommend updates to the Traffic Impact Fee process and fees as part of the Sustainable Transportation Plan near-term actions.

The City Council on Dec. 14 approved Ordinance 2021-39, which extends the City's Housing Design Demonstration Projects (HDDP) Program for one year, until Dec. 31, 2022. The HDDP program (BIMC 2.16.020.S) applies in the Winslow area and promotes the development of projects that increase affordable housing and meet green building certification standards through incentives, such as flexible development standards and a density incentive. To qualify under the HDDP program, development projects must provide at least 50% of residential units as affordable housing.

The City Council set a public hearing for Feb. 8, 2022 for Ordinance 2022-01. This ordinance proposes the following changes to the HDDP program recommended by the Planning Commission on Nov.18, 2021. The recommendations include:

The City Council this week approved the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) 2022 funding recommendations to support tourism activities on Bainbridge Island, including funds to support the Japanese American Memorial 80th observance, walking and kiosk maps, a history museum exhibit and more. Each year, the City allocates money from the Civic Improvement Fund to support proposals from community organizations. The funds are collected through a tax on overnight lodging on Bainbridge Island.

The proposals must be for tourism marketing projects, marketing and operations of special events or festivals, the operation of eligible tourism-related facilities or capital expenses for an eligible tourism-related facility. The funds may be used to create new tourism promotion programs or to support or enhance existing programs.

In 2022, 11 organizations will receive funding. The Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation will receive $18,100 to support enhancements and promotion of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial and Pritchard Park for the 80th observance of the forced exclusion of Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island. Arts and Humanities Bainbridge will receive $22,500 for ongoing development of the Certified Creative District. Learn about other funding recommendations here.

LTAC members include two people from Bainbridge Island businesses that collect lodging taxes and two people from businesses or agencies eligible to receive lodging tax funding. Members can't currently serve as active board members or paid staff of organizations that apply for lodging tax funding. The committee also includes two council members (one voting; one non-voting).

The City Council this week approved $300,000 in funding for a two-year grant cycle (2022-2023) to local organizations that will provide programming that supports the Cultural and Economic Elements of the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

A task force, made up of Bainbridge Islanders and two council members, received 18 proposals from organizations.

The task force's funding recommendations include an Inclusion Study Group at the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center, an exhibit titled “Untold Stories of Bainbridge Island” at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, and a ReFashion Project by Sustainable Bainbridge. Additional information and funding decisions are available here.

The Council meetings on Dec. 21, Dec. 28 and Jan. 28 are canceled. The Council will resume Jan. 11.

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.

We're now accepting applications to fill two vacancies on the Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council. Its role is to provide recommendations to the City Council, Planning Director and Hearing Examiner, and to consider legislative and quasi-judicial matters, with its primary responsibility to prepare, review and update the Comprehensive Plan.

The Planning Commission meets 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of the month.

The City is committed to promoting diversity on the commission. Women, people with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, younger people, senior citizens, people of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. Dec. 30. Interviews will be held in January.

Learn more about the Planning Commission's responsibilities and apply at bainbridgewa.gov/239.

The Bainbridge Island Police Department is investigating two car prowls that occurred in the Grand Forest west parking lot. The incidents occurred midday Dec. 5 and Dec. 8.

The thefts occurred during a short span of about 30 minutes. Windows were broken to gain entry. Backpacks, wallets, credit cards, and electronics were taken in the thefts. Some of the credit cards were used in neighboring cities and detectives are following those leads. Anyone who may have additional information is asked to contact the Police Department at 206-842-5211.

If you plan to leave your vehicle for any length of time, please remove valuables from the car or secure them in the trunk or out of sight. Never leave spare or valet keys to your vehicle inside.