I like to think I’m pretty normal and mainstream, particularly with regard to lifestyle choices. I like to eat good food, relax in the evening, listen to music and live a comfortable life. Intellectually, I care about the environment. I know that humanity needs to be better custodians of the earth. But I find that I force myself to make personal choices that benefit the environment, and, from time to time, I’ll choose convenience over the environmentally superior alternative.

That is why I am inspired by those who make lifestyle choices to benefit the environment and pick up the slack for the rest of us. We have many of these inspiring individuals in the City’s workforce. Our City Clerk Christine Brown regularly commutes by bicycle about 12 miles each day. Public Works Director Chris Wierzbicki is also a regular bike commuter riding the same distance every day too. Christine wears pink gear when she rides, and Chris has a gray jacket. You have probably seen them while they ride to and from work. Many other City employees carpool, walk to work or take public transportation. All of them are inspiring.

The City of Bainbridge Island has adopted a goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions from 2014 baseline levels by 25% by 2025 (in just three years). It will take active participation by all of Bainbridge Island’s residents to reach this ambitious goal.

Our Climate Officer Autumn Salamack is working hard on community engagement tools to involve everyone in reducing our individual and collective carbon footprints. Soon, we will roll out our communitywide climate action challenge that will help provide information to residents to keep our greenhouse gas goals at the forefront of everyone’s thinking and lifestyle choices.

Yes, I think I’m normal with a lot of room for improvement. That’s why I know that collectively we can all make more lifestyle choices that are environmentally superior and will advance our goals of reduced carbon and make us better custodians of our planet.

Two Seattle men were rescued by Bainbridge Island police officers Tuesday, Feb. 22 after their kayak capsized on Puget Sound.

South Kitsap Fire and Rescue units were dispatched around 10 a.m. to a 911 call reporting one kayak had capsized and two people were in the water.

From shore, South Kitsap emergency responders spotted the kayakers about halfway between Harper Pier in Port Orchard and Blake Island.

BIPD Ofc. Jon Bingham heard the call then responded to the scene aboard Marine 8 with Ofc. Brent Miller.

The BIPD officers located the kayakers and pulled them from the 46-degree water. They transported the men, 41 and 54, to the Harper Pier where medics evaluated them. The men declined additional aid and were given a ride to their vehicle.

A small craft advisory was in place Tuesday and the air temperature hovered around freezing - a very dangerous situation.

Fortunately, both kayakers were wearing life jackets and carried a phone, which allowed them to call for help.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 28, Puget Sound Energy will be working 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. along State Route 305 near Adas Will Lane, and traffic changes will be in place during the work hours.

Crews are replacing two transmission pole structures and performing other electric work as part of the Washington State Department of Transportation roundabout safety improvement project.

What to expect:

The City’s Planning Commission granted PSE the noise variance for night work to avoid traffic impacts during the day.

The work is expected to be complete by March 4.

The City’s COVID-19 test site at the Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church will close next week due to decreased demand and declining case rates. Feb. 28 is the last day for testing at the site.

The City, in partnership with the Kitsap Public Health District and the Kitsap County Emergency Operations Center), operates the testing site.

At-home antigen kits are available to order from the state and federal government, and you may also purchase kits at local pharmacies. Details here.

In addition, the Kitsap Public Health District maintains lists for testing locations.

Since fall 2020, the City has provided more than 5,000 tests and paid roughly $40,000 dollars to support testing operations.

The City’s contractor is now working on drainage improvements along Eagle Harbor Drive to prevent erosion and storm runoff in some areas.

The City improved roughly one mile of Eagle Harbor Drive, from McDonald Avenue to the shoreline segment, to create bike lanes on both sides of the road. However, the contractor was not able to finish the work last year because of the wet weather conditions.

In recent months, staff and the community observed several safety issues that are now being addressed.

Paving is expected March 9 (if the weather is good).

Once the paving is complete, the contractor will stripe the road.

The City Council this week authorized a $170,000 contract with Tetra Tech, a consulting and engineering firm, to begin work on upgrades to the Winslow Wastewater Treatment Plant. The first phase of work will include a condition assessment of the plant’s mechanical systems and inflow characteristics and implementation of optimization upgrades that will increase plant capacity for the next year.

This contract, and anticipated future amendments to the contract, will also address the first steps for extending the treatment plant outfall into Puget Sound and the design of further upgrades that will extend the capacity for another three to five years.

The treatment plant outfall is located to the east of Wing Point on land belonging to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DNR is requiring that the City extend the outfall to avoid impacts on nearby shellfish beds.

The City Council this week adopted Resolution No. 2022-05 to approve and authorize the purchase of 17,686 square feet of bonus floor area ratio (FAR) from the Islander Residents Association.

In 2004, the residents of the Islander Mobile Home Park (IMHP) purchased their mobile home park property to prevent it from being sold and potentially redeveloped. As a result of preserving the IMHP, this site was preserved with a relatively low level of development but left more than 137,000 square feet of unused residential FAR.

In July 2020, the Planning Commission recommended that the City purchase the balance of the FAR from the Islander Residents Association. They made this recommendation while considering Ordinance 2021-10 (former Ordinance 2020-16) that revised the overall Bonus FAR program, in response to the March 2020 Interim Zoning Control. On Aug. 10, 2021, the City Council directed the City Manager to move forward on possible next steps to potentially purchase the floor area ratio.

In December 2021, as a result of discussions with the Islander Residents Association, the Association informally agreed that it was willing to sell the remaining FAR for a price of $18 per square foot, which is the price that the City charged developers for residential FAR, prior to the interim zoning control and subsequent approval of Ordinance 2021-10.

The purchase of the FAR is subject to a 15-day period of first refusal. Therefore, the City needs to make a formal offer to begin the 15-day period. Purchasing the bonus FAR for a price of $18 per square foot would cost the City $318,348 from general fund reserves.

The City Council this week scheduled a March 22 public hearing to consider the transfer of a City-owned property to the Washington State Department of Transportation. The property, located at the corner of State Route 305 and West Port Madison Road, is a small triangle that WSDOT needs to complete the construction of a stormwater management pond in support of the SR 305 and West Port Madison roundabout project.

The City received the property from WSDOT several years ago at no cost and is considering transferring it back in return for enhanced landscaping along the proposed project corridor.

At the Feb. 22 meeting, the Council requested that WSDOT hold a virtual public meeting to inform the community about the Bainbridge Island projects and the other priority projects along the SR 305 corridor in advance of its consideration of the property transfer. A date for that meeting has not been set.

The March 1 study session will include a discussion on the process for growth allocation.

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.

On Thursday, Feb. 17, a vehicle in the Grand Forest west parking lot on Miller Road was broken into in the middle of the day.

A backpack containing an iPhone was taken. The phone was tossed and later found by a passerby who reported it to police.

There are no suspects at this time.

Since December, there have been six incidents of car break-ins reported at the Grand Forest parking lot.

Thieves are smashing windows to get inside the cars. They’re stealing anything they can find of value: credit cards, backpacks, wallets, a camera and electronics.

Join Emergency Management Coordinator Anne LeSage and the Senior Community Center this morning (Friday, Feb. 25) at 11:30 on Zoom for a presentation on the Map Your Neighborhood program.

The discussion is part of the Senior Community Center’s "Something to Talk About" segment.

Following a disaster, you may have to wait days, weeks or longer before help can arrive or power can be restored to your neighborhood. Map Your Neighborhood will provide a plan to bring your community together in a time of need. Working together you can reduce the serious consequences of disaster in your neighborhood.

A bill that would have allowed fourplexes in lots zoned for single-family residential uses has failed in the state Legislature. HB 1782 failed to pass a key deadline of Feb. 15.

The companion bill, SB 5670, did not move out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

We appreciate legislators who voted to maintain local control over land use decisions and broadly support the important work of Gov. Jay Inslee, the Legislature and Washington cities and counties to address critical housing issues in the state.

As part of the City's work to manage the removal of derelict and abandoned vessels in island harbors, the City of Bainbridge Island is auctioning a 1975 27-foot Catalina sailboat that includes an outboard motor.

The vessel will be open for inspection Saturday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Port of Brownsville Marina Public Dock, located at 9790 Ogle Rd.

Bidders must have authorized moorage to bid. The minimum bid is $500 and must be made in person.

For more information, contact Harbormaster Tami Allen at harbormaster@bainbridgewa.gov or by phone at 206-786-7627.

The popular Chilly Hilly is returning to Bainbridge Island this Sunday, so please be mindful of extra bicycles on the road.

The 33-mile bike ride starts at the ferry terminal then takes cyclists across the island with a finish at Waterfront Park.

Brien Dr SE will be closed to cars with local access only from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year, organizers are expecting 1,500 participants – that’s roughly half the number in previous years.

Drivers should anticipate delays on the Seattle/Bainbridge Island route on Sunday due to heavy bicycle traffic participating in Chilly Hilly. Vehicle capacity will be limited between the 7:55 and 9:35 a.m. departures from Seattle.

Departing the Bainbridge Island Terminal, the heaviest traffic is expecting on sailings between 10:25 a.m. and 3:55 p.m. To minimize delays, WSF recommends that drivers consider alternative travel times or routes.

We’re seeking new members to serve on the Ethics Board. The Ethics Board provides training on the City’s Code of Conduct and Ethics Program to the City Council and members of committees and commissions; reviews complaints; and may prepare advisory opinions.

The Ethics Board meets on the third Monday of the month.

The application deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday, March 31. You may apply online or pick up a paper copy at the City Hall front counter.