City Manager's Report
Bainbridge Islanders,

The Bainbridge Island Police Department, like many other Police Departments in Washington state, have found the task of identifying and recruiting police officers difficult. We are always excited when we hire new quality personal for the police department.
Over the past month the City of Bainbridge Island Police Department has welcomed several new members, David Pepicelli, Nollan Quinn, Zach Robtoy, and Blaine Plumeau. 

David Pepicelli will join the department as an entry-level police officer. David is originally from Brockton, Massachusetts. He most recently served in the U.S. Coast Guard. For the last four years he was stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point on Oahu, Hawaii working and flying on C130Hs. David is married; he and his wife have a 14-month-old-daughter. (By the way, there is a great family friendly water park very close to Barbers Point.)
Nollan Quinn is a lateral Police Officer. He grew up near Bremerton, attended Olympic High School, Minot State University in North Dakota, and then transferred to Eastern Washington University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. He began his career as a Corrections Officer at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, joined the Suquamish Police Department as an officer, and then moved to the Poulsbo Police Department as a Police Officer. He is an Army Reservist serving in the Military Police out of Fort Lewis. Nollan is married; he and his wife have two sons.
Zach Robtoy is also an entry-level police officer. Zach brings roughly 15 years of experience providing direct patient care to individuals with serious mental illness. In 2020, his interest in mental health began to shift from direct patient care to prevention and public safety. He began working at the Criminal Justice Training Center in the Basic Law Enforcement Academy. In that role, he quickly promoted from role-player to instructor, obtained several specialized certificates, and became passionate about police work. Zach is excited to bring his past experiences to his new career. He and his wife have two children.
Blaine Plumeau, joined the department earlier in the year as an entry-level police officer. He graduates from the Law Enforcement Academy next week. He is a native of eastern Washington. Blaine spent 11 years working as a flight attendant. During his tenure he was based in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, and New York. He has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Nova Southeastern University. Blaine is married; he and his husband have a 4-year-old son.
I am pleased to welcome David, Nollan, Zach, and Blaine to our Police Department and look forward to their service to our community.
Best,

Blair King
City Manager
Housing Action Plan Team at this Week's Farmer's Market
The City’s Housing Action Plan team will be at the Farmer’s Market this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. answering questions about the plan. They will also be taking a survey to understand housing needs and preferences of those who live and work on the Island. The Housing Action Plan is intended to help develop an understanding of our housing needs, how much and for whom, and the means and methods to address these identified Housing needs. Your opinion matters and we hope you take the time to give your thoughts. You can also take the survey online, HERE, through the end of September.
Delays on SR305 near Murden Creek August 22-31
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) issued an alert for expected delays on the SR305 near Murden Creek. Please allow for extra travel time during the week days starting Mon. Aug 22. 

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday through Aug 31
  • Travelers approaching North Madison Avenue Northeast/Sportsman Club Road Northeast can expect occasional traffic stops.
  • While crews will work as quickly as soon as possible, travelers can expect at least 20-minute delays.
 
Travelers are encouraged to add time especially if they are going to the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal. If possible, please consider going before or after the work. 

This type of work must be done during daylight hours due to safety reasons.
 
The work is related to fish barrier removal project at Murden Creek. To make room for the improvements, crews will temporarily stop traffic during tree felling. Information about the tree replacement program is available vis the WSDOT blog

Bike for Pie Sunday, August 28
Bainbridge Island Bicycle Advocates, Squeaky Wheels, will be hosting Bike for Pie on Sunday, Aug. 28. This event is for the whole family. Registration runs from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the Bainbridge Island Town Square where the Farmer's Market takes place next to City Hall. The official ride begins at 10 a.m. and will end at 1 p.m.

The City will have a table at the event talking to Islanders about our Sustainable Transportation Plan, which includes bikes, pedestrians, and public transportation. We will also be talking about the plans we have for the Bainbridge Island portion of the Seattle to Olympic Trail, part of the Great American Rail Trail. Bainbridge Island's Parks and Trails Foundation will be there too talking about the Rail Trail.

More information on the Bike for Pie can be found on the Squeaky Wheels website.
National Community Survey Online Now through August 26 -
Now with No Email Submission
We need your input!

The National Community Survey will help us identify how residents feel about City services. You can take the survey through Aug. 26.

The first component of the survey was a scientifically random sample survey. That portion is complete.  Now, the survey is open to all Bainbridge Island residents. The survey had required an email to enter. The e-mail was later detached from the survey results. We have asked the survey company to remove the email entrance to ensure anonymity and to make completing the survey easier.

Take the survey HERE. We look forward to hearing from you!
City Arborist & Climate Officer Talk Urban Tree Care September 14
Join the City's Arborist and Climate Officer to talk about urban trees: how to choose the right species for the right space, how to plant correctly, and how to care for trees to maximize their success rate. Learn about tree-related considerations in the City's Climate Action Plan with an in-depth discussion about tree selection, cultural conditions, species diversity, and planting.

Register for this free, Climate Smart Bainbridge webinar taking place on Thursday, Sep 14 from 6-7 p.m. on Zoom.

Thank you for doing your part in creating a Climate Smart Bainbridge!
Seeking to Fund Local Human Service Programs
The City of Bainbridge Island is seeking proposals to provide funding for local nonprofit organizations to help support human service programs in the community during the 2023-2024 funding cycle. A total of $660,000 will be available for distribution through the two-year funding cycle for the selected projects.

Applicant and project requirements are included in the Request for Proposals available on the City's website.

Applications are due on Sep. 29. There will be an informational meeting Sep. 7 at 1 p.m. via Zoom for anyone interested in learning more about the RFP.

The Zoom link for informational meeting can be found on our website or via the direct Zoom link HERE. or call in by telephone 1-253-215-8782 (Webinar ID: 879 8596 1668). Attendance is not required to apply for funding. 
Volunteer for Beach Clean up September 10
The 7th annual Bainbridge Island Beach Clean Up is only three weeks away. You can help make our shorelines healthier for people and wildlife by signing up as an individual or in groups to clean up a beach or road end location. Sustainable Bainbridge will be awarding a special prize in a random drawing for the craziest piece of trash found or for the most interesting piece of trash upcycled or artcycled.

The Beach Clean Up runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sep 10 alongside Puget Sound Starts Here Month in September.

Visit Sustainable Bainbridge's website, HERE, to learn more and sign up.
Planning and Permits Counter Hours Expanded
The City is happy to offer an expansion to the Planning and Community Development Counter Hours. Starting on Monday, Aug 15:

New Counter Hours
8 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1.p.m.-3 p.m.
EVERY weekday, Mon-Fri.

Staff are ready to assist you with your planning and permit needs. You can also still go online for our online permit center.
New Permit Fees Coming September 1
The City adopted new fees for building and development services activities. Planning and Community Development permit fees will increase on Sep. 1.

Why? It's been more than 15 years since fees have been re-evaluated and re-set. Changing City policy now calls for 100% of development-related costs to be covered by fees. The fees are being increased to reduce the General Fund subsidy of the Planning Department. 

Find a full list of fees here.
Bainbridge Island Police Department
Welcoming Officer David Pepicelli!
David Pepicelli began work for the Bainbridge Island Police Department on Aug. 16 as an entry-level police officer.

David is originally from Brockton, MA and joined the Coast Guard in 2016. He was stationed in Rockland, ME his first year before attending Avionics Electrical Technician school in North Carolina. David spent the last four years at Air Station Barbers Point on Oahu, Hawaii working and flying on C130Hs.

David enjoys hiking, playing drums, and spending time with his wife and 14-month-old daughter. David says he is very excited to be in the Pacific Northwest and beginning a new career!
Project Updates
Winslow Water Tank Replacement
City Staff and consultants conducted a public tour last week for the replacement site of one of the Winslow Water Tanks. Approximately a dozen people met at the site adjacent to the High School and were briefed on the project. 

The City needs to replace one of the older, inefficient existing Winslow Water Tanks. The $12M project will replace one of the tanks with a two million gallon tank. Although a final decision has not been made, a Composite Elevated Storage Tank may be selected. 

To learn more, visit the City's project webpage.
Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor Superfund Site Cleanup Activities
Cleanup investigations are currently underway at the former Wyckoff wood-treatment facility, located at the mouth of Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island.

This summer and fall, vegetation clearing, geophysical surveying, air and noise monitoring, sub-surface drilling, test pitting, and infiltration testing will occur on site. All work will be directed and overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and most work will be performed inside the fenced in area.

Planned Work Outside the Former Process Area
All work will be performed within the fenced in Former Process Area, except for the following activities (dates are approximate):  

  • August 23 and 24: Drilling that will inform seismic design requirements in the beach adjacent to the western sheet pile wall. The beach will remain open to the public on these days with only limited access restrictions around the drilling operations. 
  • September 8: Deployment of an unmanned aerial system, or drone, to collect aerial imagery and/or topographic survey data of the Former Process Area and beaches. The beach will remain open to the public on this day. 

For more information contact EPA Lead Project Manager:
Jacob Moersen, Moersen.Jacob@epa.gov or 206-553-0542.
City Council Updates
The next scheduled City Council Regular Business Meeting will be on Sept. 13. Key topics include:

  • Proclamation declaring "Puget Sound Starts Here" month
  • Proclamation for Community Preparedness Month
  • Discussion of the results of an Islandwide Speed Limit evaluation

Ways to Watch
  • In-person at the City Hall City Council Chambers 

  • Zoom

  • 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.
Other Updates
Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Akio Suyematsu Day on Aug. 19
The City of Bainbridge Island placed a 5-acre core of the original Suyematsu farmstead on the local historic register in 2015. Not only is it the oldest continuously working farm on Bainbridge Island, it is unique because many of the original farm buildings are still intact.

Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Akio Suyematsu Day on Aug. 19. More information will be provided as the date approaches.
Important Dates
Friday, Aug. 19 Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Akio Suyematsu Day

Tuesday, Aug. 23 Council Business Meeting canceled
Thursday, Sep.1 New permitting Fees take effect

Tuesday, Sept. 6 Council Study Session canceled