City Manager's Report
Bainbridge Islanders,
A good first impression. A simple concept that is hard to execute. We know how important first impressions are in our personal lives. In business, the hospitality industry knows the importance of first impressions. At the historic luxury Hotel Del Coronado, the hotel doorman, the very first person and perhaps the last person a hotel guest sees, is often referred to as the hotel ambassador.

City Hall has its own ambassador. Our ambassador is the employee who staffs the reception desk at City Hall. This is the first person the public sees when they enter the building. This employee answers the phone and fields a wide variety of questions – many not related to City business. Questions range from which department or agency handles specific problems, where to eat in Bainbridge Island, how to get rid of rodents, what is the ferry schedule, etc. This person establishes the first impression for all City of Bainbridge Island employees. For the last five years, Christina Mitchell has been that employee most often staffing the front desk. Today, Friday Dec. 3, is her last day with the City.

Christina has a unique background. It is rare to find someone with a doctorate staffing the front counter at any City Hall anywhere. But, in fact, that is exactly what Bainbridge Island has had for the past five years. Christina holds a bachelor’s degree in women’s and gender studies from the University of Oregon, a master’s degree in conflict resolution from the University of Oregon School of Law, and a doctorate in leadership studies from the University of San Diego. Christina is active in the community. She has served as a volunteer for the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum and is a member of its Board of Directors. She is a mother and grandmother.

The position of first impression is very important to our City Hall. Christina was exceptional in this key spot. She will be missed. But, Christina is just one example of the hidden talent and skills of many employees throughout the City’s workforce.
Best wishes,

Blair King
City Manager
COVID-19 Updates
Final booster clinic set for Dec. 11
Appointments are full for the final COVID-19 vaccine booster clinic of 2021 that will be held Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Commodore Options School lower gym.

Everyone 18 and older is eligible for a booster as long as it has been six months from your second dose of Moderna or Pfizer (June 11) or two months from the single dose of Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) (October 11).

Please continue to check the TimeTap page [https://covidbi.timetap.com/#/] in case any appointments become available.

The vaccine clinics this Saturday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 5 are only second-dose clinics for 5- to 11-year-olds.

Please check https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/ to find COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
Project Updates
Traffic Operations Committee reviews requests on street lighting, speed limits
The Traffic Operations Committee this week held its second meeting of the year. The Committee, established this year to review and make recommendations on street and traffic-related operational issues, is made up of City staff and chaired by the City’s Public Works Director.

The agenda covered a variety of topics:

Traffic-calming update: The Committee was updated on the data collection and project area prioritization, which will be presented to the City Council for next steps in the first quarter of 2022.

Speed limit change requests: The Committee recommended moving forward with a consultant proposal to evaluate and set speed limits islandwide using a “programmatic” approach. The approach would lead to speed limits being adopted by ordinance, thereby reducing the staff work required to evaluate individual locations on a case-by-case basis. An update to the City Council is anticipated in the first quarter of 2022.

Street lighting requests: The Committee confirmed not moving forward with the request for street lighting on Ericksen Avenue at Brookcliff Lane due to guidance from the City’s lighting ordinance, and the presence of other lighting in the area. The staff will be generating a draft administrative policy on handling street lighting requests for the Committee’s review at their next meeting.

Community-generated safety concerns: The Committee confirmed the City will continue to monitor - but not take any immediate action - two areas that were highlighted by members of the community: the Bjune/Winslow Way intersection and Lynwood Center Road north of Opal Ridge Lane. The Bjune location does not have any recent accident history that warrants further investigation at this time, and recent accidents on Lynwood Center Road were determined to be primarily related to driver inattention. The latter location is likely to be addressed as part of the programmatic speed limit revisions.

The next meeting of the Committee will be in January.

Watch the Dec. 1 meeting.
City Council Updates
Council to continue discussion on permit fee increases
The City’s consultant, FCS Group, will present the Council next week with options to phase in building, planning and engineering permit fee increases and adjustments. The fees have not been increased since 2006, and the City Council in 2019 directed staff to amend the fees to account for 100% cost recovery.

The City provides plan review, inspection, and environmental review on permits for construction and land development. This process ensures that development within the City aligns with local, regional, and state regulations. The City provides these services with staff from the Planning and Community Development Department and the Public Works Department. The permitting services provided by the City are supported by fees paid by permit applicants and maintained in a separate fund.

Currently, the City recovers 89% of building permit fee services; 32% of land use planning fee services and 3% of development engineering permit fee services.

On Sept. 21, the FCS Group presented the Council with the results of a 100% cost recovery fee study. The Council then directed the City Manager to review and lower fee options (less than 100%) for some of the fees. On Dec. 7, FCS will present the results of the revised fees, and staff will answer questions and work with the Council to determine next steps.
Council to continue discussion on HDDP program extension
During the Dec. 7 study session, the City Council will discuss draft Ordinance No. 2021-35 that extends the 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.

On Nov. 18, the Planning Commission recommended approval of draft Ordinance No. 2021-35 to extend the HDDP program for two years.
Upcoming City Council agenda
Some of the Dec. 7 Council meeting topics will include:

  • Presentation of Oaths of Office for Councilmember Quitslund and Judge McCulloch
  • Discussion on the building and development fee study
  • Review of Ordinance No. 2021-35 related to extension of the Housing Design Demonstration Projects Program


Ways to Watch
  • 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)


Contact the Council
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.
Planning Commission Updates
Planning Commission seeks to fill vacancies
We're now accepting applications to fill two vacancies on the Planning Commission. The Chair and Vice-Chair have resigned effective Jan. 1, 2022 to pursue other opportunities.

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 selected applicants will fill the duration of the vacated terms: Position 1 term expires June 2023 and Position 7 term expires June 2022.

The Council on Dec. 14 will discuss the process for the Planning Commission appointments.

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.
Dec. 9 Planning Commission meeting canceled
The Dec. 9 Planning Commission meeting is canceled. The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Jan. 13.
Other Updates
Hearing Examiner to consider Wintergreen townhome proposal
A Hearing Examiner hearing on the Wintergreen Townhomes project, a 73-townhome project (31 affordable; 42 market-rate units) on Wintergreen Lane, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 on Zoom.

In September, the Planning Commission made a recommendation to the Planning Director to approve the project with conditions. The recommendation focused on ensuring the parking for the overall site was met, the buffer along State Route 305 was preserved and enhanced, and that 31 units of affordable housing are provided. In addition, the Commission conditioned the project to provide adequate bicycle facilities.

The Planning Director made a recommendation of approval with conditions to the Hearing Examiner.

The Hearing Examiner will make the final determination on the project.

Access the Zoom link on the Hearing Examiner page at bainbridgewa.gov/434.
City receives Tree City USA designation for 17th consecutive year
Tree City USA is a recognition program administered by the Arbor Day Foundation. It recognizes communities across the country that put budget resources toward tree work and preservation and legislatively protect trees with a tree ordinance.
The Tree City USA program provides communities with an avenue to celebrate their work, showing residents, visitors, and the entire country that they’re committed to the mission of environmental change.

Publicly demonstrating our commitment to the environment is a great way to build pride among residents, as well as position our community as an attractive place to live.
Important Dates
Wednesday, Dec. 8: Utility Advisory Committee; 5:30 p.m. on Zoom
Thursday, Dec. 9: Hearing Examiner hearing on Wintergreen Townhomes
Wednesday, Dec. 15: Climate Change Advisory Committee; 5:30 p.m. on Zoom
Monday, Dec. 20: Design Review Board meeting; 2 p.m. on Zoom
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Contact Information

280 Madison Avenue North
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone: 206-842-7633