This week I responded to a question about community engagement that reminded me of one of my favorite colloquial phrases, “You can tell people the circus is coming to town, but they won’t believe you until the Big Top starts to go up.” In other words, you can tell the public something is going to happen, but it is only after it appears that people notice. Basically, as a public agency, we can tell people what is being planned in the future, but many only notice after it happens, and they wonder if any attempt was made to notify them.
The City of Bainbridge Island needs to replace the two existing Winslow water tanks located near Bainbridge High School with one new two-million gallon tank. The current tanks are not high enough. They are too short and have “dead storage,” meaning that only water in the very top is used for distribution. This leads to water quality issues and problems with water pressure, especially water pressure needed for fire hydrants in the event of a fire.
The new tank under consideration will look different than the tanks we have now. When the new tank arrives, I expect that no matter how much we publicize its appearance, someone will still be surprised. This past week, the City Council accepted a $6.8 million loan from Washington State’s Drinking Water Revolving Fund Loan program at 1.75 percent interest for this project. The total project cost is $11.6 million. We want to get busy with the permit and procurement process.
I hope that by telling the public starting now that the tank will look different, no one will be surprised when the new tank arrives and is erected.
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Best,
Blair King
City Manager
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Planning Director interviews held this week |
The City held interviews for the Planning and Community Development Director position this week. Five candidates were interviewed. This process is expected to continue through April.
The director is responsible for the community’s growth management planning process, the development and update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, zoning and land use ordinances, environmental protection regulations, development code policies and code enforcement. The director collaborates with other City departments, City Council, Planning Commission, Design Review Board and various committees on strategy and policy to regulate growth and development.
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Contracts awarded related to Police Court project |
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At the regular business meeting on April 12, the City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into three contracts related to the Police/Court Facility Replacement Project at 8804 Madison Avenue North. The City will enter into a contract with Clark Construction, the lowest responsive bidder for the reconstruction at 8804 Madison Avenue location, as well as contracts with Coates Design, the architect of record, and Parametrix, which will serve as the owner’s representative during project construction.
The authorized spending, combined with past spending, is within the currently approved budget for this project of $20 million. The construction bid with Clark Construction at $7.6 million was approximately 11 percent less than the engineer's estimate.
The City purchased the facility at 8804 Madison Avenue, also known as the Harrison Building, in 2020. The Municipal Court and the Bainbridge Island Police Department will move from their current locations to the 8804 Madison Avenue site.
The project is expected to be complete in early 2024.
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City to accept donations and begin design for next segment of Sound to Olympics Trail |
At their Regular Business meeting on April 12, 2022, the City Council accepted a donation of $50,000 from the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation and a potential donation of $25,000 from the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District, and also approved a budget increase of $215,000. The donated funds, together with City funding, will support a partnership effort to develop a long-range plan for the Sound to Olympics Trail, as well as a preliminary, 30%-level design for the next northbound segment of the trail between the Sakai Pond Trail and Madison Avenue.
The Sound to Olympics Trail (STO) is envisioned as a regional trail system that will connect the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal with the Olympic Peninsula. It is part of the Great American Rail-Trail route, linking the Seattle Waterfront Pathway to the east with the Olympic Discovery Trail to the west. On Bainbridge Island, the trail will generally follow the State Route 305 right-of-way for the seven miles from the ferry terminal to the Agate Pass Bridge. A portion of the trail was recently constructed between the ferry terminal and the Sakai Park property.
The City will be the project lead and will work with identified partners on consultant selection, scope development, and public outreach. The project is identified in the City's Sustainable Transportation Plan, with the overall strategy of funding the project design and implementation with external funds supported with match funding from the City.
Photo courtesy: BI Parks Foundation
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Arrest made in mail theft |
Police officers were alerted to a suspicious vehicle on Monday night. A citizen reported a teal green jeep at several mailboxes along Manzanita Road around 7:00 p.m. An officer searched the area and found the jeep. The driver was stopped, and officers observed a large pile of mail in the car. The driver told officers that his “friend” had taken the mail and he was just returning it to keep him out of trouble. Credit cards belonging to other individuals were also found in his possession. Unable to confirm his story, and with evidence that the mail was recently taken, the driver was arrested and booked for mail theft.
As always, if you see something unusual or suspicious note the description and license plate of any involved vehicles and forward to the police department. If you believe a crime is in progress, please call 911 so police can respond and assess the situation.
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Boats beached near Point White |
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On Friday, April 8, police were called to Point White for several boats that had broken free and beached on the rocks. The boats were rafted together and included a 45’ cabin cruiser, a 34’ cabin cruiser, an 18’ runabout, and a personal watercraft. Both larger vessels were damaged and taking on water. The Coast Guard was notified and responded to assist BIPD. To address environmental concerns, the Coast Guard dispatched a contractor to remove approximately 40 gallons of fuel from the vessel while recovery plans were being made.
By Saturday, the larger cruiser and two smaller vessels and been stabilized and towed to the City Dock. A contractor was selected to recover the smaller cruiser, but efforts were hampered by wind and weather. Prior to recovery, the tides pulled the vessel into deeper water and it was lost. The Coast Guard and BIPD are coordinating efforts to identify responsible owners of the vessels.
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Upcoming City Council agenda |
The next scheduled Council meeting will be on April 26. Key topics include:
- Update on Winslow Subarea Plan project
- Hold a Public Hearing related to Small Wireless Facilities
- Present proclamations for Arbor Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month
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. |
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New Climate Smart Challenge for Bainbridge Residents |
Bainbridge Island is working to achieve our goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2025, and we need your help! The new Climate Smart Challenge is a fun way to identify key actions you and your family can take to help implement our Climate Action Plan. The Challenge encourages you to think critically about your life and changes you can make (some small, some big) to reduce your climate impact, save money and improve your health and the comfort of your home.
Learn more by visiting the City’s website or by attending a Zoom webinar on Thursday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m. The City’s Climate Officer will share how the Challenge works, how to join as an individual or form a team, and what resources are available to support our efforts to create a Climate Smart Bainbridge.
Thursday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m.
Or join by phone: US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 947 4452 6344
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Farmers Market open on Saturdays |
The Farmers Market marked the start of the season this Saturday at the Town Square with the opening day cheese toss. The market is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town Square on Saturdays through the summer.
The City will be host a table at the market periodically this season to keep you informed about City projects, outreach opportunities and ongoing work of our volunteer committees. Please stop by the table and say hello!
We hope to see you there.
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