Cup Fee Canceled?

City Council Reconsiders Business Waste Ordinance

In response to advocacy from the Chamber and strong feedback from the business community, the Bainbridge Island City Council is considering a swift repeal of the new 25c cup fee amongst several potential changes to the Single Use Foodware and Waste Reduction' Ordinance.

The move comes shortly after the Vancouver, BC City Council made a similar decision.

The Chamber and our partners at the Downtown Association strongly encourage our members to attend or view tonight's City Council Study Session online, as well as to consider writing letters to city council and staff supporting the existing proposal (and/or providing feedback on home compostable products that have been proven to not work - like hot soup containers).

Christine Rolfes Leads Lengthy List of County Commissioner Candidates

In the race to succeed recently resigned Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder, twelve candidates (also including current council members Joe Deets and Clarence Moriwaki) are on the list shared yesterday by the Kitsap County Democrats.

Want to know why the Democrats are announcing this list? Learn more about the Kitsap County selection process in this recent chamber article

Bainbridge is also represented on the list by long-distance runner and nonprofit leader Greg Nance, and a wide variety of business and community leaders from across the county.

Candidates are scheduled to appear at forums on May 5 & 6, with the top 3 selected on May 13.

Newly-Passed Washington State Bill Lowers Threshold for Police Pursuits

The bill lowers the threshold for police to pursue a suspect from probable cause to reasonable suspicion, but only for limited crimes: violent offense, sex offense, or an escape; or DUI, vehicular assault, domestic violence assault in the first, second, third, or fourth-degree offense.

The House-Amended version of Senate Bill 5352 passed with a vote of 26-22 with one lawmaker absent. The bill now heads to the Governor's desk, and Jay Inslee has previously signaled that he would approve the legislation. 

Beached Ferry Reminder of WA’s Aging Fleet as State Struggles to Replace Boats

The image, at once striking and unsettling, stood as backdrop to the state’s aging fleet of 21 ferries in need of ever more maintenance simply to keep them afloat.

It’s a point Gov. Jay Inslee made from the shores of Bainbridge Island, where he looked on as the nearly 600 passengers were loaded onto rescue boats supplied by Kitsap Transit.

Lawmakers in Olympia have begun to act, budgeting $1.5 billion over 16 years to build new vessels and convert existing ones to electric.

The state is already behind by at least two years, due largely to a breakdown in negotiations with Vigor, the Seattle-based shipbuilder that constructed the last 10 ferries. That means Washington is spending heavily to keep ships functioning when they’re due for retirement, like the 64-year-old Tillikum.

The state is in the process of rebidding the contracts for the next five boats. Previous rounds of bidding favored local builders, with the state only looking nationally if the bids came in at 5% or more above the engineers’ estimated cost. 

On The Agenda at

City Council Study Session: Housing Action Plan

Tue April 18 at 6pm

Alongside the proposed Waste Reduction changes, COBI consultants ECONorthwest will present their much-anticipated Housing Action Plan (HAP).

The HAP was created to identify ways to meet Bainbridge's housing needs now and into the future. It will address Bainbridge's affordable and market-rate housing needs through strategies and actions to encourage greater housing diversity and affordability, and access to opportunity for residents of all income levels.

The approved version will inform both the upcoming Winslow Subarea Plan and the Island-wide Comprehensive Plan, both of which must be completed by the end of 2024.

See the Chamber's overview of the proposed Housing Action Plan

REET Increase Still Under Consideration

The proposed Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) increase (2SHB 1628) would increase the state-wide real estate excise tax by adding a new 4% tax tier on sales of $5 million or more.

Though timberland and agriculture are excluded, the cost of commercial and multi-family properties would potentially become even less affordable just as the commercial real estate market is slowing down due to higher interest rates and construction costs, ongoing remote work and new uncertainty in banking.

If workforce housing or rising commercial rents are an issue that impacts you and your business - amplify your voice with legislators by signing a letter of opposition drafted by the Association of Washington Business by the end of today, April 18.

Work Ready Bainbridge: Application Window Open For Employers, Employees

The Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce and Bainbridge Youth Services (BYS) have joined forces to launch an eight-week summer employment and workforce certification program connecting local youth employees (ages 16-24) with employers and the local business/nonprofit community on Bainbridge Island.

The Work Ready program offers businesses pre-screened potential employees and a portion of wage bills covered through generous support from Rotary and from Kitsap Bank.

Business Awards Party Now Officially Sold Out

Sat Apr 29, 5 - 9pm

Thanks to our supportive members, all the tickets to the 2023 Business Awards Show/After Party at The Manor House have now 100% sold out.

If you slept and missed your opportunity to purchase a ticket, a standby waitlist is now open in case of cancellations.

Thank you to Bainbridge Event Rentals for bringing their "The Lightning Booth" photo fun, Eleven Winery for donating wine, Town & Country Markets for supplying desserts, and Puget Sound Energy for being the dinner sponsor.

All the winners will be announced in our May 2 email newsletter, so stay tuned... and good luck to all the nominees!

Broad Stripes & Bright Stars: Grand Old 4th Planning

We are preparing to celebrate the Island's largest and longest-running island tradition - The Grand Old 4th!

As your hosts, the Chamber is delighted to have registration open for the Street Fair (all vendors, including food) & Hometown Parade, as well as to humbly ask for Community Volunteers to consider signing up to be part of the fun.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• April 25 - Car Show Entries Open
• June 2 - Street Fair Vendor Deadline
• June 16 - Parade Deadline

Fiziologix Physical Therapy

Do you have a nagging injury hanging around like these persistent spring rains? Summer and its myriad outdoor activities are around the corner and Fiziologix Physical Therapy doesn't want you to miss out.

Fiziologix Physical Therapy, a 5-star rated PT clinic (and Bainbridge Island's newest physical therapy clinic located on Day Rd near Eleven Winery) recently opened their doors to active adults, athletes of all ages, and seniors seeking to experience faster, long lasting results in fewer visits, and with less chance for re-injury or chronic pain in the future.

Co-founder and Doctor of Physical Therapy Greg Spooner, DPT is a born-and-bred islander: "I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be home again. Who wouldn't want the chance to live in nature's paradise surrounded by the Olympics, the Sound, and the absolute best people?!"

Book your FREE 20 min Consultation today! 

Learn more or visit 7865 NE Day Rd W #202

Electric Vehicles for All: New Electric Car Share Co-Op About to Roll Out Around the Sound

Electric vehicles (EVs) are an essential part of a low-carbon future. So far, their hefty price tags—averaging $65,000 in 2022 according to Kelley Blue Book - have kept EVs out of reach for most car buyers.

Soon, you may not need to own an EV to be able to drive one when you want to, thanks to ZEV co-op, a new all-electric car sharing program rolling out around Puget Sound this spring thanks to a $791,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Learn more from Tideland Magazine

Coquette Bake Shop Opens at Winslow Green

The day is here to pick up some fresh baked pastries & sandwiches at Coquette's new location in the corner at Winslow Green.

Enjoy the sunshine on the patio while sipping coffee and indulging on a cinnamon roll.

Congratulations to Jerry and the team for opening up the new 2,000- square-foot location that includes a commercial kitchen, hood and exhaust system.

Visit Jerry & check out the new digs at 100 Winslow Way W

reHOME Project: Coates Wins MUSE Design Gold Medal

Coates Design of Bainbridge Island has won a gold medal MUSE Design Award for its reHOME Project.

The international honor came in the “Rebirth Project” category. It received additional awards in the “Low-Cost Housing” and “Sustainable Design” categories.

Business president Matthew Coates said all of the materials were headed for the landfill, showing recycling is better for the environment. He envisions the project to be replicated across the country. “This project shows that things can be done differently.”

Read more in the Bainbridge Review

Local Business Owners Share How HRB Helped With Their Housing

You may not know the Tran family by name, but if you live on Bainbridge Island, you almost certainly know their work: Emmy’s Vege House, a decades-old Asian take-out stand at the corner of Madison and Winslow Way; Green Pot Deli, a newcomer to the Pavilion specializing in pho and banh mi; and the trendy Yoyo Poke which opened just this year at Winslow Green.

Read the Tran's Family Story from HRB

April Earth Month Activities

Zero Waste has a month of activities to support Earth Month from picking up litter to playing Earth Bingo.

Plus they are partnering with local organizations to help reuse & recycle household items:

• Bay Hay and Feed is collecting socks - bring in any kind of clean socks, singles or pairs, with holes or not
• Marge Williams Center (221 Winslow Way West) is collecting CDs & DVDs
• Bainbridge Farmers' Market (Persephone Farm, Butler Green Farms, & Central Valley Nursery vendors) is collecting plant pots

Or take action for the environment and pick a roadway or trash-strewn area - borrow waste grabbers from BI Zero Waste to help cleanup litter.

Celebrate trees & ideas to cleanup our planet

Each month the Chambers of Commerce ask a single question to gather information on our communities and our county...

Q: How do you feel about the e-commerce element of your business?