Advisory
Executive
Phone: (206) 842-2545
Resolution 2001-48
To recommend to the city council a program and process for acquiring or otherwise preserving forested areas, open space, wildlife habitat, farms and agricultural lands, and a program for overseeing, monitoring and auditing such improvements.
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Connie Waddington, Chair (term ends 12/31/2010) |
Lisa Macchio (term ends 12/31/2008) |
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Mike Bonoff (term ends 1/31/2010) |
Cyndy Holtz (term ends 1/31/2010) |
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Christy Carr (term ends 3/31/2011) |
Kent Scott (term ends 3/31/2011) |
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Dave Shorett (ex-officio) |
Dwight Sutton (term ends 12/31/2009) |
Meetings: Quarterly, on the second Tuesday of the month, 5:30 pm, Council Conference Room, City Hall (unless otherwise noticed).
Browse the
calendar to find agendas and minutes.
About the Open Space Commission
On November 6, 2001, almost 70 percent of Bainbridge Island voters approved $8 million in general obligation bonds to pay the costs of "acquiring or otherwise preserving forested areas, open space, wildlife habitat, farms and agricultural lands and creating new trails and passive parks...." In December 2001, the City Council approved seven Bainbridge Island citizen volunteers to serve on an Open Space Commission (OSC) to help the City government carry out this mandate. The OSC began its work in January 2002.
By the end of 2002, the Commission had established written operating procedures, received and processed more than 70 property nominations, and recommended acquisition of two open space properties. Both recommendations were approved.
During 2003 and 2004, the OSC continued to receive property nominations, all of which received preliminary reviews and prioritization. After more detailed reviews, the Commission made 13 recommendations for property acquisitions to City Council - eight in 2003 and five in 2004. Of these, nine were for outright purchases of properties - farms, waterfront, trails, wildlife habitat, and natural areas/forests. One recommendation endorsed the donation of a farm property facilitated by the Commission. One recommendation was for a commitment of funds to help acquire Pritchard Park. One recommendation was for partial funding to buy the Close Property, with the balance to be raised by the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. And one recommendation was to trade John Nelson Park for the Strawberry Plant. All 13 recommendations were approved. At the end of 2004, about $1 million of the original $8 million bond levy remained uncommitted.
During 2005 and 2006, the OSC continued to receive property nominations, all of which received preliminary reviews and prioritization. The Commission made four more recommendations for acquisitions of property and trail easements - three waterfront properties (one of which came with a donation of an additional forested property) and one large forest/wetland property with a large pond. By the end of 2005, the Commission had expended or committed all of the original $8 million bond levy. In 2006, City Council set aside $750,000 in general revenues for open space acquisition and other open space-related activities. In 2007, OSC recommended contributing to the purchase of the Ted Olson property by Bainbridge Island Land Trust. The Commission also recommended the purchase of Meigs Farm and the Williams property, which were both subsequently approved by City Council.
Annual Reports
Photo by Richard A Brown, The Arbor Fund
