Community Meeting to Help Plan Shoreline Master Program Involvement February 25, 2010 – The public will have the opportunity next week to tell the city how they want to be involved in the island’s upcoming Shoreline Master Program update, a process required under state law. At meeting on Tuesday, March 2, City staff will provide an overview of the SMP and update process, and invite citizens to share ideas for community involvement and help plan how stakeholder groups and individuals can participate. “Some ideas for involving the public include public forums, guest speakers and field trips,” said Long Range Planning Manager Libby Hudson. “Since Bainbridge Island has 53 miles of shoreline – more than any other city in Washington State – this will be an important process for our community. This is an opportunity for the community to help design how the public will be involved in the update process. Input from the meeting will be used to develop a public participation plan, which will guide activities over the next two years.” The city has engaged planning consultants AHBL to assist in developing and implementing the public participation process, and representatives of the firm will facilitate Tuesday’s meeting. AHBL’s support is funded by a grant from the State Department of Ecology. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Council Chambers, City Hall. For more information, contact Libby Hudson, Long Range Planning Manager (780-3767). Back to top

Cross Connection Control Program Helps Water Utility Customers, City Save Money February 24, 2010 – City staff last week began notifying their water utility customers of a change to the City’s Cross Connection Control program that should help both homeowners and the city save time and money. The program will streamline state-mandated annual testing of backflow devices, which are required as part of the connection to City water on some properties. The City will conduct a competitive bid process and contract with a state certified tester to provide annual backflow testing services to customers, rather than requiring individual utility customers to contract with their own plumbers, as it has in the past. “The new process has multiple benefits,” said Lance Newkirk, Interim Director of Public Works. “Utility customers won’t have to worry about finding a plumber and scheduling their appointment. Customers will be billed the direct cost for testing of each backflow assembly and the testing fee will be applied to their next utility bill automatically. On the City side, staff will interface with one Certified Tester, rather than managing communication with hundreds of individual residents.” The program is being implemented on a voluntary, opt-in basis for 2010. The streamlined cross connection control program will allow the City to improve efficiency and lower operating costs. Customers interested in more information on the program can contact Aaron Claiborne, Cross Connection Control Program Coordinator (842-1212). What is a Cross Connection? Cross connections are points at which a potable water supply is connected to a non-potable source, such as a wash basin or service sink, irrigation sprinkler system or swimming pool. Pollutants or contaminants can enter the safe drinking water system through uncontrolled cross connections by backflow or backsiphonage. Washington State Department of Health regulations (WAC 246-290) and the City’s Municipal Code (BIMC 13.20) require the use of backflow assemblies and annual testing on water service lines to protect water quality and public health. The City’s Cross Connection Control Program works to protect the City’s drinking water system from contamination that might result from backflow from an individual residence or business. Back to top

City to Hold Public Forum on Island Gateway Project The City will be holding a public forum at which to discuss the process for permit application for the Island Gateway Project and to address questions raised by the community. Topics will include: Overview of the City’s permitting process Introduction to the Island Gateway project Q & A Citizen questions must be submitted in writing by Monday, February 1, 2010. Please forward questions to Lee Walton, Interim City Manager, 280 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. The meeting will take place in the Council Chamber, City Hall. For more information, call 780-8632. Back to top

Land Use Code Update Meeting January 20, 2010 – The City will provide an overview of the proposed changes to the City’s Land Use Code, as well as the proposed adoption process, at a meeting Thursday, January 28. The Code Update Project was initiated by the City’s Planning Department to reduce inconsistencies and create a more ‘user-friendly’ code. To facilitate public involvement in the discussion, the proposed changes are being presented in four phases: 1) Uses and Districts, 2) Development Standards, 3) Subdivisions, and 4) Administration. The goals and outcomes of the meeting, scheduled for 6:30 pm in the City Council Chamber, are to: 1) educate elected officials and community members about the project purpose, scope, and background; 2) create a shared understanding for the Planning Commission and full Council regarding work accomplished to date and the public process that was used; 3) provide a timeline and method for adoption process, as well as obtain input regarding the adoption process; and outline policy considerations that have arisen during the review process. Clarion Associates, a nationally recognized land use planning firm with extensive experience in reviewing land use regulations, has been retained to analyze the proposed code changes. They will present the overview of draft changes as well as the proposed adoption process at this public meeting. The draft documents are available on the City’s website (http://www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us/). What are the next steps? The City and Clarion Associates will compile the comments gathered from technical users of the code, elected and appointed officials and community members and incorporate them into a draft that will be used for the adoption process. Workshops on the final drafts will be scheduled with the Planning Commission starting in March. Information on future opportunities for public input will be publicized on the City’s website and through calendar announcements. Back to top

City, Ratepayers Reach Partial Settlement January 13, 2010 – The City Council tonight voted to accept a partial settlement with the Bainbridge Ratepayers’ Alliance. The settlement makes it possible for the City to execute a bond anticipation note for $1.9 million to fund completion of the Winslow Wastewater Treatment Plant, eliminating the need for a temporary surcharge on sewer rates which was approved last month. In follow-up actions, Councilmembers passed Resolution 2010-05, approving execution of the bond anticipation note, and conducted a first reading of Ordinance 2010-03, which will repeal the temporary surcharge. A second hearing on the surcharge repeal was scheduled for the next Council meeting on January 27. “This is that rare thing, a win all the way around,” said Interim City Manager Lee Walton, who helped negotiate the settlement. “Both the City and the Ratepayer’s Alliance can now focus our resources on more productive activities. Most important, this is a win for the ratepayers. Updates at the Treatment Plant can go forward as scheduled, and the surcharge has been avoided.” The bond anticipation note will also provide $300,000 to enable the City to re-establish capital reserves in the sewer fund. The City originally budgeted to cover the cost of upgrades with long term debt bonds, but those bonds have been on hold since the Alliance filed suit last spring, challenging city actions on several utility-related concerns. City Council members, members of the Alliance, and staff have been working to develop a settlement agreement for several months. In the settlement, the Alliance agreed to sign a written waiver of any legal objection to the City’s execution of the bond anticipation note, while the City agreed to pay the Alliance up to $35,000 to cover legal costs. The City and the Alliance will continue to work towards settlement of the remaining issues identified in the lawsuit. “This process (reaching agreement) has been challenging and time-consuming,” Walton said. “I want to acknowledge Dick Allen and Sally Adams of the Alliance, City Councilmembers Bill Knobloch, Kim Brackett, Hilary Franz and (former) Mayor Chris Snow, and the several City staff whose continued efforts over the past several months have led us to this positive outcome.” Back to top

Sewer Rate Surcharge On Hold January 7, 2010 –A temporary surcharge on Winslow Area sewer rates approved by the City Council last month has been placed on hold by the Council and Administration. The temporary surcharge was considered in order to cover the cost of upgrades at the Winslow Wastewater Treatment Plant. The City originally budgeted to cover the cost of upgrades with long term debt bonds, but those bonds have been on hold since a citizen group filed suit last spring. City Council members and staff have been working to develop a settlement agreement for several months and report that they are hopeful that these negotiations will allow the City to take the next step in the bonding process and make the surcharge unnecessary. Back to top

Island Road Projects to Receive Federal Funds January 5, 2010 – Interim City Manager Lee Walton announced today that Bainbridge Island has been selected to receive $421,687 in federal funds for planned transportation improvement projects in 2011 and 2012. The funds are part of a $388 million funding package intended to improve local and regional mobility in the Puget Sound region. The funding will allow the City to proceed with two long-anticipated projects, construction of a paved shoulder for bicycle and pedestrian traffic along North Madison Ave. between Highway 305 and Valley Road, and development of an engineering solution for a section of Rockaway Beach Road that is threatened by erosion. “Bluff erosion will continue to occur along this shoreline road,” said Interim Public Works Director Lance Newkirk. “I am encouraged to have the funds to develop a design solution before vehicle access to the Rockaway Beach neighborhood is threatened.” Newkirk added that the North Madison improvements represent a key step in implementation of the City’s “Core 40” plan to develop a non-motorized transportation network along 40 miles of island roads. “With design and engineering support provided by our in-house staff, a majority of the federal funds can be dedicated to construction costs,” he said. “We’ll be working with the Council and the community to prioritize the phasing of the project, which will ultimately include paved shoulders on both sides of North Madison from Highway 305 to Day Road with a separate pedestrian path along part of the road,” he said. The preliminary funding decision was made by the Executive Board of the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) in October. Final approval by the Governor and federal funding agencies is expected in early 2010. Both projects were initially recommended for funding by the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC). “I’m very pleased that our Public Works staff, working with the Transportation Policy Committee of the KRCC and the PSRC, identified and pursued this funding opportunity to a successful conclusion,” said City Councilmember Kim Brackett, representative to both groups. “The selection process is highly competitive, with many important projects competing for limited funds. Our staff worked hard to demonstrate the significance of these projects to our island’s transportation system.” “PSRC is pleased to be able to help local jurisdictions move priority transportation projects forward in a challenging economic climate,” Bob Drewel, PSRC’s Executive Director, said in a letter sent to the City. PSRC is an association of central Puget Sound government and transportation agencies that facilitates coordinated planning for regional transportation, land use and economic development. Back to top

City ’s 2008 Audit “Good News” December 28, 2009 – Representatives of the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) met today with City staff and Council members to present the results of their audit of the City’s 2008 fiscal year. The Auditor’s Office issued an “unqualified opinion” on the City’s financial statements, indicating that statements are “presented fairly in all material respects” and that they had not identified “any deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that they consider to be material weaknesses.” Auditors also reported no findings of concern in relation to the City’s internal control over financial reporting, compliance and other matters. “This is good news - I’ve very pleased with the results of this audit,” said Interim City Manager Lee Walton. “The auditors’ reports reflect well on our hard-working financial team and their commitment to timely and accurate reporting.” Walton noted that the auditors did identify some areas in which the City’s procedures could be improved, although they said the items were “not significant enough” for inclusion in the audit. “This is not unusual,” Walton said, “the ‘exit items’ noted in this audit were insignificant compared to those I’ve seen at many other cities. What you do is correct those deficiencies. We’ve already implemented new systems in 2009 that will resolve several of these issues, and we’ll be taking care of the others over the next few months.” The SAO performs regular financial and legal compliance audits of all state agencies and local governments. The standard annual audit for fiscal year 2008 included two primary elements, a review of the city’s financial statements, and an evaluation of its accountability in relation to internal controls and compliance with state and city laws and regulations. Draft copies of the Auditor’s reports on each area were distributed at the meeting. The SAO representatives present at the meeting noted that they expect final audit reports to be issued in a few weeks. The State Auditor’s office now offers a free service that allows subscribers to be notified by email when audit reports are released or posted to the web site. Back to top

Coburn/McCain Report Lacks Some Facts December 10, 2009 – Senators Tom Coburn and John McCain issued a report yesterday criticizing the investment of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds in what they assert are “silly and shortsighted projects.”   The report, Stimulus Checkup:   A closer look at 100 projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, identifies a $190,000 Department of Homeland Security, ARRA-Port Security Grant Program grant to the City of Bainbridge Island as an example of such funding.     The grant, awarded in August 2009, would fund equipment for the City’s police boat which would enable officers to rapidly detect and identify explosive materials that might be a threat to other vessels in Puget Sound.     The report identifies Bainbridge Island as a “tranquil hamlet” and suggests that the community has “little need” for such protection.     “It is apparent that there is significant relevant data which must not have been available to Senators Coburn and McCain as they made their determination on this project,” said Bainbridge Island Interim City Manager Lee Walton.   Walton noted that the report fails to recognize Bainbridge Island as the terminus of the most heavily used route in the state’s ferry system – a significant “marine highway.” The Washington State Ferries (WSF) have been identified by the FBI as a high risk Homeland Security target.   WSF reports that ferries travelling between Seattle and Bainbridge Island in 2008 transported 6.2 million riders.   Ferries travelling between Bremerton and Seattle, which pass through waters under Bainbridge Island Police jurisdiction, transported an additional 2.5 million.   Together, these routes carried 38% of WSF’s riders.   Ferries between Edmonds and Kingston, which transit just five police-boat minutes away from the island, carried another 4 million riders that year.   (Source:   Washington State Ferries Traffic Statistics Rider Segment Report, V3.11.)     “The FBI has determined that WSF boats, which carry as many as 2,500 passengers during peak hours, could be attractive targets for terrorists seeking a loss of life comparable to that which occurred at the World Trade Centers,” said Bainbridge Island Chief of Police Jon Fehlman.   Fehlman noted that the popular television show Gray’s Anatomy gained significant attention for a storyline demonstrating the dramatic potential of such an attack.     A look at the statistics reveals that an attack on the Bainbridge-Seattle ferry line would have significant impacts on communities far beyond the island.   While WSF does not track place of residence for its riders, a calculation using their 2008 statistics reflects 16,948 rider trips per day on the Bainbridge-Seattle run.   The current island population is 23,290, which strongly suggests that a significant number of these riders are non-residents.   Recent U. S. Census Bureau documents estimate that 2,995 island residents commute using public transportation, further supporting the conclusion that a significant number of riders on the Bainbridge-Seattle Route are non-residents.   (Source:   Ibid; 2009 Washington State Office of Financial Management; U. S. Census Bureau 2005 – 2007 American Community Survey 3-year Estimates.)   Bainbridge Island is also home to WSF’s only Maintenance Yard, which serves all of the ferry system’s vessels and terminals.   “This further increases the significance of island security in protecting the state-wide transportation system,” Fehlman said. “With the nearest Coast Guard facility 10 miles across the Sound, the Department of Homeland Security has determined that, if properly equipped, the Bainbridge Island Police Department can play a valuable role in supplementing Coast Guard efforts.”     “It is unfortunate that Senators Coburn and McCain were apparently unaware of the significance of Bainbridge Island in our state and regional transportation when they developed their report,” Walton said.   “It seems clearly evident that an investment of $190,000 is a worthwhile expenditure to protect the thousands of human lives and significant infrastructure which could be impacted by a terrorist act against WSF.   We believe that this is a prudent investment and are proud of this expression of confidence in the Bainbridge Island Police Department.”   Fehlman stated, “The inclusion of the Bainbridge Island Police Department’s police boat in this report reflects grossly inadequate investigation.    Our boat is equipped to provide protection and service as needed when called upon.   This is not ’silly and short-sighted’.   On the contrary, it is an example of utilizing available funding and resources to provide optimum protection to our community, the State of Washington and the general public.” Back to top

Police Department to Get Surplus Helmets December 8, 2009 – The City of Bainbridge Island Police Department has made arrangements to acquire used riot helmets from the Los Angeles Police Department. Private citizens have come forward and are paying for the cost of the helmets and shipping, so that there will be no cost to the Police Department for replacing their existing, outdated helmets. 26 helmets will be used by the Bainbridge Island Police; 25 will go to the Poulsbo Police Department and 15 to the Suquamish Tribal Police. “The helmets the department owns are over 10 years old, and the lining and padding are deteriorating,” said Police Chief Jon Fehlman. “At $300 apiece, we don’t have room in our budget for new helmets; we’ve been able to get these for just $1 each plus shipping and handling.” While it may seem surprising that Bainbridge Police need riot helmets, the department can be called in to help other jurisdictions, as happened during the 1999 WTO riots in Seattle. When that takes place, they are expected to provide their own equipment. In addition, Chief Fehlman noted that the helmets may be useful in local situations with high-risk suspects. The new helmets are Kevlar-based, ballistic helmets, offering much better protection than the department’s old hard plastic helmets. Chief Fehlman estimates that the participating departments saved $22,425 in the exchange. “It would have cost the Los Angeles Police $415 to unload the helmets, so this is a win for everyone.” “I’m pleased by Chief Fehlman’s resourcefulness,” said Interim City Manager Lee Walton. “Given the budgetary restrictions our City is facing, we’re fortunate to have staff who look for and pursue creative solutions to help us better serve the community.” Back to top