Monthly Archives: January 2015

Revisiting waterfront park’s priorities

Participants in a city park visioning meeting walk the Waterfront trail in 2013. Photo by TAD SOOTER / KITSAP SUN

Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park and its new dock will be back on the city council agenda after the board rescinded last week’s vote following public outcry on the decision to prioritize the dock.

During the Jan. 6, the council voted 4-2 to phase in park construction as funds are available, because anticipated grant money didn’t come through and left the city $835,000 short on the project.

Council members disputed the original vision of the park priority and some noted the project had been listed as an information only item on last week’s agenda.

Councilman Wayne Roth and Mayor Anne Blair said the motion that passed last week in favor of prioritizing a new dock was also unclear.

Roth, who voted against last week’s motion, said that he isn’t against a new dock and had understood funding for it would be dealt with depending on what grant money was available.

The new dock is estimated to cost a little more than $2 million, and the park improvements about $1 million. Without the grant funds, the city has $2,232,000 for the project, leaving less than $250,000 for the park after paying for the dock.

Sarah Blossom and Steve Bonkowski voted against rescinding the vote Tuesday night.

Bonkowski said he didn’t believe the council was going in the wrong direction by prioritizing the dock, which he views as dangerous.

The city began looking at updating waterfront park last summer to improve the 5.5-acre park space and dock, which is more than 30 years old. Its 20 concrete floats and 23 piles are deteriorating, and also contain toxic creosote.

Along with a new dock, park improvements would include connecting trails to neighborhoods, along with ADA accessible paths and a viewing plaza or vendor area. The current plans call for turning the tennis court into a “multiuse area.”

Bonkowski said he understand previous discussions on the park concept to be for water access and “water access includes a dock.”

The project has been added to the Jan. 20 agenda for discussion and public comment.

A full story will be online with the Kitsap Sun on Wednesday.

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Mother-in-law houses could get size boost

Rachel Anne Seymour

Increasing the allowed size of accessory dwelling units, commonly called mother-in-law houses, could be one way Bainbridge Island handles affordable housing and density concerns.

The city’s current code says mother-in-law units cannot be larger than 800 square feet.

Local architect Jeb Thornburg told the council that is a “reasonably sized” single person or couple’s home, although a 900-square-feet mother-in-law unit could have two bedrooms and be more family friendly or allow for live-in caregivers.

Thornburg said there could be “significant market demand, significant market value” by increasing the threshold.

Poulsbo also has an 800 square-feet limit for mother-in-law units with the stipulation that they can be bigger if the unit is located on the ground floor or a basement.

The county allows 900 square-feet or 50 percent of the primary residence’s square footage, whichever is smaller.

Port Orchard has the same restrictions as the county, while Bremerton allows for the largest mother-in-law units at 1,000 square feet or 60 percent of the primary residence’s square footage, whichever is smaller. Bremerton also has a minimum of 300 square feet.

The city of Bainbridge Island has permitted 280 mother-in-law units since 1992, although others could have been permitted by the county or built without permits, said Kathy Cook, City Planning and Community Development director.

The council did not take any action with plans to discuss the increase at another meeting.

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City manager’s review is out, goals for 2015 set

Rachel Anne Seymour

Bainbridge Island City Manager Doug Schulze at City Hall in 2013. Photo by MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN

The City Council is set to approve the city manager’s performance evaluation Tuesday night.

Doug Schulze has been with Bainbridge Island since the City Council tabbed him for the position in late 2012.

Before he became city manager, the city had been through five city managers — two of which were interims — in a four-year span.

Schulze’s recent evaluation says that the council is “pleased” overall with his performance in 2014, rating his leadership at 8.29 on a 1-10 scale.

The three areas the council members all ranked his work as “excellent” were ethics, job knowledge and professional development.

The areas Schulze could improve on are delegating, forging comprises and risk management, the evaluation says.

It also says a couple council members “perceive the City Manager to be too cautious and risk adverse [sic]. This could be tied to comments under the Timing category in which some Councilors suggested that Doug’s cautiousness may translate into him taking too long to make a decision or implement a decision.”

The council also laid out the city manager’s goals for this year:

Ensure the council has informed and engaging discussions and debates about public policy.
Keep the council informed about city progress in transforming into a High Performing Organization.
Reach agreement with the council on four to six responsibilities that he will be responsible for and provide quarterly updates on.

Read the full review and goals.

Other items on the Jan. 13 agenda include potentially changing the land clearing code and going over the appointment process for a new City Council member, which is set to happen Thursday.

Interviews with the six candidates start at 6 p.m. Thursday followed by an executive session.

The council will publicly vote on the appointee that same night.

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Free Wi-Fi up and running in Winslow

Rachel Anne Seymour

Wi-Fi_Map_Winslow — KPUD’s free Wi-Fi coverage. Map from the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce

The Kitsap Public Utility District’s community Wi-Fi project is off the ground in downtown Bainbridge Island.

The island’s chamber of commerce approached KPUD several years ago about providing free wifi in the downtown area, and now that free Wi-Fi is available to residents and visitors along Winslow Way and Madison Avenue, the chamber said in a news release.

While the Wi-Fi is free, it is not secure, meaning users shouldn’t transmit any personal information or make financial transactions using it.

KPUD has been testing Wi-Fi in downtown Poulsbo as well, contracting with Intellicheck Mobilisa, Inc., last spring to analyze the best ways to provide public wireless Internet to a variety of mobile devices and laptops. The Port Townsend technology company specializes in wireless technology and identity systems, according to its website.

KPUD had encountered problems with smartphones being compatible with the Wi-Fi antennas before bringing in Mobilisa to test and possibly install new antennas for the wireless project.

The Wi-Fi is free to the public, for now at least.

KPUD was not testing the wireless project with hopes of making a profit, said Steve Perry, superintendent of telecommunications, last year.

“All options are on the table right now. Right now we are testing to see if it’s sustainable or reliable enough to charge for,” he said last March.

State law that requires public utility districts to sell the Internet at wholesale price to providers that offer it to consumers at retail prices.

Eventually, KPUD wants to have wireless testing done in six of the county’s community hubs — Poulsbo, Winslow, Port Orchard, Kingston, Bremerton and Silverdale.

I am waiting to hear back from Perry on current details about the Winslow project, including speeds.

KPUD requested the Internet speed be between 4 to 30 megabytes per second, ideally at or close to 30.

The Federal Communications Commission defines fast Internet as 4 or more megabytes per second.

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Jan. 9, 2015 front page

Rachel Anne Seymour

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Residents still torn over Suzuki property

Rachel Anne Seymour

While residents packed into a standing-room-only city council meeting Tuesday night to share suggestions on what to do with the city-owned Suzuki property, no action was taken and no new ideas were discussed by the council.

The property at the southeast corner of New Brooklyn and Sportsman Club Roads by Woodward Middle School is forested and has several trails. There are no wetlands, streams or steep slopes. There is a pond, but because it is man-made it does not meet the definition of a “critical area” under the city’s codes.

Residents continue to be torn between leaving the 13.83 acres of undeveloped land as is, using it for affordable housing, or allowing the school to use it for possible expansion in the future or outdoor education.

All of these ideas had previously been discussed at a public workshop last fall, where the Housing Resources Board, Housing Kitsap, Cutler Anderson Architects and Arcstudio each presented preliminary concepts to more than 100 residents.

According to multiple options presented to the city, the site could have anywhere from 45 to 75 housing units if developed.

Only 30 affordable units have been created on the island since 2002.

In 2000, the city purchased the land as a site for a police station and courthouse. Since then it was decided the property was too close to schools for a police station.

Some residents were concerned about increased traffic problems near the school with more housing.

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Experience a day in the life of a Bainbridge Island cop

Rachel Anne Seymour

An America's Most Wanted television crew sets up in the intersection of Winslow Way and Highway 305 on Bainbridge Island Thursday morning. In the police car is Bainbridge Island Police Officer Steve Cain who was involved in the car chase. — An America’s Most Wanted television crew sets up in the intersection of Winslow Way and Highway 305 on Bainbridge Island Thursday morning. In the police car is Bainbridge Island Police Officer Steve Cain who was involved in the car chase.

If you are interested in learning first hand what your local law enforcement does, apply for a hands-on learning experience with the Bainbridge Island Police Department. And it’s free.

The Citizens’ Police Academy is designed to show residents how the department functions, including everything from traffic enforcement, narcotics and criminal law to defensive tactics and investigations.

“The program was started to give citizens insight into what officers do while on patrol. It’s a great opportunity, as students get to gain a perspective of what happens behind the scenes, while also having the opportunity to get acquainted with some of the officers who serve them,” Chief of Police Matthew Hamner said in a news release.

While the academy is not intended to prepare people for a career in law enforcement, it is an opportunity better understand the job of local officers.

The academy is offered once a year. This year’s program runs on Tuesday nights from Tuesday, Feb. 10 through Tuesday, April 14. Classes are two hours long and start at 7 p.m. There are two optional Saturday sessions.

Students also have the opportunity to visit the CenCom 911 dispatch center, the Kitsap County Coroner’s Office and the Kitsap County Jail.

The class size is limited to 20 students.

For questions or an application, call the Bainbridge Island Police Department at 206-842-5211 or visit the department’s website.

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Bainbridge Island Fire opens its doors before February election

Rachel Anne Seymour

The Bainbridge Island Fire Department will be asking voters for a levy and 20-year $16 million bond next month during the special election.

Before voters head to the ballot boxes, the departments is looking to answer any questions residents have on the levy and bond.

The levy would increase the 2015 regular property tax to 95 cents per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation. Without the increase it is estimated to be 86 cents.

The levy would be used to hiring three more firefighters, and pay for three that have been recently hired. Those firefighters would be used to open Fire Station 23 on Phelps Road, which is currently closed and unmanned.

The money will not be collected until 2016.

The 20-year $16 million bond would be to pay for rebuilding, remodeling and equipping the department’s fire stations.

You can read more about the bond and levy details in a previous story I did in the Kitsap Sun.

The open houses will be:

January 07, 2015 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Station 21 – 8895 Madison Avenue, NE
January 14, 2015 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Station 22 – 7934 NE Bucklin Hill Road
January 21, 2015 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Station 23 – 12985 Phelps Road
January 24, 2015 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Station 21 – 8895 Madison Avenue, NE
January 24, 2015 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Station 22 – 7934 NE Bucklin Hill Road

Residents can also attend the bi-monthly fire commissioner meetings.

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Six candidates eye central ward vacancy

Rachel Anne Seymour

Six candidates are looking to fill the central ward vacancy on the Bainbridge Island City Council since David Ward resigned at the end of last year.

The six that have applied for the position are Monica Aufrecht, John Green, Joe Levan, Greg Millerd, Gary Pettersen and Michael Scott.

The council will interview candidates during a public meeting this month before voting on and choosing the new council member to finish Ward’s term, which ends in December 2015. Council members serve four year terms, earning $1,000 a month. The mayor earns $1,250 a month.

MONICA AUFRECHT

Aufrecht is a college instructor who moved to the island in 2012. She earned a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Washington, where she is now an instructor. She also teaches at Seattle Central College.

Last year, she served as a committee member for the Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District for the island, helping with the new Strawberry Hill Dog Park.

Aufrecht’s top three priorities on the council would be affordable housing, reducing pollution in Puget Sound and traffic and safety.

JOHN GREEN

Green owns and manages his own development and construction company on the island, where he has lived for 20 years. With his business he has worked with city planners, the public works department and city council, among other government agencies.

Green ran for the central ward position in 2011, losing in the primary election with 14.35 percent of the vote.

Green’s top three priorities would be the comprehensive plan, stormwater cleanup and fiscal responsibilities. He suggested “outsourcing” and raising the car tab fee, which is set at $20. Raising the car tab fee would require a vote from residents.

JOE LEVAN

Levan has lived on the island since 1995, and is an attorney currently working for the Municipal Research and Services Center in Seattle. He has provided legal services to multiple cities and served as interim assistant city manager of Maple Valley in 2007, where he also served as city attorney.

Levan earned two bachelor’s degrees from Seattle University in 1989, before earning his law degree from the same college a decade later.

He ran for the central ward position in 2011, losing in the general election to David Ward by about 1,000 votes.

Levan’s three priorities would be a smooth transition after Ward’s resignation, creating a safe and green community, as well as a more diversified economy.

GREG MILLERD

Millerd is a commercial real estate agent with Cushman & Wakefield, where he has been for about 20 years.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and mass community cation from the University of Wisconsin before earning a masters in business at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Millerd’s top two priorities would be to evaluate the city’s current real estate portfolio and review having a joint police and fire station. “It makes no sense to me that both the fire departments and police department would have unique facilities,” he wrote in his application. The city council voted 5-2 against a combination station last fall.

GARY PETTERSEN

Petterson, who most recently worked for Boeing Everett plant, has served on the planning commissioner for Winslow and Bainbridge Island.

He worked most of his career as a draftsman and computer programmer throughout the greater Seattle area.

Petterson also served in the Army from 1967 to 1971.

His top three priorities would be keeping downtown Winslow pedestrian friendly, help resolve ferry traffic congestion and broadcasting city council meetings again.

Bainbridge Island Television, which use to broadcast council meetings, went off air in 2010. The meetings can be streamed lived from the city’s website or viewed on BKAT.

MICHAEL SCOTT

Scott, an attorney with Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson in Seattle, has lived on the island since 1989. And he served on the Bainbridge Island School Board from 2001 to 2004.

His law practice focuses on litigation between commercial disputes, as well as arbitration and mediation.

Scott’s top three priorities as a council member would be balancing development with open space, improving infrastructure surrounding the ferry terminal and maintaining economic business centers — downtown Winslow, Lynwood Center and Rolling Bay, among others.

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Your top 2014 story picks

Rachel Anne Seymour

Here are the stories you decided were the top 10 stories from 2014.

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Jan. 2, 2015 front page

Rachel Anne Seymour

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January 2015
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