Plans are being made to destroy the old 1945 police station on Bainbridge Island to make way for an affordable housing site.
The BI City Council will look at spending $600,000 to do that at its meeting June 13. The site at 625 Winslow Way is 0.89 acres. Police won’t vacate it until late fall for the new one on Madison Avenue.
“Vacant buildings are a blighting influence as a result of rodents, graffiti and poor building maintenance,” the council agenda says, adding temporary landscaping will be done to beautify the area until site development. BI received $7.06 million in American Rescue Plan funds regarding COVID consequences. The demolition cost will be used from the $1.75 million set aside for affordable housing.
Ferry issues
John Vezina of Washington State Ferries will talk to the council about closure to all motorized traffic on the BI-Seattle route Sept. 7-13 due to WSF replacing the 50-year-old wooden walkway. Walk-on traffic only will be allowed, and service will be only one boat. WSF is exploring additional service options.
The $33 million project includes a heated passenger waiting area with benches. Parking for vehicles and bikes is available on both sides of the water. Officials advise using Kitsap Transit to get to the ferry on BI. Seattle offers many other options.
Please note: The Husky football team, along with the Seahawks, Storm and Mariners, all have home games that week. Also, Lionel Richie is in concert in Seattle.
Compost law
The state is requiring cities to adopt new composting laws.
Governments are required to consider whether compost products can be used when planning, soliciting and reviewing bids. The state wants to divert organic materials from landfills. Under the new BI law, departments need to identify if compost can be used in projects for landscaping, construction, erosion prevention, stormwater runoffs, and so on.
Projects will not be required to use compost if it’s not available, too expensive, or for other reasons. The city will be required to report information related to composting to the state Department of Ecology and to educate residents and businesses about food and yard waste compost.
In other news
The council will study an ordinance updating BI’s Illegal Drug and Paraphernalia laws to coincide with state law. Many drug possession and use laws go from felonies to misdemeanors, providing treatment, diversions and sentences in city rather than district court.
The council will also study amending its 2023 budget by $6.425 million. About half of that the council has approved this year during various meetings. Of the rest, most comes from water and sewer costs that will be paid for by a recent rate hike. City manager Blair King will talk about BI’s transition from gas to electric-powered hand tools by city maintenance staff.
It officially will name the new police-court facility the Ted Spearman Justice Center. It will study the city’s Historical Preservation Commission request to celebrate Akio Suyematsu Day in August and provide a budget of up to $2,000.
It will look at spending up to $300 for the BI Race Equity Advisory Committee’s participation in the Community Celebration of Juneteenth. It will confirm appointments to the Planning Commission, and Race Equity and Utility advisory committees. It will declare June 19 “Day to Celebrate Juneteenth” on BI and declare June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Pride Month.
Consent agenda
The council expects to have Kitsap County lead revisions of the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan for BI, Poulsbo, Bremerton, Port Orchard and the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe.
It plans to create a surcharge for the Ferncliff Water Main Extension Project and agree that BI and Salish Behavioral Health will work together on Opioid Settlement Funds. It plans to spend almost $462,000 on BI pump station projects and almost $240,000 on a groundwater management plan.
