BI meets on solutions to 3 major issues tonight

Who says City Hall doesn’t listen?

Bainbridge Island city staff has come up with some different solutions after receiving public input on the Wyatt Way-Eagle Harbor nonmotorized transportation project.

That is just one of three huge BI projects that will be discussed at tonight’s City Council meeting. The others are the Housing Action Plan and the Winslow SubArea Plan. The meeting starts at 6 at City Hall and on Zoom.

Regarding the nonmotorized path, 42 people attended an open house and came up with four main points. They think a two-way directional path on one side of the busy road makes the most sense due to a lack of space. They also said the lanes must remain clean, speeding of vehicles also needs to be addressed, and critical areas must be protected as much as possible.

According to a survey, 68% like the bi-directional lane on one side as long as it has a physical barrier and can be 8-10 feet wide.

Staff came up with a “best fit” approach, meaning different types of paths might work in different parts of the trail. And, traffic calming devices could be used at various intersections.

The “best fit” approach could include a striped lane, striped with buffer, striped with buffer and flex barrier, green painted bike lane, bike lanes with raised wedge curbs or bike lanes with a regular raised curb.

Housing action

The draft Housing Action Plan includes six guiding principles: more diverse housing; more affordable housing; prevent residential displacement; more housing for seniors and special populations; more rental and home-ownership for local workforce; and sustainable development.

Associated strategies include things like: more tiny homes and triplexes; affordable housing incentives; shared ownership; transitional and supportive housing; tenant and homeowner support; ferry-oriented development; reuse of existing buildings; and more houses in designated centers.

The draft also includes 34 action plans. The plan, based on community engagement, looks at housing needs now and into the future. Evaluation criteria includes: equity, impact on housing availability, resources needed, benefits and challenges.

Winslow SubArea

The council also will discuss a suggestion from the Planning Commission to develop a steering committee made up of three members each from that commission, the council and the Race Equity Advisory Committee.

That committee would replace one made up of ad hoc citizens that is in city code now.

That suggestion came about after the citizen committee was bypassed in current Winslow SubArea plan negotiations. Instead, the city was reaching out to various groups in town to get a wide variety of input. But because code was bypassed, the Planning Commission came up with this new steering committee to make sure the process stays open to the public.

The entire process looks at zoning and regulatory changes for downtown Winslow, including sustainable transportation, climate action and race equity.

Also on the agenda

There will be a discussion on problem flooding areas on BI. The Dec. 27, 2022, King Tide was .7 feet higher than any previously recorded tide.

A public hearing is set regarding an appeal by the Stetson Ridge Homeowners Association of Puget Sound Energy’s plan for improvements to the Winslow Substation. The association said it will dismiss the appeal if the site is limited to utility uses only.

On the consent agenda is spending almost $285,000 for the Sands Avenue Well Rehabilitation Construction project. Well pumps for that project will add over $50,000 more. And it will accept $100,000 from Department of Ecology for sea level rise modeling.

The council will look to spend $50,000 on equity training for three sessions for council and REAC members. It will go over committee and liaison assignments, and appoint a subcommittee to discuss the Waste Reduction Ordinance. It will also pass proclamations on the Rights of the Southern Resident Orcas and February being Black History Month.