Puget Sound Energy got almost everything it asked for from the City Council regarding Bainbridge Island code changes to make it easier for the utility to fix BI’s electrical problems.
The council approved all but one request. It felt that it was bad public policy to allow PSE to use eminent domain to take property without working with private property owners. Planning director Patty Charnas said “balancing the rights of property owners and the utility” caused the biggest disagreements in the negotiations.
Code changes will allow more flexibility for PSE for things like utility pole heights and locations. PSE has proposals to install, upgrade and maintain projects on BI, including a new transmission line, rebuilding a transmission line and upgrading all three substations within the city.
Attorney Jack McCullough, representing Bullrush Farms, said during public comments that they have been trying to work with PSE for 1 1/2 years, but have been largely ignored. He said he has a few dozen other cases where the utility won’t tell the property owner what’s going on. “It’s the same cadence,” he said.
McCullough said he understands the utility needs to be taken care of, but the application process should be left alone. “PSE will accomplish the project,” he said, adding the question is how will it be done. “It’s a bad message for PSE to refuse to work with property owners.”
Downtown parking
The council adopted downtown parking time limits and other regulations. Remaining will be free parking and parking areas for downtown employees through a permit. It ended unsanctioned enforcement exceptions.
Exceptions will be allowed in some instances for the Rowing Club, Bainbridge High School Sailing Team, park district and senior center. Increasing the parking time from two to three hours between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in specific downtown areas satisfies most of their conflicts.
Vehicle trailer parking restrictions will be enforced from April through September on some areas of Bjune Drive SE, which will add 26 parking spaces on weekends and holidays and 16 spaces from October through March.
City manager
In city manager Blair King’s report, he gave an update on the Eagle Harbor Drive-Wyatt Way and Valley Road non-motorized improvement projects.
The council last December moved forward on 30% design for the Eagle-Wyatt project. The design includes a vertical and physically separated path on the south-northbound side and a widened and buffered path on the north/southbound side. Ongoing work is a final design to Cooper Creek fish passage and an over-water boardwalk on the southbound side of the corridor opposite Greenlight Garage. Construction is expected to start second quarter of 2025 with completion first quarter of 2026.
As for Valley Road, nonmotorized use is predominantly pedestrian to get to the nearby neighborhood center and does not feel safe due to lack of shoulder space. Many families, some with strollers, use the space, as do kids riding bikes. Separated areas with widths for all ages and abilities can use it. Preliminary design for a multi-use sidewalk could happen in first quarter of 2027.
Opposes initiative
The council adopted a resolution opposing Initiative 217, which concerns Carbon Tax Credit Trading. The measure would decrease funding for transportation, clean air, renewable energy, conservation and emissions reductions.
Prior to their vote, three members of the public supported that direction. Sandy Spears said it would cut money to save the environment. Michael Cox said BI could not meet its climate goals if that funding was reduced. And Mike Kelly said cuts would devastate much-needed funding for the ferry system.
Carbon offset
On the consent agenda, the council OK’d a project to offset carbon emisions caused by the renovation at the Ted Spearman Justice Center. The gap is approximately 64 metric tons a year. Of five options, it was chosen to install a 120-kilowattphotovoltaic system. Seven public jurisdictions made proposals. The school district won out for its Woodward Middle School site.
