For a city surrounded by water, it’s no secret in the community that access to the sound is less than desirable.
Bainbridge lacks a boat haulout facility, an inviting public marina or even a fully-functioning, operational public dock.
City Hall has long heard public comment from those urging the city to focus their limited resources and attention on churning the economic engine of water-based opportunities.
Accordingly, a few islanders are revisiting a solution often proposed in years past: a port district. Former Councilor Jim Llewellyn and civic activist Wini Jones have started a campaign to garner island support to create a new junior taxing agency. Their quest over the next several months is to gather at least 1,400 or – 10 percent of island registered voters – to sign a petition to get a port district on the ballot for the Nov. 8 election.
“My gut reaction is that there will be public support, but that depends on how information is presented,” said Llewellyn. “If we explain what capabilities and activities a port can foster, without a lot of money from the public, then people will support it.”
Last Thursday Llewellyn and Jones hosted a public meeting, and with just six in attendance Llewellyn said turnout was disappointing, but fueled his desire to explain the merits of what a port district can do.
Port districts are a heavily utilized tool for economic growth throughout the state with 12 port districts in Kitsap County and 75 in the state. Several smaller ports have existed on the island, up until the consolidated Port of Bainbridge dissolved 50 years ago. The nearby Port of Kingston started in 1919 and Poulsbo in 1951, according to the Washington Public Ports Association.
According to state law port districts can tax residents from $0.01 to $0.45 per $1,000 in property tax values. Llewellyn said a Bainbridge port might assess five to 10 cents for an estimated $25 to $50 annually to island property owners. According to 2011 tax data from the Kitsap County Treasurer, an islander with a $545,000 home already pays approximately $1,297 to the state, $189 to the library, $1,561 to schools, $582 to the county, $685 to the city, $711 to the fire department, $40 to the police and $422 to the parks and recreation district for a total of $5,510.
“A taxing authority is a big, bad word these days, but you have the ability to go after so many more grants and you have the support of the Washington Public Port Association,” said Pete DeBoer, port district commissioner in Kingston. “[Bainbridge] has marina issues and it doesn’t have a boat yard, which are things a port could handle or create in a much more focused manner than what anyone can do at the City of Bainbridge Island.”
The tax collected from the public would give the port a base, from which it can apply for grants and other funding. A port district elects three to five commissioners who manage and operate the port.
Llewellyn personally knows how difficult it is to keep water-related issues at the top of the council priority list from his eight years on council. Potential port projects discussed at the meeting include: a boat yard and marina for transient boaters; improving the city dock at Waterfront Park and adding a fuel dock; developing the road ends; improvements to Strawberry plant park; building kayak launches, viewing platforms or rowing docks; and constructing a dock at Pritchard park for water taxis to be operated by the port.
On land, port districts can run airports, railroads, industrial sites and recreational facilities. Convincing non-boaters that their tax dollars will create an island-wide benefit is critical for port supporters.
“Port districts aren’t just for boats. It’s about jobs too. We’ve had restaurants on our property, we host the farmers market that brings in a lot of tourism. We are also the landlord for the Washington State Ferry dock,” said DeBoer. “You can get grants that spur economic development and help small communities grow and start new ventures.”
DeBoer said cities are too often consumed with other responsibilities to dedicate resources to the opportunities ports pursue.
Island boater Richard Randall attended Thursday’s meeting and said he’d be willing to support the idea if a case is made for an island-wide benefit.
“If it’s something just to benefit recreational boaters then I’m not willing to put myself into it,” said Randall. “But I think the economic value is there and it would be realized over the long-term.”
Ken Sethney, who is the director of the Bainbridge Shoreline Homeowners Association, wrote an open letter to Llewellyn and Jones.
Sethney echoed his concern that another taxing authority would be created to primarily focus on the wants and needs of a small group of people. He also thought the port would need to asses a tax greater than $0.10 to function.
“If a port district is needed, it should have a sustainable economic plan that doesn’t require every family on the island to dig even deeper into their pockets to provide services they may never use,” said Sethney. “This is especially true at a time when the city can’t seem to provide even the most basic services for all residents — road repair being high on the list of shameful neglect.”