Park changes: not when, but if

Park board members failed to reach consensus Thursday on their next move, following defeat of the district’s $5.7 million operations levy earlier this month.

A possible switch to “metropolitan” park district status – which would establish a stable, year-to-year tax levy, and get the district off its volatile two-year levy cycle – failed to find firm support.

Hanging over the discussion was the next Tim Eyman initiative, which if approved would slash non-voter-approved property taxes by 25 percent. A levy imposed under metropolitan district tax status would be subject to that cap, park commissioners said, while the “excess levies” now used to fund the district would not.

“It just seems to be risky to do this until you know whether that initiative passes,” board member Dave Shorett said.

“But you never know what (Eyman’s) going to do in the future, either,” board member Tom Swolgaard countered.

Former park director Chuck Field supported the switch to metropolitan status, “for the long-term viability of the park system.”

Nancy Fortner of Bainbridge Resource Group agreed, saying the district could supplement the regular levy with one-time capital levies for specific needs. That way, she argued, voters could decide whether they want projects like new ball fields without having to decide on park operations funding at the same time.

The change to metropolitan status would have to be approved by a simple majority of island voters.

One scenario that is unlikely: going back to the voters in May. That leaves the September and November ballots for the next park funding measure; without levy approval, the district will shut down at the end of the year.

“I’m not ready for May,” Shorett said. “There’s just too many unknowns.”

– Douglas Crist

Project OK, examiner says

In her first significant decision as Bainbridge Island hearing examiner, Meredith Getches this week found in favor of applicants for the Summit at Blakely Harbor subdivision.

Island developer John Green had sought preliminary plat approval to put 25 homes on 62 acres overlooking the south side of Blakely Harbor, on property formerly owned by Port Blakely Tree Farms. Homes would be clustered in four “nodes,” leaving 80 percent of the land undeveloped.

The project, recommended for approval by the city planning staff and former hearing examiner Robin Baker, is opposed by the Fort Ward Neighborhood Association and the nearby South Ridge Homeowners Association.

After hearings in November and December, the City Council remanded the project to the examiner for further study.

Issues raised by the council included density and possible impacts on wetlands and an osprey nesting area.

After a two-day hearing, Getches found that Green’s application met the city’s requirements, subject to several new conditions that include reduced road width and septic approval.

The project now will go back to the council for further consideration.

– Douglas Crist

PUD to flush water mains

Kitsap Public Utility District will be flushing the North Bainbridge water system from Feb. 29 to March 7.

Flushing will take place nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

If water system customers experience dirty water during the day, they are urged to run their water for several minutes to flush their service line.

If the problem persists, they can call KPUD at (360) 779-7656.