Community Cafe Bainbridge

In this 42-minute conversation about the birth of the home-rule Bainbridge Island city in the 1990s, we hear stories from former officials from the old days.

You'll hear: Andy Maron of the Home Rule Committee and the ensuing City Council of the 1990s, former council member and mayor Dwight Sutton, and Lynn Nordby who served as City Administrator from 1991 to 2003.

Stories like these will be shared at City Hall at 5:30pm on Tuesday March 1st, at the public commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the all-island city.

Hear the anecdotes and amusing stories that these three city founders share about:

Credits: BCB host, audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.

In this podcast, three of the leading members of the 1991 "home rule" movement to form a Bainbridge island-wide city - Darlene Kordonowy, Vicki Johnson and Charles Schmid - reminisce about that transformative event on its 25th anniversary.

Darlene describes the 1988 to 1991 home rule movement and recalls her role as its co-chair. She discusses the resilience of the 21-member home rule group as they persevered despite initial rejections by certain officials. Darlene also discusses her transition, after the victory on the November 1990 island-wide ballot, to the 7-member group that drafted the new city's first comprehensive plan.

Vicki Johnson shares personal anecdotes from her vantage point as the chair of publicity and citizen education for the local home rule group. She reminisces about the talents of the small group, and how they continued to bounce back when a tactic or strategy seemed thwarted.

Charles Schmid talks about his views of the process from the vantage point of being the pragmatic professional engineer on the home rule team, and the environmental leader of the Association of Bainbridge Communities (ABC). Charles tells an anecdote about driving to the Port Orchard county offices to oversee the recount of the close vote, and its triumphant outcome, with a return to the island accompanied by a musical overture.

The podcast follows this chronology of the home rule movement:

You are invited to the 7pm Tuesday March 1st City Hall celebration and public commemoration of the 25th anniversary of all-island home rule, highlighting our community's accomplishments over the past 25 years.

Credits: BCB host, audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.

In this 36-minute podcast, BCB interviews the proponents of the four proposals for the use of the City's 14-acre Suzuki property in Winslow, and we hear an overview of the property, the zoning and our Comprehensive Plan priorities from the City's Interim Planning Director Joe Tovar.

The City purchased the 14-acre Winslow property more than 15 years ago to potentially serve as a location for a police building and court. Now that the City has determined that the Suzuki neighborhood is too residential and too close to several schools to be well-suited for a police building, the City proposes to sell the property to help raise funds for public projects such as police and court buildings elsewhere.

In 2014, our City Council invited proposals that it could judge for both community priorities and purchase price. Four proposals emerged from four sets of partnering organizations - a combination of local nonprofits, a County housing agency, and local property investers, architects and designers.

On the timeline of this podcast, you'll hear:

0:25 Joe Tovar: COBI's Interim Planning Director: Overview of Suzuki property

5:15 Introduction to the four proposals

6:10 John Rose of Olympic Property Group, Jonathan Davis of Davis Studio Architecture + Design, and Rick Skelton (co-founder Boys & Girls Club of Bainbridge). 52 homes, of which 15 would be affordable, with open space, farm garden (based on discussions with the local Friends of the Farms nonprofit) and a site for a Boys & Girls Club within walking distance of schools. Offering $2.4 million to the City's public funds. They will hold a public meeting on February 18th at 7pm at the Grange. Suzuki Farm proposal.

13:15 Mark Blatter of nonprofit Housing Resources Bainbridge (HRB) and Stuart Grogan of the County's public agency called Housing Kitsap. Partnering architects would be Pyatok Architecture, and Wenzlau Architects of Bainbridge. Sustainability consulting by O'Brien and Co. 45% of site would have 75 homes of which 60 would be affordable, with the remainder being open space with the existing pond and a site for a child care center and perhaps a community gardening site. Offering $2.4 million to the City's public funds. New Brooklyn Glen proposal.

19:55 Bob Guyt, an architect with Blue Architecture + Interiors of Bremerton, partnering with Housing Kitsap and AKA Investors. About 25% of the site would have 60 clustered homes of which all would be affordable, emphasizing net-zero green-built homes, shareable zip cars and minimal space for car parking. There would be a community center and interpretive center. The remainder would be undisturbed open space and pond. Offering $2.6 million to the City's public funds. Proposal.

27:35 Tom Swolgaard, one of 5 commissioners of the BI Parks & Recreation District, which responded to a citizen request to propose to use the land for park and/or recreation uses, which would be determined by a subsequent public process (similar to the current public process for the Park District's 23-acre Sakai property). This proposal would call for a transfer of the property at no charge to the Parks District, rather than a payment to the City's public funds. Proposal.

32:02 Joe Tovar, COBI Planning Director, with a 4-minute wrap-up and summary of priorities of the City Comprehensive Plan that potentially apply to this project. He also summarizes next steps for the Council and public.

The next public comment opportunity on the Suzuki property will be the open City Council meeting of Tuesday evening February 23rd.

Credits: BCB host, audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.

In this podcast, Lara Hansen explains how climate change will impact Bainbridge Island. She's the chief scientist and executive director of local nonprofit EcoAdapt, and a board member of Sustainable Bainbridge.

EcoAdapt has been funded by Bainbridge Community Foundation to help local citizens participate in the City's update of the local Comprehensive Plan and show how our island can plan to be more adaptive to climate change.

Lara describes how climate change will impact the various elements of our island's Comprehensive Plan, including Land Use, Environment, Housing and Utilities.

She points to opportunities to resist and adapt to climate change that are available if we plan ahead. For example, she describes opportunities for our island to draw cleaner renewable energy and carbon-free electric power for our local grid if we form a local public electric utility rather than continue relying on our current mix of power sources that include coal and natural gas.

Lara answers the question: What can community members do to help make our community more resilient in the face of climate change?

Lara's nonprofit, EcoAdapt, hosted a citizen gathering at City Hall in late 2015 in which scores of islanders voiced concerns about climate change that are now finding their way into the City's Comprehensive Plan update.

Credits: BCB host, audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.

In this podcast, we learn about the Smiles Partners nonprofit community service program providing dental care to kids and seniors.

We hear from executive director Imbert Matthee and program coordinator Lisa Schulze. They talk about how they would like to grow the Smiles for Life program and reach out to more people eligible for their services, especially seniors in our community.

Smiles for Life, a division of Smile Partners, is an oral hygiene program serving anyone over 60 years old. The services are provided by a registered dental hygienist in their facility in Waterfront Park Community Center. The program offers reduced fees for those who qualify by income. At each preventive care appointment, patients receive a blood pressure screening, a head, neck and oral cancer screening, an assessment for decay and gum disease, and a cleaning.

Smile Partners works with local dentists and encourages clients to have regular examinations with their professional dentist.

Smile Partners is dedicated to providing healthy smiles to Bainbridge Islanders through reduced cost dental hygiene services. An established nonprofit, Smile Partners travels to schools in our county (and King county) to perform services in their mobile Smile Coach. Every year Smile Partners screens and treats thousands of children in the Puget Sound area to help them avoid the debilitating effects of tooth decay.

Learn more at the Smiles Partners website or call 206-780-6908.

Credits: BCB host: Sandy Schubach; BCB audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.

In this podcast, City planning director Kathy Cook reflects back and reminisces about a remarkable 20-year career with the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI). Kathy is retiring this month from the important and publicly visible position of Director of Planning and Community Development.

Kathy was hired by COBI as a part-time administrator twenty years ago, and her experiences and responsibilities grew as COBI evolved and changed over those two decades. You’ll hear the respect and appreciation she feels for the community members she’s served and the staff she’s worked with.

The recording of this conversation, about six days prior to her last day at work, gave Kathy a chance to reflect and tell stories of a memorable career in a community she has always admired and appreciated. When asked about projects that were particularly satisfying, she recalls, for example:

- Developing the ordinances that implemented the Winslow Master Plan of the 1990s

- Participating in the revitalization of Winslow Way and the downtown area (the Winslow Way streetscape project, the gateway formed by the Art Museum and Kidimu, the T&C store remodel and Waypoint Park)

- Helping with the Special Area Plan for Lynwood Center when she first joined the City, and then watching the plan come to fruition over time.

When asked about the most controversial development project for a City that has had more than it’s share of controversy, her answer, quite surprisingly, was the 2008-10 planning process for the new Art Museum. Have a listen to hear why.

When asked about her most challenging role or duty, Kathy tells a story that is still painful to her emotionally, when she -- as the newly appointed director of the Department -- was required to respond to the devastating economic downturn of 2008 to 2011 by implementing large numbers of employee layoffs, and the ensuing efforts to restore morale as much as possible. It was a time when the City staff declined in number by roughly one-third over a 3-year period.

Kathy also shares stories about projects she found most complex, and the aspects of her work with the City that she has found the most interesting.

She concludes by mentioning several issues that she expects citizens will be wanting to address as the update of COBI’s Comprehensive Plan proceeds, and as timely issues for citizens and the community continue to assert themselves.

Credits: BCB host, audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.

In this podcast interview, recorded in early January, State Senator Christine Rolfes shares some personal anecdotes and also previews the 2016 session of the State Legislature that starts on Monday January 11th.

Topics explored for BCB listeners during this 25-minute podcast conversation include:

0:40 How is your family coping with your busy schedule as a State Senator?

2:05 What are some of your favorite activities and destinations around the island?

3:05 Reflections on the grass roots candlelight vigil on Dec 14th at the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial

5:15 Thoughts about the 25th anniversary in 2016 of home rule and all-island local government on Bainbridge

8:05 Issues that divide or unite the voters of the State -- eastern, West Sound and Seattle

9:56 Wildfires as a humanitarian - and forest management - concern that unites east and west

12:09 Senator Rolfes’ statewide listening tour focusing on the needs of public education, and responding to teacher shortages

13:56 Preview of this year’s legislative session debates on public education funding

16:32 Ways the education funding issue applies to local districts including here in Bainbridge and North Kitsap districts

18:07 What it's like to work with Governor Inslee on his commitment to environmental and climate change issues

19:44 The Governor’s op-ed article - humanitarian values toward refugees

20:38 The Governor’s support for adequate funding of ferry service

21:14 Issues about military veterans, and the recent award Senator Rolfes received from a veterans organization.

23:01 Wrapup of other issues this year

23:45 How to reach Senator Rolfes during the legislative session.

This is the second annual overview conversation with Senator Christine Rolfes that BCB has hosted for listeners in her 23rd Legislative District, which includes Bainbridge Island.

Credits: BCB host, audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters. Note: This podcast recording was trimmed and condensed for quicker listening.

In this podcast, City employees Amber Richards and Heather Beckmann explain why they - and so many Bainbridge organizations and individuals - are working to make Bainbridge a safe haven again for bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators.

In its first months, project partners have grown to include: ASANI and the Grow Community; Commodore Options School; Bay Hay and Feed (where bee hive education occurs); Bloedel Reserve; Friends of the Farms; beekeeper Charles Shafer (who educates on bees at the Farmers Market); Islandwood; Sustainable Bainbridge; Sweetlife Farm; and, now, BCB!

Pollinators face a number of challenges in modern society and many species are in serious decline. Pesticide use, specifically the use of neonicotinoids, have caused massive die-offs.

See this webpage for advice on how you can make a difference and avoid harmful pesticides in your home garden.

Pollinators (bees, birds, moths, butterflies, and bats) are critical to human survival. Globally, pollinators account for pollination of approximately 85% of the world’s flowering plants and the vast majority of foods worldwide.

One way to help is to become a beekeeper. Beekeeping is pursued worldwide. For one example, BCB discovered an apparently easy-to-use beehive invention on the crowd-funding website called IndieGoGo. However, if anyone tries that Hive Flow system, or any other beehive system for beginners, please let us know and we'll do a future podcast about it. This is not intended, however, as an endorsement of Hive Flow or any other product by the Pollinator project.

Credits: BCB host, audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.

In this podcast, newly re-elected School Board Director Tim Kinkead shares his thoughts about the key challenges and opportunities to preserving the quality of education for the students in the Bainbridge Island School District.

By chance, Tim's BCB studio interview happened to occur on the day (Friday November 13th) that our community's much appreciated School Superintendent Faith Chapel publicly announced her planned retirement as of the end of this school year (see her press release, below).

In this podcast, Tim speaks of his respect and appreciation for Faith, and notes some of her accomplishments.

Tim also outlines four sets of issues that will be important to the future of the school district:

- the need for community-approval in 2016 of capital bond funding for the reconstruction and repair of schools and facilities;

- the importance of finding a successor to the retiring Superintendent;

- the need to attract and retain the district's excellent teaching staff amidst a failure of the majority of the state legislators to follow the Constitutional mandate to adequately fund public schools (see our January 2015 BCB podcast interview with our community's State Senator Christine Rolfes advocating for the State Senate to step up to its duty to fund public education);

- finding the limited and balanced role for testing to play in Bainbridge student schooling records.

Credits: BCB host, audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.

From BCB... http://bestofbcb.org/cafe-025-etacs-frank-gremse/

In this podcast, retired scientist and engineer Frank Gremse talks about his volunteer service for the City’s Environmental Technical Advisory Committee (ETAC) and other public spirited organizations taking a stand on climate change.

Frank Gremse (pronounced “Gremz”) is a 25-year Bainbridge resident who retired 1½ years ago from a professional career in science and engineering.

Years ago, after seeing the Al Gore movie “An Inconvenient Truth” about the significance and impact of climate change, Frank traveled to Toronto Canada to participate with hundreds of other attendees from many nations in an Al Gore “Climate Reality Project” training and workshop.  Years later, as he approached his anticipated retirement, he sought out an idealistic group of professionals known as “Engineers Without Borders”.  Like the better-known “Doctors Without Borders”, the engineers group engages in humanitarian projects around the world.

Frank currently serves as chair of the City’s ETAC committee of citizen volunteers. Frank notes that ETAC currently has vacancies to fill. An interested Bainbridge resident can apply on the ETAC page of the City’s website.  In prior years, ETAC advised the City Council about the multi-year project known as the Shoreline Management Program (SMP). Currently, ETAC is focused on the City’s update of the local Comprehensive Plan, and is advising on environmental topics -- like adaptation to climate change -- that should form a portion of the plan update.

Frank mentions the upcoming November 18 City workshop, hosted by a scientist and planner from the local nonprofit, EcoAdapt. The subject is adaptation to climate change and what the City’s Comprehensive Plan update should say about the City adapting to climate change.

In this podcast, Frank provides several basic scientific facts about the evidence of climate change and its significance. He also discusses some hopeful new alternatives that are emerging in solar and wind energy.

Credits: BCB host: Barry Peters; BCB audio editor: Chris Walker; BCB social media publishers: Chris and Diane Walker.