REVIEW BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011 | Vol. 111, No. 42 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
SEE SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE
Even campaigning can be fun, positive
W H ERE WE’RE HEA D E D PA RT T W O
By DENNIS ANSTINE Staff Writer
Joel Levin/Courtesy Photo
Buses, bikes and pedestrians offer some alternative to the car driving. The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC) is working on the first phase of a county-wide Multi-Modal Transportation Plan.
A vision for island transportation By JESSICA HOCH For the Review
The automobile has been king of the road for most of a century but there are changes afoot. There is movement in the more progressive regions of the United States toward creating plans that will at least develop more of a share-the-road approach to allow other modes of transportation to be more than just second-class citizens dodging high-speed projectiles on America’s arterials. The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC) is undertaking the first phase of a county-wide Multi-Modal Transportation Plan, which is well-timed since state and federal legislative initiatives address the importance of active transportation. Meaning, there likely will be more grant funding for such an approach in the future. The plan has promise because it touches many positives for communities, including: • Public health – Safe opportunities for cycling and walking; • Safety – Facilities that consider the needs of all modes, which will reduce the frequency of acci-
dents and fatalities; • Economy – Integrating auto, freight, air, transit, bike and pedestrian modes into new transportation facilities; • Environment – Fewer emissions mean healthier citizens and a cleaner environment; • Mobility – Less congestion, leading to more efficiency in movement of goods and people; • Equity – Realistic alternatives to automobile trips provide independence for more vulnerable users, such as children and seniors; • Community – With walkable access and more livable neighborhoods, stronger connections socially and economically are developed. Bainbridge Island is a key element to the KRCC plan because of its location between two mainland counties (Kitsap and King) and its progressive residents, despited the fact it is currently dependent on the automobile and is dominated by roads that are generally unfriendly to bicyclists and pedestrians. The No. 1 headache, of courts, is the state highway (SR-305) that runs (north-south) right
Second of two stories on transportation issues on Bainbridge. down the middle of the island and carries thousand of cars daily between Agate Pass Bridge and the Bainbridge-Seattle ferry terminal. Putting the highway aside for now, there is much to do to get the island more multi-modal. Don Willott, Bainbridge’s representative to KRCC, believes an important first step is getting the City of Bainbridge Island totally on board, beginning with revising its guidelines to ensure that plans involving facilities and roads are modernized so that they merge rather than stand separated as is often the case now. “For example, there’s a medical complex being built just south of the First Baptist Church and west of the 305,” he said. “They could easily connect the Sound to Olympics (STO) trail with a Kitsap Transit bus stop right there SEE TRANSPORTATION, A3
Half of the eight candidates seeking four City Council seats are now into their fifth month of campaigning, but it won’t get any easier down the homestretch. Islanders will begin receiving ballots in their mailboxes on Friday after the the Kitsap County Election Division sent them out on Wednesday. As incumbent Barry Peters put it on Thursday: “I’ve been standing at the ferry terminal to welcome commuters in the morning and I’ll be doing even more of that once the ballots are in their hands.” Peters has done this before and enjoys the process, while the other seven candidates are new to it but are also embracing it. They realize that on Bainbridge it’s all about meeting and greeting. They’re also attending numerous informal events in supporters’
homes, going to city meetings and candidate forums, knocking on doors and shaking hands in front of Safeway or other local businesses. “It’s time consuming,” said North Ward candidate Melanie Keenan, “but what’s encouraging is how many great people there are out there. We talk about not getting discouraged and getting involved because collectively I think this community has some great talent and together we can make a difference.” Dave Ward, who’s running against Joe Levan for the Central Ward seat, said he likes to stand at the ferry terminal with his Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. “People are more interested in the family dog,” he said, “but we get to talking and it can get very stimulating. People like to talk politics here and their responses are mostly positive and encouraging.” He added that he hasn’t run to SEE ELECTION, A11
Civil Service Commission posts remain abandoned By RICHARD D. OXLEY Staff Writer
The city Council voted to dismiss an Ethics Board complaint and a petition for removal of two Civil Service Commission members during Wednesday’s council meeting, finally putting to rest an ongoing controversy with the commission. The dismissals came after resignations from David Hand and George McKinney this week that has left the city commission unmanned. In light of the resignations, which included Robert Fernandez resigning on Oct. 10, Councilor Bob Scales made two motions during the council’s meeting. The first was to dismiss the petition for removal of Hand and McKinney from the commission since both have now resigned; it passed unanimously. Scales also presented a motion to dismiss a complaint to the
Ethics Board against Hand and McKinney. Both the petition and the complaint to the ethics board were made by former CSC Secretary/Chief Examiner Kim Hendrickson. Council members Bill Knobloch and Debbi Lester both voiced dissenting opinions over dismissing an Ethics Board complaint when they had not had an opportunity to view a decision on the matter made by the board on Monday. “I have no dog in this fight, but I would ask that you respect our Ethics Board,” said Lester. In contrast, others felt that since all commissioners have resigned, there are no further actions to be taken. “They have had to endure a constant onslaught,” Scales said. “They are no longer our commissioners so what is the purpose to continue with this? ... It’s moot.” SEE CIVIL SERVICE, A10