REVIEW BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
BI LAND TRUST: Ann Powel to receive Phyllis Young award for shoreline restoration. Page A5
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012 | Vol. 112, No. 6 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
Council opts to not pay bill Invoice for legal services center of heated debate over methods used to replace city manager. By RICHARD D. OXLEY Staff Writer
Willie Wenzlau/For the Review
Workers for Central Highland Builders, the Poulsbo contractor for Ferncliff Village, work in the rain Wednesday in preparation for the first three homes of the development being presented Saturday during an open house event, beginning at 10 a.m.
HRB seeks ‘right homebuyer’ By DENNIS ANSTINE Staff Writer
There are several different “types” of homebuyers who fit into the Ferncliff Village genre, but the one characteristic that appears to be consistent is that the affordable-housing complex fits their current needs and expectations. Ingrid Del Riesgo, for example, is likely a little different from most of the eventual 24 owners of the single-family residents in the first phase of the Housing Resources Board development. She’s a recent divorcee who has purchased a 1,338-square-foot unit that is in the higher ($220,000) income range for a buyer. But once Del Riesgo went through the Community Land Trust orientation, she knew she had found “the
perfect fit at the right time.” which she hopes to move into “At first I wanted a condo on Feb. 24. “It’s something I close to town where I could can maintain by myself and walk everywhere,” she said. can afford.” “But I She also d i d n’t likes the “There truly is an w a n t neighborliopportunity here for shared ness that the walls and low-income qualifiers to new village condos buy their own homes for offers. are even “I’ve already what it costs to rent on got to know expensive because of one set of the island.” the huge neighbors and Mark Blatter, Executive Director we’ve had a mont hly Housing Resources Board fees. I also blast getting looked at to know each some small fixer-uppers, but other,” said Del Riesgo, who they were a little out of my will serve her 50 hours of range, and I really wanted a maintenance commitment new house if possible.” ($20 per hour for $1,000 And a three-bedroom one, that will go off her purchase at that, since she has teenage price) by landscaping her children who will be sharing own home. the home, too. Her new castle is one of “It’s pretty cool and really three different models that what I wanted all along,” she SEE FERNCLIFF, A5 said of the two-story home,
Home sweet homes The “Welcome Home” Celebration of the first three homes completed at Ferncliff Village will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11. The public is invited to participate, and parking is available across Ferncliff Avenue. The three different models of the green, affordable and sustainable homes will be available to tour. They range in price from $195,000 to $220,000. For more information on the Housing Resources Board’s Ferncliff Village, contact Phedra Elliott at 842.1909 7# or visit either www.ferncliffvillage.org or www.housingresourcesboard.org.
Bainbridge Island’s City Council opted not to pay its legal bills Wednesday after receiving an invoice that became the center of lengthy debate and strained relations on the dais. At council’s weekly meeting, Council Member Bob Scales presented a bill for $3,553.50 from the law firm Inslee Best reflecting 15.60 hours of legal services dating between Jan. 5 and Jan. 16. The services covered the review of employment agreements and drafting of a separation agreement for City Manager Brenda Bauer. Council Member Steve Bonkowksi was also included in one of the conference calls noted on the bill. “The whole event was clearly an ambush and in my perspective they’re trying to compromise the whole decision on Brenda,” Council Member David Ward said. “And I don’t think that will happen.” Inslee Best has a contract with the city to provide legal SEE COUNCIL, A19
Homes may get a change of address By RICHARD D. OXLEY Staff Writer
The times they are a-changing, and it seems, so may be some addresses on Bainbridge Island. Cencom, the agency that handles 911 calls for Kitsap County, has been spearheading a project to correct problems with addresses in the county – problems that slow emergency response time as responders search for their destination. Bainbridge Island is among the areas they have identified as having a number of addressing issues that may need to be corrected. “The driving force behind the project is public safety,” said Tom
Powers, addressing coordinator for the project. “Cencom became involved in this effort because of our ongoing interest in promoting correct addressing for the purpose of eliminating delays in providing emergency fire, medical and law enforcement response.” Cencom doesn’t have any authority to make any addressing changes itself, unless it is given to them by an addressing authority such as the city. The project will be providing the city with a number of areas on the island they have identified that may need to be changed. The city will then have SEE ADDRESSES, A19