REVIEW BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
FRIDAY, September 26, 2014 | Vol. 114, No. 39 | WWW.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.COM | 75¢
Council delays decision on joint facility with Bainbridge Island Fire Department
INSIDE: Homecoming football win! A26
Great gourds - on a roll
CITY WON’T MEET DEADLINE FOR BIFD BOND MEASURE BY CECILIA GARZA Bainbridge Island Review
After authorizing another $30,000 on a site assessment, the Bainbridge Island City Council has decided to postpone a decision on whether the city should join up with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department to build a colocated police/fire station. On a 4-3 vote Tuesday, the council decided to continue the discussion at its next study session to give the public more chance to weigh in. The delay, though, means the city won’t meet an Oct. 1 deadline set by the fire department. “I am very sensitive to the fact that the fire department has some timelines that they would like to meet,” said Councilman Val Tollefson. “But I am very reluctant to allow us to rush into a decision to accommodate their needs without having fully faced the public on this.” Fire commissioners sent a letter to the city council in midAugust that asked for a council decision by Oct. 1 so the fire department could pursue a bond measure at the ballot box in February. Bainbridge fire officials have been talking for months about replacing their headquarters facility on Madison Avenue near Highway 305, replacing the south end station, and making improvements to the department’s north end fire hall on Phelps Road. Bainbridge officials have also been considering replacing the city’s current police facility on Winslow Way, a former fire hall, with a new building. Four options
are under consideration: “There’s not a strong need to Building a police station at a have a police facility close by the location south of city hall; city hall,” Humphreys said. Building a police station at a “If there is a co-located function location north of city hall; it is more of a, potentially, courts Building the facility at the fire and police,” he said. department’s locaAssistant tion for Station 21 on City Manager Madison Avenue; “I am very reluctant to Morgan Smith and that rush into a decision to said Building the Winslow’s denaccommodate their facility at the fire sity validates department’s locathe need for a needs.” tion on fire departcentrally-locatCouncilman Val Tollefson ment property near Bainbridge city council ed police staStation 21. tion, though. While a centrally“We have located police staabout 30 pertion is the top choice for city offi- cent of our population in Winslow cials, the assessment made a case today,” Smith said. for a combined fire-police facility. “What this shows is that there’s Both locations near city hall are concentration of incidents in that functional and could be combined area, and that there’s a pretty with the courthouse, Mackenzie even distribution of calls that are consultants said. made to locations throughout the They will, however, require island,” she said. coordination with the adjacent City Manager Doug Schulze businesses. added that there are only a handThe costs may also be higher ful of cities in Kitsap and King since the sites’ dense location will Counties that do not have a cenrequire significant grading and trally-located police station. two-story accommodations. While some on the council sugAccording to the consultant gested postponing a decision for firm’s study on a dual facility, a more citizen input, others said combined police department and public opinion was gathered fire station would save taxpayers when the fire department distribapproximately $2.3 million, not uted a community survey more including land costs. than two months ago. As if the assessment did not The poll found 72 percent tug at both sides already, the of respondents favored a joint council received more than one police/fire building, and the bit of advice Tuesday. support climbed to 87 percent A co-located police station when respondents were told a and city hall, Jeff Humphreys combined facility would reduce of Mackenzie said, is common construction, operating and mainfor large cities but not so much tenance costs. for smaller communities like Bainbridge. TURN TO COUNCIL | A10
Cecilia Garza | Bainbridge Island Review
After a several year hiatus, a crowd of Bainbridge islanders showed up for the return of the Great Zucchini Races to the Bainbridge Island Farmer’s Market Saturday. The race has been a Bainbridge staple since the 1980s. Participants of all ages get creative in building zucchini mobiles of all shapes and sizes. Above, the winning contestant used legos to make the perfect zucchini racer.
CAPE COD AT THE SHORE
Traditional Cape Cod along the western shore of the island featuring dramatic marine views, sunsets & Olympic Mountains with approx 100 feet of low bank waterfront. The expansive lawn & mature landscaping w/circular drive make this residence appealing the moment you arrive. Take in the wildlife or paddle out with your board/kayak. Remodeled in 1990 by Jim Cutler Design, the interior offers a comfortable 3 bedrooms + covered breezeway to guest quarters. A rare opportunity. Simply Classic.
$1,679,000
Carrie Greer, MBA 206.595.3688
www.BuckleyRealEstate.com/Carrie
Call Carrie Greer 206-595-3688 for a private showing. www.BuckleyRealEstate.com/689413
w w w. B u c k l e yR e a l E s t a t e. c o m 168 Winslow Way West • 206-842-4099