City News Bytes: City Dock Rates on the Rise, People’s Art Choice Vote, Agate Pass Bridge Delays, Bainbridge Named Bike-Friendly Community

Short Term City Dock Rates Are on the Increase

In 2024, the City Council conducted a thorough review of the annual costs associated with managing and maintaining the City Dock at Waterfront Park.

During the review, it was discovered that the City had been operating at a deficit with the then-current moorage rate set at $0.57 per foot per day. To break even on maintenance costs, the rate would need to increase to $1.20 per foot per day. However, before proposing such an adjustment, the City compared rates at 12 nearby marinas, finding a median rate of $1.50 per foot per day.

This confirmed that raising the rate to $1.20 per foot per day would not only cover costs but also remain a more affordable option for boaters. This rate went into effect on January 1, 2025. Early this year, the public brought to the City’s attention that a short-term moorage fee had been overlooked in the City’s annual Fee Schedule update. Short-term moorage is important—not just for visiting boaters but also for supporting the downtown Winslow restaurants and businesses easily accessible from the City Dock, city officials point out. When this oversight was identified early in the year, the moved quickly to address it.

The City reviewed short-term moorage fees at nearby marinas to ensure fair and competitive pricing. After this review, staff presented their findings to the City Council on February 11, where the Council adopted new short-term moorage rates as follows:

Short-Term Moorage Rates (Up to 4 Hours):

Vessels up to 30 feet: $10

Vessels over 30 feet: $15

These changes reflect our commitment to balancing the needs of boaters, maintaining the sustainability of the City Dock, and continuing to support the vibrant Winslow waterfront.

Vote For People’s Choice Award for City Public Art

The Public Art Committee (PAC), Arts & Humanities Bainbridge, and the City of Bainbridge Island are excited to announce that voting is now open for the People’s Choice Award in this year’s Something New sculpture rotation!

Each year, this award gives the community the chance to select the sculpture that resonates most with them from the five new pieces displayed in downtown Winslow.

The Something New program provides both a dynamic public art experience and an ongoing opportunity for sculptors from around the Pacific Northwest to exhibit their work. New pieces are selected and rotated into these permanent locations annually, bringing “something new” to Bainbridge Island each year.

Voting is open until April 1, 2025. Vote here: https://www.bainbridgecurrents.com/something-new-vi-peoples-choice-award-ballot/

Expect Delays as Crews Clean and Inspect Agate Pass Bridge

Beginning Tues., Feb. 18, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews returned for daytime work on SR 305 Agate Pass Bridge.

The cleaning is scheduled to take place each day through Fri., Feb. 21. Inspections are also set to take place this year and are scheduled Mon., Feb. 24, through Thurs., Feb. 27.

From 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. each work day, travelers can expect delays of 30 minutes or longer in both directions on SR 305 near the bridge. Flaggers will alternate traffic through the work zone at the bridge. Law enforcement will direct traffic at the nearby intersection of Suquamish Way Northeast and SR 305.

BI Wins Kudos for Creating Bike-Friendly Community

As local and regional bikers prepare for this coming Sunday’s (Feb. 23rd) Chilly Hilly, the City is “thrilled” to share an update that on Jan. 28, the League of American Bicyclists honored Bainbridge Island’s efforts to build better places for people to bike by renewing our Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award.

Bainbridge Island is a part of 460 communities across the country working toward safer streets and better bicycling for everyone. This award recognizes our commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit residents of all ages and abilities, while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices.

The Bicycle Friendly America program, led by the League of American Bicyclists, sets the standard for how communities can build, measure, and improve their support for biking. The League continually updates its application process to help communities raise the bar for safety, equity, and accessibility—and we’re proud to be part of this movement!

Source materials: information, photos and graphics courtesy of the City of Bainbridge Island.

If you’d like to read more articles from The Island Wanderer Blog website, click here, to subscribe to The Island Wanderer Blog, click here.

ADVERTISE WITH US! We offer exceptional rates and packages for advertisers, to learn more, contact us at Contact Us | THE ISLAND WANDERER