Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign a law this week that would make Pickleball the official sport of Washington.
To mark the milestone, a bill signing ceremony will take place at the original pickleball court on Bainbridge Island.
The sport started on Bainbridge Island in 1965. The original badminton court was repurposed by the three creators and founders of pickleball: Bill Bell, Barney McCallum and Joel Pritchard.
Senate Bill 5615 reads in part, “The legislature finds that pickleball is a game that can be played by anyone, one-on-one or as a team, and has expanded far beyond Washington to become a nationally and internationally beloved game.”
A community event will be held 4 p.m. at the Founders Courts at Battle Point Park to celebrate the signing. It’s expected that Inslee, sponsors of the bill and members from the USA Pickleball Association will attend.
Supporters of the BI pickleball community are hosting the event, with support from the BI Metro Park and Recreation District.
“I just can’t think of a state more fitting than our state for it since the game was invented here,” said pickleball player Bill Walker, who is helping to coordinate the Battle Point Park event. “Our community is really happy about it. Very proud of the legacy that the founders left for us.”
Roundabout work
After years of planning, it’s expected the state Department of Transportation will begin the roundabout safety improvement project on Bainbridge Island in late summer or early fall.
DOT is planning to add two roundabouts on Highway 305 at West Port Madison Road and Adas Will Lane. As part of the improvements, Agatewood Road will become a right in/right out intersection. The project will address safety issues at these intersections, which have a high rate of car crashes.
The work is part of a larger project to improve Highway 305 from the BI ferry terminal to Hostmark Street in Poulsbo. The purpose of the project is to reduce collisions, improve traffic flow and access, and provide safer intersections for people walking and biking.
Last week, the council authorized the transfer of a small city-owned property at the northwest corner of Highway 305 and West Port Madison Road to DOT to complete the roundabout construction. In exchange for the property, DOT will install larger trees and provide landscaping along the project periphery.
Work continues
The road striping work that was expected on Eagle Harbor Drive has been postponed due to wet roads.
Once the pavement markings are complete, the remaining work will be additional hydroseeding and installation of select areas of fencing along the ravine edge near McDonald Avenue. The work will be completed in April. Planting of larger vegetated strips will happen this fall.
Permit increase
For the first time in 16 years, the city is increasing the fees for development permits, effecting Sept. 1. The hike is significant but reflects the amount of time the fees have not been increased.
In 2019, the council directed staff to hire a consultant to study the fees to recover 100% of the city’s costs to provide services. That includes time spent reviewing, issuing and inspecting permits.
The increase will reduce the transfer required from the General Fund to subsidize development-related costs. The transfers have ranged from $800,000 to $1 million annually.
Staff will return to the council at a later date to propose a policy that discounts fees for affordable housing applicants.
Bethany property
The Planning Commission on April 14 will continue discussion on an updated draft of a city law related to an affordable housing pilot project on the Bethany Lutheran Church property, at the southwest intersection of NE High School Road and Sportsman Club Road NE.
On March 24, the commission approved several motions to refine the draft ordinance.
Ultimately, the commission will make a recommendation to the City Council. The council will have its own review and decision.
