Bainbridge council to consider new boat launch policy

One permit will fit all if the Bainbridge Island City Council approves a resolution expanding access to boat launches at its Wednesday meeting.

One permit will fit all if the Bainbridge Island City Council approves a resolution expanding access to boat launches at its Wednesday meeting.

The resolution aims to set a new boat launch policy for the city. If approved, the city and the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District will honor each other’s boat launch permits.

Islanders looking to cruise or sail the waters around Bainbridge can currently use the boat ramp at Fort Ward, or the ramp at Waterfront Park in Winslow. But each ramp is managed by the two different agencies and separate permits are required for both.

The resolution will allow the city and the parks district to honor either permit at their boat launches.

The city sells weekend permits for parking boat trailers along Bjune Drive for $8 per day, or $80 per year.

The parks district sells passes to use the Fort Ward boat launch at $5 per day, or $80 for an annual pass.

The new passes would be sold by both the city and the parks district and would be valid for one calendar year. The city has already sold passes for the Waterfront Park launch that expire in April 2013. It will therefore offer discounted passes to cover the remainder of 2013 at $60.

The council’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. at city hall. The boating resolution is scheduled for discussion at 7:20 p.m.