At tonight’s Bainbridge Island City Council meeting, it will again discuss how to spend $7.061 million in federal funds.
The money comes from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, an effort to help the nation recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ARPA program has four categories of eligible expenses: Support Public Health response efforts and economic impacts to households and businesses; Provide premium pay for essential workers; Replace lost public sector revenue; and Support investments in water or sewer.
The council earlier approved its own guidelines for how the money should be spent: To achieve long-lasting benefits; To support projects that would not be accomplished without a large one-time sum; To promote fiscal and environmental sustainability; And to avoid cost reoccurrence.
Staff presented a list of proposed projects to the council related to water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, nonmotorized transportation improvements, climate mitigation projects, affordable housing and emergency response infrastructure upgrades. In total, the list represented approximately $35 million in costs.
The list under consideration tonight has been reduced to: 1. Winslow water tank replacement; 2. Water system climate resiliency upgrades; 3. Wastewater treatment plant near-term capacity upgrades; 4. Wastewater beneficial reuse; 5. McDonald Creek culvert/Springbrook Creek mitigation at High School and Fletcher Bay roads; 6. Springbrook fish passage on Fletcher Bay Road; 7. Stormwater/nonmotorized transportation demonstration project; 8. Sustainable Transportation Plan implementation set-aside; 9. Affordable housing; 10. Biodigester; 11. Premium pay for child care workers; 12. Solar panels on emergency hubs/shelters.
One possibility: No. 1 would cost $1 million; No. 2 up to $2 million; No. 3 $1 million; No. 5 $1.5 million; and No. 6 $1.5 million for a total of $7 million.
At least three city committees were consulted.
The Environmental Technical Advisory Committee prioitized the culvert projects, water system upgrades, wastewater reuse, wasewater upgrades, biodigester and stormwater projects.
The Climate Change Advisory Committee supported solar panels and a biodigester.
The Race Equity committee said the money should not be distributed until full community input is given. It also recommended providing money to populations most affected by the pandemic. And it announced its displeasure at being asked for input so late in the process.
Also at tonight’s meeting the council will look at $250,000 in repairs due to slope failure at NE Yeomalt Drive. Papers with the city show the possibility of a landslide, especially in coming months due to rain, threaten at least the road and a home. Worst-case scenario would result in loss of life and an impassable public road serving up to 40 properties below, the papers say, adding the fix would include drain improvements, a retaining wall and slope repair.
Another item on the agenda is a letter from the city to Puget Sound Energy regarding its proposed “Missing Link” transmission line from Winslow to Murden Cove. The city wants more information on the overall need for the project; the possibility of going underground on at least part of the project; how PSE is protecting wetlands and heritage trees; and what can be done to keep the line from vulnerable populations.
The council will also look at the Buildable Lands Report and at naming Bill Corbin, Denise Dumouchel, Peter Raffa and Shannon Fitzgerald to the Lodging Tax Committee .
