The Bainbridge Island City Council will discuss upgrades and capacity of the Winslow Wastewater Treatment Plant at its meeting Nov. 21.
The goal is to increase capacity and reduce pollutants in effluent that is released into Puget Sound. Work will include replacing ultraviolet disinfection, adding diffusers, adding hydrocycloness and reconfiguring one of the tanks.
In terms of residential units, the remaining capacity is about 200. With the upgrades, the system could handle 900 more residential units.
A PowerPoint presentation shows the plant has the hydraulic capacity to handle the liquid component of wastewater for up to 20 years. However, it is running short of capacity for solids of about 125 pounds per day.
So, secondary treatment upgrades will add up to 25% additional solid waste capacity, or 560 more pounds per day.
Without the improvements, BI could reach its capacity in 2026 of pounds per day at 2,642. With the improvements, the maximum could be 3,200 pounds per day. With the improvements, that maximum amount may not be reached until 2044.
The city is expected to expand by 1,400 residential units over the next 20 years, meaning the upgrades would handle about 80% of that growth. The slide show concludes that more upgrades will be needed in the future to handle the total expected growth.
Special events
The only other item on the agenda set for 6 p.m. at City Hall and on Zoom is a discussion with police on permits for special events.
The discussion will be about major events hosted and co-sponsored by the city, along with permits related to events on private property.
An agenda item says the city issues about 30 such permits per year on events ranging from large ones like the Grand Old 4th of July Parade and Rotary Auction to small events held in places like Waterfront Park.
Applications are due 30 days before the events. They are reviewed by appropriate city departments, the BI Fire Department and public health. The city manager’s office has final review.
City code regulates the process to protect public health, safety and welfare. Permits are needed on events that would have direct impact on traffic flow or congestion on streets, parks or public places that would impact the need for city emergency services.
Historically, permits have not been needed for events on residential or commercial property or school or park district property.
The council will discuss if it wants any changes. Also to be discussed is a conversation with the BI Chamber of Commerce on if permits would be needed for commercial filming.
A slide show says BI charges less and has a much shorter lead time than other Kitsap County cities. Poulsbo, for example, charges $75 instead of $27.50 and requires 90 days advance notice.
