COVID-19

Update on May 29, 2020: City dock reopens to recreational guest moorage City Dock Kiosk
The City has reopened its dock to recreational guest moorage, including overnight stays, as part of Kitsap County’s transition into Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan for COVID-19 recovery.

What guests need to know:

  • The moorage is assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. 
  • At this time, rafting (to accommodate additional boats) will not be allowed.
  • The showers remain closed to guests.
  • The sewage pumpout station remains available.

All City dock visitors are urged to follow public health guidance, which includes wearing a face covering and maintaining six feet of distance from others in public whenever possible.

The launch ramp and boat trailer parking at Waterfront Park reopened May 5.

Kitsap County is now in Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan
The Kitsap Public Health District received notification on May 28 that Washington State Secretary of Health John Wiesman has approved Kitsap County’s request for a variance to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2 under the state’s Safe Start plan for COVID-19 recovery. Approval is effective immediately. Read the Secretary of Health’s approval letter. Click here for updates and to read the full Kitsap Public Health District statement. 


Kitsap County publishes a ‘Playbook’ for reopening
The Kitsap County Emergency Operations Center (KCEOC) has compiled a Pathway to Recovery Playbook to help our community understand and safely embark upon our phased reopening as part of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan. The document includes everything from overarching guidance for every individual and employer, to industry-specific recommendations for each phase of the Safe Start plan. The Pathway to Recovery Playbook will be updated periodically as the situation changes and new guidelines are issued. Learn more about the document here. 


Unemployment Claim Scams
The Bainbridge Island Police Department is getting reports of new cases of identity theft related to the recent unemployment benefits going out to people due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’ve been informed of a fraudulent unemployment claim in your name, you should do the following:

City Council Update

The next update on the City's COVID-19 response is scheduled for the June 2 City Council meeting

During the May 12 City Council meeting, City Manager Morgan Smith and Deputy City Manager Ellen Schroer provided the first forecast of how City revenues and expenditures are impacted by COVID-19 closures and restrictions. The briefing focused on current expectations for 2020 revenue decreases, and recommended changes in expenditure plans. Watch the presentations in the video below.

Update on "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order Phased Approach - Gov Inslee Opens in new window
Gov. Jay Inslee announced May 1 an extension of the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order through May 31 and the implementation of a four-phase approach to reopening businesses and modifying physical distancing measures that begins May 5. Learn more about the Governor’s announcement and phased approach to lifting restrictions here.


Update on City status
In light of the Governor’s extension, the City of Bainbridge Island’s facilities (City Hall, Police Station, Municipal Court) will remain closed to the public. The public can still access many City services by phone and online. City staff remains available to respond through email and phone. City Police personnel and Public Works Operations and Maintenance crews will continue to perform their regular duties, within the limitations established by the current restrictions.

The Governor announced changes to some restrictions in the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. Residential construction is now allowed for projects that comply with on-site requirements on social distancing and other safety precautions. Some types of outdoor recreation will be allowed beginning May 5, and some elective surgeries may soon proceed. As a result, City staff has made corresponding adjustments:

  • City inspectors are working to respond to increased demand for inspections and information. Inspectors have been trained on the current jobsite requirements and are performing their work with personal protection equipment, including gloves, facial masks, eye protection and sanitizer to ensure the safety of our staff and the public.
  • Effective May 5, the City removed restrictions on vehicle access to City-owned park properties. Previously, the City closed both Pritchard Park and John T. Nelson Park at Strawberry Cannery Cove to vehicle access. As of May 5, vehicle access will again be allowed. Park users are reminded to follow all social distancing guidelines, and to only park vehicles in designated parking areas. For updates on other Bainbridge parks, please see the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District website.

Learn more about the status of each City department in the "City Operations" tab below. 

Community Resources

Learn about food and rental assistance, updates on Bainbridge businesses, status of other government agencies, utility assistance and more on the City’s COVID-19 Community Resources page here.

  1. Emergency Operations Center
  2. Donation Requests
  3. Emergency Proclamation

Beginning Wednesday, May 27, the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will scale back to Wednesday activation only to continue processing resource requests for local healthcare providers, dentists, and other community businesses. The EOC will remain activated through the end of June.

Key EOC personnel remains on call 24/7 in case the situation changes, and will continue weekly meetings with our community partners.

The City activated its EOC March 16 to manage and prioritize resource requests across the community, and to coordinate additional communication and outreach. During this time of uncertainty, the City is focused on three main goals:

  • Support public health guidance 
    • The City is working to support the public health emphasis on slowing the speed of transmission of COVID-19.
  • Support the community
    • As the lead emergency response agency, the City will continue to be a resource for community partners and to manage the work to address requests for resources and planning.
  • Continuance of City services 
    • The City aims to provide essential municipal services that are fundamental to the community, such as Police services and support for utilities and other public infrastructure.
  1. City Operations
  2. Health Information
  3. Governor's Orders
  4. Stay Informed

City Manager’s Report

  • Read City Manager Morgan Smith’s weekly updates here.

City Operations
City Hall and the Police Station will remain closed to walk-in services until May 4 in alignment with Gov. Jay Inslee’s "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order. Staff will continue to provide City services through electronic submittals, email and phone throughout the duration of the order. 

Customer Counters
The following City of Bainbridge Island customer counters are closed to walk-in visitors:

Police Department

  • The Police Station lobby is closed to the public. If you need to report a crime or speak to an officer for any reason, please call 911. For other questions or assistance, you may call the station office at 206-842-5211. Office staff is available to answer your calls between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you get voice mail during this time, please leave a message and staff will get back to you as soon as possible.

Municipal Court

  • The Bainbridge Island Municipal Court remains closed to the public. Beginning May 4, hearings at the Municipal Court, located in Rolling Bay, will be held using video conferencing and teleconferencing options. Litigants will receive information by mail and email. All members of the public will able to observe hearings through video and telephonic means.  

City Hall

Planning & Community Development

  • Beginning Monday, May 4, Planning and Community Development (PCD) will require phone appointments for the submittal of building and land use permits to make the process more efficient for staff and applicants. The department will offer seven phone appointments daily for a total of 35 per week. Please visit the PCD webpage to schedule an appointment.
  • Building inspections can be scheduled by emailing inspections@bainbridgewa.gov or by calling 206-780-3789. Read the April 27 COVID-19 building construction and inspection program update here. 

Public Works – Engineering & Water Resources

  • Staff is available by phone at 206-842-2016 or send an email to pwadmin@bainbridgewa.gov.
  • Inspections can be scheduled by emailing pwinspections@bainbridgewa.gov or by calling 206-780-3788.
  • Development Engineering 
    • Counter hours are suspended until further notice. Please send all questions (with “DE Question” in the subject line) to pwinspections@bainbridgewa.gov. A Development Engineering staff member will respond within 5 business days.
  • Project support
    • For all inspections, see above. Inspections will not be scheduled sooner than 2 business days after receipt of a request if received prior to noon, or 3 business days if received after noon. Appointment times may be longer depending on availability.
    • For projects currently under review, contact the assigned Development Engineering staff. For submittals or resubmittals, please contact PCD.

Public Works – Operations & Maintenance

  •  Staff is available to respond by phone at 206-842-1212 or email at pwom@bainbridgewa.gov. As part of our usual process, please call 911 for emergencies and after hours. Report non-emergencies through SeeClickFix. 

Finance & Administrative Services

  • We are not accepting in-person payments at this time. If you need to make a payment while City Hall is closed, we have several options available:
    • Court fines and certain planning/building permits (For questions regarding available payment options for your permit, contact Planning & Community Development at 206-780-3750)
      • By phone: Call 1-866-480-8552 to use our third party vendor, PayGov.
      • Online: Pay online at PayGov or on the City website. 
      • Pay box: Put a check or envelope in the pay box located near the disabled parking area on the east end of City Hall.
    • Tenants of Dave Ullin Open Water Marina payment options for moorage fees:
      • Call the front desk at 206-842-7633 to pay with credit or debit card.
      • Use the drop box outside City Hall.
    • Utility billing


City Council
On March 24, Gov. Jay Inslee issued an order modifying, suspending, and waiving provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and Public Records Act (PRA) to limit in-person contact and address other issues related to the COVID-19 situation. On April 23, Governor Inslee extended the duration of this order to remain in effect until May 4, 2020, unless extended further.

Under the Governor’s order, City Council meetings can only occur remotely (i.e., not in person), and can only address matters that are necessary and routine or are necessary to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and the current public health emergency.

Based on clarifying guidance from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, the requirement that meetings are not to be conducted in-person applies to Council members as well as to the public.

The City Attorney’s Office continues to assess the requirements of the Governor’s orders as they affect City services. 


City Advisory Groups
The City has resumed Planning Commission and Design Review Board meetings. Content for these meetings will be in alignment with any statewide restrictions.

The work of these committees is necessary due to the specific role that the Planning Commission and the Design Review Board have based on state law and City code requirements regarding the land use process.

The meetings will be conducted remotely on the Zoom platform with the same options for public participation and comment as City Council meetings.

The Planning Commission meetings will continue to be streamed live on the City’s website, with the video recording available following the meeting.