The Bainbridge Island City Council approved five art pieces as part of the “Something New” series and also reviewed an ordinance aimed at reducing environmental impacts of commuting at its May 27 meeting.

“Something New” is a year-long outdoor public art installation that changes annually. Ellen Schroer, city deputy manager, said the art pieces will be installed and displayed in the downtown area this summer for a period of one year.

The “Something New” project first started in 2017 with three art installations and was expanded to five in 2021. In 2022, the city increased the display payments to artists from $1,000 to $2,000. The recruitment and selection of artists is managed by Arts and Humanities Bainbridge and Bainbridge Public Arts Committee, per city documents.

The art piece “Tall Hummer” by Charles Fitzgerald will be located at Winslow Way and Ericksen Avenue.

The art piece “Tranquility and Chaos” by Ed McCarthy will be located on the southern terminus of Madison Avenue.

The art piece “Octopus” by Steve Nagode will be at City Hall.

The art piece “Buckminster Fuller” by MacRae Wylde will be located at the east portion of Waterfront Park.

The art piece “Anemone” by Will Jewett will be located at the west portion of Waterfront Park.

“ I think this is one of the coolest projects we do in this community. (I’m) just looking forward to seeing them throughout our island,” Councilmember Clarence Moriwaki said.

Councilmember Jon Quitslund shared his support for the program.

“There’s such a range of media and conceptions, and I’m happy to see the artists profit from their efforts,” he said.

Council also received a presentation by Hannah Boettcher, the city’s sustainable transportation planner, about the commute trip reduction program.

The ordinance, if approved, would modify two chapters of the city code regarding the commute trip reduction program, Boettcher said. Changes would include the removal of a $20 monthly monetary incentive previously available to part-time employees and allow staff flexibility, including using rideshare options. Eligibility requirements are provided in the employee handbook, per city documents.

Additionally, the changes would allow modifying program requirements, including changing the base year used to measure progress, she said.

“Base year survey’ or ‘baseline measurement’ means the survey, during the base year, of employees at a major employer worksite to determine the drive-alone rate and vehicle miles traveled per employee at the worksite. The jurisdiction uses this measurement to develop commute trip reduction goals for the major employer,” city documents state.

Every two years, the city surveys city staff and other affected employers on the island and around the county to measure commuting trends, which is completed by Kitsap Transit on behalf of the city, Boettcher said.

8% of all city greenhouse gas emissions come from city employee commutes and 13% of island-wide greenhouse gas emissions come from on-road vehicle travel. The 2020 Climate Action Plan establishes a goal of 90% reduction of transportation-related emissions on the Island by 2045, per city documents.

The state’s Commute Trip Reduction Law was first passed by the legislature in 1991 with goals to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and reduce the consumption of petroleum fuels through employer-based programs that encourage the use of alternatives to driving alone, documents state.

The proposed ordinance will be moved to a future business meeting for consideration of approval.

‘Octopus’ by Steve Nagode.

‘Tall Hummer’ by Charles Fitzgerald.

‘Anemone’ by Will Jewett.