The Bainbridge Island City Council held a regular business meeting on October 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers and via Zoom. Mayor Ashley Mathews presided, with six councilmembers present (Fantroy-Johnson absent). The meeting included three proclamations, public comment, a consent agenda, several regular business items, and communications. Notable outcomes included the adoption of an ordinance for pre-approved accessory dwelling units, a failed vote on an affordable housing covenant amendment, and approval to place a $30,000 emergency funding request for Helpline House on a future agenda.
Recording in progress. Good evening. And welcome to the Tuesday, October 14th, twenty twenty-five City Council regular business meeting. I'm Mayor Ashley Matthews, and I'd like to call this meeting to order. Council Member Hytopolis. Present. I pledge allegiance to the United States. To the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic. One nation. Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And I'd like to say the Sequamish land acknowledgement. Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished. Chief Seattle, 1854. We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is within the ancestral territory of the Suquab, people of clear saltwater, Suquamish people, expert fishermen, canoe builders, and basket weavers. The Suquab live in harmony with the lands and waterways along Washington's central Salish Sea as they have for thousands of years. Here are the Suquab live and protect the land and waters of their ancestors for future generations as promised by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855. And let's approve our agenda. Councilmember Morwaki. Thank you, Mayor Matthews. Okay. Oh, we had a okay. Uh motion made and seconded. Um, motion made by Council Member Morowaki, seconded by Deputy Mayor Quitsland. All those in favor. Aye. Aye. And any conflicts of interest this evening. No. All right, seeing none, we'll move on to our first presentation, which is presenting a proclamation declaring October 2025 as resiliency awareness month. I don't see Victoria, but I will read it. Um a proclamation by the City Council of the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington, declaring October 2025 as resiliency awareness month. Whereas there is compelling scientific evidence of a correlation between negative childhood experiences, known as adverse child experiences, ACE, or toxic stress and lifelong health and social challenges. And whereas ACEs may include physical, sexual or verbal abuse, physical and emotional neglect, witnessing domestic violence, the loss of a parent through separation or divorce, or having a family member who experiences mental illness, substance use disorder, or incarceration. And whereas toxic stress may arise from the broader community and structural challenges such as poverty, homelessness, racism, sexism, homophobia, colonization, community violence, and natural disasters. And whereas in Kitzap County, 62% of residents report having experienced at least one ACE, and over 30% 37% of residents report three or more ACEs. And research indicates the greater number of ACEs, the higher risk for social, emotional, behavioral, and physical health challenges, including school suspension, dropout, unemployment, homelessness, incarceration, chronic disease, and substance abuse. And whereas ACEs are linked to many of our most costly community issues, including 78% of intravenous drug use, 69% of mental illness, 67% of suicide attempts, 65% of alcoholism, 62% of domestic violence and homelessness, 61% of adult incarceration, 54% of prescription drug abuse, and significant percentages of major chronic health conditions. And whereas resiliency is the anecdote built through supportive relationships and adaptive skills such as emotional regulation, stress management, decision making, and healthy relationships, which can transform potentially toxic stress into tolerable stress and foster lifelong well-being. And whereas resiliency must be nurtured across the lifespan through consistent, meaningful engagement with caring adults, supportive environments that foster agency, pathways and goals, and community-wide collaborative efforts that empower individuals and families to thrive. And whereas KitSap Strong envisions a flourishing community where all children are raised with consistency and nurturance and is mobilizing residents, organizations, and leaders to present prevent ACEs in future generations by strengthening individual and community resilience. Now, therefore, I, Ashley Matthews, Mayor of the City of Bainbridge Island, on behalf of the City Council, do proclaim October 2025 to be resiliency awareness month in the city of Bainbridge Island and urge all residents to learn about the impact of ACEs. To embrace resilience building practices in daily life and work and to support the mission of KitSap Strong in creating a community of hope and healing and opportunity. I see you, Christina. And I'd like to present this to Christina Rorthy. Can I can I just get one? So I apologize for being late, but she's actually strong. Oh, do you want to say any words? I would love to.