Bainbridge Island City Council Regular Business Meeting - October 28, 2025

The Bainbridge Island City Council held a regular business meeting on October 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers and via Zoom. The meeting included presentations on Veterans Day and the city's clean audit, public comment on emergency food funding and housing policy, and decisions on a $30,000 emergency grant to Helpline House, a change in income restrictions for affordable housing units, and rejection of a federal transportation grant. All votes were unanimous except a procedural motion to postpone a vote that failed 2-4.

Consent Calendar

• Approved accounts payable and payroll for October 2025.
• Approved city council meeting minutes from October 14 and October 21, 2025.
• Authorized a construction contract with FPH Construction, Inc. for Public Works shop upgrades ($86,556.29).
• Canceled the November 4 study session, rescheduled November 11 business meeting to November 12, and rescheduled November 18 study session as a special business meeting.
• Authorized data use agreement for police with Washington State Data Exchange.
• Authorized first amendment to interlocal agreement with Kitsap County for housing incarcerated individuals.
• Authorized first amendment to animal control services agreement with Kitsap Humane Society (2026 cost $101,669).
• Authorized advertising for consultant services for McDonald Creek culvert replacement and removal of Mac's Dam.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joan Spencer (volunteer) spoke in favor of emergency funding for Helpline House, citing increased demand and SNAP benefit cuts.
• Maria Metzler, Executive Director of Helpline House, strongly supported the $30,000 request, noting over 18,500 visits and nearly one million pounds of food distributed last year, and the urgent impact of federal funding cuts and potential government shutdown on SNAP benefits.
• Phaedra Elliott, Executive Director of Housing Resources Bainbridge, spoke in favor of the reconsideration to allow income at 80% AMI for seven units at The Oliver, explaining the need for flexibility to serve local workers who earn slightly above 60% AMI but still cannot afford market housing. She noted 245 households on the waiting list for one-bedroom units, most below 60% AMI, and that only 4% of affordable rentals on the island serve the 60-80% AMI range.
• Heather Burger, Executive Director of Friends of the Farms, supported emergency funding for Helpline House, noting a 40% loss in federal food commodities and a doubling of households served in two years to over 400 per week. She also mentioned an $8,000 contribution from the Lewis Foundation for local food purchases.
• Mev Hoburg, Helpline House board member, supported the funding, citing 66% increase in visits over two years and federal cuts of over half a billion dollars to the Emergency Food Assistance Program.
• Nancy Dowey (volunteer) supported the funding, describing the quality of food and the impact of SNAP benefits ending.
• Maggie Kizer (volunteer) described increased demand at the food bank, registering five new households in one morning, and urged approval.
• Lara Lant expressed support for additional community funding but urged the council to think about housing strategies first before changing the AMI policy, noting the city hasn't yet implemented HB 1220 mandates.
• Barbara Watanabe (volunteer) supported the Helpline House request, emphasizing the importance of community support.

Discussion Items

• Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update (Joe Tovar presentation): Planning consultant Joe Tovar presented the status of the mandated update, highlighting the need for bold council action to meet a June 2026 deadline. He outlined risks of noncompliance: potential appeal to the Growth Management Hearings Board, state audits under the Housing Accountability Act, possible gubernatorial sanctions (withholding of state funds), and loss of a specific $722,000 Department of Ecology grant for the Manzanita watershed stormwater recharge project if the plan is not compliant by June 2026. He recommended the council focus on essential changes, direct the planning commission to finish the Winslow subarea plan by end of 2025, and schedule citywide element work for early 2026. The council acknowledged the report and scheduled action for November 12, 2025 (unanimous).
• Emergency Funding for Helpline House: Councilmember Deets proposed a $30,000 emergency allocation from the council's contingency fund to supplement the food bank program. After public comment, the council unanimously approved the request.
• Reconsideration of AMI Policy for 560 Madison North (The Oliver): The council reconsidered a previous 3-3 vote on a request from Housing Resources Bainbridge to change the income restriction on seven units from 60% AMI to 80% AMI. Councilmember Schneider, who initially voted no, explained she switched after learning of the severe shortage of units for the 60-80% AMI range (less than 5% of all affordable units on the island) and the need to serve local workers like grocery clerks who earn just above 60% AMI. After debate, the motion to reconsider passed (unanimous). A motion to postpone the final vote to November 12 (to allow an absent councilmember to participate) failed 2-4. The final motion to approve the change to 80% AMI passed unanimously.
• Rejection of Federal Transportation Grant: The council authorized the city manager to reject $295,000 in federal transportation grant funds for the Eagle Harbor Drive boardwalk and Bucklin protected bike lane project. Public Works Director Wierzbicki explained that the design cost would exceed $800,000 due to structural engineering and environmental permitting, far more than the grant and match. The project remains in the capital improvement plan for 2029-2030. The council reluctantly approved, noting the negative optics but the fiscal prudence.
• Joint Letter on Derelict Vessel Removal: The council confirmed participation in a joint letter with other Kitsap County cities to Governor Ferguson advocating for derelict vessel removal funding and a change in state law defining derelict vessels. The city has received over $50,000 in the past five years for cleanups. Approved unanimously.
• Housing Strategies for HB 1220 Implementation: Councilmember Schneider requested a future council agenda item to discuss housing strategies toward implementing HB 1220 mandates. The council unanimously approved.

Key Outcomes

• Veterans Day Proclamation was read and accepted.
• Clean Audit: The Washington State Auditor's Office issued unmodified clean opinions on the city's financial statements, accountability, and federal grant compliance for fiscal year 2024.
• Helpline House Emergency Funding: $30,000 approved from Council Contingency Fund (unanimous, 6-0).
• AMI Change for The Oliver: Approved to allow income at 80% of AMI for seven units at 560 Madison North (unanimous, 6-0).
• Federal Grant Rejection: Authorized city manager to reject $295,000 grant and evaluate alternative funding (unanimous, 6-0).
• Derelict Vessel Letter: Participation in joint letter approved (unanimous, 6-0).
• Housing Strategies Discussion: Placed on future council agenda (unanimous, 6-0).