The Bainbridge Island City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM. Mayor Matthews called the meeting to order with all council members present (Councilmember Hytopoulos arrived later). The meeting included a land acknowledgement, approval of the agenda, public comments, consent calendar, council announcements, city manager's report, and regular business items covering historic preservation, a design charrette, executive recruitment, a waterfront park stage, public art program adjustments, and the 2026 unrepresented pay plan.
4F – Cultural Funding Advisory Task Force Recommendations (2026–2027) Deputy Mayor Quitsland described the evaluation process, which involved four volunteer evaluators and a facilitator. The task force allocated the available $300,000 among 17 applicants, with some receiving partial awards. He noted a gap between funds available and requests, urging future budget increases. Recipients included Arts and Humanities Bainbridge ($31,200), Bainbridge High School Instrumental Music ($31,200), Bainbridge Performing Arts ($31,200), Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network ($30,000), Ovation Performing Arts ($25,000), Bainbridge Arts and Crafts ($21,200), Bainbridge History Museum ($21,200), Amabile Choir ($20,000), Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community ($20,000), and Bainbridge Island Senior and Community Center ($12,000). Three applicants were not funded.
4G – Arts and Humanities Bainbridge Administrative Support for Public Art Committee The council discussed increasing annual funding from $12,000 to $16,000 for three years (a 33% increase). Councilmember Morowaki noted this amounts to about $33 per week. Councilmember Schneider supported the increase and suggested better promotion of sculpture sales. Councilmember Hytopoulos questioned the three-year term but accepted it as precedent. The motion passed unanimously.
7A – State Lobbying Services Contract with Gordon Thomas Honeywell City Manager King reported that two firms were interviewed; Gordon Thomas Honeywell was recommended for a three-year contract at $54,300 per year (total $162,900) with no escalation. Councilmember Hytopoulos expressed discomfort with a three-year commitment, preferring one year to align with budget cycles and given the upcoming city manager transition. Deputy Mayor Quitsland supported continuity and cost certainty. The motion passed with Hytopoulos opposed.
7B – Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance Property Management Agreement City Manager King outlined progress: SFLA has re-roofed the farmhouse, stabilized the chimney, and weatherized the building using a prior $60,000 council grant. The agreement is for 15 years with a 15-year option. Councilmembers praised the partnership, noting a state grant requiring at least 10 years of site control. The motion passed unanimously.
7C – Historic Preservation Options Deputy City Manager Schroer presented three options: (1) deactivate the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and move functions to Planning Commission; (2) retain HPC with reduced scope; (3) deactivate HPC and reduce scope. The council discussed the history of HPC resignations, the value of volunteer expertise, and the desire to maintain certified local government status. Councilmember Hytopoulos emphasized that the History Museum is a valuable voice but the council sets policy. The council chose Option 2 (retain HPC with reduced scope, meeting quarterly) and directed staff to develop legislation. A motion to that effect passed unanimously.
7D – Home Compostable Disposable Food Service Ware Product List for 2026 Management Analyst Adam Nebrashi explained that hot cups were removed due to cost increases exceeding 15% compared to alternatives (a 1-cent per cup increase equated to 18% over the threshold). Burrito bowls were added due to increased production. Councilmember Schneider expressed concern about backsliding and confusion; City Manager King noted ongoing education efforts and the need for staffing resources. Councilmembers emphasized businesses can still choose compostable voluntarily. Resolution 2025-17 was adopted unanimously.
7E – Design Charrette for Highway 305/High School Roundabout City Manager King requested $25,000 from council contingency for a design charrette by the Dutch firm Haskoning, noting WashDOT's preliminary design deadline of May 2026. Public comment from Dennis Golek warned that a charrette is about implementation, not debate. Councilmember Morowaki questioned the sole-source selection and lack of information about the firm. Councilmember Schneider advocated for conditional approval to engage WashDOT. Councilmember Hytopoulos raised concerns about stakeholder representation (WSDOT, Washington State Ferries) and the lack of a clear public process. A motion for conditional approval, contingent on collaboration with WashDOT and contract development, passed 4-2.
7F – Executive Recruitment Services RFQ City Manager King recommended soliciting bids for a city manager search, estimating costs of $25,000–$30,000. The council decided to form a subcommittee (Councilmembers Schneider, Hytopoulos, and Mayor Matthews) to screen responses. The motion passed unanimously.
7G – Waterfront Park Stage Grant Application Deputy City Manager Schroer presented a request from Arts and Humanities Bainbridge and Bainbridge Creative District to apply for a grant for a permanent stage. Estimated costs were unverified; staff noted the lack of a master plan for Waterfront Park. Councilmember Morowaki opposed the rushed process and lack of public input. Councilmember Hytopoulos raised concerns about permitting, shoreline management, and potential financial backstop. Councilmember Schneider supported it as a chance to revive a beloved community amenity. The motion to authorize the grant application and provide a letter of support failed 4-2.
7H – Something New Public Art Rotation Program Budget Reallocation The public art committee proposed reallocating the $50,000 annual subfund to increase artist payments (by $2,750 total) and add a travel stipend, while reducing other line items. The net increase was $2,425 annually to $30,075 for the final two years of the program. Councilmember Morowaki praised the travel stipend for attracting regional artists. The motion passed unanimously.
7I – 2026 Unrepresented Pay Plan Cost of Living Adjustment City Manager King noted that the police guild's contract calls for a 2.7% COLA based on CPI; to maintain fairness, unrepresented employees should receive the same increase effective January 1, 2026. The motion passed unanimously.
7J – Ad Hoc Committee for AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship A subcommittee of Councilmembers Schneider, Fan Trey Johnson, and Mayor Matthews was appointed to review applications and recommend a nominee. The motion passed unanimously.
Recording in progress. Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Tuesday, November eighteenth, twenty twenty five City Council special city council meeting. Uh this with us this evening is uh city attorney Andrew Soming, uh City Manager Blair King. We have City Clerk Christine Brown, Ben with IT, some of our staff, Deputy City Manager Ellen Schroer is here. Um and City Clerk, would you please take the role? Yes, thank you, Mayor. Christine Brown, City Clerk. Please state for the record if you're present after I call your name. Mayor Matthews. Present. Deputy Mayor Quitsland. Present. Councilmember Fentra Johnson. Present. Councilmember Morwaki. Present. Councilmember Schneider. Present. Thank you. And uh Councilmember Hitopoulos is on her way. And now let's do the Pledge of Allegiance. And to your public stands one nation, one individual justice for all the questions. Uh and I'd like to say this Quamish 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, eighteen fifty-four. 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 land and waterways along Washington Central Salish Sea as they have for thousands of years. Here 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 do we have any conflicts of interest this evening? No. Okay, and we'll approve our agenda. Councilmember Murawaki. With the request of the Deputy Mayor, I move to approve oh yeah, this is the regular agenda, sorry. Yep. I move to approve tonight's business agenda as presented. Yes, I'd like to remove two uh this is just the business agenda. Second. Okay. Uh motion made by Councilmember Morwaki, seconded by Deputy Mayor Quitsland. All those in favor. Aye. Okay. And now we are on to public comment. Uh in-person public comment is accepted at this time on any topic of public interest. Each commentary will have three minutes. Uh public comment is not taken on individual agenda items during the meeting, so we look forward to hearing from you now. Hi. Thank good evening. I'm Stanley Miao.