Bainbridge Island City Council Special Meeting - November 18, 2025

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.

Consent Calendar

• Approved accounts payable for the period ending November 6, 2025.
• Authorized a three-year service agreement with Bremerton Kitsap Access Television (BKAT) for governmental access television services at an annual cost of $34,000, increased annually by CPI-U.
• Authorized Amendment No. 4 to the professional services agreement with Consor North America, Inc. for construction services on the Winslow Water Tank Offsite Improvements Project ($74,648 from the Water Fund).
• Canceled the November 25, 2025 business meeting due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
• Items 4F (Cultural Funding Advisory Task Force recommendations) and 4G (Arts and Humanities Bainbridge administrative support) were pulled for separate discussion and voted on individually.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Stanley Miao (Trustee, Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community Organization) thanked the council for past cultural grant support, noting events hosting over 2,000 people at no charge, and invited the council to Mochitsuki 2026 on January 10, 2026.
• Amelia Stewart (President, Bainbridge Community Piano Association) proposed rebuilding a stage at Waterfront Park (approximately 14 by 28 feet) to support arts programming. She requested a letter of support for an Arts Wa capital projects grant (due November 20, 2025), noting the project would not rely solely on city funding.
• Jackie Mouth (Bainbridge Creative District) expressed strong support for a permanent stage at Waterfront Park, citing community need for walkable, family-friendly arts programming and benefits to the cultural economy.
• Glenis Cowdery (Arts and Humanities Bainbridge) advocated for a modest increase in administrative funding for the public art program (from $12,000 to $16,000 annually) and an increase of $2,425 for the Something New rotating sculpture program, noting cost-of-living pressures and reallocations from unused line items.
• Dennis Golek (community member) spoke about the proposed design charrette for the Highway 305/High School roundabout, emphasizing that a charrette focuses on "how" to do something, not "what" or "why," and cautioned that it requires full support from all participants.

Discussion Items

• 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.

Key Outcomes

• Cultural funding awards (4F) approved: $300,000 distributed to 14 organizations, with three applicants unfunded. Motion passed unanimously.
• AHB administrative support (4G) approved: $16,000 annually for three years (increase of $4,000). Motion passed unanimously.
• State lobbying contract (7A) approved: Three-year, $162,900 contract with Gordon Thomas Honeywell (vote 6-1).
• Suyematsu Farm agreement (7B) approved: 15-year management agreement with 15-year option. Motion passed unanimously.
• Historic preservation direction (7C): Council selected Option 2 (retain Historic Preservation Commission with reduced scope) and directed staff to develop legislation. Motion passed unanimously.
• Home compostable list (7D): Resolution 2025-17 adopted unanimously. Hot cups removed; burrito bowls added.
• Design charrette (7E): Conditional approval of $25,000 from council contingency, contingent on collaboration with WashDOT on a contract. Passed 4-2.
• Executive recruitment (7F): RFQ authorized; subcommittee formed (Schneider, Hytopoulos, Mayor Matthews). Passed unanimously.
• Waterfront Park stage (7G): Motion to authorize grant application and provide letter of support failed 4-2.
• Something New program (7H): Budget reallocation approved, increasing annual spending to $30,075 (within existing $50,000 subfund). Passed unanimously.
• Unrepresented pay plan (7I): 2.7% COLA approved effective January 1, 2026. Passed unanimously.
• Scholarship committee (7J): Ad hoc committee formed. Passed unanimously.