Bainbridge Island City Council Regular Business Meeting - December 9, 2025
Bainbridge Island City Council Regular Business Meeting - December 9, 2025
The Bainbridge Island City Council held a regular business meeting on December 9, 2025, from 6:02 PM to 8:53 PM in Council Chambers and via Zoom. Mayor Ashley Mathews presided, with Deputy Mayor Jon Quitslund and Councilmembers Joe Deets, Clarence Moriwaki, and Leslie Schneider present; Councilmembers Brenda Fantroy-Johnson and Kirsten Hytopoulos were absent and excused. The meeting included presentations honoring departing officials and the incoming Poet Laureate, public comments, approval of a consent agenda with multiple routine items, and action on several ordinances and resolutions. Key votes included adoption of the 2026 mid-biennium budget with a $10,600 amendment, endorsement of 2026 state legislative priorities, approval of updated building/planning fees (3-2), and a motion to proceed with a $25,000 design workshop for the SR 305/High School Road roundabout (3-2).
Presentation(s)
- Recognition of City Attorney Jim Haney: The Council unanimously approved a proclamation honoring Jim Haney upon his retirement, recognizing over 40 years of municipal law service.
- Recognition of Deputy Mayor Jon Quitslund: Mayor Mathews presented a plaque; Quitslund thanked the Council and community for his service.
- Recognition of Councilmember Joe Deets: Mayor Mathews presented a plaque; Deets highlighted achievements in climate action, affordable housing, and inclusive governance, urging continued focus on these priorities.
- Appointment of Poet Laureate: The Council approved the appointment of Erin Malone as the Bainbridge Island Poet Laureate for 2026-2027 with a $2,500 annual stipend. Malone read a poem and relayed remarks from outgoing Poet Laureate Michelle Bombardier.
- Review of 2025 Council Accomplishments: City Manager Blair King presented a summary of key achievements, including a balanced budget, Moody's AAA credit rating (one of five cities in Washington), completion of the Cooper Creek fish passage project ($3.4M), adoption of the island-wide mobility plan, and numerous community events.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kathleen Thorne (Poet Laureate Program board member) expressed gratitude for support of the program and praised incoming Laureate Erin Malone.
- Michelle Van Slyke (artist of Council Chambers timeline panels) urged early engagement with artists; supported the proposed solution to replace timeline text with poetry.
- Ron Peltier requested that Indigenous and Indipino history dates be included in any timeline replacement, suggesting a more comprehensive approach beyond poetry.
- Tom Lent (Miller Road resident) reported dangerous speeding (up to 75 mph in a 30 mph zone) and called for speed cameras; thanked staff for interim measures but said they are insufficient.
- Barb Trafton (Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation) spoke in favor of a design workshop for the SR 305/High School Road roundabout, emphasizing community engagement.
- Dana Quitslund (resident) expressed pride in Deputy Mayor Quitslund's service.
- Gina Corpuz (resident) discussed interpretive signs at Morales Farm that include Filipino and Indigenous history; noted collaboration with the artist and community on the timeline revision.
- Ben Harrison (Environmental Technical Advisory Committee) supported the groundwater management plan amendment under Consent Agenda item 5Q.
- Maradel Gale (Sustainable Bainbridge) urged Council approval of the roundabout workshop funding.
Discussion Items
- 8A - 2026 Mid-Biennium Budget (Ordinance 2025-28): City Manager King presented a balanced budget with a $238,000 decrease from 2025, achieved through departmental cost-cutting. The only policy remaining was whether to join the Leafline Trails Coalition ($10,600). Councilmember Schneider moved to add the funding, citing peer-to-peer networking benefits; Councilmember Moriwaki opposed on process grounds. The amended motion passed 4-1 (Moriwaki opposed).
- 8B - 2026 State Legislative Priorities: Lobbyist Amina Teouri outlined a short 60-day session focused on budget adjustments. Top priorities: 1) Seek $2.5M to complete the SR 305 Day Road roundabout, 2) Advocate for fast-ferry and ferry-line management funding, 3) Push for a public records exemption for email addresses collected for city newsletters. The Council unanimously endorsed the priorities (5-0).
- 8C - Building, Planning & Services Fee Update (Resolution 2025-16): Planning Director Patty Charnas proposed a three-year fee increase to improve cost recovery from current 63% (building permits) and 39% (planning/engineering permits) toward 90-100%, plus a new application/technology fee. Deputy Mayor Quitslund argued for a 75% target, citing community benefits. The resolution passed 3-2 (Quitslund and Mathews opposed).
- 8D - Low-Income Utility Rate Reductions (Ordinance 2025-31): Finance Director Dwayne Pitts explained that the new tiered discount program (50-60% for qualifying households) cannot be applied to condominiums/cooperatives with shared meters. The ordinance clarifies eligibility requires an individual meter in the applicant's name. Passed unanimously (5-0).
- 8E - Telecommunications Conduit Standards (Ordinance 2025-24): Public Works Director Chris Wierzbicki presented an ordinance requiring conduit for telecommunications (e.g., fiber) in new city roadways, modeled on Poulsbo's approach. The Council forwarded it to the January 27, 2026 meeting for adoption (5-0).
- 8F - Mobility Advisory Committee (Ordinance 2025-29): Sustainable Transportation Coordinator Hannah Boettcher proposed renaming the Multimodal Transportation Advisory Committee to Mobility Advisory Committee and updating its purpose. The Council adopted the ordinance (5-0).
- **8G - Public Art Timeline Modification & New Indigenous Art: The Council approved two motions: 1) Replace the timeline on Michelle Van Slyke's Council Chambers art with commissioned poetry, and 2) Commission new art for City Hall honoring Indigenous culture. Both passed 5-0. The City Manager noted a $142,000 balance in the public art fund.
- 8H - City Attorney Services Contract: The Council authorized the City Manager to execute a one-year contract (2026) with Ogden Murphy Wallace, P.L.L.C., designating Andrew Tsoming as City Attorney. Passed 5-0.
- 8I - SR 305/High School Road Roundabout Design Workshop: Deputy City Manager Ellen Schroer presented a proposal for a $25,000 sole-source contract with Haskoning (Netherlands) for a two-day design workshop with 10-16 invited stakeholders. Council discussion centered on process and WSDOT's lack of funding contribution. The motion passed 3-2 (Deets and Moriwaki opposed).
- 8J - Environmental Technical Advisory Committee Appointments: Postponed to a future meeting due to Councilmember Hytopoulos' absence.
- 9A - Planning Commission Recommendation on PSE Easements: The Planning Commission recommended creating a subcommittee to evaluate PSE easement opportunities. Councilmembers expressed disinterest, noting other priorities and existing advisory bodies. No formal action taken.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Consent Agenda (5-0): Including accounts payable, meeting minutes, multiple contract authorizations, a $900,000 fish barrier removal grant application, the ADA Transition Plan, and fee schedule updates (2.7% CPI increase).
- Adopted 2026 Mid-Biennium Budget (Ordinance 2025-28 as amended 4-1): $24,214,000 general fund; includes $10,600 for Leafline Trails Coalition membership; reduces appropriations by $238,000 from 2025.
- Endorsed 2026 State Legislative Priorities (5-0): Focus on Day Road roundabout funding, ferry-line management, and public records exemption.
- Adopted Building/Planning Fee Increase (Resolution 2025-16 3-2): Three-year phased increase toward higher cost recovery; includes a new technology fee.
- Adopted Low-Income Utility Rate Discount Program Clarification (Ordinance 2025-31 5-0): Eligible only for individually metered accounts.
- Forwarded Telecommunications Conduit Ordinance to January 27, 2026 (5-0): Requires conduit in new city roadways.
- Approved Mobility Advisory Committee Formation (5-0): Renamed and repurposed the committee.
- Approved Public Art Changes (two motions, each 5-0): Replace timeline with poetry and commission new Indigenous art.
- Appointed Andrew Tsoming as City Attorney for 2026 (5-0): Contract with Ogden Murphy Wallace.
- Approved $25,000 Design Workshop for SR 305 Roundabout (3-2): Sole-source contract with Haskoning; workshop planned for February 2026.
- Postponed ETAC Appointments: To future meeting.
- No Action on PSE Subcommittee Recommendation: Council declined to pursue.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, I'd like to call to order the City Council regular business meeting for Tuesday, December 9th, 2025. Uh, with us this evening at City Attorney James Haney, City Manager Blair King, City Clerk Christine Brown, Ben on IT. Uh, would you please call 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 Deeds. Present. Councilmember Morwaki. Present. Councilmember Schneider. President. Thank you. And Councilmember Fantrey Johnson and Councilmember Hytopolis are out with us this evening. Let's say the Pledge of Allegiance. Under God, individual with the deliberating of justice for all. And I'd like to read 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, Suquamish people of Clear Saltwater, expert fishermen, canoe builders, and basket weavers, the Suquab live in harmony with the land and waterways along Washington's Central Salish Sea as they have for thousands of years. Here the Suquabs live and protect the land and waters of their ancestors for future generations as promised by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855. And Councilmember Morwaki. Thanks. Motion made by Councilmember Morwaki, seconded by Councilmember Schneider. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. And do we have any conflicts of interest this evening? Okay. Seeing none, we'll move on to presentations. And our first presentation is uh Council or Deputy Mayor. First, I need to uh move to authorize the mayor to sign the proclamation, recognizing City Attorney James Haney upon his retirement. Second. Motion made by Deputy Mayor Quitslin, seconded by Councilmember Morwaki. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. And if I may, I'll read the proclamation by the City Council of the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington, recognizing City Attorney Jim Haney upon his retirement. Whereas Jim Haney served the City of Bainbridge Island as City Attorney in 2013 and 14, and again from 2023 to through 2025. And whereas Jim also served as an attorney for the city on specialized land use and shoreline management cases from time to time. And whereas Jim has practiced municipal law in the state of Washington for over 40 years, and whereas Jim is a valued member of the city's leadership team and staff, and whereas Jim's sense of humor, occasional raised eyebrow, wide-ranging legal knowledge, public meetings, stamina, and ability to recite germane aspects of state Washington, state of Washington law will be sorely missed. And whereas the City of Bainbridge Island wishes to extend its gratitude and appreciation to Jim for his service and many contributions to the City of Bainbridge Island and the community we serve. Now therefore, on behalf of Ashley Matthews, Mayor of the City of Bainbridge Island, on behalf of the City Council, I do hearly hereby recognize City Attorney Jim's Jim Haney on his well-deserved retirement, extending sincere thanks for his exemplary service, and to encourage all Bainbridge Island residents to thank and congratulate Jim. Thank you all for this recognition. And I just wanted to say thanks to Mayor Matthews, Deputy Mayor Quitslin, the City Council, Blair, staff, and the members of the public for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your city attorney for the last three years.
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