Bainbridge Island City Council Study Session: Emergency Management and Road Maintenance, January 20, 2026

The Bainbridge Island City Council held a study session on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers and via Zoom. All seven council members were present. The meeting included two main agenda items: an update on the city's Emergency Management Program and National Incident Management System (NIMS), and a discussion on Road Maintenance and Pavement Management. No formal votes were taken; the session was informational.

Discussion Items

3A. Receive Update on the City's Emergency Management Program and NIMS

Emergency Manager Ann LeSage presented an overview of the program. Key points included:

• Bainbridge Island became its own emergency management organization in 2018, responsible for the comprehensive emergency management plan, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and the Nixle mass notification system.
• The annual budget is modest but supports supplies, training, and professional services. The city allocates approximately $11,000–$12,000 annually from federal grant funding.
• The partnership with Bainbridge Prepares and the Fire Department involves over 700 volunteers, Map Your Neighborhood program (54% participation), and 14 disaster hubs (with 10 currently supplied). Most islanders live within 1.5 to 2 miles of a hub.
• The city activated its EOC at the Ted Spearman Justice Center (primary) with a secondary location available.
• Council's role during emergencies: provide strategic direction, designate one representative to the EOC, help declare a local proclamation of emergency, authorize expenditures above $50,000, approve large assistance requests, host VIPs, and provide visible leadership.
• Upcoming priorities: a three-year strategic plan (final draft due February 2026), interoperable communications via a radio tower at Strawberry Hill, and a disaster medical center partnership with Virginia Mason.
• The La Niña winter may still bring ice/snow; severe weather shelter activation occurs after two consecutive nights below freezing (none so far in 2025–2026).
• FIFA World Cup matches in June–July 2026 (July 1 and July 6) may increase island visitors, especially around the Fourth of July; a working group is forming.

Council questions and discussion:

• Councilmember Fantroy-Johnson asked about including a council representative in tabletop exercises; LeSage agreed it could be arranged.
• Councilmember Fantroy-Johnson also asked about the top issues in the strategic plan; LeSage identified interoperable communications and the disaster medical center.
• Councilmember Schneider praised the program and asked about supply spending (70% new purchases, 30% resupply) and professional services used for training.
• Councilmember Lant inquired about Nixle usage (multiple authorized senders, training annually) and integration with other agencies (school district, fire, etc.); LeSage described the Emergency Management Advisory Committee that meets twice a year.
• Councilmember Nelson asked about Map Your Neighborhood gaps; 46% of the island remains unmapped. She also requested more disaster hubs on the south end; LeSage noted that additional hubs require funding and volunteer support.
• Councilmember Schneider suggested pre-designating a council representative for emergency response.

City Manager King added that recovery planning is crucial, including the city's reserve policy (3 months of revenue) and NIMS training requirements for FEMA reimbursement. He emphasized that Bainbridge Island is “best in class” for emergency preparedness.

3B. Discuss Road Maintenance and Pavement Management

Public Works Director Chris Wierzbicki presented an update. Key points included:

• The city maintains 282 lane miles of paved roads and 5 miles of gravel roads.
• Pavement Condition Index (PCI) average is 70 (scale 0–100), above the national average of 65. The backlog (roads needing rehabilitation) grew from 8% in 2019 to 12% in 2024.
• About one-third of roads are in fair to poor condition; two-thirds are in good to very good condition.
• Cost comparison: Surface treatment costs ~$5,000 per block; reconstruction costs $250,000+ per block. Recent examples: Madison Avenue reconstruction ($1 million, 3 months) vs. Sportsman Club Road overlay ($300,000, 1 week).
• To maintain PCI at 70, the city would need $2.5–$3 million annually; to reduce backlog, $5 million per year. Current investment is $1 million (increased from $500,000 average in 2014–2022, raised to $1 million in 2023 plus inflation).
• At current funding, PCI is projected to drop to 65 in 10–12 years, and backlog to 18%.
• The streets budget for 2025 was ~$4.3 million, including personnel, equipment, and $1 million for pavement preservation.
• A shoreline roadway assessment identified 10 segments at risk; top three: Rockaway Beach Road (vertical cracking), Crystal Springs South Road (failing revetment), and Manitou Beach Drive (recurring king tide flooding). These will be considered in the 2027–2028 Capital Improvement Plan.
• A scientific survey is underway (January 2026) to gauge community support for a voter-approved property tax levy for roads. Results expected later in Q1 2026. Potential levy could raise $2–$3 million annually, with an average cost of $100–$200 per household.
• Other funding options discussed: car tab increase, sales tax increase, bonds, or redirecting existing funds.

Council discussion:

• Councilmember Schneider questioned why PCI stayed at 70 despite increased funding; Wierzbicki explained that better data (subsurface investigations) revealed more roads needing reconstruction, and money is now prioritized for high‑volume roads.
• On sea‑level rise: King tides already impact some roads; a FEMA grant for a sea‑level rise planning pilot was canceled. Councilmember Schneider asked for tracking climate‑related costs; Wierzbicki said that could be done.
• Councilmember Lant asked about one‑way conversions, traffic calming, and use of city staff vs. contractors. Wierzbicki noted that one‑way conversions are possible and were explored in a cancelled pilot project. Traffic calming could be funded by a levy, as in Kirkland. City staff handle patching; major paving is contracted.
• Councilmember Nelson expressed concern about four tax increases in the past year (library, fire, school, city property tax) and wanted to explore budget cuts before new taxes. City Manager King responded that the council previously directed staff to explore a levy, and that cutting other programs (e.g., arts funding) would not fully cover road needs.
• Deputy Mayor Hytopoulos noted the city has historically underfunded roads and that the current condition reflects long‑term underinvestment. He emphasized the need for action.
• Mayor Moriwaki highlighted the shoreline roads as critical access points and stressed the importance of proactive maintenance.
• Councilmember Fantroy‑Johnson reiterated that many roads are aging and that reconstruction is far more expensive than preservation.

Key Outcomes

• No formal actions or votes were taken on either agenda item; both were informational.
• Staff will present survey results on community support for a road levy later in Q1 2026.
• If council decides to proceed, a levy question could be placed on the November 2026 general election ballot.
• The council may consider pre‑designating a council representative for emergency operations and including that representative in tabletop exercises.
• The emergency management strategic plan will be shared in February 2026.
• Staff will continue to monitor shoreline roads and include needed projects in the 2027–2028 budget cycle.