Bainbridge Island City Council Special Meeting on February 3, 2026

The Bainbridge Island City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 7:50 p.m. (the agenda listed 7:30 p.m., but the meeting was called to order at 7:50 p.m. per the minutes). The meeting was held in Council Chambers and via Zoom. Mayor Moriwaki called the meeting to order, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and read the Land Acknowledgment. The agenda was approved unanimously (6-0) with no conflicts of interest disclosed. The sole regular business item was a motion to authorize the Acting City Manager to sign a professional services agreement with Haskoning for a design workshop related to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) project at High School Road and Highway 305. The motion failed 2-4.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kim McCormick (representing Town & Country Market) read a statement from Chairman Larry Nakata opposing reduction of required parking ratios in downtown and at the proposed 625 Winslow site, citing lack of downtown parking as a major challenge.
• Lisa Neal urged the council to take the 625 Winslow Way project "back under its wing" and consider a smaller, more creative alternative, noting that funding did not come through and that a SEPA appeal was ongoing. She suggested that doing so would terminate the appeal and save tens of thousands of dollars in legal costs.
• Alan Phillips spoke about growth management, stating that Bainbridge Island could reach 75,000–100,000 people in 30–40 years if the Growth Management Act is followed. He suggested seeking an exemption from the GMA, similar to Vashon and San Juan Islands, and shared ideas for affordable housing construction at lower costs.
• Mary Clare Kersten expressed concern that the council had disbanded citizen committees (ETEC, design review, ethics, historic preservation, sub-area committees), eliminating citizen input. She called for reinstatement of ward meetings and listed citizen positions: no four-story development downtown, affordable housing that blends with community, each development to handle its own parking, no extreme upzones for market-rate housing, and protection of the aquifer and wastewater capacity.
• Ron Peltier discussed capital facilities, the Comprehensive Plan, and limited resources. He emphasized that upzoning requires planning for additional capital facilities, noted that property taxes may rise with upzoning, and supported focusing on affordable housing through deed-restricted subsidies and incentives. He referenced a plan by councilmember Mike to prioritize affordable housing subsidies.
• Nora Masters observed an erosion of public trust in city government, citing major policy decisions that did not make sense, a biased planning commission (dominated by planners/developers), opaque communications (e.g., a leading transportation survey), and a city manager statement that "critics should be ignored." She urged the council to hire a new city manager with experience in transparency and respect for dissident voices.
• Priscilla Zimmerman Hagger (Managing Partner of Hager Scribner Properties) opposed reducing parking ratios in downtown Winslow and at the 625 site, stating that private property owners have become public parking lots and that further reductions would harm downtown businesses.
• Robert Drury praised the council's consideration of the precautionary principle ("do no harm") and noted that growth planning could include limiting growth if negative consequences arise. He cited a conversation with former councilmember Quitsland.
• David Schutz spoke about the SEPA appeal for the 625 Winslow project, stating that listening to testimony was disheartening due to staff emails and discourse. He read guiding principle #1 from the city's website: "Preserve the special character of the island, which includes downtown Winslow's small town atmosphere and functions, and its historic buildings." He urged the council to enter settlement discussions to end the legal battle.
• Henry Zimmerman (architect working with Hager Scribner Properties) advocated for a comprehensive plan amendment application to create goals and policies for a civic and cultural connection overlay in the central core. He noted that the city had previously told him to wait for the Comp Plan update, but then the city itself skirted process for its 625 project. He asked for fair treatment and serious consideration.
• Malcolm Gander (hydrogeologist) thanked the council for funding peer review of the Groundwater Management Plan but urged that the plan be finished, a public meeting held, and findings incorporated into the Comp Plan. He noted that the Growth Management Act requires a capital facilities plan, and that any downtown expansion would require a new wastewater treatment plant and additional water supply, with no plans disclosed to the public.
• Mary Rain expressed shock that councilmembers had adopted "housing trickle down economics." She stated that housing units are growing but population is shrinking, and that inventory management (second homes, VRBO, vacancies) is the real problem. She proposed offering property tax relief to qualified new buyers who work on Bainbridge Island instead of funding the 625 project. She accused the council of ignoring studies and presenting flawed data, and urged focus on completing the Comp Plan in compliance with HB 1220.
• Bevin Taylor expressed support for the 625 Winslow project.

Discussion Items

• Authorize Acting City Manager to Sign Agreement for Professional Services with Haskoning Acting City Manager Schroer introduced the item, explaining that the council authorized staff in December to negotiate a contract with Haskoning, a Dutch firm, for a design workshop related to the WSDOT project at High School Road and Highway 305. The draft contract was for $25,000 (down from an initial $35,000, with the balance funded by community groups including Sustainable Bainbridge and Bainbridge Parks and Trails Foundation). The workshop would involve 12 participants (split among city staff, WSDOT, and community stakeholders) and would take place the following week. Council discussion focused on several concerns:
  • The contract's intellectual property clause (Section 7) grants the city a non-exclusive, non-revocable, non-transferable license without the right to sublicense, raising questions about how the workshop's output would be provided to WSDOT.
  • The indemnification clause gives the consultant sole control of defense and settlement.
  • The workshop is limited to a small, invited group—not open to the general public—and WSDOT is not required to act on the outcomes.
  • The $25,000 cost came from council contingency funds and was not subject to a competitive process; no U.S.-based firms were solicited.
  • Several councilmembers noted that the 305/High School Road project lacks broad community support.
  • Councilmember Lant compared the expenditure to unfunded human services requests (e.g., Bainbridge Prepares received $62,000 of $160,000 requested; Boys & Girls Club got $10,000 of $75,000).
  • Councilmember Schneider argued that the workshop was the city's best chance to influence the WSDOT project and that community groups contributed to cover the remainder. She noted urgency due to the WSDOT public comment deadline of February 20.
  • Councilmember Matthews supported robust public engagement but acknowledged the circumstances prevented moving forward.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to authorize the Acting City Manager to sign the agreement with Haskoning (made by Councilmember Schneider, seconded by Councilmember Matthews) failed 2-4.
  • In favor: Schneider, Mathews.
  • Opposed: Moriwaki, Hytopoulos, Nelson, Lant.
• The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.