Bainbridge Island City Council Regular Business Meeting – April 14, 2026

Mayor Moriwaki called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers and via Zoom; all seven council members were present. The agenda was amended to add a National Opioid Litigation settlement item and to move the April 9 Planning Commission recommendations into regular business; a motion to move the HB 1220 capacity-analysis communication request failed 3-4. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Mayor, and the land acknowledgement was read by Sally Luo, a second grader from Halilts Elementary School. No conflicts of interest were disclosed. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 pm.

Proclamations

• Mayor Moriwaki read the Dark Sky Week proclamation for April 13-19, 2026; it was accepted by Frank Petrie, President of the Battle Point Astronomical Association, and Peter Moseley, Battle Point Observatory Facilities Officer.
• Councilmember Fantroy-Johnson read the National Volunteer Week proclamation for April 19-25, 2026; Stephen Richardson, Executive Director of Bainbridge Prepares, accepted and cited approximately 9,000 volunteer hours in 2025, valued at about $375,000.
• Councilmember Schneider read the Arbor Day proclamation for April 24, 2026; City Arborist Rob Reed accepted and noted the city's 22nd consecutive year as a Tree City USA.
• Councilmember Mathews read the Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamation for April 2026; it was accepted by Bainbridge High School's Students Against Sexual Assault group. The proclamation cited CDC data that almost half of all women and almost one in four men experience sexual assault, and the students described collecting more than 1,000 donations for the Grateful Garment Project.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Nora Kim, REAC member, expressed concern that recent questioning of REAC by Councilmember Nelson was damaging the committee's working relationship with the Council and the community; she read the committee's municipal code purpose.
• Alice Hunting, Caitlin Lombardi, Debby Haase, and Marsha Cutting spoke in support of REAC and said racism is still present on Bainbridge Island.
• Chastity Malatesta, a founder of the earlier race equity network, spoke in support of REAC and said canceling it would reflect a small homogeneous group rather than the broader multicultural community.
• Ron Peltier spoke in support of Councilmember Nelson, saying he was disappointed by people implying Nelson is racist; he also recalled sponsoring the Indigenous People's Day resolution in 2016.

City Manager's Report

• Interim City Manager Schroer announced that Public Works Director Chris Wierzbicki is leaving at the end of April for Sound Transit; he served as Public Works Director since 2019 and previously worked for the city from 2007 to 2013.
• She presented a draft Council schedule for the Comprehensive Plan Update, with three meetings available in May and three in June, and additional Tuesdays available if needed. She also warned of traffic delays on Madison Avenue the next day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. due to the water tank improvement project.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously, 7-0: Accounts Payable and Payroll; meeting minutes; acceptance of the Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Water Line Extension Project; a three-year biosolids hauling agreement with Kissler Enterprises Environmental Products ($125,000 per year, Sewer Fund); purchase of two 2026 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles ($170,187.06); purchase of one 2026 Ford Mach-E Police Vehicle ($58,589.70); and advertisement of construction bids for the 2026 Annual Roads Repair and Maintenance Program.

Discussion Items

• Resolution No. 2026-03, Revising City Financial and Budget Policies: Finance Director Pitts presented the biennial 2027-2028 budget kickoff, including a recommended emergency reserve increase to $1.5 million, quarterly financial reporting, definitions of ongoing versus one-time revenue, and cost allocation manual updates. The Council voted 7-0 to forward the resolution to a future business meeting for approval.
• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Recommendations: The Council approved the committee's 2026 award recommendations totaling $400,000 and authorized the Interim City Manager to enter into agreements with the recommended organizations. The vote was 7-0.
• ETAC Selection Panel: The Council appointed Councilmember Nelson and Deputy Mayor Hytopoulos to the Environmental Technical Advisory Committee selection panel, 7-0. A second motion directed staff to seek a selection panel member in priority order: a current ETAC member not reapplying, former ETAC member Charlie Kratzer, then a member of the Climate Change Advisory Committee or Utility Advisory Committee. That motion passed 7-0.
• Ethics Board Selection Panel: The Council appointed Councilmembers Fantroy-Johnson and Lant to the selection panel, 6-0, with Councilmember Nelson temporarily absent.
• Utility Advisory Committee 2026 Workplan: After dividing the question, the Council approved an amendment adding a policy recommendation to improve communications and coordination between utilities and the public, 4-3; approved adding conservation as a topic, 7-0; and approved the amended workplan, 7-0. A separate motion to study consolidation of island water systems under city ownership or control failed for lack of a second.
• Race Equity Advisory Committee 2026 Workplan: The Council approved the workplan 6-1, with Councilmember Nelson voting no. Nelson cited concerns about committee scope and legal questions about applying a racial equity lens to hiring under Title VII and the Washington Law Against Discrimination. Other members defended REAC and its role; Councilmember Lant said committees should act only with Council direction, and Deputy Mayor Hytopoulos suggested a future discussion on committee protocols.
• Mobility Advisory Committee Appointments: The Council confirmed five appointments, each 7-0: Matilde Clark, Position 1, one-year term ending June 30, 2027; John Grinter, Position 2, two-year term ending June 30, 2028; Ross Eide, Position 3, two-year term ending June 30, 2028; Joseph Edgell, Position 4, three-year term ending June 30, 2029; and Andrea Wilson, Position 5, three-year term ending June 30, 2029.
• Planning Commission Recommendations, April 9, 2026: The Council debated the Planning Commission's recommendations related to Comprehensive Plan capacity and HB 1220 compliance. Councilmember Nelson said the city is required to create 1,139 units at or below 80% AMI, that the current plan produces only 205 affordable units, and that voluntary inclusionary zoning added just 31 units, leaving about 934 units needing subsidies. Other members defended the Planning Commission's work, noted at-risk funding if deadlines slip, and discussed whether the Council should take the plan back. Interim City Manager Schroer said city code requires the Planning Commission to issue a recommendation on the Comprehensive Plan update. The Council voted 7-0 to place the matter on next week's agenda for further consideration and action.
• National Opioid Litigation Settlement: The Council authorized the Interim City Manager to sign and submit a participation form for the National Opioid Litigation Six Remnant Defendants settlement, as discussed in executive session. The vote was 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• The agenda was approved as amended; the motion to move item 8.G failed 3-4, and the motion to move item 8.H passed 5-2.
• All four proclamations were presented and accepted.
• Consent agenda approved 7-0.
• Resolution 2026-03 forwarded 7-0.
• Lodging tax awards approved 7-0.
• ETAC and Ethics Board selection panels appointed.
• Utility Advisory Committee workplan approved as amended; Race Equity Advisory Committee workplan approved 6-1.
• Mobility Advisory Committee appointments confirmed, each 7-0.
• Planning Commission recommendations set for next week's Council agenda, 7-0.
• Opioid settlement participation authorized 7-0.
• Requests to add future agenda items — agricultural advisory committee or task force, Comprehensive Plan adoption schedule, infrastructure capacity, land capacity at full build out, Islandwide Mobility Plan, Dark Sky resolution, and Waterfront Park Master Plan — each carried 7-0. The HB 1220 and Department of Commerce communication request was withdrawn and consolidated with the next week's Planning Commission discussion.
• The meeting adjourned at 9:16 pm.