Bainbridge Island City Council Regular Business Meeting – April 28, 2026

The City Council met at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers and via Zoom. Mayor Moriwaki presided, with Councilmembers Fantroy-Johnson, Lant, Mathews, Nelson, and Schneider present. Councilmember Hytopoulos arrived at 6:52 pm. The meeting included proclamations, public comment, a consent agenda, city manager reports, a post-legislative briefing, a climate action plan update, a comprehensive plan update, a collective bargaining agreement, and multiple communications requests. The meeting adjourned at 9:12 pm.

Presentations / Proclamations

• Council approved 6-0 a proclamation declaring May 1–7, 2026 as Frog Rock Week, with Bob and Ellen Green and Denise Stoughton accepting.
• Council approved 5-1 the Bike Everywhere Month proclamation, with Councilmember Nelson voting against. Alyse Nelson and her daughter Riley accepted.
• A proclamation for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month was presented to Vicky Morales and Brittany Morak; no vote was required.
• A proclamation for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Awareness Month was presented. No tribal representative was present; Equity and Inclusion Manager Wahi noted the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s Walk on May 5.

Public Comments

• Marcia Cutting spoke about the book “There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America,” noting that median rents rose 76% from 2010 to 2023 and that 94% of new apartments in the featured metro area were luxury units. She encouraged council members to read the book.
• Hannah Abrams urged the council to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month, saying Jewish residents’ voices matter and deserve representation in the city’s proclamations.
• Akuya Karen Vargas spoke in favor of Historic Preservation Month and asked the council to consider reinstating a historic preservation commission.

Consent Calendar

• Councilmember Nelson pulled items 5D and 5E from the consent agenda for separate discussion. The remaining consent agenda was approved 6-0.

City Manager’s Report

• Acting Interim City Manager Wierzbicki announced updates to the city’s e-bike voucher program beginning May 13: voucher amounts increased to $500, $1,000, and $1,500; more funding was dedicated to income-qualified applicants; 16- and 17-year-olds are now eligible; and Class III e-bikes may be purchased.
• Wierzbicki recognized departing Planning Director Patty Charnas, who gave farewell remarks. Mayor Moriwaki also recognized departing Public Works Director Chris Wierzbicki. Council members thanked both for their service.

Regular Business

Post-Legislative Briefing

• Lobbyist Briahna Murray from Gordon Thomas Honeywell Government Relations provided a briefing on the 2026 legislative session. She reported that 268 bills passed, the lowest number in five years; a 9.9% income tax on income over $1 million was enacted, projected to raise $3.5 billion; and sales and use tax exemptions tied to the income tax would reduce local revenues, with only $200 million budgeted to offset impacts. None of the city’s adopted legislative priorities were enacted. The Day Road roundabout funding was included in the Senate transportation proposal but dropped; $50,000 for ferry line management during the World Cup was in both chambers’ proposals but also dropped; and $4 million was allocated for ferry preservation, much of it expected to be done at Eagle Harbor.
• Council discussed the briefing and voted on scheduling future legislative priority discussions. Minutes show the motion to add a study session item on 2027/2028 legislative priorities carried 4-3, with Mayor Moriwaki and Councilmembers Fantroy-Johnson and Mathews against. The transcript, however, indicates 3 ayes, 3 nays, and the chair voting nay, which would be 3-4. This discrepancy is noted.

Climate Action Plan Update

• Climate and Sustainability Manager Laura Ryser presented the proposed process to update the 2020 Climate Action Plan. Key points included: the current plan has three goals, eight sections, 171 actions, and 31 targets; the update would separate municipal and community actions, build a two-year work plan, create a clearer adaptation strategy, strengthen reporting, and reaffirm community priorities. A public survey is open now, with a draft planned for June and council review in July.
• Councilmember Nelson asked whether the total emissions reduction is around 15%; Ryser responded that the city is on track to meet its 2025 goal based on the recent inventory.
• Council passed unanimously, 7-0, a motion to direct the Interim City Manager to implement the process to update the Climate Action Plan as outlined.

Comprehensive Plan and Winslow Subarea Plan Update

• Planning Director Charnas reported that the city received a 20-page preliminary report from the Department of Commerce under the Housing Accountability Act three working days earlier. The report asks for more narrative, map and capacity analysis, and plan-element consistency. Staff will prepare a public “game plan” and share it with council. Charnas recommended allowing the Planning Commission to finish its work and hold a public hearing; she noted Darren Buchanan will take over the planning manager role.
• Council discussed the need for coordinated questions for Commerce and the timeline for Commerce’s participation. No formal action was taken.

Collective Bargaining Agreement

• Acting Interim City Manager Wierzbicki presented the tentative agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Terms include 3% cost-of-living increases in 2026 and 2027, a 2–4% increase in 2028, a step increase for eligible employees, and longevity pay of 1–4% for employees with 5–20 years of service.
• Council approved execution of the agreement 7-0 for the period January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.

Items Removed from the Consent Agenda

• Interlocal Agreement with Bainbridge Island School District: Councilmember Nelson asked the City Attorney about the indemnification clause. The City Attorney said it was unusual but not uncommon in facility-use agreements and he had no legal concerns. Council approved the agreement 7-0.
• Professional Services Agreement with Inter-Fluve, Inc. for Mac’s Dam Removal: Councilmember Nelson asked for background. Wierzbicki explained the project would remove an existing dam on IslandWood property as mitigation related to the failing culvert near Eagle Harbor Drive and McDonald’s; the contract amount is $357,633 and was already budgeted. Council approved the agreement 7-0.

Communications

• YWCA ALIVE Shelter: Councilmember Lant requested adding a future agenda item on a city contribution to the YWCA ALIVE Shelter. She noted the shelter is the county’s only state-certified domestic violence shelter, was severely damaged by fire on February 19, and serves Bainbridge Island residents. The proposed contribution amount was stated as $200,000. The motion carried unanimously, 7-0.
• WSDOT Roundabout Options: Councilmember Schneider requested a future agenda item to vote on creating a subcommittee to collaborate with WSDOT on Highway 305/High School Road roundabout options. Schneider described options shared by WSDOT engineers at a conference and suggested a work plan. Council consensus was to place the item on a future agenda; Councilmembers Nelson and Mathews expressed reservations about signaling support for the roundabout.
• Comprehensive Plan Deadline: Councilmember Nelson requested an agenda item to discuss amending Resolution No. 2025-18 to extend the comprehensive plan adoption deadline. The agenda listed August 18, 2026, while Nelson mentioned August 21, citing a new Commerce letter. She later amended the motion to discuss amending the deadline generically. The amended motion failed 3-4, with Councilmembers Nelson, Lant, and Hytopoulos voting in favor.
• Rescind Planning Commission 4/6 Analysis: Councilmember Mathews moved to rescind the previous council direction to the Planning Commission to proceed with the Planning Commission’s 4/6 analysis. Mathews said the motion had created confusion and had been mischaracterized publicly. Councilmember Nelson and others opposed, saying rescinding created more uncertainty. The rescission carried 4-3, with Councilmembers Nelson, Lant, and Hytopoulos voting against.

Council Announcements

• Councilmember Nelson shared good news about a local daycare property transferred to the Kitsap Housing Authority: the Bainbridge Island Kid Museum may use the building for preschool/daycare, and a redesigned project could create 10 units instead of 4.
• Councilmember Matthews reported on a PSRC ferry convening, the Sequamish Renewal powwow, and the first youth engagement event at city hall with students from three high schools.
• Councilmember Schneider announced an affordable housing project tour, noted she had reached out about conflict-of-interest questions regarding a commercial building she and her husband purchased, and said her business office will move into that building on May 1.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Frog Rock Week and Bike Everywhere Month proclamations; presented two other proclamations.
• Approved the consent agenda as amended 6-0.
• Passed a motion directing the Climate Action Plan update process 7-0.
• Approved the Machinists collective bargaining agreement 7-0.
• Approved the BISD interlocal agreement and the Inter-Fluve Mac’s Dam Removal agreement, each 7-0.
• Placed YWCA ALIVE Shelter and WSDOT subcommittee items on future agendas.
• Defeated an item to discuss extending the comprehensive plan deadline.
• Rescinded previous direction to the Planning Commission on the 4/6 analysis.
• Noted a discrepancy between minutes and transcript on the vote to add a legislative priorities study session item.