OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Bainbridge Island City Council Meeting - July 14, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, July 14, 2026
BodyBainbridge Island, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, July 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:06:32

Transcript — Verbatim
0:22

Recording in progress.

0:26

I call in order the city council regular business meeting for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to order.

0:32

Clerk, would you please call a roll?

0:35

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

0:36

Christine Brown, City Clerk.

0:38

Please state for the record if you're present after I call your name.

0:41

Mayor Morwaukey.

0:42

Present.

0:42

Deputy Mayor Hytopolis.

0:44

Present.

0:45

Councilmember Nelson.

0:47

Present.

0:48

Councilmember Lance.

0:49

Present.

0:50

Councilmember Schneider.

0:51

Present.

0:52

Councilmember Fentro Johnson.

0:54

President.

0:55

Thank you.

1:04

Would you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?

1:07

Oops.

1:24

Thank you.

1:25

And for tonight, we have reading our land acknowledgement, Maya Weigel, and she will be a sixth grader at Sakai Intermediate School.

1:34

So thank you for coming and reading the land acclamation Wyatt.

1:42

Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people.

1:46

Every hillside, every valley, every plate, every plain and grove has been hollowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished.

1:55

Chief Seattle, 1854.

1:58

We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is is within the ancestral territory of the Sequamish, people of clear saltwater.

2:07

Expert fishermen, canoe builders, and basket weavers, the Sequamish live in harmony with the lands and water on waterways along Washington Central Salish Sea as they have for thousands of years.

2:20

Here, the Sequormash live and protect the landed waters of our ancestors for future generations as promised by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855.

2:30

Thank you, Maya.

2:31

And shortly I'll give you this little certificate for you, and it reads as follows.

2:36

Thank you.

2:36

The City of Bainbridge Island thanks Maya Weigel for her contribution reading the Sequamish Land Acknowledgement at the July 14, 2026 City Council meeting.

2:46

Your words help us honor the richly complex history and continued presence of indigenous peoples in our community.

2:52

Thank you for using your voice to help create a more respectful and inclusive city.

2:56

Clarence Moriwaki, Baymagala Mayor.

2:58

And uh colleagues, would you please join?

3:00

Yeah, I'm not sure what I'm saying.

3:37

Thank you so much, Weigel.

3:41

Maya Weigel and uh her mother is uh Julia Crouch is here as well.

3:45

That's thank you for for coming.

3:47

Um now we had I would expect uh entertain a uh motion to approve tonight's agenda.

3:53

So moved.

3:55

Is there a second?

3:56

Second.

3:57

So it's moved by Councilmember Nelson and seconded by Councilmember Scheider to approve tonight's agenda.

4:03

All in favor, please say aye.

4:05

Aye.

4:05

Opposed?

4:06

Uh Councilmember Ashley Matthews has joined us, and she I believe voted aye.

4:10

So that was six years, zero nay, and the chair votes aye.

4:14

Thank you very much.

4:15

Is there any conflict of interest any council members wish to disclose tonight?

4:20

All right.

4:21

Well, let's move on.

4:22

Item three presentation.

4:25

We have a proclamation for disability pride month will be read by Councilmember Laura Lant.

4:30

Thank you, Mayor.

4:34

A proclamation by the City Council of the City of Bambridge Island, Washington, declaring July 2026 as disability pride month.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters████████████████████20%
Comprehensive Planning████████████████████20%
Affordable Housing████████████12%
Procedural██████████10%
Public Engagement████████8%
Zoning Regulations██████6%
Legislative Agenda█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Community Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Bainbridge Island City Council Regular Business Meeting - July 14, 2026

The Bainbridge Island City Council met on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers and via Zoom. The meeting included a proclamation for Disability Pride Month, public comments, approval of the consent agenda with one item removed, a presentation on the 2027 state legislative priorities, extensive discussion and multiple votes on Ordinance 2026-05 (implementing regulations for the updated Comprehensive Plan), scheduling a joint public hearing with the Department of Commerce, an update on the Comprehensive Plan periodic update, and approval of a City Manager employment agreement. The meeting adjourned at 10:08 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved with Item 5.H Removed: The consent agenda was approved unanimously (6-0, Councilmember Mathews absent) after Councilmember Lant requested removal of Item 5.H (Human Services Funding Request for Proposal Process Criteria and Scoring Matrix). That item was later forwarded to the July 28 business meeting for approval (motion carried 7-0).
  • Items approved included accounts payable, meeting minutes, a lease agreement with the Bainbridge Island Farmers' Market Association, purchase of a Giant Pacific Octopus for public art ($5,000), appointment of Phil Olbrechts as Hearing Examiner, and review of LTAC RFP criteria ($400,000).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Rob Drury expressed concern about the City Manager selection process and the Comprehensive Plan Update, objecting to proposed hybrid elements under SEPA rules and requesting a supplemental environmental impact statement.
  • David Marzell (Liveable Bainbridge) urged support for a revised mandatory inclusionary zoning (MIZ) program triggered by unit count (10+ units) rather than parcel acreage, arguing it would close loopholes and satisfy state mandates.
  • Mary Hekman urged returning to the Planning Commission's recommendations for the Comprehensive Plan and reopening the City Manager application process.
  • Karla Mather reminded council of their fiduciary duty and asked to reopen the City Manager search.
  • Mary Clare Kersten supported reopening the City Manager search and preserving public participation.
  • Gloria Saylor expressed concerns about the Comprehensive Plan process and sewer plant capacity.
  • Ellen Lockert supported affordable housing but raised concerns about the Comprehensive Plan process, water supply, and the City Manager search.
  • Dawn Janow expressed concerns about the City Manager search process and inadequate notice for agenda item 7.B.
  • Ron Peltier spoke about affordable housing and the City Manager selection process, noting red flags about the finalist.
  • Mike Suraci expressed concerns about the City Manager selection process.
  • Christine Quinn expressed concerns about the City Manager selection process.

Discussion Items

  • Legislative Priorities for 2027 (Item 7.A): Representatives from Gordon Thomas Honeywell presented draft legislative priorities including a capital funding request (Springbrook Creek Fish Passage Restoration Project, $1.2M), roundabouts, clarifying housing element mandates, and ferry service support. Council discussed including affordable housing funding requests in policy documents. The item was forwarded to a future meeting (motion carried 7-0).
  • Ordinance 2026-05 – Implementing Regulations (Item 7.B): Council debated and voted on multiple amendments to the ordinance:
    • Motion to restore to the Planning Commission's May 21, 2026 version (including higher max FAR of 3.0 in Core and 4.0 in Ferry/High School Road) passed 4-3 (Councilmembers Schneider, Mathews, Fantroy-Johnson dissenting).
    • Motion to add provision that FAR may not exceed 1.5 except when receiving bonus FAR for affordable housing carried 7-0.
    • Motion to strike “intensely” in Central Core Overlay failed 6-1.
    • Motion to strike “an intensely” in Ferry District failed (no second).
    • Motion to strike third sentence in Ferry District failed 6-1.
    • Motion to strike “an intensely” in High School Road District failed (no second).
    • Motion to strike sentence allowing parking reduction by director for 100% low-income housing carried 7-0.
    • Motion to revert parking minimums to 1 space per unit failed 4-3.
    • Motion to revert guest parking maximum to 0.5 spaces per unit failed 5-2.
    • Motion to strike “unless a lower parking requirement is applicable” withdrawn.
    • Motion to amend “an intensely” to “a more intensely” in Ferry District carried 7-0.
    • Motion to amend “an intensely” to “a more intensely” in High School Road District carried 7-0.
    • Motion to forward ordinance to future meeting after Planning Commission review in August (return in September) carried 7-0.
    • Motion to direct staff and Planning Commission to work on mandatory inclusionary zoning program language carried 7-0.
  • Joint Public Hearing with Commerce (Item 7.C): Council voted unanimously to schedule a joint public hearing for July 28, 2026 regarding the city's progress toward meeting the Housing Accountability Act.
  • Update on Comprehensive Plan (Item 7.D): Interim Planning Director Terrell reported that the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) cannot be issued until the comprehensive plan is finalized; additional work is needed on public response matrices and ensuring all impacts are covered. Estimated 6–8 more weeks for FEIS.
  • City Manager Employment Agreement (Item 7.E): After a motion to waive privileges related to the search (except for names of non-public candidates) was debated and passed (7-0), council discussed and voted to authorize the Mayor to execute an employment agreement with John Mauro. The motion passed 5-2 with Councilmember Nelson and Deputy Mayor Hytopoulos voting against. Council members expressed concerns about the search process, community perception, and the compensation package, but majority supported the candidate based on qualifications and recommendations.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda Approved with one item removed (6-0); human services funding forwarded to July 28 (7-0).
  • Legislative Priorities forwarded to future meeting (7-0).
  • Ordinance 2026-05 Amended via multiple votes; key motions passed restoring Planning Commission version, adding FAR cap for affordable housing, removing director's parking reduction authority, and referring further work to Planning Commission.
  • Joint Public Hearing Scheduled for July 28 (7-0).
  • City Manager Employment Agreement Approved (5-2); John Mauro to serve as City Manager.
  • Community Needs Assessment Presentation requested by Councilmember Fantroy-Johnson placed on future agenda (7-0).

Meeting Transcript

Recording in progress. I call in order the city council regular business meeting for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to order. Clerk, would you please call a roll? Yes, thank you, Mayor. Christine Brown, City Clerk. Please state for the record if you're present after I call your name. Mayor Morwaukey. Present. Deputy Mayor Hytopolis. Present. Councilmember Nelson. Present. Councilmember Lance. Present. Councilmember Schneider. Present. Councilmember Fentro Johnson. President. Thank you. Would you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? Oops. Thank you. And for tonight, we have reading our land acknowledgement, Maya Weigel, and she will be a sixth grader at Sakai Intermediate School. So thank you for coming and reading the land acclamation Wyatt. Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plate, every plain and grove has been hollowed 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 is within the ancestral territory of the Sequamish, people of clear saltwater. Expert fishermen, canoe builders, and basket weavers, the Sequamish live in harmony with the lands and water on waterways along Washington Central Salish Sea as they have for thousands of years. Here, the Sequormash live and protect the landed waters of our ancestors for future generations as promised by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855. Thank you, Maya. And shortly I'll give you this little certificate for you, and it reads as follows. Thank you. The City of Bainbridge Island thanks Maya Weigel for her contribution reading the Sequamish Land Acknowledgement at the July 14, 2026 City Council meeting. Your words help us honor the richly complex history and continued presence of indigenous peoples in our community. Thank you for using your voice to help create a more respectful and inclusive city. Clarence Moriwaki, Baymagala Mayor. And uh colleagues, would you please join? Yeah, I'm not sure what I'm saying. Thank you so much, Weigel. Maya Weigel and uh her mother is uh Julia Crouch is here as well. That's thank you for for coming. Um now we had I would expect uh entertain a uh motion to approve tonight's agenda. So moved. Is there a second? Second. So it's moved by Councilmember Nelson and seconded by Councilmember Scheider to approve tonight's agenda. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com