Bainbridge Island City Council Study Session: Mobility Work Plan, Pesticide Resolution, and Agricultural Committee (September 15, 2026)

The Bainbridge Island City Council convened a study session on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers (280 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA), with remote participation via Zoom. All council members were present, including Councilmember Leslie Schneider joining remotely, along with the city manager, city attorney, and staff. The council received a presentation on the Mobility Advisory Committee's 2026-27 work plan, introduced Resolution No. 2026-05 updating the least toxic products list for weed and pest control, and discussed the potential formation of an agricultural advisory committee. Committee reports were also heard. No final adoptions occurred during the study session; items were directed to future business meetings.

Call to Order, Roll Call & Agenda Approval

• Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM; the city clerk conducted roll call and all council members were present, with Councilmember Leslie Schneider appearing via Zoom.
• The agenda was approved by motion. No conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Mobility Advisory Committee (MAC) 2026-27 Work Plan

• A MAC representative presented the committee's proposed 2026-27 work plan, describing it as the right project in the right place at the right time, and referencing the island-wide mobility plan as a foundational document and a new small project request process.
• One councilmember expressed support, stating the work plan shows MAC has listened to council's earlier hesitations, praised the small project request process, and noted they could support this work plan even though they were not previously on board with the price tag for the broader program.
• A councilmember moved to add "engage with other transportation, active transportation, and accessibility groups to increase knowledge sharing and collaboration" to the work plan. The mayor and deputy mayor opposed this, arguing that a citizen advisory committee should set its own priorities, that imposing new work with an expectation of completion is unfair to volunteer members, and that engagement with external groups is more appropriate for elected officials.
• A second motion was made to encourage MAC to "research and evaluate transportation organization data platforms to incorporate data trends into advisory opinions" to council. One councilmember said they could not support the motion because it goes beyond the committee's proposed work plan, but had no objection to committee members doing such research on their own.
• A motion was made to forward the MAC 2026-27 work plan to a future business meeting for adoption. (The transcript does not contain a clear vote tally.)

Resolution No. 2026-05: Updating Least Toxic Products for Weed and Pest Control

• Staff introduced the resolution, explaining that multiple licensed contractors declined to bid for city work because the current least-toxic product list lacks an effective herbicide for larger weeds, and that Kitsap County performed noxious weed control on the island's behalf for 20 years until 2020.
• Staff reported that stakeholders—including the Climate Change Advisory Committee, the Environmental Technical Advisory Committee, the Parks and Trails Foundation, and noxious weed specialist Deb Rodnik—were consulted and expressed 100% support for the update. Staff also stated the proposed list of five chemicals was developed by contractors, each with a different application, and that the city has discretion to choose four of the five if desired.
• Council discussion raised concerns about glyphosate, the two different types of triclopyr with dramatically different toxicity levels, the importance of the prohibition on aquatic weed control for an island community where weeds are sprayed in ditches, and uncertainty about which chemicals would be prohibited from wetland use.
• A councilmember noted the city is required by law to eradicate certain noxious weeds, creating legal liability if alternatives are not used; another noted scientists warn that failing to control noxious weeds will lead to other problems. One councilmember praised Bainbridge Island's history of going above and beyond (e.g., adopting a plastic bag ban before the state) and suggested a two-year approval could help the city catch up after the lapse in weed control.
• A councilmember moved to move Resolution 2026-05 to a future business meeting for additional discussion. Another councilmember stated they would not support moving it forward, though they would not rule out supporting the ultimate resolution when it returns.

Agricultural Advisory Committee Formation

• The council discussed whether to form an agricultural advisory committee. Some members noted Bainbridge Island's identity and history as an agricultural community; others questioned whether a new committee is needed given the city's effort to "pull back on advisory councils," the risk of consuming staff time without a clear objective, and whether the agricultural community even wants a new committee.
• Councilmembers requested a more concrete proposal defining the committee's scope and the problem it would solve before proceeding. One councilmember suggested moving the item to a business meeting so community members—who have a lot to say on the topic—could be heard.
• A motion was made to move the item to a future business meeting for further discussion.

Committee Reports

• A councilmember reported on community survey results showing Bainbridge Island has dropped to 47th in several categories, including public safety, water conservation, climate resilience and groundwater, affordable housing, roads and infrastructure, youth and families, seniors and aging, good governance, and health and human services. The top community priorities were identified as affordable housing, water conservation, and climate resilience.
• A councilmember also reported on a community services group led by Karen Vargas and others working to provide services for communities in need, noting their work plan includes a joint council–planning commission meeting.

Key Outcomes

• The MAC 2026-27 work plan was moved to a future business meeting for adoption (vote tally not specified in the transcript).
• Resolution 2026-05 was moved to a future business meeting for additional discussion (vote tally not specified in the transcript).
• The agricultural advisory committee item was moved to a future business meeting for further discussion (vote tally not specified in the transcript).
• No resolutions were adopted and no new committees were formed during this study session.