While the list of potential sites for a new police department have narrowed in the past six months, city officials continue to advocate for a location near city hall.

The Bainbridge Island City Council will hear from Bainbridge Police Chief Matthew Hamner and City Manager Doug Schulze Tuesday on the benefits of a downtown department.

Hamner and Schulze submitted a memo late last week asking the council to give preference to either the site north of city hall or the city-owned gravel parking lot that sits south of Bainbridge Performing Arts.

The memo noted several advantages to a centrally-located building that are “not achievable with a stand-alone facility located at another location.”

It also suggested placing the municipal courthouse, currently located in Rolling Bay, with the police department near city hall.

The advantages to a Winslow facility include easier coordination between police administration and city management, more efficient operations and the possibilities of locating the Emergency Operations Center closer to city hall, according to the Hamner/Schulze memo.

As for more efficient operations, a Winslow department would provide better access for parking enforcement and bicycle and foot patrols.

It would also improve communication between the city and police on code compliance, traffic safety, special event permits and site plan reviews.

With a shared archival space, a nearby police department would likewise improve access to public records.

Schulze and Hamner said the city would save $100,000 annually from a more efficient operation to offset an additional $4 million in capital costs.

“After reviewing and evaluating several potential sites for a new public facility, it is our recommendation that the options for further consideration should be limited to sites within the Winslow Master Plan area,” the memo stated.

The remaining sites outside of the Winslow area are:

• the Suzuki property on the corner of New Brooklyn and Sportsman Club roads;

• the Visconsi shopping center property on High School Road;

• the Coultis property on New Brooklyn Road; and

• acreage on Yaquina Avenue and Moran Road.

Despite being on the list of remaining sites, consultants with McKenzie, Inc. recommended the acreage on Moran Road and Yaquina Avenue be removed because neither parcel is large enough to support the municipal court or police station. The property is also not centrally located.

The Visconsi site, the consultants also said, has many disadvantages.

The site would require emergency vehicles and the public to drive through an active, multi-use commercial area to get to the police department.

It is also in close proximity to neighborhoods, while far from the city center and city hall.

Additionally, the city’s consultants said a stand-alone facility adjacent to the fire department’s Station 21 on the Coultis property should not be considered because it would require a significant real estate purchase while not improving parking or gaining a central location.

The list of potential sites also included the 23-acre Sakai property on Madison Avenue, which is currently being sought for purchase by the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District. Consultants noted the property is located across from the high school, and approximately half the site contains Category II wetlands.

The Bainbridge Island City Council will discuss the new police facility during this week’s study session.

The council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in city hall.