To the editor:

Have you ever had an idea that you thought would be good for the island? Good enough that people might want to vote on it? No? Well, if you did, you’d quickly find out there is no easy path to put a measure on a ballot.

I never thought about it much either, until I started a public power initiative. After doing a little online research, I became aware that some cities have the power of initiative and referendum. The city of Bainbridge Island is a non-charter code city with a council-manager form of government. It does not have the power of initiative or referendum. Ordinances may be enacted by initiative or repealed by referendum. What do we need to get a measure on the ballot? An ordinance. Who can write one of those? The city council.

When we started our Island Power initiative in 2015, we met with council members to ask how we should proceed to get our measure on the ballot (there’s no step-by-step on the city’s website and I think we might be the first group to make such a request). We received a variety of answers, from writing letters to the editor, publishing articles in local papers, participating in the comprehensive plan, having educational events, commenting at council meetings, and finally gathering signatures. All of which we did last year, and continue to do this year.

Our campaign to put a public power initiative on the November ballot would just give the city of Bainbridge Island the authority to run an electric utility, it would not put them instantly in the business of running an electric utility. It’s the first step of a many step process, which took our neighbors in Jefferson County eight years to complete after a yes vote.

Our current process seems cumbersome to citizens and council members alike, so I was glad to see Councilman Ron Peltier wrote a letter to his fellow council members asking them to consider making Bainbridge Island an initiative city.

“I believe it’s time for Bainbridge Island to become the 47th initiative code city in Washington State. Among the 46 code cities already choosing to provide the enhanced power of initiative to their citizens are: Ellensburg, Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Olympia, Port Angeles and Wenatchee.”

Ron sees the initiative process as a way of sharing the responsibility of the island’s future and making the council’s job easier.

I applaud Ron’s vision and belief in our community. I hope the discussion of becoming an initiative city is added to the council’s schedule of agendas soon.

JANE LINDLEY

Bainbridge Island