Some Bainbridge Island City Council members criticized the area’s state lawmakers at a recent meeting when talking about the need to hire a lobbyist.
The lobbyist will represent the city in state government. After checking with Poulsbo, Bremerton and other cities it decided on a budget of $50,000 a year.
Councilmember Joe Deets talked of his frustration in dealing with state lawmakers that represent Bainbridge, especially when they would not respond to his communications. “We have to do this. It’s money well spent.”
Mayor Brenda Fantroy-Johnson agreed: “We’re powerless once laws are handed down.” We need to do this so we are “not caught off-guard.”
Councilmember Michael Pollock added: “We’ve learned this past year” that the state can try to pass some radical laws, such as eliminating single-family housing. “That’s what we’re running up against. I feel strongly we need to get out there ahead of these.”
He added that Bainbridge has some unique characteristics that the legislature needs to be educated about, such as limited natural resources, like groundwater.
“Our lawmakers don’t seem to appreciate our opinion,” Pollock said.
While Councilmember Kirsten Hytopoulos disagreed, saying lawmakers have been effective, she did vote in favor of hiring a lobbyist.
“This is a no-brainer when talking with mayors of other jurisdictions,” she said.
City manager Blair King said a lobbyist could help the city secure state funding, advocate for particular legislation, open doors to state agencies and improve communication.
Cultural funding
The council approved $300,000 for cultural funding after Deets showed support for increasing that $30,000 and Fantroy-Johnson $100,000.
After Councilmember Jon Quitslund said, “Humanities are always on the short end of the stick” despite their importance on BI, the mayor made a motion to increase the amount to $400,000, which she later withdrew.
Deets wondered where that money would come from and suggested a 10% increase as a “step in the right direction.” King said added money could come from the general fund or the council’s contingency fund, which is $200,000 a year. Hytopoulos said she couldn’t support an increase because of more pressing issues, such as transportation, housing and the climate. She said BI already does a wonderful job, “beyond the scope of what other small cities do,” regarding the arts.
Deputy city manager Ellen Schroer explained that community nonprofits will apply for the funding for 2024 and 2025. Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network received the most funding out of 17 selected last time at $29,000. This time grants will range from $5,000 to $50,000. A task force, for which volunteers are still needed, will use a scoring matrix. Criteria for proposals include community need, how they align with city goals and the Comp Plan, community service and sustainability.
In other news
The council also decided to spend $70,000 on a tree mural for the new water tank. A city survey shows 529 people, or 56% of the 952 respondents, favor that choice. Deets said he wanted Bainbridge Island on the tank, and Hytopoulos said she’s glad the money is coming from the general fund and not from the water budget. Quitslund said if dollar amount were attached to the survey the result might have been different.
The council plans to amend city transportation impact fees to a proposed $5,000, which would help pay for 49 projects costing $73 million in the Sustainable Transportation Plan. The current cost is $1,811, but the regional average is over $5,000.
Between May 16 and June 16 over 200 people voted for the next book to read as part of the BI Read program. They selected Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer with 55% of the vote. The community is invited to read the book over the next four months and participate in city events this fall. The goal of the program is to build community, promote literacy, and foster dialogue, creative expression and expanded thinking.
During public comments, Kevin Fetterly talked about self-driving electric buses like ones being used in San Francisco and would be perfect for BI. He said people could go to Seattle and come back late at night at still get a ride home. “They serve at all times, and we can leave our cars behind.” He said rather than build affordable housing the old police station site should be used for transportation, as it’s the heart of the island. He said light rail could be in that site’s future. As for affordable housing, he said the community is still waiting on a plan for such a development at the Suzuki property, which was purchased for that reason.
