The incoming Bainbridge Island city council wants to function as a free-standing legislature – an independent branch of city government.

To do so, though, it wants things like office space, dedicated staff and equipment, all of which cost money.

“The council is part of the government, part of the process,” newly elected council chair Michael Pollock said in a Thursday interview. “The public asks a lot, and it’s important for the council to be more involved in the development of policy.”

Three newly elected city council members and new mayor Darlene Kordonowy took their oaths of offices before their first council meeting Wednesday. And although the discussions that followed were somewhat vague, the overriding message was that the council wants greater hands-on involvement in decision-making.

“We’re looking at becoming truly a legislative branch of government,” said incoming central ward council member Bill Knobloch. “We want to start originating ordinances on our own.”

Pollock said that in his view, the city council should function for the city the way Congress functions for the country – developing legislation and policies as well as passing on those initiatives that come from the executive branch.

Knobloch said that in the past, the council has been more like a board of directors, approving or disapproving initiatives that originate from “management” – in this case, the city administration. He said the council needs to take control over its agenda, and determine what issues it will tackle.

The first requirement for making a legislative model work on a city level, Pollock said, is to provide the council with the necessary resources to function autonomously, which requires information and the wherewithal to draft ordinances.

“We need dedicated staff that we can reliably count on to do the work,” Pollock said.

Because the present staff is accountable to the city administrator, not to the council, Pollock said that, understandably, council requests tend to get put on the back burner. And because the city staff, particularly the department heads, initiate most of the ordinances, the concept of separate and balanced power breaks down, he said.

“People who are going to implement the policy are also writing it,” he said.

Kordonowy said she wants to hear more specifics about what the council wants.

“What do they want to get done that they don’t believe is getting done?” she asked.

As for “dedicated” staff, Kordonowy said there may be legal obstacles.

“State law says staff reports to the mayor,” she said. “Who is that person’s supervisor – me or the council? I don’t know how it would work, but I’m confident we can work through it.”

Then there’s the matter of office space. Most of the council members work from their homes. Knobloch has opened an office on Ericksen Avenue at his own expense.

“The council needs a place to work, and a place where their constituents can get to them,” he said. “A lot of people are reluctant to call you at home.”

Outgoing council chair Lois Curtis questioned the need for additional council support.

“I don’t understand what they want a staff person to do,” she said. “There are practical and philosophical objections – space and staff are problematic.”

Curtis said she has never felt a lack of support for the council job as she conceives it, but she said, “It is entirely possible I’m not doing the job as the new council members see it.”

Because the council is reluctant to raise taxes, Pollock said one possibility would be to transfer one or more staff people from the city staff to the council staff. He also said there appears to be adequate space on the second floor of city hall to accommodate council offices.

The next step, Pollock said, is to address those issues with the mayor’s office.

“We want to give Darlene time to see what she is going to do,” he said.

Pollock admits that raising the profile and stature of the council could cost some money, but he says better government will result.

“People have told us during the election that they want changes, and they want the council to get involved,” he said.

Referring to what he sees as a mismatch between expectations and the resources to meet them, Pollock said, “This is a real conflict, and to solve it will not be cheap.

“That might cost more, but it may be a price people are willing to pay.”