Executive order at Bainbridge Island City Hall: No cheese for you

Bainbridge Island City Manager Doug Schulze issued an executive order Wednesday that should leave Seahawks fans everywhere smiling: Cheese will be banned from city hall on Friday, Jan. 16.

Bainbridge Island City Manager Doug Schulze issued an executive order Wednesday that should leave Seahawks fans everywhere smiling: Cheese will be banned from city hall on Friday, Jan. 16.

So long, Swiss. Ciao, cheddar. Get out of here, gouda.

The cheese ban — tongue-in-cheek, of course — was prompted by the Seattle Seahawks’ upcoming playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers, who have a legion of fans known as “Cheeseheads.”

This coming Friday at city hall is “Blue Friday,” and many employees are expected to be decked out in their Seahawks colors in anticipation of Seattle playing against Green Bay in the NFC Championship on Sunday, Jan. 18.

Schulze’s executive order was numbered 121212, a reference to the Seahawks’ own army of dedicated fans, the “12th Man.”

The executive order reads:

By the authority vested in me as City Manager of the City of Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, Washington, by the Revised Code of Washington and the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  All executive branch departments and divisions of the Local Government shall authorize employees to celebrate Blue Friday on each Friday prior to any games of the Seattle Seahawks by wearing Seahawks jerseys, logo gear, team colors and gathering at lunch or breaks for tailgating type foods and non-alcoholic beverages.

Section 2. On Sunday, January 18, 2015, the Seattle Seahawks opponent in the NFC Championship game will be the Green Bay Packers, a.k.a. Cheeseheads. Fans of the Green Bay Packers are frequently seen wearing obnoxious wedge-shaped foam hats painted yellow.

Section 3. Due to the relationship between the Green Bay Packers, their fans, and cheese, the possession of and/or consumption of cheese or cheese flavored products shall be banned in Bainbridge Island City Hall on Friday, January 16, 2015.

Section 4. The Director of each Department shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.

Section 5. General Provisions.  (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)                The authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)              The functions of the Director of any Department, or the head thereof; or

(b)             This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)              This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the City of Bainbridge Island, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DOUGLAS SCHULZE