Utility advisory panel recommends forwarding interlocal agreement draft to council

The Utility Advisory Committee voted to forward a revised interlocal agreement with KPUD to the city council for consideration. The motion asked staff to incorporate the changes discussed at the meeting and to present the ILA to council as amended; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote with one member recorded as recused and at least one dissent.

Committee members said the draft aims to provide a short‑term supplemental water supply for Bainbridge Island’s South End while creating an incentive to develop longer‑term sources. Committee member (speaker 11) urged the group to send a clear recommendation to the council: "I would like to see if we can have all your consensus to move this to council as scheduled for October 13," they said.

City staff walked the committee through substantive edits — including a clear recital of the immediate shortfall, a step‑up schedule of incremental GPM allotments over seven years, and a 3‑year reassessment clause to revisit growth assumptions and conservation outcomes. Several members pressed for language cleanups to avoid implying the need is a proven real‑world shortage rather than a regulatory compliance need tied to planning calculations.

The committee agreed the draft should go to the study session or council in October with staff’s amendments; staff said they will circulate a revised version in a few days and the committee will consider whether a short special meeting is needed before the council packet deadline.