UAC presses council response after planning commission strips consolidation language; reviews interlocal framework with KPUD for South Bainbridge intertie

The Bainbridge Island Utility Advisory Committee on a routine meeting reviewed edits the planning commission made to the comprehensive plan utility element and discussed a draft interlocal agreement (ILA) that lays out a framework to coordinate with KPUD on a potential South Bainbridge water intertie, long-term well planning and conservation work.

Staff member Chris told the committee the planning commission approved the utility element in early April and recommended two substantive changes the UAC should review: the commission struck UAC language calling for studying consolidation or joint ownership of city and district water systems and replaced it with language to "study how city, regional, and private water purveyors can best coordinate and partner for services." He described the ILA as a framework "not to lay out any necessarily specifics" but to identify topics the two agencies will work on and to be amended later with details such as cost and water-quality responsibilities.

"The point of this ILA was to just identify these issues, not to lay out any necessarily specifics of how we're gonna do this," Chris said, describing three topics the agreement would cover: planning an intertie between South Bainbridge and the Winslow/Eagle Harbor Drive system, longer-term siting of production wells on the North End, and a KPUD-led water conservation program in the South.

Chair of the committee objected to the planning commission's substitution, saying the vision language that emerged — a line suggesting many homes could be connected to utility systems over time — was "not at all what we intended" and may conflict with the island's groundwater management approach. Committee members said the planning commission's language change also created a mismatch with the implementation section, which still references the UAC's original joint-ownership language and will require editing to be internally consistent.

Chris said the ILA does not set binding commitments on financing or operational terms; those would be worked out and appended later as staff and consultants complete technical analyses. He told members that KPUD discussions had considered a possible five-year ramp to a summer peak "up to 90 gallons per minute," which he described as conservative and not necessarily achievable in the near term.

Council liaison Councilman Lant told the UAC that councilmembers had discussed adding a clause to ensure island water would not be taken off-island for other uses; staff noted there is presently no infrastructure planned to move water off-island but said the committee could recommend language for the council to consider.

Committee members asked staff to circulate the redlined text showing planning commission edits and signaled interest in preparing comments for the city council, since the council will make the final policy decisions. Staff said the utility element and ILA timing are still tentative; the planning staff has placed a placeholder for a public hearing on the comprehensive plan on May 14, and members referenced study-session and council dates in mid-May that remain subject to change.

The committee agreed to continue consideration of the ILA and the planning-commission changes at an upcoming meeting or special session and to provide recommendations to the council once members have reviewed the redlines and the capacity technical information.

Next steps: staff will circulate the redlined utility element and ILA draft to the UAC, and the committee will consider scheduling a special meeting to formulate comments to the council on the changed language and the ILA framework.