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State audit finds stormwater mapping and record gaps; Bainbridge staff outline fixes and hires
Summary
A Department of Ecology audit highlighted missing records, incomplete mapping and housekeeping items in Bainbridge Island's stormwater program. Public works outlined steps including hiring a GIS technician, a stormwater technician, updating the O&M manual, and possible consultant support to complete mapping.
The council received a briefing on a Washington State Department of Ecology audit of Bainbridge Island's stormwater (NPDES) program that identified compliance items and recommended improvements in mapping, illicit‑discharge detection and operations & maintenance.
Public works director Chris Risbicki summarized the audit timeline and findings: the audit focused on mapping, illicit discharge detection/elimination (IDDE), and operations and maintenance including the city's decant facility. Risbicki said the city has about 50% of its stormwater infrastructure mapped and anticipates 100% mapping by about 2029; staff are considering consultant support to accelerate the work. "We have about 50% complete. We're anticipating having a 100% by about 2029 or maybe sooner," he said.
The audit also flagged missing records dating back five years for the decant facility and noted the operations & maintenance manual had not been updated in some time. The department has started documenting on‑the‑job training and has moved to an asset‑management system using handheld devices to photograph and record catch basin conditions. Risbicki noted a recent reimbursable grant of roughly $130,000 and said staff will propose maintenance staff expansion in 2027–28 funded by stormwater utility revenue surpluses.
Council members asked for cost estimates for consulting and staffing, where stormwater discharges in Winslow go, and why decant records were missing. Risbicki said treatment and required controls depend on the project type and size; newer developments meet current standards while older facilities are not retroactively required to upgrade. He said missing records remain under review and that the city has corrected on‑site decant housekeeping items such as unlabeled drums and an old leaking vehicle.
Next steps include hiring a stormwater technician to implement a source‑control program, continuing mapping with the new GIS technician, updating the O&M manual (targeted by end of 2027), and proposing additional maintenance staff in future budgets.
