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Council hires search firm, approves Bakerwood subdivision and hears staff wage appeals
Summary
Bainbridge Island council voted unanimously to retain a recruitment firm for the city manager search and to form a three‑member subcommittee; the council approved the seven‑lot Bakerwood final plat (6–0 with one recusal) and received multiple employee requests for wage increases above COLA.
The Bainbridge Island City Council on Feb. 10 unanimously selected a recruitment firm to lead its search for a permanent city manager and authorized the acting city manager to execute the contract. Councilmember Brenton Johnson moved to retain the firm identified in the packet and the motion passed 7–0. The council also appointed a three‑member subcommittee — Deputy Mayor Haitopoulos and Councilmembers Matthews and Fentroy Johnson — to coordinate with the firm.
Earlier in the meeting city employees and union members asked the council to authorize bargaining for pay increases beyond a cost‑of‑living adjustment. “A COLA is important, but it doesn't reflect the full scope of what city employees have been carrying,” said Damaris Guzman, a permit specialist who said she commutes roughly an hour each way and urged the council to authorize funding to allow meaningful negotiations.
On land use business the council considered a closed‑record final plat for the Bakerwood seven‑lot subdivision. Planning staff presented the compliance memo and bonding arrangements for unfinished plat improvements; the council adopted the resolution approving the final plat, with the vote recorded as 6–0 and one councilmember recused.
The acting city manager also highlighted two informational items: the forthcoming public release of the city’s 2025 annual climate action report and a Head of the Bay road project with lane reductions and flaggers running roughly through March 20. The manager said staff will present inventory and greenhouse gas updates in coming months.
What’s next: The acting city manager will execute the recruitment contract and notify the selected firm; planning staff will record the Bakerwood final plat after bonding is confirmed; staff was directed to return with analyses and follow‑up on staff compensation and planning timelines.
