Stephanie Balangue

The Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District is updating its comprehensive plan for the next six years. This plan serves as a roadmap for parks, recreation, and open space, aiming to establish long-range directions and goals through informed decision-making and extensive community input. Key efforts involve comprehensive public outreach, including surveys, public meetings, and interactive tools, to understand community priorities regarding services, amenities, and resource allocation. The district collaborates with partners such as the school district and land trust to ensure coordinated efforts, focusing on balancing the maintenance of existing assets with potential new developments and addressing specific community needs like public beach access, aquatic facilities, and covered sports courts. The plan's adoption and state certification are crucial for qualifying for state funding.

The agenda for the Regular Board Meeting included several key items for discussion and action. General Business covered the Comprehensive Plan Update, which was listed as information only, and a motion to approve the Sail Float Replacement Committee. A discussion was also scheduled regarding future meetings between the District Board and the Boards of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation and the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. Business conducted during the previous meeting on January 22, 2026, included approving payments, reviewing the draft Comprehensive Plan and Trails Vision Plan where staff received direction to update the draft and submit it for public comment and state certification, and approving the contract with AstroTurf for the Battle Point Park turf fields replacement project for a total amount up to $1,200,000 including tax.

The agenda for the Regular Board Meeting included an Executive Session, a review of the Mission Statement, and public comments. Key general business items involved new staff introductions and action regarding the Dock Extension Interlocal Agreement and Sublease with the City of Bainbridge Island, which authorizes the executive director to sign. The document also contains details on the September 21, 2023, meeting minutes, the 2023 Student Conservation Corps recap, updates on the Forest Management Plan focusing on tree thinning and hazard tree removal, and an Integrated Pest Management Review for 2023 and proposal for 2024. Furthermore, discussions included a Fuels Reduction Grant Partnership with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department, and staff reports covering soccer, glass fusing classes, hiring of an adaptive recreation coordinator, and a settlement reached for pool liner mediation.

The agenda for the meeting includes several key items for action and information. Action items cover a resolution for the Ray Williamson Pool Renovation Bond, appointments to For and Against Committees, an add service request for Stemper Architecture Collaborative, and approval for the acquisition of multiple trail easements. Information items include the Fletcher Bay Property Acquisition, a long-term lease with the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, and a Cooperative Management Agreement with the National Park Service for the same memorial. The meeting agenda is followed by supporting documents related to the bond resolution, a stemper contract update, a property donation, the cooperative management agreement, and minutes from the previous April 18, 2024 meeting.

The agenda for the Regular Board Meeting included key items such as public comments, board consent matters (including approval of minutes from the March 7, 2024 meeting and financial vouchers), and general business. General business discussions involved possible approval of a stormwater easement with Kitsap Public Utility District at Gazzam Lake Nature Preserve and a discussion regarding potential funding options for the Ray Williamson Pool Project's two-lane expansion (Phase II B). The meeting included provisions for staff reports and an executive session to discuss real estate matters.