After an 11-month hiatus and an official deactivation in March, the Bainbridge Island City Council has reopened options for the future of the Historic Preservation Commission with support from the Bainbridge History Museum.
The city paused the HPC’s work last August, following the resignation of all members in April of 2024 to protest the demolition of the former police station building at the corner of Winslow Way and Highway 305. In March, the city voted to deactivate the commission, but input from the BHM may grant the city new directions, explained deputy city manager Ellen Schroer at the June 17 council study session.
The museum suggested the city retain the commission, but reduce its programming and shift some of its responsibilities — like seeking knowledgeable members — to museum staff.
“This option means we would maintain our ‘Certified Local Government’ status, and we would receive subject matter expertise and support from members of the commission and staff,” Schroer said.
With an HPC, Bainbridge holds the title of “Certified Local Government” — a designation granted to municipal historic preservation groups by the National Park Service that signifies the HPC’s ability to meaningfully preserve historical structures in a town. That influence can manifest as a local ordinance that establishes a historic register and allows the HPC to add or remove buildings to the list, as in the case of BI.
The title comes with some benefits: with it, the city is eligible for small grants to advance historic preservation, usually under $15,000, and new properties on the historic register see property tax reductions. However, the title’s obligations — including maintaining a commission of qualified members, protecting and maintaining historic properties and performing public outreach — can be cumbersome for small governments, and was a large part of the council’s decision to deactivate the commission in March.
Deputy mayor Jon Quitslund and all of city council were supportive of the museum’s proposition, but Councilmember Joe Deets noted that it’s not as simple as handing administrative legwork to the museum.
“[The museum] did say, ‘We will find people for you to join the committee,’ — well, it doesn’t work that way. We have to have an open process,” Deets said.
Councilmember Kirsten Hytopolous added that maintaining the city’s status as a Certified Local Government represents Bainbridge’s commitment to preserving its history, and that the proposed changes to the commission’s scope may be beneficial to conversations about inventorying historic properties going forward.
“I like the idea that it’s a commitment; many other cities and counties have this as well […] because it actually requires us to designate and pay attention to, and make thoughtful decisions about, allowing the destruction of historic properties and inventorying them,” she said.
