Bainbridge Island City Manager Doug Schulze said this week the city could be hiring a new legal representative within a month.

Schulze gave the city council an update on the search for a new city attorney at its Wednesday meeting.

The city has received 18 applicants for the city attorney position. Schulze said that one candidate has stood out from the crowd and the city is currently looking into the applicant’s references.

“If that moves forward, we are looking at April 1 or April 15 as a start date for that individual,” Schulze said.