Although the city of Bainbridge Island has yet to officially acknowledge it, the resignation of Councilman David Ward is imminent.

Ward agreed to step down from his Central Ward seat on the city council as part of a settlement agreement made by the city Monday to end a Superior Court lawsuit that was filed against the city after it failed to release public records sent to the personal email accounts of Ward, Councilman Steve Bonkowski and then-councilwoman Debbi Lester.

The council authorized City Manager Doug Schulze to sign a $487,790 settlement agreement with Althea Paulson and Bob Fortner, the pair who sued the city over public records that had been asked for but were withheld, on a 4-1 vote at the council meeting Tuesday.

Ward did not attend that meeting, and Schulze deflected comments about his agreed-to resignation afterward on the basis that a final settlement agreement had not yet been inked.

Schulze, City Attorney Lisa Marshall and the two outside attorneys that fought the public records lawsuit, Kathleen J. Haggard, who represented the city and Jessica Goldman, Ward’s attorney, signed the settlement agreement Dec. 1 that included the $487,790 payout and the inclusion of Ward’s resignation. The agreement was also signed by Paulson and Fortner, and their attorney, Dan Mallove.

The city acknowledged Friday, however, that Ward is stepping down.

On Friday, the city released the agenda for its next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, and the agenda includes a council discussion of the timeline and process for filling Ward’s council seat.

An agenda bill within the agenda packet released Friday notes the “recent resignation of Councilmember David Ward” and sets out how the council will fill Ward’s seat.

According to the city, Bainbridge will not have a replacement council member until Jan. 20.

The appointee will serve until a new Central Ward council member is elected in the November 2015 General Election and election results are certified.

The new council member will then fill out the remainder of Ward’s term through 2015, as well as the ensuing four-year term for that council position.

According to the council’s next agenda packet, the council vacancy will be posted Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Applications for those who would like to be considered for the vacant position will be due by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Interviews with council candidates are planned for a special city council meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15.

The council expects to appoint a new council member at the Jan. 15 meeting, with the new member taking the oath of office at a city council study session on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Residents who want to apply for the position much be a resident of Bainbridge for one year prior to the appointment and a registered voter.

Application forms will be available at city hall. Applicants should submit a one-page cover letter listing general qualifications, a resume of no more than two pages and answers to questions presented by the city.

Candidates will be asked to answer the following questions:

• Are there any regional issues or forums in which you have a particular interest or expertise? (e.g. transportation, water supply, human services, water quality, fiscal management, solid waste, etc.)

• Do you want to serve on the city council because of a particular local issue on which you want to work or are your interests more broadly distributed?

• Why are you interested in serving as a Bainbridge Island City Council member?

• What strength would you bring to the council?

• What are the three highest priorities and/or issues you believe the City needs to address? How would you propose to address these issues?

• Explain your current and past community involvement and/or service on city, nonprofit, or public boards, committees, task forces, or commissions and how this has contributed to the Bainbridge Island community. Address its relevance to the position of Bainbridge Island City Council member.

• What do you wish to accomplish during this appointed term as Bainbridge Island City Council member?

• What is your vision for our city and community?

• Is there anything else that you may wish to add that would help us get to know you a little better?

The new council member will be paid $1,000 a month.

The city expects the council will interview up to five candidates for the position. If more apply, the council may appoint an ad hoc committee to screen applicants.

Ward was elected to Position 4 on the Bainbridge council in November 2011 and took office in early 2012. His term was set to end on Dec. 31, 2015.

City officials said Friday that a resignation letter had not yet been received from Ward.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Ward agreed to resign once the agreement is executed.