The controversial high cost of the proposed new police-court facility at the old Harrison Medical Center building is on tonight’s Bainbridge Island City Council meeting agenda.

The discussion is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. However, council meetings often go hours longer than expected.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. with an executive session. Public comment on Harrison and other topics is supposed to start at 6:40 p.m. The city manager’s report is planned for 6:55 p.m. followed by the Climate Change Advisory Committee’s work plan. After the police-court facility talks, the revised government manual discussion is scheduled for 7:50 p.m. “Triage” code changes are planned for 8:20 p.m., with adjournment set for 8:55 p.m.

Regarding Harrison, Councilmember Michael Pollock’s proposal says the city paid $8.975 million in 2018. With remodeling, the project will cost $20 million. That figures out to $1,100 per square foot, about twice what such facilities usually cost.

“We are proposing stopping work on the police station project for a brief, 30-day period and that council form a 30-day citizens’ blue ribbon panel to answer” questions about the project.

Questions include: Did the city overpay? By how much? Can any of that be recovered from HMC? Should the state Attorney General investigate? Is HMC the best location? Are there better sites? Are cost overruns likely? What might be a better use for HMC? Should this be put to a vote of the people?

“We recommend a blue ribbon panel of professionals who have been monitoring the police station project and have expressed concern over the high cost,” the proposal says, specifically naming Tad Fairbank (builder), Rich Mitchell (public facilities architect), Kim Brackett (former council member, paralegal, financial analyst), David Lindsey (building manager) and Marilyn Mclaughlin (real estate).

The meeting will be on Zoom. Go to www.bainbridgewa.gov/1101/City-Council-Agendas and click on the video for the meeting.