Review Bainbridge Island
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 | Vol. 113, No. 33 | www.BAINBRIDGEREVIEW.com | 75¢
HOW THE WEST WAS (REALLY) WON: Local filmmaker earns kudos for first film. A9
Bainbridge Island City Council slashes water rates BY RICHARD D. OXLEY Bainbridge Island Review
Bainbridge Island’s city council made two significant changes to the city’s water utility Wednesday, including a considerable rate cut for customers. The city council approved a 30-percent reduction on water rates Wednesday by a 5-2 vote. By the same margin, a resolution affirming that the city’s utilities are to be run for the benefit of their customers was also approved. Little was said by the council in comparison to previous council discussions on the matter. Councilman Bob Scales and Councilwoman Kirsten Hytopoulos voted against the move and briefly voiced their opposition to it. “I continue to be concerned that this reduction is premature,” Hytopoulos said. “The responsible thing to do, because we are not in an urgent situation, is to complete the water study. Our ratepayers are paying, at most, median rates and will now pay very low rates for the region,” she said. Hytopoulos said the council will likely be in a position to raise rates in the future because of the lack of preparation for the rate cut.
Henri Gendreau / Bainbridge Island Review
Councilman Bob Scales confers with Councilwoman Kirsten Hytopoulos before the vote to cut water rates this week. The two were the only council members to vote against a 30 percent water rate cut Wednesday evening. But Mayor Steve Bonkowski, who spearheaded the effort, maintained course and received enough support on the dais to get his rate cut. He said that he expects the council to change rates again in the future. Bonkowski did not say, however, whether that change would be a raise or another cut. “I believe that we are going to be changing the rates in the future,” Bonkowski said. “I think that is the
whole reason of having a rate study and a water plan so we can put the two together at the same time.” The city is expected to soon engage in a rate study for its utilities, and the study will contribute to its water plan update. Bonkowski said that in 2011 when the council slashed water rates by 45 percent, there was also a discussion to refund a portion of money from the reserve account to customers, but that move couldn’t
be completed with the water plan are jumping the gun before we finished, and long-term needs had have a water plan. We don’t know been established. what the long-term impact will be.” The reserve Water utility bills account was one reawill reflect the new rates beginning in son council members “I continue to be the October and voted for the rate cut November billing this week. concerned that cycle. “At the end of this reduction is Fixed residential 2012 there was premature.” rates will likely $566,000 added to Kirsten Hytopoulos drop from $7.67 to our reserves,” said Bainbridge Island City Council $5.37 for a multiCouncilwoman Debbi family dwelling, Lester. “Our reserves and from $15.39 are nearly $6 million to $10.77 for a at this point.” single-family home with a 1-inch Lester added that the rate cut connection. could be supported for several Residential consumption rates years, though it is not the council’s for the first 500 cubic feet would fall intention to maintain it for that long. Rather it will revisit rates after from $1.55 to $1.09 per 100 cubic feet. the rate study is finished. That reduction trickles up the But the lack of such evidence rate scale, all the way to consumpand studies for the 30-percent cut troubled others on the dais. tion for more than 3,000 cubic feet, Councilman Bob Scales noted which would fall from $4.84 to that previous rate cuts were backed $3.39 per 100 cubic feet. by thorough discussions, a study Wednesday’s rate cut wasn’t the and knowledge that the city’s rates only utility business taken up by were much higher than competithe council. Council members also approved a resolution effectively tors. stating that all utilities would be “It was a successful process,” run for the benefit of customers. Scales said. “What we’ve had here The resolution was altered from is an abbreviated process. There hasn’t been much analysis and we See rates, A5
A very long journey for peace Between July 26 and Aug. 11, walkers from communities between Portland and Seattle trekked northward as part of the annual Nipponzan Myohoji Peace Walk. On Aug. 7, walkers arrived on Bainbridge Island and continued on to Suquamish the following day to take part in the Interfaith Peace Walk, which is sponsored by various organizations in the area advocating peace and “extinguishing the violent fire of nuclear annihilation.” At left, the marchers make their way toward Winslow before heading north. Kathryn Keve photo