In 1992, the City of Bainbridge Island adopted Ordinance No. 92-06 relating to environmental policy and implementing State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) regulations for the City, including substantive SEPA authority (Ord. 92-06 § 1, 1992);

SEPA substantive authority allows agencies to condition or deny proposals based on policies, plans, rules, or regulations formally designated by the agency (or appropriate legislative body, in the case of local government) as the basis for the exercise of substantive authority.

The City has not updated its substantive SEPA authority since 1992 and desires to formally designate an updated list of policies, plans, rules, or regulations to be used as the basis for the exercise of substantive authority.

Ordinance No. 2017-08 amends BIMC 16.04.160 to formally designate an updated list of policies, plans, rules, or regulations to be used when exercising SEPA substantive authority. No other changes to BIMC Chapter 16.04 are proposed at this time.