City Council

Oak Harbor City Council Regular Meeting Minutes October 19, 2021 Due to COVID-19, there was both a physical meeting location and a virtual meeting per WA Proclamation 20-28. Meeting was viewable live via YouTube at www,youtube.com/cityofoakharbor and on Cable Channel 10/HD 1090 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Severns called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Invocation – Led by Pastor Greg Steible, Whidbey Presbyterian Church Pledge of Allegiance – Led by Mayor Severns ROLL CALL City Council Present: Staff Present: Videoconference Mayor Robert Severns City Administrator Blaine Oborn Mayor Pro Tem Beth Munns Finance Director David Goldman Councilmember Tara Hizon Development Services Director David Kuhl Councilmember Joel Servatius Interim Public Works Director Mick Monken Councilmember Erica Wasinger Fire Chief Ray Merrill Councilmember Jeff Mack Police Chief Kevin Dresker Councilmember Jim Woessner Human Resources Director Emma House Councilmember Millie Goebel - absent Central Services Supervisor Sandra Place Senior Services Administrator Liz Lange Development Services Admin Assistant Sarah Heller Finance & Performance Analyst Chas Webster Utilities Manager Sonney Wolfe Public Information Officer / IT Manager Sabrina Combs City Clerk Julie Lindsey Also in attendance: Interim City Attorney Hillary Evans of Kenyon Disend, PLLC EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS Motion: Mayor Pro Tem Munns moved to excuse Councilmember Goebel, seconded by Councilmem- ber Wasinger, motion was approved by a unanimous vote. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Hearing no objections to the agenda, it was approved as presented. 2. PRESENTATIONS a. Proclamations - None. Regular Meeting Minutes- October 19, 2020 Page 1 of 4  b. Honors & Recognitions - None. c. Community Presentations - None. 3. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD Mayor Severns explained citizens could comment on subjects of interest. Public comment could be submitted via the online webform, electronically to the City Clerk at jlindsey@oakharbor.org or by calling 360-279-4571 after 5 p.m. on the Friday preceding the meeting and prior to the meeting. To ensure comments are recorded properly, please state your name clearly when leaving a message. Please limit your comments to three minutes. The City Council received no new comments since the October 5, 2021 meeting. Mayor Severns opened the floor for public comments and hearing non, the floor was closed. 4. CONSENT AGENDA Consent Items a. Approval of Payroll and Accounts Payable Vouchers b. Approval of Minutes of the October 5, 2021 Council Meeting c. eSignature Contract d. Resolution 21-24: Approving the Arts Commission “Tau” Sculpture Close-out budget of $1,828.29 Mayor Severns called for any changes or objections, to the consent agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Munns requested discussion of item c. E-Signature Contract. Mayor Severns noted items a., b., and d. were approved as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Munns asked for clarification regarding the length of the contract. Central Services Su- pervisor Place explained the three-year period was included in the Request for Proposals and is in line with the City’s budget cycle. In response to additional questions, she further explained there is a clause for cancellation. Motion: Hearing no other comments, Mayor Pro Tem Munns moved to approve consent agenda item c. E-Signature Contract, seconded by Councilmember Wasinger and passed unanimously. 5. MAYOR, COUNCIL & STAFF COMMENTS a. Mayor Mayor Severns provided his respective comments and announcements. Upcoming Events - • Drive–Thru Trick or Treat Event in the Forest Area by the Oak Harbor Chamber, Friday, October 29 from 3-5 p.m. • No Tricks – Safe Treats - Downtown Oak Harbor – Pioneer Way, Saturday, October 30 from 3–5 p.m. Mayor’s Response to City Council’s October 5, 2021 motion and vote of no confidence in the City Ad- ministrator – Regular Meeting Minutes- October 19, 2020 Page 2 of 4 Mayor Severns reviewed and responded to the eight items read aloud by Mayor Pro Tem Munns in the Council’s motion following the October 5, 2021 Executive Session. A complete copy of the Mayor’s response is attached to these minutes. b. Councilmembers Councilmember Wasinger, Mayor Pro Tem Munns, and Councilmembers Servatius, Woessner, and Hi- zon provided their respective questions and comments. Motion: Councilmember Wasinger moved to add a discussion item to the October 27, 2021 Workshop regarding the 3rd and Glencoe Park Entrance. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Munns and carried unanimously. The item will be added to that meeting’s agenda. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS & PUBLIC MEETINGS None. 7. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS a. Resolution 21-26: Utility Balance Payment Plan and Late Fee/Disconnection Mitigation Measures - Finance Director Goldman reviewed this item for the Council, noting Governor Inslee’s issued July 2, 2021 Proclamation 20-23.16, which extended the utility late fee and disconnection moratorium through September 30, 2021.City of Oak Harbor Resolution 20-15 directed the Finance Director and staff to take actions necessary to work on solutions to assist customers financially impacted by the COVID-19 emer- gency, such as waiving late fees and helping with payment plans as requested. The following plan was developed: 1. Water utility late fees and penalties will not apply to unpaid balances from the start of the waiver of late fees and disconnections through September 30, 2021. 2. The Finance Department will help direct utility customers to outside agencies for assistance. 3. The Finance Department will work with utility customers to set up payment plans of up to eight- een months for unpaid balances that occurred during the moratorium (current plans are limited to six months). 4. Customers who enter into a payment plan will not have their service disconnected or have late fees/penalties apply as long as they abide by the terms of the payment plan. Information will be posted on the City’s website and in customer utility billings. In order to assist with the additional workload this program will create and to help with the transition to the State Business License system, staff is requesting that a 1-year term-limited cashier be funded with ARPA funds. This request will be among items brought forth for evaluation at the next Council Workshop. Director Goldman provided statistic on late accounts, a late fee breakdown, a timeline for implementation and proposed customer safeguards, as well as a list of outside resources that will be made known to those in need of assistance. Mayor Severns confirmed the City received no public comment on this item Councilmembers Woessner, Mack, Servatius Wasinger Hizon, and Mayor Pro Tem Munns provided their respective questions and comments. Motion: Following discussion, Councilmember Woessner moved to adopt Resolution 21-26, authorizing the ability to set up payment plans for utility balances that were accrued prior to the expiration date of the prohibitions on disconnections, refusing to reconnect, and charging late fees contained in Governor’s Regular Meeting Minutes- October 19, 2020 Page 3 of 4 Proclamation 20-23.16 and to mitigate the collection of late fees and service disconnections. A copy of the final policy document will be presented for Council’s review and approval before distribution. Coun- cilmember Hizon seconded the motion. The vote on the motion carried unanimously. 8. CONTRACTS & AGREEMENTS None. 9. OTHER ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION a. Annual Review of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee - Finance Director Goldman reviewed this item for the Council. The Council annually reviews the Com- mittee Membership Roster and provides guidance for changes as appropriate per Oak Harbor Municipal Code 2.66.030. Historically, the Mayor recommends a qualified candidate to serve on the LTAC, and the City Council confirms the appointment at a regular Council meeting. Currently there are six active members on the LTAC. Two of the terms (Recipient 2 and Collector 2) are set to expire on December 31, 2021. The Collector 2 position is currently vacant. Mayor Severns recommends appointing Courtney Payne of the Auld Holland Inn, beginning October 19, 2021 to fill the remainder of the current term and to continue through to the next term, January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2025. The LTAC will be meeting over the next few weeks to consider grant applications for 2022. Director Goldman reviewed three motion options for the Council: 1. Appoint Courtney Payne for the remainder of the current term 2. Appoint Courtney Payne for the remainder of the current term and the next term 3. Take no action Mayor Severns confirmed the City received no public comment on this item Councilmembers Wasinger and Woessner provided their respective questions and comments. Motion: Councilmember Woessner moved in favor of Option 2 – Appointing Courtney Payne for the remainder of the current term and the next term. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Munns and passed unanimously. 10. REPORTS & ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION None. 11. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. ADJOURN Motion: Motion by Councilmember Woessner to adjourn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Munns. Motion was approved by a unanimous vote, therefore the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Certified by Julie Lindsey, City Clerk Regular Meeting Minutes- October 19, 2020 Page 4 of 4