City Council

Oak Harbor City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 19, 2021 Due to COVID-19, there was both a physical and a virtual meeting location per WA Procla- mation 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 4:00 p.m.. ROLL CALL City Council Present: Videoconference 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- Absent Finance & Performance Analyst Chas Webster Councilmember Jim Woessner Harbormaster Chris Sublet Councilmember Jeff Mack - Absent Senior Services Administrator Liz Lange Councilmember Millie Goebel Parks Operations Manager Don Crawford Chief of Police Dresker Fire Chief Ray Merrill Communications & IT Manager Sabrina Combs Executive Assistant Macalle Finkle City Clerk Julie Lindsey Also in attendance: Interim City Attorney Alexandra Kenyon of Kenyon Disend, PLLC EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS Mayor Severns announced that Councilmembers Mack and Wasinger had notified him of their ab- sence and requested a motion to excuse them. Hizon moved to excuse Councilmembers Mack, and Wasinger, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Munns. The vote on the motion passed unanimously. 2021 Employee Awards Before beginning with the public hearing, Mayor Severns took a moment to share a few highlights from the City’s All-Hands Staff Meeting, held yesterday. This year the All-Hands Meeting’s focus was on education, wellness and especially the appreciation of City staff. This appreciation included employee awards in two categories, Special Awards, and awards related to the theme for 2021 of RESULTS. Mayor Severns noted he was sharing these today as it would be a little more than two weeks until the next City Council meeting. Special Awards: Special Meeting Minutes- November 19, 2021 Page 1 of 4  • Creativity Award to Angela Braunstein in the Fire Department for creation of the logo for the Transportation Benefit District • Life Saver Award to Public Works staffers Jack Robinson and Brian Schneider • Cyber Security Award to Sarah Heller in Development Services for keeping our network safe by stopping individuals walking around City offices. • Wellness Committee Champions: • Alyce Henry at the Marina • Lisa Edlin at the Police Department • Sandra Place at Public Works • Sandra also received the CARE award for her work to keep staff and businesses safe by or- dering COVID related supplies at a time when many organizations could not. RESULTS Award Recipients – All of these were nominated by City Employees: The awards spell out RESULTS: • Responsibility to Lisa Edlin in the Police Department • Excellence to Ray Lindenburg in the Development Services Department • Service to Jack Robinson in the Public Works Department at the Clean Water Facility • Unity to Amy Stevens in Public Works • Leadership to Sonney Wolfe in the Finance Department • Teamwork to Talmon Hucke (Tally) in the Public Works Department Parks Division • Success to Tom Wade in the Public Works Department Facilities Division • Overall winner for RESULTS goes to Kim Perrine in the Legal Department Mayor Severns offered his thanks to City staff for their hard work and participation. Mayor Severns noted a reminder that City offices will be closed next week on November 25th and 26th in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Councilmember Hizon added here thanks to City staff and to the City’s Wellness Committee. 1. SPECIAL AGENDA Public Hearings: Mayor Severns explained the purpose of the special meeting today was to hold public hearings on two ordinances and to consider their approval. Special Meeting Minutes- November 19, 2021 Page 2 of 4 Ordinance No. 1939: Budget Amendment No. 3 – Amending the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget and adopting an updated wage and salary schedule and plan of classification - including American Rescue Plan Act Funding – Finance Director David Goldman presented the Ordinance, noting this was the second budget amend- ment related to the ARPA funding. Director Goldman reviewed the background and requirements for ARPA funding and the work of the ARPA Sub-Committee. The City will receive a total of $6,584,548 in ARPA funding. Funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and expended by December 31, 2026. On July 13, 2021, the City Council created an ARPA subcommittee consisting of three Councilmembers and relevant City staff. The Sub-Committee has recommended funding for the additional items listed and attached to the Ordinance in the amount of $1,142,629 to be allocated over the next four years. $4,889,164 remains to be allocated. Mayor Severns opened the Public Hearing. He confirmed no public comments were received and hearing no comments from the public, the Public Hearing was closed. Councilmember Servatius pointed the special meeting agenda stated no action would be taken at this meeting. This was noted by the City Clerk to have been a formatting error. The public hearing for both items was noticed in the legal section of the Whidbey News Times as required. Staff consulted with the Interim City Attorney and discussed how best to move forward. Motion: Following discussion, the Council was polled as to their availability for continuing the meeting on Monday, November 22, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. It was determined a quorum would be available. Mayor Pro Tem Munns moved to continue the Public Hearings to Monday, November 22, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Hizon. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Severns re-opened the Public Hearing for Ordinance No. 1939 and noted it would be continued to November 22, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. The City Clerk will issue a special meeting notice today for that meeting. Mayor Severns noted that he would also open the Public Hearing for Ordinance No. 1940 and intro- duced Director Goldman to provide the presentation. Ordinance No. 1940: Setting Property Tax Levies for 2022 per RCW 84.52.020 and RCW 84.52.070 Finance Director David Goldman and Finance & Performance Analyst Chas Webster reviewed their presentation. Under RCW 84.55 the City of Oak Harbor is required to address its annual property tax levy. After holding a public hearing, the city must adopt by Ordinance any proposed change to its regular property tax levy. The City may make a base adjustment to its regular property tax levy using the limit factor of 101 percent or 100 percent plus inflation. Inflation is measured by the change in the Implicit Price Deflator (IPD) published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis for the most recent (12) twelve- month period. The IPD rate for setting 2022 property taxes is calculated at 3.860 percent (3.860%) per MRSC Guidance. With the IPD being above 1%, the process for establishing the city's regular levy does not involve an additional step of adopting a resolution/ordinance of “substantial need” by City Council, as had been needed on occasion, where the IPD was lower than 1%. Increasing the regular property tax levy by the State limit of 1% would increase revenues approximately $45,283. Special Meeting Minutes- November 19, 2021 Page 3 of 4 Director Goldman and Analyst Webster provided a chart showing 2007- present IPD rates. The City is limited to a 1% increase, which is need to keep pace with inflation. Also provide was a breakdown of levy rates. Mayor Severns opened the Public Hearing and requested a motion to continue the Public Hearing. Motion: Mayor Pro Tem Munns moved to continue the Public Hearing for Ordinance No, 1940 to Monday, November 22, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Goebel and passed unanimously. Mayor Severns noted the Council would continue both Public Hearings to November 22, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. Councilmembers Woessner and Servatius provided their respective comments. ADJOURN Motion: Motion by Councilmember Woessner to adjourn the special Council meeting, second by Councilmember Servatius. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote, therefore the meeting adjourned at 4:44 p.m. Certified by Julie Lindsey, City Clerk Special Meeting Minutes- November 19, 2021 Page 4 of 4