City Council

Oak Harbor City Council Regular Meeting Minutes May 2, 2023 This was both a physical meeting location and a virtual meeting. Meeting was viewable live via YouTube at www,youtube.com/cityofoakharbor, on Facebook, and on Cable Channel 10/HD 1090 following the meeting CALL TO ORDER Mayor Severns called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Invocation – Reverend 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 Tara Hizon Finance Director David Goldman Councilmember Beth Munns Public Works Director Steve Schuller Councilmember Jim Woessner Senior Services Administrator Liz Lange Councilmember Bryan Stucky Fire Chief Ray Merrill Councilmember Shane Hoffmire Police Chief Kevin Dresker Councilmember Eric Marshall City Engineer Alex Warner Harbormaster Chris Sublet Central Services Supervisor Sandra Place Finance & Performance Analyst Chas Webster Communications & IT Manager Sabrina Combs Executive Assistant Macalle Finkle City Clerk Julie Nester Also in attendance: City Attorney Hillary J. Evans of Kenyon Disend, PLLC EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS Mayor Severns welcomed all in attendance and noted all members of the Council were present. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Severns called for any changes to the agenda. Hearing none, the agenda was approved as pre- sented. 2. PRESENTATIONS a. Proclamations – None Regular Meeting Minutes May 2, 2023 Page 1 of 6  b. Honors & Recognitions - None c. Community Presentations – None 3. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD Mayor Severns noted citizens may comment on Consent Agenda items or subjects of interest not listed on the agenda at this time and that citizens would have the opportunity to comment on the remaining Agenda items during the meeting as appropriate. Citizens can also visit the City’s website prior to meetings for methods to submit public comment, or contact the City Clerk, Julie Nester by phone or email. When submitting comments, please include your name and address. Public comments sent anonymously will be shared with the Mayor and Council but will not be displayed. The City received two on-line public comment from Steve Adams, business owner, and Paul Girouard, of Oak Harbor, regarding concerns over an encampment near Home Depot. Mayor Severns opened the floor for public comment from any other audience member present. 1. Fannie Dean, regarding interest in purchasing the city owned property next to the church where she is a pastor, requesting the City consider selling the property to the church for a discounted valuation, and inviting all to their Juneteenth celebration next month. 2. Larry Munns, Director, Northwest Region Intruder Association, addressed the Council to offer letters of appreciation to staff members for the cleaning of the aircraft and grounds at Gateway Park. He thanked Kevin Scheer and Aaron Hoff of the Streets Department and Tally Hucke, Jammie Hulse, Dustin Croucher, Eric Hannan, and Brian Rivers of the Parks Department. Hearing no others with a desire to address the Council, the public comment period was closed. 4. CONSENT AGENDA Consent Items a. Approval of Minutes of the April 18, 2023 Council Meeting and April 26, 2023 Council Work- shop b. Approval of Payroll and Accounts Payable Vouchers c. Agreement with D&P Electronic Home Monitoring, LLC for Electronic Home Monitoring of eligible offenders d. Purchase Authorization: Parks & Creation Department Bus Mayor Severns called for any changes to the consent agenda. Hearing none, the Consent Agenda was approved as presented. 5. MAYOR, COUNCIL & STAFF COMMENTS a. Mayor - Mayor Severns provided the following comments and updates: • Holland Happening: This annual event was once again a great success. Our thanks to the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Police and City crews, and all the wonderful volunteers who helped to bring us this event. The Chamber sent thanks to everyone at the City as well. Several Councilmem- bers participated. Regular Meeting Minutes May 2, 2023 Page 2 of 6 • Arbor Day: City Parks & Recreation, and members of our Administration team were joined by the staff and students of Broadview Elementary, the Park Board, Arts Commission, the Garden Club and the Oak Harbor Garry Oaks Society, to enjoy activities and plant trees at Well Site -10 Park. Students have submitted entries to re-name the park. Stay tuned. • Whidbey Island Marathon: The marathon had a great turn-out and brought many visitors to Oak Har- bor. Thank you to race organizer Jared Loranger and City staff and volunteers for another great event. • New Business Ribbon Cutting: Join the Chamber as they welcome new business Anchor Point on Saturday, May 6th at 12 p.m. at 951 NE 21st CT, Oak Harbor • Oak Harbor Music Festival Teen Talent Showcase: The Oak Harbor Music Festival invites teens age 12-18 or grades 6-12 to submit an audition video by Saturday, June 3rd. Winners will receive a chance to perform live on September 3rd at the Music Festival. See their website for more information. • Boards & Committees: The City has openings on our Historic Preservation Board, Investment Com- mittee, Arts Commission, Planning Commission and Salary Commission. Please see our website for more details. • Upcoming Events: Upcoming events, including several from the Parks & Recreation Department at the Marina and at The Center were displayed. b. Councilmembers i. Mayor Severns called upon the Council for any additional comments. Councilmembers Munns, Woessner, Stucky, Hoffmire and Mayor Pro Tem Hizon provided updates and comments. All voiced support for the work of the staff and for the Police Department in dealing with the encampment issue. At Mayor Severn’s request, Chief Dresker responded in regard to the encampment. He explained the role that the Police Department plays in our community, low staffing challenges, and the development of new officers. The Police Department must operate within case and state laws when responding. Chief Dresker talked about his staffs’ compassion, their desire to assist the public, and challenges within the requirements of the law. In regards, to Home Depot he explained that the situation is not the responsi- bility of City Council. The Council is responsible for confirming that the Chief of Police and Police De- partment staff do an excellent job serving the community and he noted his appreciation for their support. Chief Dresker explained the legislation issue regarding narcotics. The Blake Decision law expires on July 1 and with that expiration, narcotics will no longer be illegal. He is monitoring what other Washington cities are doing to create their own laws and is working with the City Attorney and City leadership to prepare an item for Council. Governor Jay Inslee has called all legislators back into Special Session May 16th to attempt to pass a law before the deadline. Chief Dresker will provide additional updates to the Council at a future meeting. Chief Dresker also thanked Councilmember Munns for her comments about Sgt. Valenzuela’s assis- tance of a citizen and thanked Larry Munns and Oak Harbor Youth Sailing for their work to aid an indi- vidual with mental illness who needed assistance in the Oak Harbor Bay near the Marina. The Youth Sailing rescue boat assisted police in retrieving the individual from the water. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS & MEETINGS None Regular Meeting Minutes May 2, 2023 Page 3 of 6 7. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS a. Resolution 23-10: Authorizing the Expenditure of Arts Commission Funds for the Mural Wrapping of Electrical Utility Transformers Senior Services Administrator Liz Lange introduced Parks Board member J.R. Russell who presented the resolution. Staff is working with Home Connections to installing art designed by students on two utility boxes. The Arts Commission is supporting the project and would like to take this program to the rest of the school district. They have identified 13 utility boxes throughout the city that can be used for the project. The project will provide the School District's arts classes with an opportunity for students to design small murals that will be installed on the 13 utility boxes by a contractor. Staff estimates and the Arts Commission has approved the request to utilize $10,000 from the Creative Arts Fund for the project. Mayor Severns confirmed no public comments had been received and called for any comment from those present. Hearing none, he called on Council for their comments. Councilmember Hoffmire, and Mayor Pro Tem Hizon provided their respective questions and comments. Motion: Councilmember Woessner moved to approve Resolution 23-10 Authorizing appropriation of funds from the Creative Arts Fund in the amount of $10,000 for utility box wrapping, seconded by Coun- cilmember Munns. The vote on the motion carried unanimously. 8. CONTRACTS & AGREEMENTS None 9. OTHER ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION’ a. Approval of Potential 2023 Rural County Economic Development Fund Grant Application City Administrator Oborn presented the item. The Island County Board of County Commissioners has authorized a grant application for the Rural County Economic Development (RCED) program. Online applications will be accepted until 4:30pm May 16, 2023. The Board has set a limit of “up to $3.0 million” total grant awards for the year. He explained the City received notice of the grant application period just weeks ago with a due date of May 16, 2023. City Administrator Oborn reviewed past applications and noted examples of awards the City has re- ceived and those it has not received. Possible New Grant Requests: Marina Dredging - (Partial funding) - $2,000,000 Fakkema Access Road (Rejected in 2019 but could reapply) - $250,000 Goldie Road – Industrial Park Water Tie-in - $60,000 Center Parking Lot remodel (RCED has funded parks projects before) $420,500 Pickleball Courts (RCED has funded parks projects before) - $200,000 North Whidbey Industrial Park Study - $100,000 PD Remodel - $700,000 Downtown Expansion Study (Studies not usually funded) - $70,000 Shoreline Restoration Study (Probably other funding opportunities) - $300,000 SR20 Multimodal Study (Probably better funded by IRTPO) - $300,000 City Administrator Oborn provided the further definition of public facilities and submitted a list of possible new grant requests and requested Council to pick two or three, with staff’s recommendation: Marina Dredging, Center Parking Lot Remodel, and Pickleball Courts. Regular Meeting Minutes May 2, 2023 Page 4 of 6 Mayor Severns confirmed no public comments had been received and called for any comment from those present. Hearing none, he called on Council for their comments. Councilmembers Stucky, Woessner, Munns, Hoffmire, Marshall and Mayor Pro Tem Hizon provided their respective questions and comments. Motion: Following discussion, Mayor Pro Tempore Hizon moved to authorize the submission of a grant application to Island County for the Rural County Economic Development Program for Marina Dredging, The Center parking lot, Pickleball Courts, and North Whidbey Sewer Extension, seconded by Coun- cilmember Hoffmire. Councilmember Marshall offered a friendly amendment, with a second by Coun- cilmember Woessner, to change the amount of North Whidbey Sewer Extension by $450,000. The vote on the friendly amendment passed unanimously. Mayor Severns then called for a vote on the motion as amended which passed unanimously. 10. REPORTS & DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Fire Department Annual Report Fire Chief Merrill presented the Fire Department’s 2022 Annual Report. He thanked Senior Administra- tive Assistant Angela Braunstein for putting together the presentation and thanked the fire department for their service. Mayor Severns and Councilmembers Stucky and Hoffmire also provided their respective comments and thanks. b. Transportation Benefits District Annual Report Finance & Performance Analyst Webster and City Engineer Alex Warner presented the annual report for the Transportation Benefit District (TBD). Background: In May 2018, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1835 which created the Oak Harbor Transportation Benefit District (OHTBD) Number One. The City Council assumed the duties of the OHTBD via Ordinance Number 1865. This ordinance requires that an annual report be issued to the public and to newspapers of record in the City. On July 24, 2019, City Council passed Resolution 19- 16, calling for an initiative on the November 2019 Ballot asking the citizens to adopt a 0.2% sales tax (Taxable Retail Sales only) to fund local road improvements to preserve and maintain the City’s trans- portation infrastructure. This ballot measure was approved by the voters in the November 2019 General Election. Following the example of other comparable Washington Cities, staff will publish the notice to the news- papers, and will publish the 2022 Annual Report as outlined in the agenda packet. 2022 Report Summary: Beginning Balance at 01/01/2022: $ 1,475,982.01 2022 Revenues Collected: $ 1,192,952.85 2022 Expenditures: $ 1,138,301.23 Ending Balance at 12/31/2022: $ 1,530,633.63 City Engineer Warner also reviewed upcoming projects for 2023. Councilmembers Stucky and Hoffmire provided their respective comments and thanks. Regular Meeting Minutes May 2, 2023 Page 5 of 6 11. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Severns announced the Council would move into executive session to consider the se- lection of a site or acquisition of real estate by lease or purchase as pertains to price per RCW 42.30.110 (1) (b), and per RCW 42.30.110 (1) (c) to consider the minimum price at which real estate will be offered for sale or lease. The anticipated duration was thirty minutes. He noted action might or might not be taken upon return to the open session and that Executive Sessions are not open to the public. The Council moved into executive session at 8:00 p.m. At 8:30 the Council came out of executive ses- sion and resumed the open session of the meeting. Mayor Severns noted no action was taken in the executive session. He called upon Harbormaster Sublet for a presentation. Mariners Haven Boatyard Purchase Harbormaster Chris Sublet presented the purchasing details for possible acquisition of the Mariners Haven Boatyard. Motion: Councilmember Woessner moved to authorize the Mayor to sign and execute all the necessary contracts and documents for the purchase of Mariners Haven Boatyard with the addition to extend the feasibility contingency date and period of examination to November 1, 2023, seconded by Councilmem- ber Munns. The vote on the motion passed unanimously. Adjourn Motion: There being no further business, Councilmember Marshall moved to adjourn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hizon. The motion was approved by a unanimous vote, therefore the meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m. Certified by Julie Nester, City Clerk Regular Meeting Minutes May 2, 2023 Page 6 of 6