City Council

Oak Harbor City Council Regular Meeting Minutes October 15, 2024 This was both a physical meeting location and a virtual meeting. Meeting was viewable via YouTube at www.youtube.com/cityofoakharbor, on Facebook, and on Cable Channel 10/HD 1090 following the meeting. CALL TO ORDER Call To Order and Native Lands Acknowledgement - Mayor Pro Tempore Hizon called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. She included the acknowledgement that the meeting was being held on the ances- tral lands of the Coast Salish people and paid respect to those past and present. Invocation – Pastor Kevin Scott, Seventh Day Adventist Church. Pledge of Allegiance – Led by Mayor Pro Tem Hizon ROLL CALL City Council Present: Staff Present/Videoconference Mayor Ronnie Wright - absent Deputy City Administrator David Goldman Mayor Pro Tem Tara Hizon Public Works Director Steve Schuller Councilmember Jim Woessner Human Resources Director Emma House Councilmember Bryan Stucky Police Chief Tony Slowik Councilmember Shane Hoffmire Police Captain Kevin Barton Councilmember Eric Marshall Fire Chief Travis Anderson Councilmember Christopher Wiegenstein Grants Administrator Wendy Horn - absent Communications Officer Magi Aguilar Councilmember Barbara Armes Executive Services Coordinator Macalle Finkle City Clerk Julie Nester Also in attendance: City Attorney Hillary Evans of Kenyon Disend, PLLC EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS Mayor Pro Tempore Hizon welcomed all in attendance and noted she was presiding at the request of Mayor Wright. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon noted Councilmember Wiegenstein had asked to be excused Councilmember Woessner moved to excuse Councilmember Wiegenstein. The motion was seconded by Councilmem- ber Marshall and passed unanimously. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Pro Tem Hizon requested changes to the agenda. Hearing none, she noted the agenda was approved as presented. Regular Meeting Minutes October 15, 2024 Page 1 of 5 2. PRESENTATIONS Oak Harbor Public Schools – Superintendent Michelle Kuss-Cybula thanked the City for the opportunity to speak. She introduced School Board member Josh MacLean and Executive Assistant Katey Andrews, who accompanied her. Superintendent Kuss-Cybula provided a presentation regarding the Oak Harbor Public Schools, includ- ing the new Strategic Plan, Core Values as #OneOakHarbor, accountability, goals, and funding. She also reported on the District’s February 2025 Renewal Levy and on upcoming groundbreakings for Cres- cent Harbor Elementary and Hand-In-Hand/Home Connection schools, both built without public funds, with 80% coming from Federal funding and 20% from State funding. Councilmembers Woessner, Hoffmire, and Mayor Pro Tem Hizon provided their respective questions and comments. 3. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD Mayor Pro Tem Hizon 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 remain- ing 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 one new comment since the last regular meeting, from Laura Renninger of the Oak Harbor Garry Oak Society, endorsing the Oak Harbor Historic Preservation Commission's idea to nom- inate Smith Park to the local Historic Register. The comment was displayed. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon asked if there were any members of the public present who wished to speak to any items not listed on the agenda or on the consent agenda? She noted if so, the Clerk would call their name in the order in which they signed in to speak. She asked that speakers please step forward to the microphone and state their name and address, and to please limit comments to three minutes. Hearing no one with a desire to address the Council, the public comment period was closed. 4. CONSENT AGENDA Consent Items a. Approval of Minutes: City Council Workshop of September 25, 2024, and City Council Meet- ing of October 1, 2024 b. Approval of Payroll and Accounts Payable Vouchers Mayor Pro Tem Hizon called for any changes to the consent agenda. Hearing none, she noted the consent agenda was approved by unanimous consent. 5. MAYOR & COUNCIL COMMENTS a. Mayor’s Comments Mayor Pro Tem Hizon provided the following comments on behalf of Mayor Wright: Regular Meeting Minutes October 15, 2024 Page 2 of 5 • New Design for School Resource Officer Vehicle – Check out the new Oak Harbor Police Department Vehicle! The design was part of a partnership with the Oak Harbor Public Schools and the Oak Harbor High School Career Technical Education (CTE) and instructor Jana Jansen’s graphic design program. Student Emelyn Payne created the design, which was brought to life by Jeff Humphrey of Humprey Sign Company. The design showcases the schools supported by the Oak Harbor Police Department and symbolizes the ongoing and strong #OneOakHarbor partnership, maintaining safe learning environments for all stu- dents. School Resource Officer Tyler Adamson of the Oak Harbor Police Department supports all Oak Harbor Public Schools. • Board and Commission Openings – The City has openings on a number of our advisory boards and commissions, a list of which are displayed on the screen. Please fill out an application online if you are interested in serving. • Still Hiring: The City has openings for employment in several areas. See our website for a complete listing. • Local Events: Fall is here and so are new seasonal events happening in our area, some of which are displayed on the screen. Councilmembers have been invited to participate in several events, please RSVP to the City Clerk if you will be attending. b. Councilmembers Councilmember Hoffmire wished Mayor Pro Tem Hizon a happy birthday. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS & MEETINGS None 7. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS None 8. CONTRACT & AGREEMENTS a. Mutual Release and Hold Harmless Agreement for Fire Department Live Fire Burn Fire Department Chief Anderson presented the item. He noted Preston Heights, LLC, the owner of prop- erties at 725 and 760 SW 29th Place had contacted the Department with an interest in having the Oak Harbor Fire Department (OHFD) use structures it is planning to remove from the property as a burn training exercise. Preston understands the OHFD will conduct basic training within and burn the identified buildings/struc- tures as a part of their training program to benefit the OHFD and the residents of the City by helping to provide needed training. The training will also be of some benefit to Preston in as much as Preston had originally contemplated the removal of said structures, which they have offered to the Fire Department for training. Chief Anderson reviewed the Mutual Release and Hold Harmless Agreement, which was reviewed by the City Attorney and included in the meeting packet. Regular Meeting Minutes October 15, 2024 Page 3 of 5 Mayor Pro Tem Hizon confirmed no public comments had been received and called for comments from the public present. There were no comments from the public in attendance. Councilmembers Stucky, Hoffmire, and Woessner provided their respective questions and comments. Motion: Councilmember Marshall moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Mutual Release and Hold Harmless Agreement with Preston Heights, LLC., for live burn structures training by the Oak Harbor Fire Department. Councilmember Woessner seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 9. OTHER ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION a. Washington State Department of Commerce Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program Grant Application Grants Administrator Horn reviewed the grant opportunity for the Council. The Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) was created in 2021 to fund utility improvements for affordable housing. The program was funded again in the 2023 legislative session with $55.5 million budgeted for grants and deferred loans for the 2023-2025 biennium. The program supports local governments. When connection fees are reduced or waived for affordable, multifamily or infill projects, it can encourage development of more such housing options. The program reimburses utilities and local governments for the waived system development charges for low-income, affordable housing projects. Island Council awarded the Mulberry Village project to Opportunity Council and Shelter Resources. The Opportunity Council and Shelter Resources will be building an 80-unit multifamily affordable housing rental complex (20-1 bedroom, 40-2 bedrooms, 20-3 bedrooms & one community building) at 1215 SW Swantown Avenue. The CHIP funding will be used to offset utility infrastructure costs for on-site water, sewer and stormwater connections. The approximate cost of the utilities is $2.5 million dollars. The CHIP grant will reimburse up to $1 million dollars with no match requirement. Opportunity Council and Shelter Resources have applied for other funding from the Housing Trust Funds as well. Grant applications are due by October 31, 2024. There is no fiscal impact to the City. If awarded the grant, the City would be the grant recipient, partnering with the Opportunity Council and Shelter Resources. The City would monitor all work and file all reports. The Opportunity Council and Shelter Resources will apply for an additional $1.5 million. Grants Admin- istrator Horn noted the City applied for this grant in 2023, but was not selected. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon confirmed no public comments had been received and called for comments from the public present. There were no comments from the public in attendance. Councilmembers Stucky, Marshall, and Woessner provided their respective questions and comments. Motion: Councilmember Woessner moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the letter of support for the Washington State Department of Commerce Connection Housing to Infrastructure Program grant. Councilmember Marshall seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 10. REPORTS & DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Salary Commission Report and Order Regular Meeting Minutes October 15, 2024 Page 4 of 5 Human Resources Director House outlined the report and responded to questions from the Council. The Report and Order was passed by the Salary Commission at their meeting of September 24, 2024, and detailed the salary determination for appropriate compensation for the Councilmembers of the City of Oak Harbor. This was an information only item, to inform the Council of the Report and that the Order has gone into effect. The estimated fiscal impact of the Salary Commission’s action is $39,300 for 2024 salaries to be funded from the General Fund. The prior Salary Commission Report and Order for Councilmembers passed on March 2, 2023, and the Mayor and City Council were provided Notice at a City Council Workshop. Councilmembers currently receive a salary of $775 per month plus health insurance benefits provided at the same levels and premium payments provided to non-represented regular part-time employees, except for the high deductible health plan as passed on December 3, 2013, through Resolution No. 13- 36, and as passed on November 3, 2021, through Resolution No. 21-29. The previous salary adjustment for the Councilmembers was effective January 1, 2024 by Report and Order passed on March 2, 2023, a cost of living adjustment of 3% was given to Councilmembers salary, comparable to the non-represented employees. The Commission inquired into the average number of hours elected officials participate in City of Oak Harbor business to be equivalent to thirty (30) hours per week. Effective September 25, 2024, for Councilmembers, the Salary Commission recommends a market ad- justment salary increase to $1,200 per month to align with elected official compensation found in com- parable cities. Per Oak Harbor Municipal Code 2.02.040, compensation shall be determined and incor- porated into the City Budget without further action of the City Council or the commission. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon confirmed no public comments had been received for this item. No member of the public present provided comments. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon and Councilmember Stucky provided their respective questions and comments. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon noted that a discussion of the rules and make-up of the Salary Commission and the laws governing it would be included at an upcoming Council workshop. 11. EXECUTIVE SESSION None ADJOURN There being no further business, Councilmember Marshall moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Councilmember Woessner The vote on the motion was unanimous, therefore the meeting was ad- journed at 6:15 p.m. Certified by Julie Nester, City Clerk Regular Meeting Minutes October 15, 2024 Page 5 of 5