City Council

Oak Harbor City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 This was both a physical meeting location and a virtual meeting. Meeting was viewable via YouTube at www.youtube.com/cityofoakharbor, on Facebook, and following the meeting on Cable Channel 10/HD 1090 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Wright called the workshop meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. ROLL CALL City Council Present: Staff Present/Videoconference Mayor Ronnie Wright City Administrator Sabrina Combs Mayor Pro Tem Tara Hizon Deputy City Administrator David Goldman Councilmember Jim Woessner Development Services Director David Kuhl Councilmember Bryan Stucky Public Works Director Steve Schuller Councilmember Eric Marshall Parks and Recreation Director Brian Smith Councilmember Christopher Wiegenstein Human Resources Director Emma House Councilmember Barbara Armes Police Chief Tony Slowik Councilmember James P. Marrow Fire Chief Travis Anderson City Engineer Alex Warner Code Compliance Officer Ray Heltsley Principal Planner Rajesh Cac Kamak Senior Planner Ray Lindenburg Senior Planner Dennis LeFevre Associate Planner Nolan Grunska Central Services Manager Sandra Place Grants Administrator Wendy Horn Executive Services Coordinator Macalle Finkle Communications Officer Magi Aguilar City Clerk Julie Nester Also in attendance: City Attorney Hillary Evans of Kenyon Disend, PLLC MAYOR Mayor Wright welcomed all in attendance. He observed public comments are not normally taken at workshop meetings, although the Council may allow or request public participation on action items. There were no action items on the agenda today. Mayor Wright thanked Mayor Pro Tem Hizon for presiding over the January 21st City Council meeting in his absence. He asked all to be mindful of the time today as he and members of City staff would be attending the first Community Catch-Up meeting this evening at 6:00 p.m. at The Center. He noted this was an opportunity for the City to host casual conversations with partners, local leaders, and groups. Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 1 of 13 Joining us this evening are representatives from the Oak Harbor Public Schools, the Oak Harbor Boys & Girls Club, and our Oak Harbor Parks and Recreation Department. CITY COUNCIL Mayor Wright also requested to finalize who from Council would be attending the National League of Cities (NLC) Conference March 10-12 and who would be attending the Pentagon and meeting with legislators with he and City Administrator Combs on March 13th and 14th. Mayor Wright confirmed the City has budgeted for no more than two members of the Council to attend. At the January 21st Council meeting, Councilmember Woessner said he wished to attend, and Councilmember Stucky wanted to know for certain whether appointments were confirmed before deciding. Mayor Wright noted the City is still in the process of obtaining Pentagon and legislative appointments. If no one wishes to attend the NLC Conference itself, then staff need not rush to meet the deadline for early discounted registration. The Council discussed attendance. Councilmember Woessner confirmed he wished to meet with legis- lators and attend any meetings at the Pentagon, but did not wish to attend the conference. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon expressed the same. Councilmember Stucky also did not wish to attend the conference and preferred to know the schedule for March 13-14th for meetings. Mayor Wright noted staff is working on firming up appointments and will report when these are finalized. CITY ADMINISTRATOR a. Monthly Departmental Reports City Administrator Combs provided updates from the monthly departmental reports. Key Projects for staff over the past two months include Marina Next Steps Comprehensive Plan Community Events and Partnerships Construction Projects Master Fees Updates The Mayor and City Council will hold a special joint meeting with the Island County Board of Commis- sioners on February 11, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to continue discussions re- garding the Oak Harbor Urban Growth Area (UGA) as part of comprehensive planning. City Administrator Combs reviewed new community outreach opportunities: • Wright Blend – a time for coffee with Mayor Wright. She was also in attendance for the first one earlier this month at Mad Batter. The next one will be at Whidbey Coffee’s State Route 20 loca- tion on February 22nd. • Community Catch-Up – As noted by Mayor Wright earlier in the meeting, this is an opportunity to meet with community partners and leaders. The first will be this evening at The Center, follow- ing the Council workshop at 6:00 p.m. City Administrator Combs reported on speaking on behalf of Mayor Wright at the Martin Luther King, Jr. event at House of Prayer. She also noted there was a good turnout for the Winter Stroll event in down- town Oak Harbor. Advisory Boards - Staff is working on revisions to bring back to Council after receiving feedback during the workshop in October. Updates have been completed and approved for the Planning Commission. Staff is in progress for updates to the Salary Commission and Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 2 of 13 Information Technology (IT) Updates - Staff is working with the new Information Technology vendor, Kelley Create. Planning is in process for an upgrade to the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and staff is working on IT policies. Councilmember Stucky noted the code compliance document in the departmental report which included exact addresses. Development Services Director Kuhl noted what had been included in the report was a spread sheet used by that department to track details. Staff will modify this for the monthly report. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES a. Development Services Update on Code Compliance and Fence Regulations Development Services Director Kuhl explained this was a two-part report regarding both Code Compli- ance processes and review of fence height regulations. There are several options that a Code Compli- ance Officer has as it pertains to solving code violations in the City. The goal is to gain compliance with the code, not to issue citations. Director Kuhl introduced Ray Heltsley, Code Compliance Officer, to review background history and dis- cuss the code compliance process. The office of Code Enforcement was created in 2004 under the supervision of City Attorney Phil Bleyhl. Under his guidance procedures were established per the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Procedural Law. The philosophy of enforcing the Oak Harbor Municipal Code is based upon the Law Enforcement phi- losophy of entering the Enforcement Continuum at the lowest level possible that will obtain compliance with the least amount of intrusion into the private lives of our citizens. Code Compliance Officer Heltsley noted each member of the Council had been provided with a copy of the Code Compliance Procedure Manual. This provides the process from the receipt of the complaint to resolution. He reviewed the process of receiving complaints, documenting complaints, additional notifi- cations if needed, and closing each case. Code Compliance Officer Heltsley also reviewed the Code Compliance Objectives: Procedures - The Procedure Manual is only a guideline. Written by Code Compliance Officer Heltsley for his own use and approved by former City Attorney Nicki Esparza. It has since been utilized as a basis for Code Compliance Procedures in 30 other cities and counties in Washington State. Philosophy - Once a violator has responded, the goal is to work with the violator to obtain compliance within a reasonable timeline, not to punish the violator with a monetary penalty. This working philosophy has resulted in a success rate of 98.4% compliance, with only one citation, which was to a repeat of- fender. Patrolling for Violations - The current Code Compliance process does not focus on driving around the City seeking out violations which is referred to as proactive enforcement. The City of Oak Harbor focuses on complaint driven enforcement to receive information about potential violations and then investigates them. This could come from staff or the public. Clarifying Notice of Violation versus Citation – A Notice of Violation is a written document or verbal warning issued to an individual regarding a code violation. It is not a formal citation. Code violations are not crimes. Code Complaisance Officers issue a document called a Notice of Infraction if no action is taken. The City has only issued one of these over the last six years. Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 3 of 13 Due to recent discussions about fences, staff have researched current code regarding fences. Director Kuhl noted the current fencing height requirements are six (6’) feet high in residential zones and eight (8’) feet high in commercial zones. There are a few different options as it relates to fence heights in residential areas. Director Kuhl reported on other municipalities’ fence rules and potential options regarding fences for the Council to consider. Permitting Factors • Location of fence along property line • Property survey or signed disclaimer • Time for inspectors • Additional processes, cost, software enhancements Process Improvements • Work with Communications Officer and Development Services staff to increase communications around fence requirements: • Create a one-page description of our process to hand out or display at the Development Services counter in City Hall. • Add information to the website about fence guidelines and requirements. Other Code Changes Contemplated • The code regulates side yard fences Fences on Corner Lots • Fences on corner lots are subject to side yard setbacks. • Residents are not allowed to use 10’ of their side yard because of the fence setback and there is no benefit to the public to have an additional 10’ setback along the sidewalk. • Maintenance can be problematic as residents may only maintain property from their house to the fence, leaving 10’ unmaintained. Next Steps Director Kuhl noted staff have heard there may be other fences that do not comply with the code. The City does not do proactive enforcement. Therefore, any fences that do not comply currently with the code will require a complaint to be filed for any action to be undertaken. Director Kuhl reported that after receiving Council feedback, staff will review code language and return with a proposal regarding fence height regulations and another modification to change the location of fences on corner lots. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon and Councilmembers Woessner, Marrow, Armes, Stucky, Wiegenstein, and Mar- shall provided their respective questions and comments. b. 2025 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update Principal Planner Kamak reviewed two memos related to the Climate Change resiliency analysis ele- ment that is being considered for inclusion in the City’s Comprehensive Plan. One is a summary of the climate hazards and the policy gaps and opportunities in the existing Plan and the other is a summary of the potential climate impacts, risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities. Each of the memos comes with an appendix which was also included in the workshop packet. Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 4 of 13 The City has received a grant from the Department of Commerce for this work, and consultant Kimley Horn has prepared these documents for review. Principal Planner Kamak provided the following over- view: Climate Change Element • House Bill 1181 • Department of Commerce grant • Inclusion of climate resiliency into the Comprehensive Plan o Equitably enhance resiliency o Avoid or substantially reduce the adverse impact • Resilience guidance to help local jurisdictions use climate modeling to identify and prepare for natural hazards exacerbated by climate change including: o Floods o Droughts o Wildfires o Other impacts of changes to temperature and precipitation patterns Climate hazards most relevant to Oak Harbor: • Extreme precipitation • Flooding • Sea Level Rise Hazard-asset analysis • Sensitivity • Adaptive Capacity • Probability • Magnitude Vulnerable Assets • NASWI • Shoreline – varied assets • Wastewater Treatment Facility • City’s waterline from Anacortes • Whidbey Health Medical Facilities and Services Recommended actions • Update development standards • Update primary evacuation routes • NASWI – strengthen EAP • Update emergency water supply plan • Study shoreline • Update sewer system plan Principal Planner Kamak reported that City staff are continuing the work on the housing and capacity issues with the County. Some of the issues are scheduled for mediation that is organized through the Department of Commerce. The joint meeting between the City Council and the Island County Commis- sioners that was scheduled for January 14th and then cancelled by Island County, has been rescheduled to February 11, 2025. Councilmember Woessner provided his respective questions and comments. BREAK – Mayor Wright called for a short break at 2:21 p.m. The meeting resumed at 2:29 p.m. Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 5 of 13  c. Design Regulations and Guidelines Update Senion Planner Lindenburg presented the item. Two recent changes spurred the drafting of changes to the Design Regulations and Guidelines (DRG) document. First, the adoption of Ordinance #1953 in July 2022 made changes to residential zone district requirements for dimensional standards and staff anticipates that fewer subdivisions will utilize the Planned Residential Development (PRD) process. Within that process, staff and the Hearing Examiner had the opportunity to review the exterior design of homes designated for construction in the proposed subdivision. This review was intended as mitigation for smaller lot sizes, closer spacing of homes and overall greater density. Other mitigations included open space requirements and additional landscaping. Second, the passage of House Bill 1110 mandated that requirements for development of multifamily projects could not be more restrictive in dimensional standards and design criteria than those of single- family development. Three primary reasons existed for the changes within Ordinance #1953; increasing single family resi- dential affordability through smaller lot sizes; increasing overall density by not requiring open space areas; and streamlining the process for approval. The driving forces for HB 1110 were similar but fo- cused on middle housing. Because some mitigations to increased density may be reduced, basic guidelines are being created for single family homes in the Design Regulations and Guidelines (DRG) document that will ensure quality design without limiting creativity or significantly increasing costs. Additionally, the standards included for single-family development are designed to be equivalent to those for multi-family development, satisfy- ing the requirement of HB 1110. Senior Planner Lindenburg reviewed the existing DRG document as it exists now and the proposed revised document. During the drafting of new standards for residential projects, staff revised the order in which some portions of the document appear for better “flow.” Accordingly, staff recommends review- ing the entire document for context. Section 5 is the new portion of the document addressing residential design. This new text is intended to suit existing neighborhoods while creating attractive and friendly new communities. Specific standards for single-family residential construction include concepts such as: • Architectural interest, but not specifically a style of architecture • Calling out the reduced front setback now part of OHMC through Ordinance #1953. • Neighborhood context and friendly facades • Consideration of privacy • Reducing the domination of automobiles and their storage on the aesthetics of a neighborhood Senior Planner Lindenburg explained these concepts are introduced in a way that allows for creativity in design while not burdening developers with excessive costs or unusual development patterns. Future meetings will be scheduled to discuss any potential revisions and work through a potential approval process which would culminate in a Council resolution. There were no questions or comments from the Council. d. Zoning Code Amendments Senior Planner Lindenburg, Senior Planner LeFevre, and Associate Planner Grunska presented the item. Development Services staff are proposing several zoning code amendments. Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 6 of 13 1. Proposed revisions to OHMC 19.08 Two definitions within Title 19.08 of the Oak Harbor Municipal Code (OHMC) are up for review to address potential confusion and conflicts with state regulations. Building Line definition - Recently, several building permits were submitted to City staff for review that were denied because of designs that included fireplaces intruding into the side yard setback. The appli- cant asked if staff would investigate allowing for relief to the setback requirements in certain cases, including the provision of fireplaces in single-family homes. After research, staff found that some nearby municipalities allow for intrusion of fireplaces, bay windows and other features into setback areas, while the OHMC only allows for eaves in the setback. In comparison, the amount of intrusion for eaves is three feet (3') currently, which is more than is typically allowed. Staff notes there are situations where an intrusion into the setback is appropriate and still main- tains the intent of the regulation. Therefore, staff recommends the definition of “building line” in OHMC 19.08 be amended to allow for certain architectural features and fireplaces to intrude into the setback area. Living spaces such as bay windows are intentionally not permitted to intrude as staff notes that those areas should still abide by the existing regulations. Daycares - As a result of a recent application for a new daycare facility within the City, staff discovered a potential discrepancy between the outdoor play area requirements set forth within OHMC 19.08 “Def- initions” and what is required by the State of Washington. Staff notes that the state regulations are better serving the community based on the expertise of those in charge of childcare rather than zoning. Based on this, staff is recommending that the City move away from regulating the amount of outdoor play area for daycare facilities and instead follow the regulations set by the State. Additionally, this will prevent future changes to state or local regulations potentially being in conflict. 2. Oak Harbor Municipal Code Project Permit Review Procedures Senate Bill 5290 amended the Local Project Review Act, Chapter 36.70B RCW, to provide for new requirements intended to increase the timeliness and predictability of local project review, rendering the applicable section of the OHMC, Chapter 18.20, out of compliance effective January 1, 2025. The amendments to Chapter 36.70B RCW pertain to permitting procedures covered in Chapter 18.20 of the OHMC. Language from the RCW mirrored in the OHMC was adjusted in sections related to defi- nitions and exemptions, but the most salient change involves the introduction of updated project permit review timelines intended to expedite the review of permits that do not require a public hearing. Addi- tionally, vestigial references to the now defunct Planned Industrial Park (PIP) and Planned Business Park (PBP) project permit process were found in this section, as well as a procedural section concerning ‘counter complete status’ which has been rendered obsolete by a permit submittal process which is now fully digital. After a review of the relevant code section, the City determined that the code section should be amended for clarity via the removal of the vestigial references, and for compliance and consistency with the updated provisions of the Land Project Review Act, Chapter 36.70B RCW. There are seven (7) sections of code that are being updated relating to permit procedures: OHMC 18.20.130 OHMC 18.20.140 OHMC 18.20.260 OHMC 18.20.330 OHMC 18.20.350 OHMC 18.20.390 OHMC 18.20.410 Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 7 of 13 3. Clearing and Grading - This proposed code amendment will consolidate the land clearing and grading permit process into one review. Currently Development Services staff reviews land clearing permit re- quests while Public Works – Engineering Division reviews the grading element. Both elements involve vegetation retention, stormwater and erosion control. This amendment will establish a formal grading permit process under OHMC 19.47 (Land Clearing) and combine both elements subject to review and approval authority by the City Engineer (or their designee). In discussions with Public Works staff, a handout may also be created providing land clearing and grading criteria and procedural steps. An anticipated work schedule for this code amendment was provided in the packet. Staff will present this report to the Planning Commission this evening and follow up with the Planning Commission and the Council in March with a draft for potential adoption by the Council in June. There were no questions or comments from the Council. ENGINEERING a. Safe Streets Study – Comprehensive Safety Action (Draft) Plan City Engineer Warner reviewed the draft plan of the Island Regional Transportation Planning Organiza- tion's (IRTPO's) Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP), provided for City Council input. He ex- plained this follows the update provided to the Council at the September 25, 2024 meeting where DKS Associates discussed the public input and data analysis process that supported development of this plan. Section 11 of the plan is specific to the City of Oak Harbor. The final version of this CSAP will be brought to the Council this spring for adoption. Adoption of the plan, including the commitment to the goal to reduce the number of traffic deaths and serious injuries to zero by the year 2045, is necessary to apply for Safe Streets For All (SS4A) grants. This will complete the Safe Streets Study (80/20 match) project that includes a $30,240 grant match by the City of Oak Harbor. The Safe Streets Implementation capital project in the approved 2025/2026 budget details an expected grant application in the amount of $5,515,000. The specific street safety improvement project to apply these grant funds towards will be selected from the list of projects recommended in this Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for Oak Harbor. Several projects may be able to be selected if costs allow. City Engineer Warner provided a reverse timeline of events associated with the Plan: • September 25, 2024 - City staff and DKS Associates provided an update to City Council regard- ing the development of the IRTPO Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. • August 6, 2024 - Citizen input was received at National Night Out via a booth for the Compre- hensive Safety Action Plan manned by city staff and DKS Associates. • Summer 2024 - An online survey and social pinpoint map were utilized to receive public input. • 2023 - City Council approved a grant local match of $30,240 for the City of Oak Harbor to partic- ipate in the IRTPO's Comprehensive Safety Action Plan grant application for $403,200 of federal funding. City Engineer Warner provided an intersection screening sheet identifying the top twenty (20) accident areas for Island County, ten of which are inside the Oak Harbor city limits, with the top five being at intersections within the city limits. City Engineer Warner displayed a list of projects proposed for all of Island County. Staff will bring the final Plan to the Council for adoption in April. Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 8 of 13 Mayor Pro Tem Hizon and Councilmembers Woessner, Stucky, Armes, and Marrow, and Public Works Director Schuller, provided their respective questions and comments. FINANCE a. Master Fee Schedule – Schedule G and Addendum 2 Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director Goldman and Parks and Recreation Director Smith re- viewed the item. The City has determined a need to amend the City’s Master Fee Schedule for the items listed below. The Master Fee Schedule is comprised of seven schedules and two addendums. The City Council ap- proved the annual update to the Master Fee Schedule at its January 21, 2025 meeting, except for Schedule G and Addendum 2. Concerning these two items, it was indicated that additional time would be needed to deliberate. General summary of changes: Schedule G: Parks and Recreation • Incorporated Addendum 2: Senior Services into Schedule G. • Updated park facility and field reservations to be by the hour. • Included a staff billable rate. • Included annual rates for on-site storage and monthly rates for use of the concession stand. • Updated class and activity fees to reference Activity Guide. • Updated room rental rates Addendum 2: Senior Services • Incorporated into Parks & Recreation: Schedule G. The Council reviewed the Master Fee Schedule at the November 20, 2024 Workshop and fees were mentioned during the budget hearings and workshop conducted for the 2025-26 biennial budget. Staff presented the Master Fee Schedule for adoption at the January 21, 2025 City Council Meeting. Meetings with local sports leagues were held as follows: Soccer • August 9, 2023 • April 22, 2024 • January 6, 2025 Football • September 5, 2023 • January 6, 2025 Baseball/Softball • May 15, 2023 • April 24, 2024 • January 10, 2025 Discussion Topics were: • Scheduling • Maintenance • Future Fee Increases Mayor Pro Tem Hizon and Councilmembers Marshall, Wiegenstein, and Woessner provided their respective questions and comments. Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 9 of 13 HUMAN RESOURCES Human Resources Director House provided the Human Resources Department Annual Report. City Departments / Divisions Supported by Human Resources • Administration & General • Development Services • Finance • Fire • Judicial & Legal • Marina • Parks and Recreation • Police • Senior Services • Solid Waste • Storm Drain • Transportation • Wastewater • Water Director House reviewed the City’s Vision: Oak Harbor is a vibrant Whidbey Island waterfront community where everyone is welcome and encouraged to thrive. She explained that the Human Resources de- partment is a cohesive, collaborative team dedicated to creating partnerships by supporting all programs and departments. We strive to support, guide and maintain requirements to create a healthy and positive work environment in order to assist staff in accomplishing individual program goals as well as overall organizational goals. Director House noted the City of Oak Harbor is an equal opportunity employer. The City fosters respect for all. The City believes the participation of men and women of diverse ages, races, religions, cultures, abilities, and personalities will add to professional development and organizational success. All employ- ees and potential employees will be recruited, selected, trained, promoted, compensated and, if neces- sary, disciplined or terminated without regard to sex, race, religion, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, age, national origin, sexual orientation, color, creed, ancestry, disability or any other basis prohibited by law. Mission - The mission of the Human Resources Department is to support the City's goal of premier public service by nurturing an organizational culture with shared beliefs, values, and norms that lead to employee excellence. This culture, in turn, elicits a diverse and creative work environment which leads to superior performance through teamwork and employee recognition in a safe and productive work environment. Director House outlined areas of support, assistance and resources provided by the Department: • Strategic human resource planning • Organizational development • Policy development and maintenance • Recruitment and retention • Compensation and classification • Training and development • Benefits administration • Employee and Labor relations • Performance management Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 10 of 13  • Civil Service program management • Personnel records • Workforce planning and development • Administering Federal/State employment law • Promoting communications and positive morale • Promoting safety and wellness • Risk management • Workers Compensation claims management • Strategic human resource planning • Organizational development • Policy development and maintenance • Recruitment and retention • Compensation and classification • Training and development Director House reviewed the Human Resources recruiting and support staff, Liflor Barrera – HR Analyst and Civil Service Secretary, Rachel Steckel – HR Generalist and Payroll, and Jedi Wilson – HR Assis- tant, and their roles and responsibilities. Director House reviewed the Human Resources Budget and four performance programs: 1. Talent Acquisition 2. Employee health, benefits, and wellness 3. Training, development, performance management 4. Risk Management Human Resource Department Projects: 2024 Accomplishments • Completed Union Negotiations • Classification & Compensation Plan • Employee Self-Service • Ethics and Compliance Hotline 2025 Projects • City-wide Training Schedule • Employee Policy Manual • Supervisor Manual • Staff Committees • Boards and Commissions Director House reviewed the process for talent acquisition, recruitment, selection and talent and recruit- ment, and provided a staffing summary and reviewed both performance and risk management. Director House also provided an overview of employee health and wellness benefits, and the City’s wellness programs. She thanked the City’s Wellness Committee members and the Central Safety Committee members for their service. Employee Self-Service – Director House reviewed the City’s Employee Self-Service software program via NeoGov and provided an overview of how the software is utilized and what records are available to each employee. Employees can also complete training courses via NeoGov and complete their portions of performance evaluations. Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 11 of 13 The City had 58 new hires in 2024 and 45 retirements or terminations. The total number of employees at the end of 2024 was 167, representing the equivalent of 1,481 total years of service to the City. Director House noted her PSHRA certification since 2014. She is serving as a Certification Advisory Board member from 2024-2027. The advisory board is responsible for providing oversight and guidance to the PSHRA certification program. During 2024, Director House traveled to Chicago and Washington D.C. to participate in the redevelopment of the certification standards and examinations for PSHRA certification. In closing, Director House highlighted job opportunities, directing inquiries to the City’s website, and noting all available ways to connect with the City. Councilmember Woessner provided his respective questions and comments. PARKS & RECREATION a. Flintstone Park Renovations Layout Parks and Recreation Director Smith provided an update on the options being reviewed for renovations to Flintstone Park. He noted with the placement of the Angel of Creativity sculpture, the roundabout servicing the park needs to be removed and the access drive reconfigured. Site plan options have been reviewed by the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission (PRAC) and a recommendation on layout has been approved for submittal to the Council. Director Smith provided the following timeline of meetings: • August 19, 2024 The Parks and Recreation Commission made a motion for approval for recon- figuration of the Park. • August 28, 2024 The Parks and Recreation Commission’s Parks & Playgrounds Sub Committee discussed the groundbreaking for the Angel of Creativity statue as well as the park reconfigura- tion and proposed parking for the area to bring options back to the Commission. • August 28, 2024 Staff presented the need to reconfigure the park with discussion on relocation of the Naval Flagstaff to Memorial Park at the City Council Workshop. • September 9, 2024 The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the Flintstone Park Re- configuration Plan and reviewed options. • October 10, 2024 Angel of Creativity groundbreaking and on-site discussion of the reconfigura- tion of the Park. • November 4, 2024 The Parks and Recreation Commission made a motion for approval of a layout design. Commissioner Biggs moved to pass the subcommittee recommendation, se- conded by Commissioner Jones. Vote: 3 approved (Chair Stucky and Commissioners Jones and Biggs) – 2 against (Vice-Chair Dipzinski and Commissioner Cardon). Commissioners Rose and Huerta were absent. Motion carried. • November 20, 2024 The Parks and Recreation Commission’s Parks & Playgrounds Sub-Com- mittee reviewed public comments on the layout for the reconfiguration of the park. • December 9, 2024 The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed public comments on the layout for the reconfiguration of the park. Director Smith reviewed four options reviewed with the Parks & Recreation Commission. He noted that presently, the primary function of the park seems to be a parking lot with a view, with the green park space being underutilized by the public and the park having a bad reputation for unsafe and undesirable activities. The park is also utilized as an event space. The Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission voted 3-2 on the Option 1 layout. They received two public comments regarding Flintstone Park, both of which came after they had voted on their recommendation. Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 12 of 13 Option 1 – Removes roundabout Expands Upper lot Leaves path from parking lot to trail Option 2 – Removes roundabout Expands Upper lot Widens and expands current path Option 3 – Partially Removes roundabout Expands Upper lot Bollards off the west drive Option 4 - Leaves roundabout in place Bollards around statue Widen drive potential Director Smith reported that the Arts Commissioners expressed their desire to see the waterfront parking area removed based on the location of the Angel sculpture and to expand the useful greenspace to encourage a more beautified park and event space around the sculpture. The idea being that this could encourage better usage of the park, making it a more appealing space for the public, including those who may want to rent the shelter space in Flintstone Park for private gatherings. In the Parks & Recreation Commission Sub-Committee discussions, there were ideas for additional activation of Flintstone Park including: • A space for smaller events • Kids recreation programs • Outdoor enrichment classes The expansion of green space in the park could be helpful for these uses. Director Smith also reviewed a fifth option. Option 5 – Removes roundabout at statue Bollards around statue Widens drive for two lane traffic Pushes upper parking forward Director Smith reiterated that the Parks & Recreation Commission had voted for Option 1. Following today’s discussion, staff will bring the item back to the Council in February for a motion of the site plan and project approval. Funding for the improvements has been allocated in the budget for $15,000. Councilmembers Wiegenstein, Woessner, Marshall, Stucky, Mayor Pro Tem Hizon, and Councilmember Marrow provided their respective questions and comments. ADJOURN There being no further business, Mayor Wright adjourned the workshop at 4:26 p.m. Certified by Julie Nester, City Clerk Workshop Meeting Minutes January 28, 2025 Page 13 of 13