City Council

Oak Harbor City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 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 Public Works Director Steve Schuller Councilmember Bryan Stucky Parks and Recreation Director Brian Smith Councilmember Eric Marshall Police Chief Tony Slowik Councilmember Christopher Wiegenstein Fire Captain Mike Engle Councilmember Barbara Armes City Engineer Alex Warner Councilmember James P. Marrow Principal Planner Rajesh “Cac” Kamak Public Works Administration Manager Sandra Place Collections Division Ops Foreman Brad Von Haden Special Projects / Compliance Inspector Kindle Sullivan Water Division Operations Foreman Jimi Gordon Mechanic Foreman Ken Riley Clean Water Facility Manager Jack Robinson Solid Waste Operations Foreman George Place Operations Manager Chris Price Public Works Senior Administrative Asst. Ryan Kinker Purchasing / Contract Coordinator Katie Lewis Senior Utility Manager Andrew Walsh 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 noted Mayor Pro Tem Hizon was participating re- motely. Mayor Wright observed public comments are not normally taken at workshop meetings, alt- hough the Council may allow or request public participation on action items. There were no action items on the agenda today. EXECUTIVE SESSION Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 1 of 6 Mayor Wright announced the Council would now move into executive session per Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 42.30.110 (1) (b) To consider selection of a site or acquisition of real estate by lease or purchase when public knowledge regarding such consideration would cause a likelihood of increased price, and per RCW 42.30.110 (1) (i) To discuss with legal counsel, litigation or potential litigation. He noted the estimated duration of the executive session was twenty minutes and that action might or might not be taken upon return to the open session of the workshop. Executive sessions are not open to the public. The Council entered into executive session at 1:01 p.m. to first consider a real estate matter as stated per RCW 42.30.110 (1) (b) with Councilmembers Woessner and Stucky excluding them- selves. At 1:12 p.m. Councilmembers Woessner and Stucky joined the remaining portion of the ex- ecutive session as stated per RCW 42.30.110 (1) (i). City Attorney Evans was present for the entire executive session. At 1:21 p.m. the Council came out of executive session and resumed the open portion of the work- shop. Mayor Wright noted no action would be taken regarding the matters discussed. MAYOR’S ADDITIONAL UPDATE Speed Limit Change Mayor Wright reported that staff had intended to bring back an Ordinance discussed at the Septem- ber 16, 2025 meeting with an update regarding the Council’s proposed speed limit change to 40- mph, as opposed to the 45-mph planned by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), near the upcoming roundabout being constructed on State Route 20 at Fakkema Road. Staff are still reviewing the Council’s proposed change with the City’s legal counsel and with WSDOT. Once a determination is made, staff will report back on this item. CITY COUNCIL Mayor Wright invited Councilmembers to provide any updates on the City’s boards, commissions or committees on which they serve as a Council liaison. Councilmember Marrow reported Island Transit is very mindful of collecting the numbers of transit utilization for the basis for forming routes and improving efficiencies. The agency is currently using manual counts and will be reporting their findings soon. Councilmember Armes noted the scheduled Marina Advisory Committee meeting was cancelled due to the lack of a quorum. Councilmember Marshall reported most of the last Parks and Recreation Commission meeting was spent discussing the potential change of the basketball courts at Fort Nugent Park to pickleball courts. Councilmember Stucky noted the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC), would be meeting in two weeks to review funding applications, and noted he had written a letter to the Editor of the Whid- bey News-Times to describe the LTAC process and funding. Councilmember Woessner noted he was not at the last Planning Commission meeting but had viewed it online. The major topic is the update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Councilmember Woessner observed he was looking forward to having a full Planning Commission, with a new person recently appointed. Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 2 of 6 Other Council Comments There were no other comments from the Council. PROCLAMATION a. Recognizing September as National Preparedness Month Oak Harbor Fire Captain Engle was in attendance for the proclamation. He explained that Fire Chief Anderson was teaching a two-day Incident Command Systems 400 course for the area, which in- cludes personnel from the region and the state. Chief Anderson is currently the only qualified in- structor for the course in Island County. Captain Engle read the proclamation. CITY ADMINISTRATOR a. Monthly Departmental Reports City Administrator Combs provided her report, which was included in the meeting packet. Highlights included: • Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director Goldman was featured in the Association of Washington Cities City Vision Magazine article “7 Tips for Better Budgeting” • Leadership, Teamwork, and Community Partnership – Mayor Wright, City Administrator Combs and members of City staff and members of the City Council attended the Regency Rock-a-thon, the Oak Harbor Music Festival, celebrated students on their first day back to school, attended the Military Appreciation Picnic, and the Mayor’s State of the City Address to the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce hosted by the Oak Harbor Fire Depart- ment. All events enjoyed a great turnout. • Legislative Priorities - Grants Administrator Horn has submitted the City’s application for a Building Infrastructure Grant (BIG) for Marina Infrastructure. Mayor Wright and City Adminis- trator Combs met with staff from U.S. Senators Cantwell and Murray’s offices, who then were provided a tour of the Marina led by Harbormaster Henry. Staff are working on Council leg- islative priorities for 2026. • Department Update Highlights: o Recruitment in Development Services, Finance, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works o Long range planning for comp plan, parks, and infrastructure in progress o Continuing to work on Advisory Board revisions to bylaws, ordinances, and resolu- tions o IT is continuing the major update of equipment as part of the Microsoft upgrade Councilmembers Stucky and Woessner provided their respective questions and comments regard- ing new business permitting and applications. City Administrator Combs explained that submissions are made through the City’s LAMA application process and staff are focused on using this tool more efficiently. Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 3 of 6 PUBLIC WORKS a. Public Works Department Annual Report Public Works Director Steve Schuller thanked the Mayor and Council for the opportunity to provide the Annual Report. He introduced the department supervisors for each area of the Public Works Department to report on the past year’s activities and achievements, many of whom work behind the scenes, providing true community stewardship in their day-to-day service. Each supervisor provided information on their background with the City, projects and areas of su- pervision, and current duties. Reporting were: Public Works Administration Manager Sandra Place Collections Division Operations Foreman Brad VonHaden Clean Water Facility Manager Jack Robinson Storm Drain, Wastewater, and Special Projects Compliance Inspector and Educator Kindle Sullivan Mechanic Foreman Ken Riley Operations Manager Chris Price Water Division Operations Foreman Jimi Gordon Solid Waste Operations Foreman George Place Public Works Director Schuller reported that 60% of the positions at Public Works had been filled in the last few years and thanked Mayor Wright and the Council for their help in building the department. In closing, Director Schuller introduced Public Works Senior Administrative Assistant Ryan Kinker, Purchasing/Contract Coordinator Katie Lewis, and newly hired Senior Utility Engineer Andrew Walsh, who were also in attendance. Mayor Wright thanked all the supervisors for their work, noting it was his privilege to serve with them and that the work and success of the City would not be possible without each and every one of them. Councilmembers Marrow, Stucky, Marshall, Wiegenstein, Armes, and Woessner provided their re- spective questions and comments. All thanked those reporting and the Public Works Department for all they do for the City. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES – COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT a. 2025 Comprehensive Plan Major Update Principal Planner Kamak provided a short presentation regarding the major update to the 2025 Com- prehensive Plan. As discussion continues on the Urban Growth Area (UGA) and the Countywide Planning Policies (CPP) with the County and State, the City is moving ahead with draft policies to update the various elements in the Comprehensive Plan. The City will be planning for a housing target of 3,735 units within City limits. The County has determined that the current UGA can accommodate 464 units. The County is also proposing to remove 1,333 units from the original allocation and is moving forward by amending the CPP to plan for a lower population projection and citing a lack of infrastructure. City staff are continuing to work with the County and the State of Washington to continue to plan for the larger number of units. Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 4 of 6 DRAFT POLICIES REVIEW Principal Planner Kamak explained that several elements of the Comprehensive Plan will need to be updated. Staff, together with consultants at Kimley-Horn, are reviewing these elements in phases and will present draft updates to the Planning Commission and City Council over the next three months. Drafts will also be posted on the City’s website to invite public input. These are working drafts intended as a starting point for discussion and are expected to be refined with feedback from boards, commissions, the Council, and the community. The tentative schedule for discussion of the draft elements for City Council are provided below. September 23, 2025 Workshop – Topics: Urban Design Transportation Utilities Environment Capital Facilities October 28, 2025 Workshop – Topics: Parks and Recreation Economic Development Government Services Climate Resiliency November 25, 2025 Workshop – Topics: Land Use Housing Urban Growth Area The above workshops are intended to cover the policy language in each element. Graphics, maps, and other conceptual ideas that articulate various ideas for the next 20 years are yet to come. Staff are hoping to bring some of these ideas forward in December and January. These discussions could benefit from a joint approach with the Planning Commission to share comments as well as save time. Staff will poll the City Council on availability for a joint City Council and Planning Commission meeting. The Comprehensive Plan Policy Review will include the subjects outlined above including elements for Urban Design, Transportation, Utilities, Environment, and Capital Facilities. Principal Planner Kamak reviewed each of these elements. He noted the driving factor in drafting the policy changes in completing the Comprehensive Plan Update is the need to accommodate growth, housing, and changes in state law which necessitate their adoption. Urban Design • Providing flexible options for habitat and ecosystem preservation in urban areas, particularly for urban tree canopy. • Policies focus on the provision of native species/trees • Plant revegetation or regeneration with new development Transportation • Policies were revised to better integrate with City’s Public Works Department and other part- ner plans, like the Safety Action Plan, Regional Transportation Plan, and Active Transporta- tion Plan. Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 5 of 6  • Policies were revised to ensure that multi-modal planning will be implemented in future land use and transportation planning efforts. • Policies have been updated to reflect the City's desire for complete streets standards Utilities • Policies were revised to promote consistency for climate and resiliency under the Growth Management Act (GMA), mostly relating to energy conservation and reducing Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions, where possible. Environment • Policies were revised to increase consistency with the GMA and respond to changes re- quested by City departments. Capital Facilities • Policies were revised to improve consistency with the GMA and respond to changes re- quested by City departments. The Planning Commission reviewed the same draft policies at their September 9, 2025 meeting. The comment and discussion notes from the Planning Commission were provided in the workshop packet. Councilmembers Stucky, Woessner, Marrow, Marshall, and Armes provided their respective ques- tions and comments. Principal Planner Kamak, City Administrator Combs, and Mayor Wright responded to questions from the Council, and reviewed meetings they had attended with Commissioner Johnson. All are looking to work with the Washington State Department of Commerce and working collaboratively to move forward via interlocal agreements and planned development. ADJOURN There being no further business, Mayor Wright adjourned the workshop at 2:32 p.m. Certified by Julie Nester, City Clerk Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 6 of 6