City Council

Oak Harbor City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes October 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 - absent 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 Chief Travis Anderson Councilmember Barbara Armes City Engineer Alex Warner Councilmember James P. Marrow Principal Planner Rajesh “Cac” Kamak Public Works Administration Manager Sandra Place Finance Manager Chas Webster 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 noted Councilmember Woessner would not be attend- ing and that Councilmember Wiegenstein was participating remotely. Mayor Wright 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. 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. Councilmembers Marrow and Stucky provided updates. Councilmember Marrow reported on Island Transit and noted that negotiations with operators and drivers were going very well. Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 1 of 8 Councilmember Stucky reported that the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) would be meeting tomorrow, October 29, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. to review their scoring of all applications and determine award amounts for 2026. He also reported that the Whidbey and Camano Islands Tourism Board is working on an updated Interlocal Agreement. There were no additional comments from the Council. CITY ADMINISTRATOR a. Monthly Departmental Reports City Administrator Combs provided her report, which was included in the meeting packet. Highlights included: • Attendance at the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) - o District 14 meeting, held locally at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club. City Administrator Combs attended with Mayor Wright. Councilmember Stucky attended as well. o AWC Elected Officials Essentials Seminars, open to newly elected and current city officials. Are upcoming December 6, 2025 at various locations throughout the state and online. The nearest in-person location in our area will be in Burlington, WA. o Legislative Priorities – staff have received AWC’s list of legislative priorities for 2026 and are working on the City’s legislative priorities • Development Services - o The City’s new Building Inspector/Plans Examiner Brian Boyle started on October 6, 2025. o Interviews are being scheduled with top-ranked candidates for the Associate Planner position. o The Community Development Director (formerly titled the Development Services Di- rector) recruitment is ongoing. The City has received enough applications to begin interviewing candidates. The job posting will remain open until filled. o The Code Compliance position will be transitioning to full-time at the end of this year following Ray Heltsley’s retirement. The process has begun to prepare for recruit- ment. • Oak Harbor Police Department (OHPD) – o Officers recently completed e-bike training and are excited to add this option for po- licing in Oak Harbor. • All Staff Meeting – o The City’s Fall All-Staff meeting is this week on October 30, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. City offices will be closed from 10:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. to allow staff to attend. Mayor Wright thanked City Administrator Combs for her report and requested that Mayor Pro Tem Hizon be added to the Community Development Director interviews. There were no questions or comments from the Council. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES a. 2025 Comprehensive Plan Major Update – Policy Review Principal Planner Kamak requested to move his update to later in the workshop to allow for him to Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 2 of 8 make some adjustments to his presentation slides. Mayor Wright agreed to moving the presentation. After some discussion of which item would be next on the agenda, Mayor Wright called on Parks and Recreation Director Smith for his presentation. PARKS AND RECREATION a. Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan Request for Proposals Parks and Recreation Director Smith reviewed the Request for Proposals (RFP) item. The project was approved in the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget. The City of Oak Harbor updated and adopted the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Mas- ter Plan in 2019 with the six-year implementation plan ready for an update. With the creation of the new Parks and Recreation Department, the 2019 PROS Master Plan will require a major update to reflect the restructuring, new services and programs, and new priorities of the City Council related to a full-service Parks and Recreation Department and a "PROS-pering" community. Director Smith explained the PROS Master Plan that would be created from this work will be a guid- ing document for future development and redevelopment of the community’s system of parks and green space, recreation and programs over the next six years helping to support a prosperous Com- munity. He noted the Master Plan will create a roadmap for ensuring just and fair quantity, proximity and connections to quality parks and green space, recreation facilities and programs throughout the community now and into the future. The goal of the Master Plan would involve a community sourced and system-wide approach to develop goals, policies and guidelines and prioritize strategies based on current and future funding scenarios. Director Smith reviewed City parks, ratios and levels of service, and current and projected population growth. He reported on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as it applies to Parks and Recreation. A Request for Proposals (RFP) will be posted to solicit experienced firms to provide a robust, com- munity-engaged, process to update the goals and policies in the PROS Master Plan. Input will be gathered from meetings with sports league representatives, Marina and The Center users, key part- ners and special interest groups, and Island County. A public survey will be available to all house- holds and made available to the public on the City’s website through multiple outlets and platforms. PROS Master Plan Deliverables The updated PROS Master Plan deliverables will include: • Goals and Policies • Level of Service • Recreation Facilities • Improvements and Access • Trails and Multimodal Transportation Connections • Parkland Acquisition (In relation to city growth) • Opportunities in Underserved Areas • Funding Strategies • Impact Fees • Cost Recovery Model • Recommendations for the Capital Improvements Plan • Implementation Plan Director Smith reviewed the proposed Scope of Work outlined in the RFP, which will include: • Coordination with City Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 3 of 8  • Facilitate the public process and statistically valid survey • Demographic trends • Existing and future facilities • Rank and prioritize demand and opportunities • Develop a set of prioritized recommendations • Analysis of programs and services • Provide user fee analysis and philosophy • Provide analysis and recommendations for partnerships • Progress reporting • Action Plan • Grounds Maintenance Management Plan • Development of final plans and supporting materials Robust Community Engagement • Multiple engagement methods o Meetings o Focus groups o Under-represented populations o Facilitation o Written summaries Technical Analysis and Data Collection • Full GIS-based inventory of parks, facilities, trails. • Benchmarking against national standards. • Integration of multiple existing city planning documents. Implementation • Prioritization of projects, funding strategies, and operations/staffing recommendations. • Cost recovery methodology, partnerships, and budget analysis beyond a high-level vision document. Final Plan Development • Graphically rich deliverables (charts, maps, visuals). • Multiple presentations to Advisory Boards, Committees, and City Council. Director Smith reported on recent comparable projects and costs from other Western Washington cities. The total estimated range for the City of Oak Harbor PROS Master Plan is in the range of $100,000 to $165,000 depending on the consultant rates and engagement intensity. $80,000 was budgeted in 2023. He reviewed options moving forward which included negotiating the Scope of Work, determining what portion or portions could be accomplished in-house, potentially combining the project with the Feasibility Study, and potentially increasing the amount of the appropriation for the Plan in the 2027-2028 Biennial Budget. Director Smith reviewed staff’s recommendation to put out the RFP and evaluate the proposals re- ceived, then to return to the Council with recommendation on how to proceed and allow ample time for discussion. He reviewed the planning process as follows: • City Council workshop • Confirm Sub-Committee (Steering Committee) • Sub-Committee Review of Applicant Firms • Parks and Recreation Commission Assistance with Public Meetings • Parks and Recreation Commission Updates Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 4 of 8  • Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council - Adoption Mayor Pro Tem Hizon and Councilmembers Stucky, Marshall, and Marrow provided their respective questions and comments. In response to questions about the need to update the 2019 Plan, Mayor Wright confirmed with Grants Administrator Horn that a current plan is needed to apply and qualify for Recreation Conservation Office grants. Staff will bring this item forward to the Council at a later date. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES – COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT a. 2025 Comprehensive Plan Major Update Principal Planner Kamak reviewed continued progress on the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Major Up- date. He explained that the City is advancing the review of the various elements and imbedded goals and policies in the Comprehensive Plan. DRAFT POLICIES REVIEW Staff, together with consultants at Kimley-Horn, are reviewing these elements in phases and are presenting draft updates to the Planning Commission and City Council over the next three months. This month’s review included the preliminary draft policies for Parks, Recreation and Open Space, Economic Development, Government Services, and Climate Resiliency. Parks, Recreation, and Open Space • Reviewed by Parks Department • Maintenance oriented language • Removing references to outdated or amended plans • Clarity or action language Economic Development • Land use compatibility • Changing economic conditions • Tracking employment capacity • Reducing barriers • Invest in the Marina • Removing references to outdated or amended plans Government Services • Facility location review • Clarity of markers Climate Resiliency Element • New Element • Requirements of HB 1181 • Identify Hazards • Sea-level rise, Extreme Precipitation, Flooding • Wildfires/smoke, extreme heat and drought (transportation) • Integrate into existing policies • New policies in other elements • New Polices for: Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 5 of 8  o Overall resilience o Equity and resilience o Sea-level Rise o Extreme precipitation o Water resources o Wildfire/smoke Principal Planner Kamak explained in more detail that Climate Resiliency will be a new element in Oak Harbor’s Comprehensive Plan. In addition to the draft policies, Oak Harbor Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, Climate Hazard and Policy Gap Memo, and other climate related documents are referenced. The Oak Harbor Planning Action Committee (OakPAC) meeting on September 24, 2025 focused on climate related discussions and a summary of the meeting was included in the meeting packet. Principal Planner Kamak explained that draft policies 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 ex- pected to be refined with feedback from Boards, Commissions, the Council, and the community. Upcoming topics for November/ December: • Land Use • Housing • Urban Growth Area The 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. Councilmembers Marrow, Stucky, and Mayor Pro Tem Hizon provided their respective questions and comments. LEGAL a. Proposed Ordinance No. 2031: Adopting Oak Harbor Municipal Code Chapter 6.25 Related to Chronic Nuisance City Attorney Evans presented the proposed ordinance to the Council. She explained that the pur- pose of a chronic nuisance ordinance is to address properties that regularly require police or code enforcement attention. These ordinances are designed to encourage property owners to take re- sponsibility for maintaining their properties and to comply with community norms of maintenance and safety. A chronic nuisance code typically allows the Police Chief, or their designee, to identify properties that have significant and/or frequent criminal activity; this code would then require the City to provide notice to the property owner or person responsible. Failure to respond to the notice or correct the conditions can result in City abatement, including fines and/or closure of the property. In an effort to provide tools for Police and City staff, the Mayor asked City Attorney Evans to draft proposed chronic nuisance code language for the Council's consideration. Other cities have adopted and utilized similar chronic nuisance code provisions, such as Bremerton, Mountlake Terrace, Burien, Seattle, Spokane, and Everett. Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 6 of 8 Mayor Pro Tem Hizon and Councilmembers Stucky, Armes, Marrow, and Marshall provided their respective questions and comments. Attorney Evans was joined by Police Chief Slowik in respond- ing to questions and comments. Mayor Wright thanked Attorney Evans for her work on the proposed ordinance. He noted such a measure was very important to himself and to the Administration of the City and that this ordinance would be a proactive approach to make a difference in the community. Staff will bring the proposed ordinance to the City Council for action at a later date. POLICE DEPARTMENT a. Proposed Ordinance No. 2034: Stay Out of Designated Areas (SODA) Order Police Chief Slowik reviewed the ordinance which is proposed in response to community and busi- ness requests to address an increase in illegal drug activity and related crimes in the South and Southwest Business Districts of the City. The ordinance was developed in consultation with the City Attorney, City Prosecutor, Mayor and the Chief of Police. A Stay Out of Designated Area (SODA) court order is the creation of a new court order for the City of Oak Harbor. The SODA order is a court-ordered restriction that prohibits a person with a drug- related criminal charge or conviction from entering specific geographical zone(s). Chief Slowik explained that Everett first designated a SODA area in 2007 and now has nine desig- nated areas within its city limits. Marysville designated a large portion of its downtown as a SODA zone in 2012. Marysville expanded the area in 2017 to include areas adjacent to the Snohomish River waterfront area. Other Washington jurisdictions that have adopted SODA regulations include Seattle, Tacoma, Fife, Shoreline, Bothell, University Place, Burien, Monroe and SeaTac. SODA Order Overview • Defines Designated Area Boundaries approved by City Council. • Authorizes District and Superior Courts to issue SODA Orders. • Establishes penalties for violations. • Allows law enforcement verification and review process. • Court-issued restriction from entering a defined geographic area. The court has the ability to modify the geographic area. • Imposed as a condition of release, sentencing, or probation. • Violation is a separate criminal offense. Goals of a SODA Order • Reduce repeat criminal behavior. • Increase public and business safety. • Provide enforceable tool for courts and police. • Encourage rehabilitation outside target zone. Legal Framework and Authority • SODA orders are authorized under Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 10.05 and RCW 10.64. • Consistent with due process and equal protection • Modeled after successful ordinances in other municipalities Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 7 of 8 Police Chief Slowik reviewed the increased number of calls for service and medical calls on SW Barlow Street. Calls for Service • 27 Total Calls on SW Barlow Street between (2020-2023) • 419 Total Calls on SW Barlow Street between (2023-2025) • Increase of 1452% in calls • 151 incidents associated Drug Activity within a ¼ mile radius of SW Barlow Street • 57 incidents specific to SW Barlow Street Medical Calls • 29 were Medical CPR between 2023-2025 • 55% were a suspected overdose in immediate vicinity of SW Barlow Street • 65% were a suspected overdose within a ¼ mile radius of SW Barlow Street Police Chief Slowik provided an aerial overlay map of the proposed exclusion area. He explained how SODA procedures work: • A subject is arrested or cited with a drug related crime in the designated area. • The officer and/or prosecutor would ask the judge in the criminal case to impose a SODA court order. • The District/Superior Court judge may then choose to impose the order after hearing from both the prosecution and the defense in a criminal case. If a SODA order is violated: • If an officer sees an individual with a SODA order in the designated area, the individual can be arrested for violation of the court order, which would be a new criminal charge. Councilmember Stucky, Mayor Pro Tem Hizon, and Councilmembers Marrow and Marshall provided their respective questions and comments. Mayor Wright explained that Chief Slowik and himself were actively working with Island County Human Services and also with Skagit County and Northstar to refer people for treatment. The counties receive funding for this and the City is partnering with Island County. ADJOURN There being no further business, Mayor Wright adjourned the workshop at 2:44 p.m. Certified by Julie Nester, City Clerk Workshop Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Page 8 of 8