City Council

Oak Harbor City Council Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 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 on Cable Channel 10/HD 1090 following the meeting. CALL TO ORDER Call To Order and Native Lands Acknowledgement - Mayor Wright called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. He included the acknowledgement that the meeting was being held on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people and paid respect to those past and present. Invocation – Led by Pastor Matthew Erikson – First Reformed Church . Pledge of Allegiance – Led by Mayor Wright ROLL CALL City Council Present: Staff Present/Videoconference Mayor Ronnie Wright Deputy City Administrator David Goldman Mayor Pro Tem Tara Hizon Public Works Director Steve Schuller Councilmember Jim Woessner Parks and Recreation Director Brian Smith Councilmember Bryan Stucky Human Resources Director Emma House Councilmember Eric Marshall Police Chief Tony Slowik Councilmember Christopher Wiegenstein Fire Chief Travis Anderson Councilmember Barbara Armes Deputy Police Chief Kevin Barton Councilmember James P. Marrow Fire Marshal Paul Schroer Principal Planner Rajesh “Cac” Kamak Harbormaster Alyce Henry Recreation Manager Liz Lange Police Sergeant Matthew Krysinski Police Sergeant Jeremy Soptich Executive Services Coordinator Macalle Finkle City Clerk Julie Nester Also in attendance: City Attorney Hillary Evans of Kenyon Disend, PLLC Others in attendance included members of the Oak Harbor Police Department EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS Mayor Wright greeted all in attendance. He noted all members of the Council were present. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 1 of 15 Mayor Wright requested any changes to the regular agenda. Hearing none, he called for a motion for approval. Motion: Mayor Pro Tem Hizon moved to approve the agenda as presented. Councilmember Mar- row seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 2. PRESENTATIONS a. Honoring Councilmember Jim Woessner for his years of dedicated service to the City of Oak Harbor Mayor Wright noted Councilmember Jim Woessner is a lifelong resident of Oak Harbor. He has served the City Council for the past 8 years with honor and respect and brought a much-valued local perspective to Council deliberations. He stated, Jim, we appreciate you and all that you do for Oak Harbor, as a City Councilmember, as a businessman, and as a community volunteer. Please accept this plaque honoring your service along with our sincere thanks for all of your hard work. It has been a pleasure working with you. Mayor Wright was joined by Mayor Pro Tem Hizon in presenting Councilmember Woessner with a plaque commemorating his years of service on the Council. Public Works Director Schuller voiced his appreciation for Councilmember Woessner’s insights, especially in real estate matters, and for his leadership with respect, courtesy, and care. He pre- sented Councilmember Woessner with an Oak Harbor Street sign for “Woessner Way” which in- cluded his year of graduation from Oak Harbor High School and a hydro plane to commemorate his years promoting the Hydro’s for Heroes annual event. Chief of Police Slowik also presented councilmember Woessner with a plaque on behalf of the Oak harbor Police Department for his work in support of public safety and his strategic leadership. Councilmember Woessner stated that for last eight years it had been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Oak Harbor and to give a little bit back to his hometown. He thanked all who supported him and his family. To Mayor Wright, Councilmember Woessner said it had been a pleas- ure to work with him for the past two years and appreciated him more than he knew. b. Proclamation: Designating the City of Oak Harbor a Gold Star Families City Mayor Wright thanked proponents Julie Street and Aaron Doran for their presentation to the Cit Council on December 2, 2025. Mayor Wright noted that before he made the proclamation, Aaron had asked to say a few words. Aaron Doran thanked the Mayor and the City Council, noting this was not an easy subject to speak on and that he was speaking tonight as a Navy Veteran and as a Gold Star family member, having lost his son in service to our country. He observed that the Gold Star Family designation is a promise that the sacrifices made are forever honored and remembered. Mr. Doran noted there are no words to describe the loss of a child and that the gold star flag they display at home is one of many who have lost a loved one and leave behind a grateful community. Mayor Wright commended Mr. Doran and thanked him for his service and sacrifice. He requested that Councilmember Stucky read the proclamation, following which Mayor Wright presented Mr. Doran with a copy. Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 2 of 15  c. Island Senior Resources – Nic Wildeman, Executive Director Nic Wildeman, Executive Director for Island Senior Resources (ISR) provided the Council with in- formation on ISR’s programs and services, and how they partner with the City, leasing the modular building adjacent to The Center, which houses their Aging and Disability Resources staff and med- ical lending library. He explained that ISR also leases the kitchen and dining room inside The Center to operate their North Whidbey nutritional services program. They in turn provide space at no cost for Statewide Health Insurance Benefit Advisors (SHIBA) a free, volunteer-run state program ad- ministered through ISR—to meet with community members. City of Oak Harbor Parks and Recre- ation also supports these efforts by managing appointment scheduling for SHIBA visits conducted at The Center. Mr. Wildeman provided an overview of ISR’s scope of impact, challenges, and methods of how others can get involved. d. Oak Harbor Police Department Lieutenant Promotion Ceremony Oak Harbor Police Chief Slowik administered the ceremony for the promotions of Police Sergeants Matthew Krysinski and Jeremy Soptich. He explained the position of Police Lieutenant is a Division Commander and mid-level manager for the Oak Harbor Police Department (OHPD) and introduced both officers.. Matthew Krysinski brings over 28 years of public safety experience to his new role as a Lieutenant with the OHPD. Matthew’s experience as a Volunteer Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Professional Firefighter, Corrections Officer, and Police Officer dates back to 1997. Prior to joining the department in 2014, he previously served with the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, Port Town- send Police Department and a civilian with the U.S. Navy. Throughout his career, he has worked as a Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, and has instructed various patrol-related disciplines. He has held leadership roles as a Patrol Sergeant, Field Training Officer Sergeant, and currently serves as the department’s Administrative Training Sergeant and Records Division Supervisor. Jeremy Soptich brings nearly two decades of public safety experience to his new role as a Lieuten- ant with the OHPD. An Oak Harbor High School graduate, he began his career serving island and Snohomish County communities as a 911 dispatcher, gaining a strong foundation in emergency communications and crisis response. In 2015, Jeremy was hired by the Yakima Police Department, where he built a distinguished career as a Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Detective, Peer Support Team Leader, and most recently a Patrol Sergeant. Jeremy’s diverse background and proven leadership in high pressure and critical incident environments make him a strong addition to the OHPD’s command staff. Jeremy and his wife Lauren are Oak Harbor High School graduates; they are proud to return to Whidbey Island and look forward to raising their family in a safe and supportive community. Chief Slowik administered the Lieutenants Oath to both officers and called on Matthew’s wife Susan and Jeremy’s wife Lauren to pin on their new position designations. Lieutenant Krysinski stated he was truly honored and privileged to receive this promotion and praised the supportive leadership of Chief Slowik and the team that pushes him, his wife, parents and family. Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 3 of 15 Lieutenant Soptich stated he was very thankful for the opportunity and to be back where he grew up. He noted his former Captain from Yakima was in attendance along with family and friends from Eastern Washington. Mayor Wright called for a five-minute recess from 6:09 p.m. to 6:14 p.m. to also time for congratu- lations and photos. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Mayor Wright noted members of the public could comment on Consent Agenda items or subjects of interest not listed on the agenda at this time and there would be an opportunity to comment on the remaining agenda items during the meeting as appropriate. He explained the public may also visit the City’s website prior to meetings for methods to submit public comments, or contact the City Clerk, Julie Nester, by phone or email. When submitting comments, please include your name and address. Public comments sent anonymously or from a non-verifiable address will be shared with the Mayor and Council but will not be displayed. Comments on public hearing items will be taken during the public hearings portion of the meeting. The City received several new public comments since the last regular meeting. These were dis- played. Comments were received from: 1. Gwen Rhines of Island County writing in opposition to replacing the existing tennis court at Sumner Park with a pickleball court. 2. Michael Szemplinski of Oak Harbor requesting that a lock between the Oak Harbor High School and NW Fairhaven Drive be removed to provide faster access to the High School or to Hillcrest Elementary. (It was noted that this is School District property and not owned by the City.) 3. Michael Szemplinski of Oak Harbor, who submitted a second comment regarding micromobility infrastructure and the need to have physical infrastructure to separate people rolling, such as by using a bicycle, wheelchair, scooter or other means, from those driving. Mayor Wright asked if there were any members of the public present who wished to speak to any other items not listed on the agenda or on the consent agenda. He explained that if anyone present had already submitted their public comment and had it displayed, that they would not be invited to comment on the same subject here a second time. He noted the Clerk would call on speakers in the order in which they signed in to speak and asked speakers to step forward to the microphone, state their name and address, and to 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 Meeting of December 2, 2025 b. Approval of Payroll and Accounts Payable Vouchers c. Marina Host Agreement 2026 d. Marina Small Vessel Upland Storage Agreement e. Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Kimley-Horn and Asso- ciates, Inc. f. Island County Solid Waste Agreement Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 4 of 15  g. Appointment: Planning Commission, Position 3 – Cody Bakken h. Appointment: Civil Service Commission, Position 3 – Ken Fobian i. Re-Appointment: Salary Commission, Position 1 – Jason McFadyen j. Re-Appointment: Salary Commission, Position 3 – Tiffany Scribner k. Amendment No. 4 to the Professional Services Agreement with Gray and Osborne for On-Call Water Services l. U.S. Navy Right of Entry Agreement for Oak Harbor Marina Mayor Wright noted additional appointments were scheduled for January 6, 2026. He called for any changes to the consent agenda. Councilmember Woessner requested to pull consent agenda items i. Re-Appointment: Salary Com- mission, Position 1 – Jason McFadyen, and j. Re-Appointment: Salary Commission, Position 3 – Tiffany Scribner for discussion. Mayor Wright called for approval of the remaining consent agenda items. Motion: Councilmember Marrow moved to approve the remaining items on the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hizon and passed unanimously. Mayor Wright called for discussion of items i. and j. Councilmember Woessner thanked all volunteers for their service on City boards, commissions and committees. He provided background information on the formation of the Salary Commission, which was formed initially at the state level and eventually becoming something Class 1 cities could adopt. Prior to having a Salary Commission, the Council would have to determine whether to provide themselves with any cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or salary increase, and any increase would not apply until after the next election of those seated Councilmembers. Councilmember Woessner explained that the Salary Commission is independent of and does not answer to the City Council, the legislative body that handles policy and financial decision, and sets Council salaries so that the Council and the Council’s constituents do not speak to this. He noted that at the time of the for- mation, he looked at the Salary Commission as smart and easier for the Council, but in hindsight he felt perhaps it was not the best of decisions. Councilmember Woessner stressed that his com- ments had nothing to do with the individuals being re-appointed and that the governance of the Salary Commission was set by Washington Administrative Code (WAC) that the Council could not change, but that having such a commission was something a future Council could reconsider. Motion: hearing no further discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Hizon moved to approve consent agenda items i. and j. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Marrow and passed by a vote of 5-2 with Councilmembers Armes, Wiegenstein, Marshall, Marrow, and Mayor Pro Tem Hizon in favor and Councilmembers Woessner and Stucky opposed. 5. MAYOR & COUNCIL COMMENTS a. Mayor’s Comments Mayor Wright displayed slides and provided the following comments: • Holiday Cheer: Thank you to Mayor Pro Tem and Councilmembers for being part of the down- town tree lighting and Santa parade. • Team Whidbey: Staff, council and I attended the NAS Whidbey Island Team Whidbey Commu- nity Leadership Forum, and their Winter Social. The Community Leadership Forum included community leaders from Oak Harbor and Island County. NASWI presented information for part- ner collaboration and a time for conversations. Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 5 of 15 • Looking forward to our Council Retreat which we are planning for January 8, 2026. Additional details will be provided closer to the retreat. • Happy Retirement to Ray Heltsley: This week our Code Compliance Officer Ray Heltsley retired. Ray started April 1, 1977 at OHPD and retired from OHPD on July 1, 1998. Then on October 5, 2005 he was hired as the City's Code Enforcement Officer. We appreciate all of Ray’s service to the City. • Christmas Tree Recycling: Just a reminder on a safe and easy way to dispose of your Christmas tree. Christmas trees will be accepted next to or in your yard waste bin on your normal garbage day, January 2nd through the 7th, and February 2nd through the 6th. • Local Happenings: Upcoming local events include the Nutcracker Hunt downtown and the Whid- bey Playhouse Extravaganza which ends this weekend. Don't forget to shop local this holiday season. • Boards, Commissions, and Committees: We are still taking applications for Advisory Boards and Commissions. • Follow us on social media to stay connected Mayor’s Appointments of City Councilmembers to Service Boards, Commissions, and Committees Mayor Wright noted that it is his responsibility each year to appoint members of the Council to serve on boards, commissions, and committees both externally, on behalf of the City, and internally as ex-officios. He explained that this year he had attempted to consider requests from individual Coun- cilmembers, while keeping in mind the need to serve the best interests of the City. The listings in the meeting packet were updated and re-published to reflect feedback from both the Council and from other entities. Mayor Wright displayed his proposed appointments and called on the Council for any questions or comments. Councilmember Stucky noted there was one new individual coming onto the Council and inquired whether they could meet the meeting requirements for those boards, commissions, and committees assigned to them. In-coming Councilmember Sandi Peterson was in attendance in the audience and confirmed she could meet both appointments. Motion: Councilmember Marrow moved to approve the Mayor’s appointments of Councilmembers to service boards, commissions, and committees for 2026 as presented. Councilmember Marshall seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. b. Councilmembers Mayor Wright called on the Council for their comments. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon, and Councilmembers Woessner, Armes, Stucky, Marshall, Marrow and Wiegenstein provided their respective comments. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon reported on a delightful experience at the tree lighting ceremony. Councilmember Woessner recognized Cody Bakken on his appointment to the Planning Commis- sion. Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 6 of 15 Councilmember Armes reported the Marina Advisory Commission has two sub-committees, with one focused on capital projects. A meeting of all Marina tenants is planned for January 16th at City Hall from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Councilmember Stucky noted that when he ran for Council five years ago, Councilmember Woess- ner had met with him and that he appreciated his mentorship and friendship. He noted Councilmem- ber Woessner was highly knowledgeable, had done a fine job, and that it had been an honor and a lot of fun to serve with him. Councilmember Marshall noted his appreciation of Pastor Erikson filling in to provide the invocation but missed Chaplain Lura providing his annual end of year invocation and wished him well. He too noted it had been an honor to serve with Councilmember Woessner and praised his historical knowledge and passion for the community. Councilmember Marrow noted he hoped the City could resource Councilmember Woessner for his valuable service. Councilmember Wiegenstein thanked Councilmember Woessner for his leadership, his service to the community and for his example. Councilmember Armes also noted her appreciation of Councilmember Woessner, and all that the members of the Council had learned from his and for his knowledge. Mayor Wright thanked Councilmember Woessner once again, noting his knowledge on code revi- sion and other items would be missed and that it had been an honor to work with him. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS & MEETINGS There were no public hearings. 7. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS a. Resolution 25-28: Cost of Living Adjustment for Non-Represented Employees for 2026 Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director Goldman reviewed the item for the Council, pre- sented in accordance with Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 35A.11.020. He explained that during the development of the 2025-26 biennial budget, cost-of-living increases (COLA) of 2.5% for 2025 and 2.0% for 2026 were included with the expectation that inflation would slow down consid- erably from what was being experienced during 2024. Based on the latest published inflation read- ing (Bureau of Labor Statistics Seattle Area Consumer Price Index twelve months ending in August 2025), inflation is at 2.8%, exceeding the amount included in the budget. Based on this, it is sug- gested that the COLA provided to non-represented employees for 2026 be increased from 2.0% to 2.5%, which is the same adjustment provided for 2025. This will affect approximately 54 full-time employees or a little over one-third of the City's workforce and is in conformance with union agree- ments. 2026 estimated impacts are as follows: • General Fund: $22,075.38. Average annual amount per employee: $525.60 • Other Funds: $ 7,048.32 Average annual amount per employee: $587.36 • Total: $29,123,70 Average annual amount per employee: $539.33 Impacts will be included in a future budget amendment. Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 7 of 15 Mayor Wright thanked Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director Goldman for his presenta- tion. He confirmed no comments had been received and called for any comments from those in attendance. Hearing none, Mayor Wright closed public comment and called on the Council for their questions and comments. Councilmember Woessner noted to Human Resources Director House that he believed this may have been only the second time in his years on the Council in which the workforce contracts were completed prior to the end of the year and that he was glad to see the non-represented employees getting the same COLA as union employees. Motion: Councilmember Woessner moved to approve Resolution 25-28: Authorizing and approving a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for non-represented employees, commencing January 1, 2026. Councilmember Marrow seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. b. Resolution 25-20: Adopting a Revised Employee Policy Manual Human Resources Director House reviewed the item for the Council, which introduces a revised Employee Policy Manual (EMP) the original of which was approved by former Mayor Severns and adopted by the Council on June 18, 2012, and last amended on March 9, 2018. The proposed EPM was approved by Mayor Ronnie Wright on December 10, 2025, and is scheduled to be implemented and effective as of January 1, 2026. It has been reviewed by legal counsel. Per OHMC 2.34.050, Administration: “The mayor shall have general authority to oversee administration of the personnel matters of the city… the city council expressly authorizes and directs the mayor to adopt such ad- ditional or clarifying personnel policies by administrative actions.” Director House reviewed the updates to the EPM, which included the following: Removal of: 5.17 Shared Sick Leave 5.23 Wellness Membership Fee Incentive – replaced with a complimentary local gym membership Addition of: 1.0 Developing and Publishing Policies, Procedures, Tasks and Forms 2.011 Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) 2.051 Anti-Bullying 2.07 Hiring and Recruitment 2.071 Civil Service 3.021 Retaliation 3.041 Electronic Signature and Remote Notarization 3.071 Public Access on City Property 3.101 Building Access and Security 3.121 Office or Workspace 4.031 Compressed or Modified Work Schedule 4.051 Flexible Time 4.091 Classification and Compensation 4.12 Infections and Communicable Disease 4.13 Telecommuting 5.031 Health Reimbursement Arrangement/Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (HRA VEBA) 5.061 Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) 5.131 Leave for Certain Emergency Services Personnel 5.17 Management Leave 5.21 Training Expenses 5.22 License, Certification, or Registration 5.24 Health Food Choices Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 8 of 15 Director House provided a breakdown of costs and noted revisions to established policies include clarification on exempt and non-exempt or non-union and union, service recognition, retention pay, transitional work (light or modified duty), accrued vacation to deferred compensation, and wellness rooms. Mayor Wright thanked Director House for the presentation. He confirmed no public comments had been received and called for any comments from those present. Hearing none, he turned to the Council for their questions and comments. Councilmembers Marrow and Stucky provided their respective questions and comments. Councilmember Marrow voiced his admiration to Director House, and all involved in the creation and updating of the Employee Policy Manual. Councilmember Stucky asked for clarification from City Attorney Evans that when the Employee Policy Manual talks about interaction with the media, those statements applied only to staff and not to the Council. City Attorney Evans explained that the Council decides if the Employee Policy Manual applies to the Council. Councilmember Stucky noted that in the section of the Manual regarding nepotism, he would like to change the wording from “city council” to “elected official”. Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director Goldman confirmed where this was located in the Employee Policy Manual, 211 Section A. Motion: Following a brief discussion, Councilmember Stucky moved to approve Resolution 25-20, Adopting a revised Employee Policy Manual with the change of the words “council member” in 211 Section A to read “elected official” of the City of Oak Harbor. Councilmember Marrow seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Mayor Wright thanked Human Resources Director House, City Administrator Combs, Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director Goldman, City Attorney Evans, and all department heads for their work on the Manual. Mayor Pro Tem Hizon added her thanks to the department heads and staff and voiced appreciation for staff for their input, which gave her confidence in the document. 8. CONTRACTS & AGREMENTS a. Interim Agreement with Island County for Municipal Court Services Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director Goldman reviewed the details of the Interim Agree- ment. The City of Oak Harbor and Island County District Court have had an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) for Municipal Court services since 2014, with the most recent amended ILA approved by both entities on December 19, 2018 for a four-year period, and amended a second time on December 12, 2022 for a three-year period ending December 31, 2025. City Administrator Combs and City Clerk Nester met with Island County District Court Judge Ron Costeck, Island County Commissioner Jill Johnson, and Island County Director of Budget and Risk Management Susan Gieger in October to discuss renewal of the ILA. In that meeting, it was deter- mined that the City and Island County would put forward an Interim ILA to extend the termination Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 9 of 15 date to allow both entities to do a more in-depth examination of current data. The proposed third amendment to the ILA was drafted by City legal counsel and extends the ILA to July 1, 2026. Mayor Wright thanked Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director Goldman for his presenta- tion. He confirmed no public comments had been received and called for comments from those in attendance, hearing none, he called on the Council for their questions and comments, noting the City could likely expect a rate increase in the future. Councilmember Woessner provided his respective comments and observed there had been no percentage change since 2018. Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director Goldman acknowledged the City had paid a rate of 17% of the municipal court costs for quite a while and that this data would be evaluated during negotiations. Motion: Mayor Pro Tem Hizon moved to approve the Third Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with Island County District Court for Municipal Court services. Councilmember Woessner seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. b. Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Oak Harbor Marina, Parks, and Public Works Human Resources Director House reviewed and provided background information for the Collec- tive4 Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The bargaining group met in five negotiation sessions. On November 25, 2025, the City of Oak Harbor Mayor's Administration and the Teamsters Union, Local No. 231 tentatively agreed to a three (3) year collective bargaining agreement. The bargaining members voted 26-1 in favor. This agreement covers the period of January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028. The cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for the years of the agreement are as follows: For 2026, a 2.5% cost of living adjustment. For 2027, a 2.5% cost of living adjustment. For 2028, a 2.5% cost of living adjustment. Those significant contract items negotiated were as follows: • Cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 2.5% for 2026, 2027, and 2028. • Market adjustment of 2.5% for 2026 and of 1% for 2027 and 1% for 2028. • Adjusted out-of-class from 3% to $11.00 per day for 2026, $12.00 per day for 2027, and $13.00 per day for 2028. • For 2026, employees will receive an additional one-time forty (40) hours of vacation added to their bank. • Approved footwear or workwear increased from $300.00 to $350.00 annually. Contract items changed or amended for clarification with no significant impact: Section 1.2 updated language. Section 5.3.1.b. updated language. Section 7.1.1 added personal protective equipment (PPE) language. Section 7.1.7 added language regarding duration of temporary work schedule adjustment. Section 7.2.8 added language regarding payment at time of termination. Section 10.1 added language for supporting documentation. Section 10.6.b. deleted, no longer applicable. Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 10 of 15 As a percent of payroll, fiscal impact is: 2026 - 7.9% 2027 - 10.0% 2028 - 14.1% Director House reviewed costing outcomes. She thanked the bargaining group, including Deputy City Administrator Goldman, City Administrator Combs, Public Works Director Schuller and Parks and Recreation Director Smith for all being part of the negotiations. Mayor Wright thanked Director House for her presentation. He confirmed no public comments had been received and called for comments from those in attendance, hearing none, he called on the Council for their questions and comments. There were no questions or comments from the Council. Motion: Councilmember Wiegenstein moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Labor Agreement by and between the City of Oak Harbor and the Teamsters Union, Local 231 (Marina, Parks, and Public Works). Councilmember Marrow seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. c. International Association of Firefighters Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Oak Harbor Fire Department Human Resources Director House reviewed and provided background information for the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF). On December 9, 2025, the City of Oak Harbor Mayor's Administration and the IAFF Union, Local 4504, tentatively agreed to a two (2) year collective bargaining agreement. This agreement covers the period of January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027. Director House noted the two-year agreement address any staffing changes for the new fire station and was approved by the bargaining unit by a vote of 19-1. The cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for the years of the agreement are as follows: For 2026, a 2.5% cost of living adjustment. For 2027, a 2.5% cost of living adjustment. Those significant contract items negotiated were as follows: Cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 2.5% for 2026 and 2027. Market adjustment of 0.5% for 2026 and 2027. Added classification and salary schedule for Firefighter/Paramedic, Captain Paramedic, and Bat- talion Chief. Removed classification and salary schedule for Lieutenant. Section 8.1 increased out-of-classification compensation from 5% to 7.5%. Section 11.2.7 removed vacation buyout language. Section 12.1 sick leave maximum accrual decreased from 1440 hours to 1000 hours. Section 12.11 added sick leave cash-out for active employees. Section 17.2.2 added holiday sell-back language. Contract items changed or amended for clarification with no significant impact: Section 1.2 updated language for classifications. Section 1.3 added language regarding job descriptions. Section 4.1 deleted language not needed. Section 6.6 language added for retroactive processing. Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 11 of 15 Section 7.2 added probation extension language. Section 8.1-8.5 updated working out-of-classification language. Section 9.1 added 8-hour shift definition. Section 9.5 updated non-structured hours. Section 9.8.1 added language regarding outside employment. Section 9.13 added shift bid language. Section 9.14 updated right to assign language. Section 10.7 removed classifications and updated reference. Section 10.8 call response language updated. Section 11.1.1 added 8-hour shift employee definition. Section 11.1.3 separated holidays from vacation leave and adjusted accruals. Section 11.2.2 deleted language not needed. Section 11.2.4 added language for payment at time of termination. Section 11.2.5 updated transfer of work shifts language. Section 12.1.1 added language for those retiring before December 31, 2026. Section 12.4 updated extended leave language. Section 12.5 updated language. Section 12.10 removed duplicate language. Section 13.1 updated language and reference. Section 14.2 added language for compensatory time. Section 15.2 added language for termination. Section 16.1 deleted cleaning allowance language. Section 17.2 updated holiday language. Section 17.2.1 added holiday prorated language. Section 18.1.2 updated classification reference. Section 19.1 updated bereavement leave definition. Section 19.1.1 added bereavement language. Section 19.1.2 added language for payroll processing. Section 21.1 updated required training language. Section 21.3 added voluntary training language. Section 21.3.1 added voluntary training tuition language. Section 22.1 added longevity is not compounded. Section 28.3 deleted seniority language not needed. Section 28.6 added seniority language. As a percent of payroll, fiscal impact is: 2026 - 10.7% 2027 - 11.3% 21% of the impact will be funded by the Fire Protection Response Time Improvement Levy Lid Lift. Director House reviewed costing outcomes. She thanked Fire Chief Anderson and the union repre- sentative for assisting with the language in the Agreement. Mayor Wright thanked Director House for her presentation. He confirmed no public comments had been received and called for comments from those in attendance, hearing none, he called on the Council for their questions and comments. There were no questions or comments from the Council. Motion: Councilmember Wiegenstein moved to authorize the Mayor to sign the Labor Agreement by and between the City of Oak Harbor and the International Association of Firefighters Union, Local 4504. Councilmember Marrow seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 12 of 15 Mayor Wright thanked Director House, Fire Chief Anderson, and Deputy City Administrator and Finance director Goldman for being at the negotiating table. d. Magnet Forensic Equipment Purchase Chief of Police Slowik presented the item. He explained that the Oak Harbor Police Department (OHPD) conducts criminal investigations where digital evidence is often stored in encrypted mobile devices. Between 2014 – 2020, OHPD paid for mobile forensic access tool services from a com- pany called Cellebrite. Since 2020, the Island County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) has helped OHPD by providing use of their paid mobile forensic service. The ICSO content is NOT provided in an inves- tigative format that is easily interpreted by investigators or prosecutors, resulting in delayed inves- tigations and potential missed information. OHPD cases are a lower priority. Downloads can be delayed weeks or months. ICSO is expecting staff changes and there are no guarantees the agency assistance will be continued. OHPD has a need for a mobile device forensic system that can capture and analyze data that is admissible in court. • Supports iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac Devices. • Used widely by law enforcement and security industry. • Where software is updated routinely to mirror changes in operating systems. • Provide investigators with current same-day or next-day reporting. OHPD staff examined the mobile forensic access tools currently available. Staff contacted agency partners and identified successes with available forensic investigative tools Magnet Forensics (SOLE SOURCE) has been identified as the tool that best fits the OHPD needs. Easily submit device extraction requests and create cases to save time and effort by the examiner. Most comprehensive iOS and modern Android device support available. Results are often under 1 hour, allowing devices to be returned to victims and witnesses. Ability to access and extract evidence from mobile devices irrespective of device state. OHPD has available funds in the Police Operations — Investigation, Small & Attractive BARS ac- count: 001.50.521.21.3515. 24 Month Agreement Two Year Agreement Year 1 - 2025 Funds Tool and Services: $16,757.85 One Time Training: $ 6,267.50 Year 2 - 2026 Funds Tool and Services: $17,032.16 Total: $40,057.51 Chief Slowik noted this will allow for certification and unlimited downloads and provides a compre- hensive analysis report. Mayor Wright thanked Chief Slowik for his presentation. He confirmed no public comments had been received and called for comments from those in attendance, hearing none, he called on the Council for their questions and comments. Councilmembers Marrow, Stucky, and Woessner provided their respective questions and com- ments. Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 13 of 15 Motion: Councilmember Woessner moved to authorize the Oak Harbor Police Department to sign a two-year agreement with Magnet Forensics for mobile forensic access tool service and training totaling $40,057.51. Councilmember Wiegenstein seconded the motion, which passed unani- mously. 9. OTHER ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION a. Approval of Accounts Payable Vouchers – Chamber of Commerce Mayor Wright explained this voucher list contained payment or payments to the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, of which Councilmember Marshall is the Executive Director. In order to avoid a conflict of interest, Councilmember Marshall has stated he will recuse himself from a vote on such payments, which are now a separate agenda item. Mayor Wright confirmed no public comments had been received. Hearing no comments from the public in attendance, or from the Council, he called for a motion for approval. Motion: Mayor Pro Tem Hizon moved to approve the Accounts Payable Voucher List payment to the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Councilmember Woessner seconded the motion, which passed by a vote of 6 in favor with Councilmember Marshall abstaining. 10. REPORTS & DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Draft Interlocal Agreement with Island County to Annex approximately 80 acres from the Urban Growth Area Principal Planner Kamak provided a presentation on this discussion only item. He explained that the City and Island County have been working over the past year to update their respective Com- prehensive Plans. As part of this effort, both jurisdictions have collaborated to establish housing targets for the City and its Urban Growth Area (UGA). During this process, it has become clear that portions of the unincorporated UGA present significant infrastructure-planning challenges. These challenges stem from a mix of fully developed neighborhoods alongside areas that remain unde- veloped or underdeveloped. To more effectively focus future planning efforts, the City and the County have determined that it is advisable to annex the undeveloped and underdeveloped portions of the UGA into the City. Bringing these areas into the City will allow them to be zoned and serviced at urban densities. The remaining developed areas of the UGA will require additional joint study to determine an appropriate transition strategy from County to City jurisdiction. This work may ultimately require two or more separate Interlocal agreements, depending on how both jurisdictions choose to address the developed areas and any potential future expansion areas. Principal Planner Kamak noted the collaborative work with Island County. Both jurisdictions have identified the annexation of the undeveloped and underdeveloped areas as the logical first step, as this action directly affects the City’s Comprehensive Plan Update. Annexation will enable the City to fully evaluate the development potential of these properties and will allow for land to be included in the City’s capacity analysis. Land will be annexed in as R2 zoning, which is consistent with the current Comprehensive Plan and will likely be amended to accommodate the 2026 update. Annexation by Interlocal agreement is authorized under several provisions of state law. Staff rec- ommend proceeding under Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 35A.14.296 (attached). This pro- cess requires notification of affected service providers, including fire protection, water and sewer Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 14 of 15 utilities, and transportation agencies. It also requires public notice and public hearings by both the City and the County prior to adoption of the agreement. The City and the County are currently coordinating the schedule for review of the draft Interlocal agreement (ILA). A “DRAFT” version is included with this report for the Council’s preliminary review before the formal process begins. Staff intends to issue notice letters to affected agencies and property owners in December/January. Agencies will have 30 days to indicate their interest in par- ticipating as parties to the agreement. After the 30-day response period, a public notice—issued jointly or separately—must be published for four consecutive weeks. Following the notice period, each jurisdiction may hold a public hearing (jointly or separately) prior to considering adoption. Staff and County partners continue to refine the logistical steps associated with the annexation process. Public hearings and consideration of adoption are expected to occur in the February/March timeframe. Principal Planner Kamak showed the proposed annexation area on the map included in the draft agreement. The affected properties are located on the south side of the City and consist primarily of undeveloped or underdeveloped lands. The annexation also includes a segment of Swantown Road adjacent to the Indian Ridge development, located at the northwest corner of Swantown Road and Heller Road. Including this portion of Swantown Road will enable the City to provide municipal services along the corridor without interruption. Mayor Wright thanked principal Planner Kamak for his work on the agreement and also the work of Island County Assistant Director of Long Range Planning Emily Neff and team, the Island County Commissioners, and City Attorneys Evans and Zeinemann. This item will be brought back to the Council at a later date for potential action. Mayor Wright called on the Council for their questions and comments. Councilmembers Marrow, Stucky, Woessner, Marshall, and Mayor Pro Tem Hizon provided their respective questions and comments. Mayor Wright thanked the council and staff for their efficient navigation of a lengthy agenda. He thanked City staff for a very productive year, and thanked Councilmember Woessner once again for his service to the Council and the City. ADJOURN There being no further business, Councilmember Woessner moved to adjourn the meeting, se- conded by Councilmember Stucky The vote on the motion was unanimous; therefore the meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m. Certified by Julie Nester, City Clerk Regular Meeting Minutes December 16, 2025 Page 15 of 15