City Council - Regular Meeting

I will call this city council meeting of March 17th, 2026 to order. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all those that are here with us this evening. We acknowledge that this meeting is being held on the ancestral lands of the Co Salish people. We pay our respect to those past and present. Tonight's invocation is being led by Pastor Matthew Ericson of the First Reformed Church. If we could all please stand for the invocation and then remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Let us pray. On this St. Patrick's Day, we gather here with a touch of green and a bit of cheer. We thank you for this place we call home. For Oak Harbor, where we live, where we serve, and where we roam for those who lead and those who serve, grant wisdom, patience, a steady nerve. Not guided by luck or chance today, but by thoughtful hearts that seek your way. When conversations grow lively and strong, keep us grounded in what is right, not just what is easy or long. Give clarity where decisions are hard and unity of purpose in every regard. We lift up those serving both near and afar. Bring peace to their hearts wherever they are. And bless this gathering, each voice, each role with a spirit that seeks the good of the whole. May all that is said and all that is done help OK Harper flourish as a community one. We pray in gratitude and grace. Amen.

Amen.

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. Reminder to everyone that this will be both a physical and a virtual meeting. The meeting may be viewed on YouTube and following the meeting on Facebook. Julie, um, everyone's present accounted for. Eric Marshall's participating online, but we are missing Mayor Prom, so that's the only absence noted.

That is correct, Mayor. I did not receive a request for excuse from Mayor Prom.

Okay. So, we'll just make a note of her absence then and we'll move forward. Um, approval of the agenda. I'd like to note that our agenda today reflects that our staff is doing the work that council had talked about at the council retreat, which is bringing items to the council on the consent agenda that are routine or that staff have already presented during a workshop in order to improve efficiency and shorten the length of meetings. For example, thank you to our communications officer, Maggie Aguilar, for her efficiency in bringing forward the council's overarching priorities for adoption at this meeting after council discussion at last week's workshop. Produced only one change and for incorporating that. As always, if there is an item on the consent agenda that any member of the council wishes to discuss in more detail, that council member can request it to be removed from the consent agenda for further discussion. We routinely place the appointments and reappoints to city advisory boards, commissions, and committees on the consent agenda. We will have openings on several of the our advisory groups and encourage all to check out our website for more information. I'd also like to note that there is a lot of work done by our staff and our advisory groups that goes into getting an idea from concept to presentation before it comes to council for action. That work is greatly appreciated. as if any changes are suggested to the regular agenda. I'm sorry. I'm going to ask now if there are any suggested changes to the regular agenda. All right. Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda then.

Second. All right. We have a motion to approve the agenda as presented by council member Wiganstein, seconded by council member. Is there any further discussion before I call for a vote? I would just Mr. Mayor. Yes. I would just like to say that um I will be voting on the consent agenda, but I want the public to know that although I was absent March 3rd, I watched the meeting online and read the packet. So I feel that I can vote for the approval. Thank you. And mayor, I'd like to note that count that Mayor Prom Heisen has joined us online.

Perfect. Thank you very much. Hi, Mayor Prom. All right, so yes. Oh, I thought you were okay. All right, so all in favor raise your hand. All opposed. All right, that passes unanimously. All right, tonight we have presentations. We have an oath of office for our deputy fire chief. And here to introduce that is our fire chief, Travis Anderson. Mayor, council, I appreciate the opportunity to stand uh before you and present the office oath of office to our newest deputy chief uh uh uh Chief Bill Harris. Um he comes to us from Anacortis. He's also served time in Sunnyside in Washington. He's already a proven leader and we're proud to uh have him part of our team. As you can see from our our new recruits we have going through our fire academy to the new fire station that is almost done uh that we're going to be ready to staff on June 1st. Um and our new apparatus coming here and our new paramedic program. We have a lot of uh good things coming our way from the fire department to present to our citizens and having uh Chief Harris on our team is going to only make us better. So, I'm excited to have him. And at this time, I'd like to present his oath of office here.

I state your name. I, Bill Harris, solemnly swear to perform my duties solemnly swear to perform my duties as a fire officer for the city of Oak Harbor. as a fire officer for the city of Oak Harbor. To the best of my abilities. to the best of my abilities. I will serve our firefighters and officers I will serve our firefighters and officers with respect with respect with dignity with dignity with honor with honor I will serve the citizens of Oak Harbor I will serve the citizens of of Oak Harbor with courage with courage with compassion with compassion with integrity with integrity regardless of the consequences regardless of the consequences I will uphold the laws and constitutions I will uphold the laws and constitution of the United States of America of the United States of America the state of Washington state of Washington and the city of Oak Harbor and the city of V Harbor.

So help me God. So help me God. CONGRATULATIONS to you. Sure. Yeah. We'll grab a quick picture.

All right, it's 5:42. We are back in session. We have the next presentation. It's the mayor's we see you award recognition. Um at the Oak Harbor Creative Arts Commission, we recognize two past commissioners, Carla Frund and um Trace Kingsbury for their longtime service to the arts commission. And tonight we I am pleased to recognize Danny Ledgerwood and Duncan McY for performing a quick efficient water rescue for a marina tenant in January. The tenant was working on their back deck and quote from him was, "I was on the deck one minute and off the ne the deck the next minute. My footing was a little slippery." The crew heard something that wasn't quite right, stopped what they were doing, and then heard the calls for help. The staff was able to assist by pulling the ladder from the owner's swim step and guided him as he climbed out on his own. The crew contacted his spouse to bring dry clothes and to ensure he wasn't alone. Right after our staff acted swiftly, effectively, and as trained, and this was the best outcome possible. Um, so I would like to present them both with the we see you award, a t-shirt, and a pin from the city. Thank you very much for your heroism and just your everyday efforts and what you do. Thank you for all your water. speech.

Perfect. All right. On to the public comment section of the meeting. Comment on consent agenda items are subject to not listed on the agenda at this time. Opportunity to comment on agenda items during the meeting as appropriate. Comments on public hearing items are heard during that portion of the agenda. Visit our website for method to public comments. public comments or verified on the sign.

Let me check. Mayor, one moment. Chief, did anyone sign up? No, mayor. We have no one who signed in to speak. And is there anyone with us like

we did we did receive comments online. Oh, I'm sorry. I always forget these two. So, we typically see if the people are here and they want to make a comment. Sorry, we're having some technical issues with teams, so we're a little distracted over here. Mayor, your mic isn't working. So, we're we're getting some reports. Got it on.

It's not being heard in Teams for some reason. So, sorry. We're just trying to deal with some technical things that came up. Do you want me to? Yeah, we can try using council member stuckies and seeing if that works better. Now I feel like I'm doing a Fox News interview.

I'm hearing feedback somewhere. Mayor, that concludes the online comments.

Perfect. Thank you. Now I will close public comment. Thank you very much, Julie. We will move on to the consent agenda. Are there any objections or other changes to the consent agenda as it is presented? Yes, council member stuck. Need to pull off item H. All right. All right. So, Council Member Stucky has asked to remove item H from the consent agenda. Are there any other items or is there any objection to that? Okay. So, items A through G, are we good with those? Can we vote on those? And then we'll bring back and I I'm sorry. Thank you. A through G and I. Can we vote on those? And then I'll bring back H.

I'll entertain a motion. You're all nodding, but I'll entertain a motion. I'm sorry. Okay. I move we accept the consent agenda with the exception of item H. Second. Second. Just every thing except H. She's saying.

Yeah. Okay. So, we have a motion to accept all items on the consent agenda except item H from Council Member Peterson, seconded by Council Member Wiganstein. Is there any further discussion before I call for a vote? All right. All in favor, raise your hand. All right. That passes unanimously. I think Eric's good. I Okay, there I see it. All right. So, now we will bring back um Parks and Recreation Commission position one car. Stucky reappoint. Um yes, Council Member Stucky. I think I'm okay with this now. Yeah, just just as I've stated in the past, of course, I am married to that individual and therefore do not want to vote on it on a consent agenda.

Okay. So then, council member Stucky doesn't want to vote on it, but yes, council, I'll make a motion to approve item eight from the consent agenda.

I'll second it. Okay. So, we have a motion to approve item H on the consent agenda from Council Member Wiganstein, seconded by Council Member Arms. Is there any further discussion before I call for a vote? Hearing seeing none, all in favor, raise your right hand. I have 1 2 3 4 five six yeses and one abstension. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you for that, Brian. I think we're okay. I think you're good now. All right. Okay, we are going to move on then to mayor and council comments. Mayor comments, bear with me. We see you award. Uh, this award celebrates the unnoticed efforts, dedication, kindness, and positive impact of those who make or have made a difference in our community. Last week, I presented two awards to Carlo Friend and Theres Kingsbury, which I had mentioned earlier. I will be recognizing individuals every month. Um, BNO tax. I'm really proud of the work being done behind the scenes around BNO tax. There have been a lot of questions about BNO taxes. So, if you have not visited the page on our website under finance, please do. The finance team along with our communications officer have built a page with extensive information. Deputy city administrator and finance director David Goldman has even created videos. AI. Um, there's a helpful tax guide and even a BNO song. Um, Brace yourself. Arts and elegance event. The homeless coalition is hosting art and elegance on March 28th at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge. This is an event to support the unhoused community. Catered meal, wine included. Tickets are still available. Fire station 82 open house. Our fire department will host an open house on June 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, starting with a pancake breakfast, then tours of our new fire station 82. I hear council and I will be serving pancakes. Council, our city clerk has placed this

and other upcoming events on your calendars. Please let her know if you will be attending. Wink wink, you will be attending. Um, parks and recreation is hiring. Our parks and recreation department is hiring. Come be a part of camp wind jammer and work with kids this summer. Needed our camp counselors and camp leads. See our website to apply. Upcoming events. The right blend will be held at the Oak Harbor Public Library this month on March 27th at 10:00 a.m. Details on our website. Main Street is hosting an Easter egg hunt on April 4th at Smith Park. They are also having a sensory friend friendly egg hunt. Um I don't have the is that going to be on the same day because I don't have a date for that. So

same day. Okay. So I don't know. I don't hunt strikes. So um get involved. We have openings on a number of our city advisory boards, commissions, and committees. See our website to apply. Stay connected. Come to a meeting, a right blend, send us a question via email or call us. Follow us on social media to find out what is coming up. Please remember that social media is not the best place to leave comments or ask questions. And with that, I will turn it over to council at this time for their questions or comments for updates on their commissions and advisory boards. Council member Merrill.

Yes. With regard to island transit, we just had a um retreat and we were discussed and working on the one-year, 5year, and 10-year long range plan. Uh we're very much diligent about trying to increase participation and use using of this resource uh both uh the public in general, but mainly to those who are employed or school, those who had primary need for that kind of transportation. That's all I have. Mayor. Great. Thank you, Council Member Stucky. In regards to the idle fees, didn't we vote on idle? I mean, are there idle fees to the EV chargers currently?

So, we I was looking at that earlier this week. Well, yesterday. Um, and uh what I realized is is that we had created fees for the use of the chargers, but I have to look into the idle fees because I don't think we had a specific idling item related to that. So it's if you're charging the device, there's fees associated that we created, but I don't know about the idling piece. So Chief Sloick, do you have anything? Yeah. So, so there's a there's a once you're connected for for a period of time that's free charge if you stay connected charge but also

I I guess though like what stopped me from just parking there it's against state law so we it's properly posted there's not plug into the charger charge. Okay. Thank you. And I do know the business community nearby has been very good about watching and notifying. Yes. Anybody else for the good of the order? Report out. Council member Arms.

Uh I talked to Elise this morning. It looks like probably Friday we're going to be done with the repairs hopefully. And uh the fish are being more active. So come down and feed them on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 9:00. Thank you, Council Member Peterson.

Thank you. Um my commission is the arts commission and we met last week. We actually met Tuesday. Um they are setting up workshops to um determine the maintenance on the art. Um they will be citing the last two Kilibru statues, working with staff about volunteer hours and many things that we can do to get the community involved. And Ree, our student commissioner, I believe has her piece of art in Washington DC. And I hope she comes home with a big old blue ribbon or whatever you get for that. and um I just continue to learn about how this commission works and it is very fun and exciting to see the energy being put into art in our community.

Thank you for that. All right. Is that it? All right. Well, we will close council comments and move on to other items for consideration and that's the approval of the accounts payable vouchers chamber of commerce. This voucher list contains a payment or payments to the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, of which Council Member Marshall is the executive director. In order to avoid a conflict of interest, Council Member Marshall has stated he will res recuse himself from a vote on such payments, which are now a separate agenda item. Um, have we received any public comments on this issue, Julie? No, mayor. No public comments were received.

Okay. Thank you. And is there anyone here with us this evening that would like to make comments on this issue? All right. Hearing seeing none, council, do you have any questions or comments about this issue? All right. Hearing seeing none, I would entertain a motion. I move that we uh do the accounts payable voucher for Chamber of Commerce.

Okay. We have a motion to approve the accounts payable vouchers for Chamber of Commerce by Council Member Peterson, seconded by Council Member Wigenstein. Before I call for a vote, is there any further discussion hearing? Seeing none, all in favor, raise your right hand. All okay. And then one. So I have six in favor and one abstension then. All right. That is the last item on there. Since we covered everything else on the consent agenda, there being no further business, is there a motion to adjurnn? So moved. All right. Is there a second? Second.

All right. All in favor, raise your right hand.