An Oak Harbor subcommittee charged with reviewing ideas for spending federal stimulus money came up with a $2 million list of expenses, from iPads for council members to new city employees.
Members of the city council briefly reviewed the ideas during a workshop last Wednesday but came to no decisions yet.
Oak Harbor will receive $6.6 million through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, which is meant to aid public health and economic recovery.
Finance Director David Goldman said the subcommittee is made up of three council members and relevant staff. The members went through requests from city departments and came up with a pared down but still lengthy list.
Councilmember Tara Hizon, a member of the subcommittee, said the list is for “very short term, immediate need” among city departments.
“These things are not as sexy as cash bonuses, I understand,” she said, “but the idea is if we could hopefully touch on each department and get them moving with the tools they need to be successful and streamline things and be safe.”
Island County and the Town of Coupeville handed out premium pay to its eligible staff members. Several Oak Harbor city employees suggested in a staff morale survey that they too should get the extra cash. While the subcommittee’s list did not include extra money for staff, there’s more than $4 million to be allocated in the future.
ARPA funds have to be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024 and spent by Dec. 31, 2026.
The list includes nearly $460,000 in funding for the fire department. In addition to equipment, the department requested $350,000 to pay for a new lieutenant through 2024.
Goldman explained that the pandemic caused a staff shortage in the department. Also, fire officials hope to build a second fire station in the southwest area of the city and having the position filled would help prepare the increased staffing need.
Other proposals include $278,000 for three-year economic development position; $30,000 for a policy and procedure management system; $7,200 for replacement iPads for council and other board members; $30,000 for replacement servers; $49,000 for security cameras at the marina; $45,000 for shoreline renovation at Windjammer Park; $50,000 for police use of force training system; $30,000 for police pistol optics system; and $450,000 for four generators.
Councilmember Joel Servatius said he hoped to go through the list more closely and he hoped it wouldn’t turn into “a giant wish list.” He questioned, for example, hiring an economic development director, pointing out that both the city administrator and finance director were hired, in part, for that role.
He spoke in favor of spending money to repair or replace sewer lines to prevent the intrusion of stormwater, a major problem that puts stress on the city’s sewage treatment plant.
Councilmember Jim Woessner said he hoped that using the funding could “open up” other places in the budget for community improvements, such as a promenade to Windjammer Park.
“I want to make sure we have things to touch and feel,” he said.
The council will consider adopting the list, with a few items taken off, at the Nov. 16 meeting.
