Molly Hughes

The agenda for the Town Council Meeting included several key new business items, such as the approval of Resolution 26-02 for Countywide Planning Policies, and the approval of on-call engineering contracts with Facet Engineering and Wilson Engineering, as well as an on-call Archeology Contract with PSOMAS. Additionally, the council addressed the approval of February 2026 Payroll and AP Transactions. Discussions included possible amendments to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Supporting documents detailed the terms of the on-call engineering services contracts and the basis for Resolution 26-02 concerning the revised Countywide Planning Policies.

The Town Council meeting agenda included a presentation on the results of the Water Reuse Feasibility Study conducted by Jacobs Engineering, which aims to reduce effluent discharge to Penn Cove by enabling the reuse of Class B effluent. New Business included the approval of a Right of Entry Agreement with the Navy to allow drilling of monitoring wells on the Town's water plant property to help delineate the PFAS plume perimeter. Council and Staff reports covered updates on wastewater treatment plant performance, receipt of grant funding for a nutrient optimization pilot study, maintenance in parks and streets, and water usage, which was higher than average due to a large leak following a storm. Discussion items included proposed changes to the T-Mobile Cell Tower at the Town Archives Building and the America 250 Reenactment by Historic Whidbey.

The agenda for this session includes the approval of the Mayor's Report and a presentation detailing the results of the Water Reuse Feasibility Study by Jacobs Engineering. New business features a proposed resolution to approve a Right of Entry Agreement with the Navy. Discussion items are slated for proposed changes to the T-Mobile Cell Tower located at the Town Archives Building and the America 250 Reenactment event organized by Historic Whidbey. Time is allotted for audience input.

The agenda for the meeting included several key items for action. New business involved the approval of Resolution 26-01 revising Personnel Policies regarding Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Benefits, the appointment of Meg Olson to the Historic Preservation Commission, approval of a letter of support for the Older Americans Act to members of Congress, setting a workshop to discuss Park and Recreation priorities, and approving the January 2026 payroll and related transactions. Discussion items included proposed changes to the Sign Code, specifically standards for portable signs, and updates on County-Wide Planning Policies and Comprehensive Plan revisions related to housing elements.

The meeting addressed several public hearings requiring a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA). The first hearing concerned a proposal for Beth Shepherd to replace two double-hung windows and add a third on the west façade of the A. B. Coates House, expanding an opening. The second hearing was for Matthew Cary's proposal to construct a new single-family residence on 1273 Monroe Landing Rd, Oak Harbor, replacing an previously approved tractor barn footprint. Additionally, the Commission planned to hold a vote for the 2026 HPC Chair and Vice Chair.