Name of Observer: Becky Bolte
Observed Meeting:   Oak Harbor School Board
Date of Meeting: 5/22/23
Members present: Lynn Goebel, Bob Hallahan, Nicole Tesch, Jessica Aws, Sharon Jensen, Thinalyn Ramier: student, Josiah Villano: student
Members absent:
Others present (staff, media, public):  Dr. Tammy Campbell: CEO of The Scholar First, Superintendent Michelle Kuss-Cybula, Asst Superintendent Dwight Lundstrom, Vicky Williams (Financial reports)

Summarize the main issues discussed at the meeting:

2.01 Strategic Planning overview with Dr. Tammy Campbell, CEO of The Scholar First
- Provided overview of process
- Shared guiding principles – anchored by student voice
- Research: Battelle Research on High Performing districts, Districts that Succeed - University of Chicago Consortium on School Research
- Strategic Plan alignment with less goals for laser focus, better collaboration, students at center of goals
- will be in Oak Harbor listening to students, staff, and families. Then they will do a survey of all to come up with themes which will determine goals, metrics, and outcomes in 4 areas:
1.Whole child – social and belonging, 2. Early learning, 3. Grade level competency, 4. College and career
-Strategic plan is typically 5 years

5.01 Student rep report. Graduation is June 10

5.02 Visitors: Board President reminded that Board members do not respond to visitor comments and comments are limited to 3 minutes.
-Grace Jones – Drama: students went to State Thespian Festival at WWU and saw cutting of Laramie Project. It is #7 most produced high school play. Drama Club students voted to do the show in 2023-24 at OHHS but it was rejected by school administration. Grace was cut off at 3 minutes.
-Eclipse Garrett - They are aware that the board may not be able to overturn administrations rejection. She listed other play possibilities and reasons why not to do them – Marian, The True Tale of Robin Hood, She Kills Monsters, Little Women, Almost Maine, Clue. Whidbey Playhouse has offered support at their venue.

11.02 Public hearing: General Fund Budget Extension. No one signed up to speak.

11.03 2022-23 General Fund Budget Extension. Resolution 22-25 approved.

12.01 Superintendent comments:
-Building projects – Governor signed legislation, money release is end of July, state and federal money needs to be coordinated.
- May-June – meeting with Crescent Harbor and Hand-in-Hand/Home Connections staff, hire project manager
- July-August – finalize architectural plans
- September-November – begin site preparation work, call for committee applicants
- April 2024 – send out invitation for construction bids
Year end community mailer going out about strategic plan, what next year looks like
13.01 Board comments. Board members commented on activities and work with students
including many positive statements about students, but no one addressed the comments by
student visitors about the rejection of the Laramie Project. It is not clear why the board members
do not respond to visitor comments, especially students, after hearing that emphasis on students
is the starting point of goals in the upcoming strategic plan.
14.01 Upcoming board meetings are June 12 and 26 at 6 pm

List any issues on the agenda relevant to any LWV state or local positions or programs: 
(League positions can be found here: Positions - LWV Whidbey Island)

Do you recommend local League action or study on any of these issues?      No
If ‘yes’ what action do you recommend?

Was the meeting conducted in an open, business-like, and civil manner?  Yes

Consider the following questions and respond if relevant:
Was the agenda made available prior to and at the meeting? Yes
Did members adhere to the provided agenda? yes
Were any non-agenda items discussed?  no
Was there adequate discussion of issues?  yes
Were any “Executive Sessions” called? Yes - lasted almost an hour
Was there adequate opportunity for public input? 3 minutes not adequate for visitors in this
meeting, but it is the rule
Was background material available to the public? yes
Did any member recuse themselves during the meeting? no
If yes, for what reason?

List any other concerns or observations:
See 13.01

Observer E-mail: [email protected]                           Date submitted:  5/26/23

​Name of Observer: Jane Ficalora
Observed Meeting: Langley City Council
Date of Meeting: 5/15/2023
Members present: Harolynne Bobis, Rhonda Salerno, Thomas Gill, Craig Cyr, Gail Fleming
Members absent: none
Others present (staff, media, public): Mayor: Scott Chaplin, Interim Clerk: Darlene Baldwin, Finance Director: Wanda Grone, Planning Director: Meredith Penny, Director of Public Works: Randi Perry. Sara Springer from Ogden Murphy and Wallace and staff members from Langley Library.
There were also members of public on zoom - they are not shown unless they make a comment.

Summarize the main issues discussed at the meeting:
-Public comment period included Jill Edwards announcing the organization of a pride parade for July of this year. It will be the first pride parade since 2008.
-Council member Cyr announced Island Transit to add new routes and to be running routes on Sundays. He encouraged everyone to show support and get on a bus June 4th - the first Sunday the buses are to add routes.
-Mayor Chaplin reported that the Association of Washington Cities will have an annual conference in Spokane June 22 and member cities can send three representatives to vote. He suggested council may find 3 volunteers to send at the next meeting. https://wacities.org/events-education/conferences/awc-annual-conference
-Ordinances for changes to Mayor and council members salary were voted on and passed.
-Ordinance to establish Advisory Climate Crisis Action Commission was voted on and passed as well.
-Community Planning Director Meredith Perry updated council that the State Environmental Policy Act notice for the Housing Action Plan has been posted for public comment and will conclude May 22. A poll is to be sent out this week to Planning Advisory Board and Council to gather feedback on
proposed housing changes.
-The options for removal of city documents for remodeling of Langley library were discussed at length with a detailed power point presentation by Mayor Chaplin. Progress was made in deciding temporary storage and the hiring of digitization specialists.
-Council member Salerno announced the upcoming Whidbey Water Story all day event that is a collaboration of Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and Langley Climate Crisis Action Committe with science and water experts. https://soundwaterstewards.org/event/whidbeys-water-future-in-a-changing-climate-2/

Do you recommend local League action or study on any of these issues? No
Was the meeting conducted in an open, business-like, and civil manner? Yes – All in attendance were polite and the motions were discussed and voted on in an orderly manner.

Consider the following questions and respond if relevant.

Was the agenda made available prior to and at the meeting? Yes
https://cms4files1.revize.com/langleywashington/2023-05-15%20Council%20Packet.pdf

Did members adhere to the provided agenda? Yes
Were any non-agenda items discussed? No
Was there adequate discussion of issues? Yes
Were any “Executive Sessions” called? No
Was there adequate opportunity for public input? Yes
Was background material available to the public? Yes – see council packet linked above
Did any member recuse themselves during the meeting? For what reason? No

List any other concerns or observations:

Observer E-mail: [email protected] Date submitted: 5/21/23

​Name of Observer: Jane Ficalora
Observed Meeting: Langley City Council
Date of Meeting: 5/1/2023
Members present: Harolynne Bobis, Rhonda Salerno, Thomas Gill, Craig Cyr, Gail Fleming
Members absent: none
Others present (staff, media, public): Mayor: Scott Chaplin, Interim Clerk: Darlene Baldwin, Finance Director: Wanda Grone, Planning Director: Meredith Penny, Director of Public Works: Randi Perry, Chief of Police: Tavier Wasser, Sara Springer from Ogden Murphy and Wallace, Inge Morascini from Lodging Tax Advisory Commission and staff members from Langley Library. Many members of public.
There were also members of public on zoom - they are not shown unless they make a comment.

​Summarize the main issues discussed at the meeting:
-Mayor's report: City has finished hiring a Hearing Examiner. Langley is now a heritage area due to Marine Heritage Event funded by the National Park Service. The mayor attended a Rick Larsen event and learned that due to infrastructure bill there will be availability of money that the city needs to prepare for to be eligible.
-There was a first reading regarding Ordinance to decrease the Mayor's salary and during discussion one member of the public voiced concern that lowering of salary would not be good for the city.
-There was a first reading for Ordinance to raise council members salary.
-There was a first reading for Ordinance to establish Advisory Climate Crisis Action Commission. Council members had differing opinions whether adding more commissions would be more costly and add work to already strained staff. There were ideas put forth that the committee could get more done faster if the organization did not become a commission. Public members voiced concerns and input ideas as well to possible options going forward.
-Public Works director Perry updated council of Use Efficiency Goal Resolution and goal to reduce residential water use by 12/2028 to meet WA State requirement.
-Mayor presented ideas on Water Use Efficiency Goal Task Force. The mayor suggested looking into consultants for help in evaluation of the matter.
Some council and members of Public Works Advisory Commission discussed the current ongoing work that has been completed and plans for future.
Some ideas expressed concern that consultants would not be helpful at this time.
-The remodeling of Langley library in the near future is necessitating the removal of city documents from their current storage in basement of library.
Library staff members attended in person to present possible plans and options for council to help with this upcoming work. A member of the Finance and Personnel Legislative Commission presented some concerns on the financing of the project. The member was careful to state they were a member of FPLC but were not representing on behalf of FPLC at this meeting.
-Lodging Tax Advisory Commision chair Inge Morascini presented options for replacing Langley Billboard Sign on Hwy 525 that has been damaged.

Do you recommend local League action or study on any of these issues? No
Was the meeting conducted in an open, business-like, and civil manner? Yes – All in attendance were polite and the motions were discussed and voted on in an orderly manner.

Consider the following questions and respond if relevant:

Was the agenda made available prior to and at the meeting?
Yes -
https://cms4files1.revize.com/langleywashington/2023%2005%2001%20Council%20Packet.pdf

Did members adhere to the provided agenda? Yes
Were any non-agenda items discussed? No
Was there adequate discussion of issues? Yes
Were any “Executive Sessions” called? Yes
Was there adequate opportunity for public input? Yes
Was background material available to the public? Yes – see council packet linked above
Did any member recuse themselves during the meeting? No
For what reason?

​List any other concerns or observations:

Observer E-mail: [email protected] Date submitted: 5/3/23