[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6217315,"mediaKeyId","3646416-39613b4a0280e309e936af64f33a0283","parentId",3646416,"title","Oak Harbor council debates commemorative flag policy; directs staff to split lowering authority from commemorative‑flag rules","audioSeconds",816,"startMs",2155660,"endMs",2972180,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646416-39613b4a0280e309e936af64f33a0283&start=2155&end=2972","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646416-39613b4a0280e309e936af64f33a0283/thumbnail_2155660.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6217315/Oak-Harbor/Island-County/Washington/Oak-Harbor-council-debates-commemorative-flag-policy-directs-staff-to-split-lowering-authority-from-commemorativeflag-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217315-6d75bcf9db94a09f022893146c8fe022/orig.mp4?Expires=1771042819&Signature=aJSaedEbXUKN~NRsBrFPRlg1z5WM74lbv8sYj7~O0I4g36hPsPtGzds-u3c9KSpOq0Rb~IAzH4IqGqhcO~H22AyZeqMZq7yavZtpZlypFIvE303GITQglihaf3FrNz1C-GfNZPJUQhxIMUOr2cj5hLnBKvYij9QNFXXVOw3ZyIBb3YZt-76oKTWQFKkoEKdzxtrlttupElubuBs0ext8HdDZFbHUEta~~mYr9A1S5jCpA8F9MRKKuX4MDNCP5OKT1uVSvFc3Uas0m9wUoO6eRIwxKotyVAJC1igrQZQgQ~KXfUkO9EoPQEe5DmvVcDuZR8Uv0vjTxqNnTaZdWpsCeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oak Harbor City, WA","date","2025-06-04T01:24:58Z","article","The Oak Harbor City Council on Tuesday discussed a proposed resolution to clarify when flags may be displayed or lowered on city property and gave staff direction to return with separate proposals: one granting the mayor authority to lower flags and a second addressing commemorative flags.

Communications officer Maggie Aguilar told the council the city lacks a policy limiting the display of flags on municipal property and currently relies on declarations from the governor to lower flags. “The city of Oak Harbor does not have a policy on the display of flags on city property that limits the display to approve flags,” Aguilar said. She said staff reviewed other cities’ policies and guidance from the Association of Washington Cities and the Municipal Research Services Center in drafting the resolution.

Aguilar said the draft would allow the mayor, on behalf of the council, to raise commemorative flags and to direct lowering of federal and state flags to half staff; she described past delays when the city waited for gubernatorial authorization to honor local service members. “By passing this resolution, we are taking a small but meaningful step and making sure that our city can act quickly,” Aguilar said.

Nut graf: Councilors expressed broad support for giving the mayor authority to lower flags quickly for local tragedies or moments of reflection, but several raised objections to expanding the list of flags flown on city property. Several members said they believed municipal property should remain neutral and cautioned that adopting a commemorative‑flag policy could create divisive, subjective decisions about which groups or causes would receive recognition.

Councilor Marshall said she supported mayoral authority to lower flags but opposed expanding the list of flags flown on city property. “City property should remain a neutral space that does not promote or prioritize any particular group,” Marshall said. Councilor Arms, Councilor Merrill and Councilor Stuckey voiced similar positions in remarks recorded during the meeting. Other councilors supported broader discretion to display commemorative flags as a sign of inclusivity but agreed the two issues warranted separate resolutions.

No formal vote was taken on Resolution 25‑17. Instead, the council directed staff to return with a revised approach—separating the mayor’s authority to lower flags from policies governing commemorative flags—and to bring the revised proposals back at a subsequent meeting. Communications staff indicated they understood the direction and will prepare a revised resolution.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6-3-2025 City of Oak Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors agreed to give the mayor authority to lower U.S. and state flags for local events but expressed concern about expanding which commemorative flags may fly on city property. Staff will return with two separate proposals after direction from council.","taxTitle","Oak Harbor, Island County, Washington","taxId",54122,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6217321,"Oak Harbor council unanimously approves revisions to design regulations to align single‑family standards with 'missing middle' law",319,1811870,2131490,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646416-39613b4a0280e309e936af64f33a0283&start=1811&end=2131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646416-39613b4a0280e309e936af64f33a0283/thumbnail_1811870.jpg","/articles/6217321/Oak-Harbor/Island-County/Washington/Oak-Harbor-council-unanimously-approves-revisions-to-design-regulations-to-align-singlefamily-standards-with-missing-middle-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217321-da263f689e4e98e43dae41965606976d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771042819&Signature=mJ4HzwBFZUt73pGbacptSMR3EuYx8v-l6BCYUNFDZ6IrZHvRiCYLB0UNkkbGay-opdU9ioAP2MbiQmbk0h28mLBEFylLg-k5HaexYQCoC0dM1ZG41R4VHbZfVMmaeIb1kcmWFFUSjPWWMcFy21deIrmwcyhgFbSc-gxVyCKnVSlqUjnfNyprC3c-I91caleuw7mVKXIt4E7Kx6R~d6R49vnXJi7MhnTwjIMw5M6XRKYdMZEQf4CrZj7CBzefqTPipbfVlAORcY7I11rLIMArUmERdvfSr8htQWwyLZYDxfDYMSXLKaVT1yf3NLViN9Cg6ykr5vxZZo4kP0mgbQpsBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oak Harbor City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Resolution 25‑07, revising the city's Design Regulations and Guidelines to add single‑family design standards, narrow‑lot guidance and pedestrian‑oriented requirements.

Senior planner Ray Lindenberg told the council the revisions are intended to bring single‑family standards into line with multifamily standards and to comply with recent state law. “As you may know, we went through a process back in 2022 to reduce our minimum lot sizes,” Lindenberg said, and the new standards will allow the city to review design criteria for single‑family homes.

The resolution reorganizes the DRG, creates a full residential design section (Section 5) that includes single‑family standards, and adds guidance for narrow lots and pedestrian‑oriented facades. Lindenberg said the changes also reference reduced front yard setbacks adopted under Ordinance 19‑53 that allow porches and living space to be sited as close as 10 feet from the front property line when a 20‑foot driveway length is maintained for the garage.

Nut graf: City staff said the update responds to two pressures: the 2022 lot‑size reductions that removed some avenues for aesthetic review and the requirements of House Bill 1110, which limits design standards for middle‑housing if single‑family regulations are more permissive. The council approved the change after the Planning Commission forwarded a positive recommendation.

Council discussion was brief. Councilor Marshall moved approval; Councilor Wiggenstein seconded. Mayor Pro Tem called for a voice or raised‑hand vote and announced the motion passed unanimously. The roll call earlier in the meeting showed Councilors Stuckey, Marshall, Wiggenstein, Armes and Marrow present; Councilor Wiesner was excused.

Councilors and planning staff emphasized that the revisions are not intended to mandate architectural styles but to establish basic standards that promote neighborhood context, pedestrian orientation and reduced visual emphasis on parked vehicles. Lindenberg said the DRG will include narrow‑lot design criteria formerly distributed as an informal handout to help builders use reduced setbacks without compromising neighborhood character.

The council did not attach new funding or implementation deadlines to the resolution; staff will incorporate the revised text into the DRG as directed. The Planning Commission’s positive recommendation and the council’s unanimous approval mean the design guidelines changes will be adopted as described in Resolution 25‑07.

Ending: The council approved the agenda and consent items earlier in the meeting and expects the DRG changes to be reflected in the city’s published design guidelines and permitting guidance; staff did not specify a publication date during the discussion.","The City Council approved Resolution 25-07 to add single‑family design standards, narrow‑lot guidance and pedestrian‑oriented elements after planning staff said the changes are needed to comply with House Bill 1110 and to reinstate neighborhood design review options removed after a 2022 lot‑size change.","actionData","errors"]

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Oak Harbor council debates commemorative flag policy; directs staff to split lowering authority from commemorative‑flag rules

Oak Harbor council unanimously approves revisions to design regulations to align single‑family standards with 'missing middle' law