Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oak Harbor moves to issue RFQ for recreation-center feasibility study after state funding secured
Summary
City staff told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission the department is ready to issue a request for qualifications for a recreation‑center feasibility study made possible by a $200,000 legislative appropriation; the study will analyze need, sites, programs and funding options.
Oak Harbor staff told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission March 10 they are ready to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) to begin a feasibility study for a proposed recreation center, backed by a $200,000 legislative appropriation.
Parks staff said Representative Clive Shavers and Representative Dave Paul helped secure the appropriation. "Representative Clive Shavers put in the support. Dave Paul was very instrumental in getting us the full $200,000," Brian said while summarizing the funding status and how the city plans to use the grant money.
Why it matters: the feasibility study will assess market demand, programming, potential sites, partnerships and operating models for a multiuse indoor facility the community has sought for years. Staff said the Department of Commerce takes an administrative portion of the appropriation; about $194,000 remains available for the study.
Scope and schedule: staff outlined a four-phase scope that includes a market analysis, public outreach (targeting at least 300 survey responses), site analysis (including potential school-district partnerships), conceptual layouts, capital and operating cost estimates, and a pro forma and funding analysis. Staff said the RFQ will be posted as soon as minor contract details with the state are finalized; the department expects procurement and selection to take approximately one to two months and public engagement to continue through the spring and early summer.
Community involvement: staff said they will reconvene a stakeholder committee—including commissioners, council liaisons and residents—for evaluation and will ask commissioners to help with public tours, surveys and workshops. Brian said the commission’s former student representative Nolan Saltonstall was a strong community advocate for a recreation center, and the current student representative, Callie, agreed to serve on the committee.
No formal vote was required; the commission reviewed the RFQ schedule and asked staff to circulate the draft RFQ to the recreation‑center subcommittee for final comments before release.
