Oak Harbor explores buying regional training center; city seeks grants and partners for $2.75 million purchase

Chief Selick told the advisory board the city is under contract to acquire two parcels on Northeast 201st Court: one with an existing indoor gun range and an adjacent vacant lot. The police department proposes using the site as a regional public-safety training facility offering scenario-based and firearms training in a secured environment.

The nut graf: the site could satisfy recurring training requirements that the state mandates but does not fully fund, and hosting paid regional training could offset maintenance costs. City officials described the site as potentially supporting multiple agencies across Island and Skagit counties.

Selick described required next steps: a six-month feasibility study that includes technical reviews of range ventilation (lead mitigation and OSHA requirements), and surveys of the building and site. He said the building-plus-land purchase price is $2,750,000 and compared that to a nearby project: the Lacey Police Department is building a larger facility at an estimated $10,000,000. Selick said Oak Harbor's negotiated price is substantially lower than that comparable project.

The department has secured city council support to pursue the contract and is seeking funding from multiple sources: legislative funding requests, regional partners, task-force or opioid/task-force funds where eligible, and a community-safety grant from the Swinomish Tribe. Selick said if external funds are insufficient the council could decide whether to cover some or all of the cost.

Selick also described programmatic benefits: dedicated training time would reduce safety risks in off-site training, allow de-escalation and force-transition practice, and create recurring paid training that could generate revenue for facility upkeep.

Ending: The city will complete feasibility studies, continue regional outreach and pursue grant funding; council decision on purchase and funding remains pending.