Commission reviews citywide public-art inventory and maintenance plan, plans volunteer program

Oak Harbor staff presented an expanded public-art inventory and a maintenance plan on June 11 and outlined routine maintenance needs, equipment requirements and estimated staff-hours costs.

Brandon presented the inventory and maintenance table and described anticipated maintenance frequencies, equipment needs and a staff-labor subtotal. He noted several items will require special handling — for example the giant acorn, the windmill at Holland Gardens (lift required) and memorial sites — and said privately owned works were highlighted separately to show they are not city responsibility.

Brandon said the maintenance plan’s estimated routine staff cost subtotal was $9,930. He and commissioners also discussed a volunteer program to help with routine cleaning and landscape work; staff said volunteers would require initial staff oversight, access to supplies and equipment, and a sign-in/coordination process. Staff noted the city’s HR director is due to start June 29, which will help with onboarding and program structure.

Commissioners asked that the estimated maintenance costs (Brandon cited an anticipated cost without an active volunteer program of $10,877) be included in next year’s budget considerations and requested that staff identify which repairs will need outside vendors, lifts, or specialist contractors. Staff agreed to return with a schedule, a list of required equipment and a plan for volunteer coordination and supplies.

The commission did not approve a budget allocation at the meeting; staff will include maintenance estimates and program details in upcoming budget materials.