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City staff previews ordinance to place nonvoting Oak Harbor High student on council dais
Summary
City Administrator Sabrina Combs introduced proposed Ordinance No. 2047 to add a nonvoting student representative (Oak Harbor High School) to council meetings; council members debated eligibility, selection and whether a broader youth advisory committee would better serve youth engagement.
City administrator Sabrina Combs introduced proposed Ordinance No. 2047 at the July 14 Oak Harbor workshop, telling council the ordinance would add Oak Harbor Municipal Code section 1.04.0.050 to allow a nonvoting student representative from Oak Harbor High School to attend council meetings (workshops would be excluded to avoid conflicts with school schedules).
Under the draft language discussed, the student would not have a vote and would serve a one-year term. Combs said the city worked with the school district and that the district supports the concept and would provide vetted candidates; the mayor would make a final appointment from that pool.
Council members raised several implementation questions. Councilmember Wagenstein asked whether the position would be limited to seniors; the mayor and staff said the district will supply candidates (often juniors or seniors) and that the city had not intended to limit eligibility to seniors only. Councilmember Stuckey urged set attendance expectations so an appointed student does not hold a seat while missing many meetings, and suggested modest council involvement in vetting. Council member Peterson and others proposed a youth advisory committee (YAC) or broader engagement model if the council’s goal is to represent a wider youth population rather than a single student voice.
Combs said the school district’s application and vetting processes would be used in the initial phase and staff will return with clarified language on eligibility, attendance expectations, and any council role in selection. No vote was taken at the workshop.
Next steps: staff will refine the ordinance language with the city attorney and the school district, consider options for council input on selection, and bring the item back for formal action at a future council meeting.
