Marina Blatt reports from the Oak Harbor City Council workshop of Tue., Oct. 28, 2025 for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Oak Harbor officials are moving forward with an ordinance that aims to reduce drug-related activity in a problematic section of town through a court process.
The “stay out of designated area” ordinance, if adopted, would allow judges to impose a condition on people convicted of drug-related crimes that bans them from entering a specific zone. Those who defy the condition could be arrested by police for violating a court order.
At a city council workshop Tuesday, Chief of Police Tony Slowik presented the layout of a stay out of designated area ordinance. The boundaries of the proposed area of exclusion would be based on crime data, but in the past, city officials have talked about the ordinance in relation to the SPiN Cafe — a facility that helps people in need — on Southwest Barlow Street.
This ordinance will be discussed at a future council meeting.
They Said It
“The purpose is to make sure that people feel like they can walk around safety,” Slowik said in an interview.
Slowik said the police have documented an increase in illegal drug activity and related crimes in the business district on the south side of the city. Calls for service to the police have increased in the last few years by over 1,000% on Barlow Street, according to Slowik. Of those calls, 151 incidents associated with drug activity were within a quarter-mile radius and about a third of them were specific to Barlow Street, he explained.
This ordinance, Slowik said, acts as yet another tool in preventing drug use, distribution and sales.
Councilmember Eric Marshall said he favors the ordinance but is wary that it will not protect drug addicts seeking help.
“I just want to make sure we are not limiting access to pharmacies,” Marshall said. “I would hate to dehumanize anybody and not allow them to have those services.“
Councilmember James Marrow was optimistic about the ordinance but noted it is not going to solve all of the drug-related criminal activity in the city.
“I think this will be a great step in the right direction, but I view it only as an initial step,” he opined.
On the Ballot in November 2025
| CITY OF OAK HARBOR |
|---|
| Councilmember, Position 4 Barbara Armes |
| Councilmember, Position 5 James P. Marrow, the incumbent Brit Kraner Marrow was appointed to replace Shane Hoffmire until the results of the election are certified in November. |
| Councilmember, Position 6 Andy Plumlee Sandi Peterson Incumbent Jim Woessner did not file for another term. |
| Councilmember, Position 7 Bryan Stucky |
