WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: Council discusses Angel sculpture, considers options (VIDEO)

Karina Andrew reports from the Oak Harbor City Council meeting of Tue., Apr. 19, 2022.

An update on public art works planned for the Windjammer Park area prompted city council members during a meeting last week to revisit questions of where to install the 37-foot, metal Angel de la Creatividad sculpture and even whether to continue with the project at all.

They Said It

Councilmember Bryan Stucky suggested the council vote to accept or turn down the sculpture before June to minimize the amount the city would owe if council members choose to back out of the agreement…. He also questioned whether project operations such as sandblasting the sculpture could be put on the hold to prevent the city from accruing any more costs before the council decides how to proceed.

Councilmember Shane Hoffmire said while he initially thought Windjammer Park was a good location for the art, he found during his city council campaign last year that residents he spoke with were overwhelmingly opposed to installing the sculpture there. He hopes to see the city accept the sculpture, he said, but encouraged council members and city staff to explore other potential locations, adding that he will not support the sculpture being installed at Windjammer Park. “I don’t feel it fair to the arts commission, and I don’t feel it fair to the piece of art to just turn it into this albatross by bowling ahead with it,” he said.

Councilmember Tara Hizon said she also feels Windjammer Park is not the best location for the Angel de la Creatividad but is willing to support it because it is the location that was recommended by the arts commission…. Hizon added that the public comment period at city council meetings already serves as a mechanism for gathering community feedback, rendering surveys redundant. “Anybody who has anything to say can call, they can show up, they can submit a public comment,” she said.

“I did a survey. It was called an election,” Councilmember Dan Evans said. “We were elected to represent the people, and they trust us to make these decisions. They might not like the decision, but they trusted us to do it. I don’t think that we can be governing by survey, especially a round two.”