City Council - Regular Meeting

You have the power, Carmen.

You can do it. I had shoulder surgery, so it's easier to do. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'll get it. Thank you. Thank you. Is that true? Yes. Matter of fact.

All right, everyone. Thank you for being patient for a little bit. We had some interviews from some of our very important positions, so thank you for being patient. Anyway, I'm going to call the meeting to order. Would you all rise and turn to the president?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The public comment I apologize all right next item on the agenda is consent calendar Council how would you like to proceed?

I? May we approve the consent calendar?

Second it's been moved and seconded to approve the consent calendar submitted and the consent calendar this evening is all allocated towards grants and And so we have received a grant for 11,000, 54,000, 32,000, 5,000, and 2.1 million. And grants have been applied for and accepted that we're going to be accepting this evening. So congratulations to the staff and everyone involved in helping achieve and acquire those grants. With that being the case, any other comments? Did you want to make a comment?

I just want to think I think the chief and our grant writer who've clearly and I know it's the team that does that But we get questions all the time about the grant writer that we have in place and are we getting grants and I think today is a perfect example of We are receiving grants. I know the chief helped a lot of these as well. So thank you for all of your work. I

Okay, that being the case, I'll call the question for the consent calendar. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, it passes. Next item on the agenda is consideration of the appointments to the Coos Bay Public Library Board, the interviews that we just had. Nicole?

Yes, thank you. So I'll give us a start here. So again, you just held interviews for two positions that are open on the board. We received six applicants. One of the applicants just decided to pull back their application. So you met with five candidates. Just prior to the meeting, and you're being asked tonight to, following your interviews with all of them, pick two of those individuals. And just as a reminder, our Labor Board is comprised of seven members. One position is filled by a member of the City Council, an appointment, and Councilor Newbergall holds that role. We also have folks who must reside within city limits, and then we allow up to three of the positions to be filled by folks who reside outside of the city limits but within the Coos Bay School District. So you do have some leniency there in regards to candidates who have applied, should you wish to fill with someone outside of city limits. All right.

Yeah, we didn't have any public comments. So do you need a motion? CHRISTIE WOODARD- Right, Christine, there was no public comment. CHRISTINE WOODARD- No one said no. CHRISTIE WOODARD- All right.

CHRISTINE WOODARD- Sorry, I should also have shared maybe what the process might look like. So we now, because there were some changes in the state legislation about how governing bodies do work, we take a vocal account of votes by the members of the body. So you can make a motion and a second so you can open up the voting across the panel. if it's that easy.

All right, so we need to pick two. So let's start. We'll take nomination one at a time, because I think otherwise it's going to get complicated.

It could be many votes.

So I'll take a motion for a candidate.

I'll make a motion to appoint Marty Giles to the library board. Second.

Discussion? All right, all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay, I'll make a motion to appoint Suzanne Copeland.

Second.

Any discussion, comments? All in favor, aye.

Whoa.

Oh, sorry. Russian.

I think it could be really easy to just go a certain direction. Is there any other way to do this?

I don't know. I mean, this is new to us. So for the audience, what we've done in the past is we would have a voting that we would vote on paper and then submit it. And I don't know. It would seem easier for us. But we can't do that by public standards, state law, right? Am I correct? Correct. Correct. Yeah. I know.

So we're doing this now to be more transparent. Is that correct?

Right, I guess. But it was public information anyway. So the point being, we can't do that. I mean, this is my suggestion. But if it's not, go ahead and someone else can. We can not vote this and then go through the process again.

Yeah, I guess for me it's like, All of these candidates were really good. And so it's really easy to just go with whoever nominates somebody right off the bat. And then you just go that direction without a deliberation on maybe who is the best fit.

Yeah, we had five great candidates.

Yeah, everybody was wonderful. OK, let's do this. Let me withdraw this nomination. And let's do this. Let's have a discussion. And we have one that's already been appointed. So let's have some interaction and discussion on who should be the next person. I still support Suzanne, but others might have other opinions. There we go.

OK, I don't really know how to do this. I mean, would it be easier to just like?

And for the record, I'll withdraw my second.

Thank you. I don't know. I don't know how to do this, since this is a new process. But I just feel like it might just railroad us in one direction, just by whoever speaks first.

I think that maybe one of your challenges is you would like to see a very diverse board. And we have experience with Marty. And we have very experienced candidates. But we're also looking for somebody that uses the library, maybe has some younger children. And also, some of the questions that we ask where we know that the library is facing some challenges. And that's what made it hard, too, because they all had very good answers when it comes to the challenges that we face with the future of our library. So I guess I'll just open the discussion up with that.

Yeah, I think it's perfect. I guess since I made the motion for Marty, I would like to just make sure that the public knows that Marty, served on the Coos Watershed Association for many years. She's served on countless boards. She's a naturalist. She's a business owner. She's lived in this community for 30 plus years. And I think... Based on her experience, based on her, she's been through a lot of Ford leadership trainings. When we talk about productive boards and how they work and how to move things forward, she's very skilled in that. And we've seen some of the success with the Coos Watershed and the recent hire of the executive director recently. So that is why I made the nomination to appoint Marty.

And the reason I suggested Suzanne is because she's served on two different library boards. Even though she's new to the community, I think she brings a different perspective and aspect for the library because we are in this position that we have some challenges facing us and might be in some interest that could be beneficial to us. I also understand in our discussions we have two candidates that have children. That was important to at least one member of the council in our deliberation and discussion. Yeah, I'll leave it at that.

Can I also just remind us that the remaining members are Janice, who's here? Hi, Janice. Gina Sutherland, Peggy Christensen, Julie Stevens, and Jacob Niebergall.

Nie.

Niebergall. Sorry. So I'm curious, Jacob, as a person who's serving on this and wanting to have diversity of folks on the board, who stood out to you?

I think folks who skewed a little younger and had children who were in the town stood out to me. John Hubbard, Chris Castleman, and Peter Roth all stood out for that respect.

I wonder if maybe bringing forth any nominations so that we vote on them, like we're maybe bringing it down to a few instead of just four, or we're just voting on one. I don't know. Maybe there's got to be a way to make sense.

So I guess I could add, while we're trying to mash together two processes, we do motioning and seconding and voting. That's what we do as a norm. And we used to produce ballots which kept voting quiet except for the end result. The goal is to make sure that the public has an awareness of how those votes are tallied. I think that could be accomplished in the same way if each of you wish to say who you believe the two candidates should be, and a motion and second vote is made. I think we get to the same place.

Well, OK, I think we should have Suzanne. I already made the motion, but I'm just going to support that position.

There you go. OK. I would like to bring forward John Hubbard into that.

I would also vote for John Hubbard. As would I. I would, too.

Pardon?

I would, too. And that was my choice.

OK, well, there we go. So I guess, if that's the case, I need a motion.

I'll make a motion that we nominate John Hubbard to the library board. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Aye. All right.

Could I also just say that I think to reiterate, every single candidate was amazing, and I wish we could have all of you. And good news, there are so many ways to volunteer at the library. And we hope that you do that and apply again when seats open, because any of you would have made excellent candidates.

Absolutely, I want to echo that that this was a really hard decision because everyone's interview was unique and came from a different perspective and I really am having a hard time narrowing it down but there were just a few key things for me that fit this particular moment in time and but that doesn't mean that any of these candidates wouldn't fit the board in general so I really hope that you find ways to participate with the library because I saw a lot of great assets that you could all bring to the library whether it's volunteering actually at the library or the friends of library or on the library Foundation board there's so many different opportunities and I think we're taking a lot of time with this one because the library is very important to this community as you well know so and and I was just gonna say although the candidates each had different qualities that that That you pointed out

the common thread that I heard from each of the candidates was community. And I don't think that that's stated enough and how important that is. And Janice has said it countless times that one of the first things, and somebody said it in their interview, one of the first things that people look at when they come to this community as the leader of the Visitor and Convention Bureau and and dealing with relocations is do you have a library and how important that is and that That was a common thread through every one of the interviews today excellent candidates it gives me great hope for the future of volunteerism in our community and I appreciate you all so much and

Anyway, I want to thank Suzanne, Peter, who are both here for applying. John, congratulations. And also Marty, who's not. But I also want to thank the other applicants, Chris Kesselman, who also applied. So thank you so much. Please stay in touch. Please volunteer. It's important. Get involved. Thanks.

Yes, thank you all.

OK, next item on the agenda is a public hearing to consider enactment of an ordinance repealing ordinance 509 and replace comprehensive ordinance establishing a vacant and blighted property stabilization program. Mouthful, Nicole.

It is a mouthful. So we presented this originally to you in early June. with the intention that we would bring this back at a later date once we give the opportunity to a couple of our community groups to kind of weigh in. The goal with this is to hopefully get us over the hurdle of the growing number of vacant and blighted properties we have in our community, to hopefully flip those back into usable status. And part of that can be done through encouraging our property owners in a little bit stronger of a way. That's the intention behind this, to create a mechanism for us to track. So we'll have a registration process for vacant and blighted buildings. And then we'll also have a mechanism to allow our code compliance officer to work with those property owners through fees or fines, which sometimes is what it takes for folks to come to the table with some solutions on how to put their building back in use. That being said, we sent this draft ordinance out to our downtown association, to the Empire Coalition, and a newly formed or revitalized group in Eastside, just to get some feedback. And basically heard they're interested in whatever they can do to help support this work. That may be just identifying properties within their various areas that they all operate. But definitely supporting upping the game a bit to encourage better use of these properties. So what we're presenting to you tonight is the same thing you've already seen. No changes were made to that. should this move forward we will come back with amendments to the city's fee schedule based on the information you again you're seeing again tonight so that will come at the next meeting all right council do you have any questions for Nicole or the staff before we open the public hearing

I guess I just wanted to talk through the occurrences on the fees structure. So tell me how this might work, because I see that we've got a repeat violation administration. Administrative penalty is $500 per occurrence. Typically, when we go out and look at properties, are there multiple occurrences? And the reason I ask the question is $500 is not going to get people to step up and take care of their properties. So can you walk me through how this might work so that we get someone's attention and that they will address their blighted properties?

Yeah, so there's various elements of the actual ordinance itself that create occurrence, right? So there could be some different challenges with the property, and so we would address each of those potentially as independent items. But then there is language, and I'll just see if I can find it fast enough, but it could be a per day kind of thing. If this stays out of compliance, depending on the level of noncompliance, right? Health and safety is really important. concerning so and then you know there are some longer things they have 30 days up to 90 days to kind of come in complaints depending on what those kinds of things are so this gives us a little bit of leeway to work in the various spectrums we have with blighted and vacant properties and property owners so how we approach most things when we put new rules and regulations out there is an educational piece we've done some preliminary education with some of the property owners that we know already are in this space, just letting them know we're going to look at things a little bit differently in hopes that they would maybe be able to take some action before this becomes a findable situation for them.

What's the feedback been?

As far as property owners? Yeah. Yeah. So the only one that I've heard back from was the one who has property, the Fletcher building. Obviously not something he's happy about, but also believes it could be something that helps move the needle on his process because it's kind of tied up in arbitration. So these fees and fines will add to what he's already kind of being held accountable for and it could help move that a little bit. So there's actually a shift in that decision making.

So I'll just tell you that this is my concern, is some of those things may be out of the control of the property owner, in particular his situation. And I have been in a situation before where my owner of property was facing fines. And again, it was... out of his control. And I want to make sure that consistency and having leeway doesn't affect this guy over here, but not this guy over here, but then also at the same time when we have situations where there's something out of someone's control that we we can work with maybe that owner and the place where they're having problems as well.

Yeah, and I would like to say I think we have a team that does that already, right? We are used to kind of balancing that based on the circumstance. We know we have parameters, right? But there is leeway in here to deal with that, you know, property by property, owner by owner, also trying to stick to a standard. This is what we hope for our community, and you're a part of it, so we'd like you to participate at that, at a level that's reasonable given your circumstance.

Well, and I too want to say that if they end up paying a fine, then they're not investing that in the property. And that's the situation I had in the other situation. But I agree we need to do something We've tried the working thing. We have staff that's been working very hard. But I just don't want the hammer to be too heavy that we take away from the investment that actually gets the building taken care of.

I think we have some buildings here that, and to your point, Stephanie, I think we have tried. I think we've tried for a long time, since 2016. And we haven't been able to move the needle. And I think this is a program that is instituted in other communities. So this isn't something new to the state. And I'm hoping, to your point, maybe it will help move the needle so they can invest back in the property stuff. Because I think that's quite honestly what we want them to do. And we're just helping them get there quicker.

And it's taken a really long time. And I think we've tried the carrot, which is apply for some urban renewal money, apply for a grant. Here's all the resources we can help you with, with city time and capacity. And that hasn't worked. And so we've got to go to the stick now.

I honestly think that the penalties could be much higher. I agree. If you think of the cost or not the cost, the loss that the community experiences by having a vacant building in downtown just any other way. What is it not doing for our community? How do we recoup that space, its value, in some way for the community? If you have a building that's vacant for 24 months, two years, you get a $1,000 fine. Is the community getting anything out of that relationship, having an out of town property owner who doesn't care, is just paying property taxes on this, that is their investment in this community and that is it. And there's nothing that's pushing them to do something with this property. I feel like we're not doing our community enough service by allowing that to continue. When you have buildings vacant on a consistent basis in the core of our community, it says that all the rest of the people who are investing their time and money and effort and vision and love into this community are doing so kind of behind the eight ball in terms of getting this community up and running in a place where it feels well lived in, warm and accepting. And I know that it's hard, but $1,000 after two years of vacancy is not going to prevent somebody from putting some paint on a building or fixing the windows or trying. The thing that they don't even have to do that costs money is just try to find a tenant who will do the work. And I almost think that it should be much higher. And I know that's probably not going to be a popular thing, especially not with property owners. But if you invest in our community in a keystone space like our downtown, and then you decide to leave it empty for years, that is doing our community a disservice. And it should cost something.

I will say, as a member, and I've been long before I was a counselor in downtown, I hear that. I also want to remind this council that not all of our property owners downtown are from out of the area in the buildings that we have problems in.

Absolutely.

And some of them that are trying to make the investments in downtown are from outside of the area. And they're bringing others into this community to make investments. And so I think there's a distinction there. I just want to make that clear.

for the record absolutely I completely agree there's there's people out there that are trying and there's people who are picking up some of these vacant properties that might be trying to move the needle and maybe they should It's new ownership, and we're going to try real hard to get it within this span of time, or at least start working on something. So if they start investing in their building and trying, maybe there's a different clock. I have no idea. But I do think that $1,000 back to this community for a building that's been sitting empty for two years is not enough.

Nicole, how did we come up with the fee structure, and do we have the ability to increase it?

So this fee structure is kind of in the middle. We have communities who are doing very little fees and fines, and then there's communities who are hitting harder for those, especially those longer term vacant. Much like our code, our fee structure is live. It can be modified as we see fit. That can go up or down as you see fit. And it could be triggered by success or failure of the program, right? There's many mechanisms that might say, this isn't the mark we should have landed with.

So this council can decide if we wanted those fees increased, is what I'm hearing you say.

Absolutely.

But I think this is a good starting point. It's a stick, and it gets us going. These are living documents. We can up that if it's not working. But this gives us a stick to say, hey, you've got to do something. And at the same time, It allows staff, it gives them tools in their toolbox to work with the property owners. I'm not in favor of, I think if you found a middle ground, I mean, obviously I can live with that. but I'm not in favor of going higher.

What if we, in six months, reviewed it? If in six months we've moved the needle, what if we look at, that's one option, and maybe others have different options.

Can I just ask a clarifying question again? Lucinda, sorry, Councillor De Novo asked about when the fees are assessed. And I'm not clear on their assessed, you know, vacancy beyond 24 months, $1,000. $1,000 every day?

Past 24 months? So within here, and I should have marked all of this down, knowing all the questions you guys would bring forth,

To me, it feels like getting a seat on the city council and just decided not to come anymore. Like, what does that do for the community? This is a position that is needed, and all of these buildings downtown are important to our downtown viability, livability, vitality. I don't know. I mean, if it was up to me, I'd probably be like, empty building for 24 months? That's $20,000. I'm not joking.

It would make them decide to sell, potentially.

You put a $20,000, and you'd be like, it's $20,000. If you start doing work, you can have that $20,000 back.

Well, and I think that's my question. Because if it's every day, the fee is assessed after 24 months, that pretty quickly could reach that number, right? Yeah, pretty quick. My second question, Nicole, while you're looking for that, is when this, so 30 days from today, if we were to vote for this ordinance, it would go into effect. So then is it day one for the blighted properties that exist right now? the properties that we know have been vacant for two years, all of a sudden this gets assessed?

So first off, within the code itself, 8.55.120, each day a violation continues after notice may, so there's our space, right? May, not shall, constitute a separate violation. So each day you have the ability to, And then there's a notification time frame so right we're gonna say hey We put this in place and you have 30 what depends on what it is blight it vacant You know you have this time frame to comply and after that we state here's what happens You have a fee and a fine whatever that you know a vacant one has to register You have a period of time to register belly to register So we'll start working this There are some we want to just educate. They may not know. And what is our intention? It isn't necessarily about feeing and fining. It's about putting these properties back into use. The program itself, if done well, puts those back into use. pretty quickly we get compliance we get folks who see that investment in community is the key we might have folks who it takes a little bit longer and it's gonna fund something we could later come to you and say we have these Dollars that are available that might help support a new property owner Who doesn't have funds to invest and does feel it's outside of their control? We could then support with these dollars of this program some reinvestment in buildings So there's there's a lot of ways this could go and this is the beginning we're creating a path that could maybe transition some of these properties and

So when's the 24 months start today? We know there's buildings have been vacant. So tomorrow, the 30 days, when this comes out, they were definitely not in compliant and going to be fine. Am I correct?

That is path we could take, assuming we follow all the steps. So we have a notification process. So 30 days, then we need to send notification. We need to follow these guidelines. But yes, if they're not in compliance.

So let me just weigh in on this. So it's unfortunate, first of all, we have to do this. Second of all, I agree with Sarah. This has taken way too long. I agree with Carmen. We are not charging enough. And I hope that this... Stick is big enough because my frustration is that we have outside owners out of state owners They don't care and I'm gonna call them slumlords and they are impacting our downtown and our community not just downtown also an empire I've watched it happen out there and other places and if we don't stop this it's going to get worse and I'm gonna give you example I've been unfortunately around here too long a Lockhart building where we have the 3rd Street parking lot and We had an owner that collected rent until it was falling apart and we were going to condemn it. He left the country. We were stuck with a $500,000 bill. That was then. And then we had to put another million and a half into that parking lot to make it something that was good for the community. That affected $2 million for the citizens here that we had to absorb, which is ridiculous. We have another downtown building that was offered $1 million in urban renewal funds and Main Street program, and he basically said no. Now, that's where I got a problem. And this stick, I don't think it's going to be big enough. And I agree with Carmen. How do we get them to move forward? Because if we end up having to acquire another building downtown, the cost is going to affect us. And this building I'm referencing would not just be that building we'd have to take down. We'd have to take down probably the whole block. And someone that has a property down there told me, we don't need any more parking. And they're right. We need more commercial businesses and people that are willing to participate. So that's my concern. I know there's a balance. I'm just not sure how we get there. But anyway.

So Jacob, do you want to make a question?

Yeah. Earlier there was a reference to a property owner that said having these fines could help move the needle and force something out of arbitration. I'm wondering if we did adopt this, could we do as a city a little bit more research on what makes that move for trusts or property owners that happen to have the particular set of constraints that ours do so that we can better address the next stick to be more in line to move the needle even further?

Sure, I think that research is two points, right? What has maybe worked outside of here and what we see working here as we work this program? I mean, I think those are two pieces. So there's maybe a short, quick answer, but I think a long-term answer is how is what we're looking at working in our community and does it need to go up or down as we work the program?

Yeah, and I think what I didn't say very eloquently was, can we reach out to, I don't know, maybe other cities that have similar landlords that

Haven't moved and get their perspective on What moved the needle for them because I don't know that Yeah, that wasn't something that I asked it was more What did you and and my assumption is whatever their fee structure is is what is moving their needle? So those high-end lows you're gonna find that across the board Hitting that middle ground was kind of what I thought like that's a good place to start right and if we need to We can modify it But I didn't ask that specific question. I have just this assumed, you landed with the number because it's working.

And I have to be, I just have to be the one, I'm sorry, but just the Vacancy beyond 24 months. I think when we get to the point where somebody is like, I'm getting fined. I'm getting this stuff. I just got to fill the space. I think that we need to be careful about the unintended consequences of doing that. Because you can completely change a downtown by what you recruit there. And we've seen it over the years. You've been here a long time, so have I, how downtown has become more of a business district as opposed to a retail. And you need a good mix of both. But if somebody is just filling the space because they're gonna get a fine Because they haven't had something over 24 months, I don't think that that's a good thing either so and that that is something that the downtown association is working on and and has started the process of Identifying how do we want to identify as a downtown so that we are recruiting Good businesses in not we as I sit on that board as well, but How how are they working to recruit into downtown as well?

Just you know Respectfully Stephanie. We cannot wait on the downtown Association. We got it.

Like I I didn't say to wait on them I'm just saying that we have to we have to be careful of unintended consequences. They're sorry. I

Well, and I think there's a possibility that might kind of rectify some of that concern when we think about what is the building currently zoned for? What has been its past use? What are they asking it to be used for? We know we have a process for that. So that might... that might help some of that. It won't help all of it, right? Some places will continue to be used in very much the same way they have always been, even though it's not highest and best use. It's not in the mix we want. But we might find some control in that.

OK, so Carmen, did you have a question or comment? And then after that, I'm going to open the public hearing, and we can come back and deliberate more.

I don't know if I have a full-on motion yet, but.

Well, we got to have a public hearing first.

OK, yeah. I'm looking at maybe a percentage of the assessed property value that we tied. So it's not a specific fee, it's specific to the value of that building. So if you have a gigantic building in the middle of downtown that you are not using and you are not fixing, it's gonna cost more. If your building's worth a million dollars and you have a percentage of that, it's coming back to this community somehow because right now the cost is being borne by this community already. And like you said, we're going to be on the hook for when we eventually have to take it over, demolish it, build, God forbid, another parking lot on an empty building lot. I don't want to do that anymore. It's too much money. The community has already spent too much on fixing other people's blighted properties. I think we need to start hammering on them to do this. And it's going to need a bigger stake. $1,000 on a million dollar property, that's, I mean, it doesn't even, it's not a drop in the bucket. It won't even register with somebody who has the resources to buy a building of that magnitude. So, I'm pushing.

Okay, so now we're going to.

Just a quick question. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Just one quick question. And that $1,000 is regardless of the size of the property? Yes. Every property? Okay, so, yeah. Yeah.

All right, so now you've heard a lot of deliberation already and interaction and comments. So now we're going to open the public hearing. So this is the time for anyone in the public or on virtual to make a comment about this ordinance that we're discussing. Anyone? So we're going to close public hearing and we're going to have well have a discussion again between so I have attended. I agree with Carmen. Oh, you do have one.

Okay, good Julie Stevens. I do live in Coos Bay 217 East Street.

I'm also Closer to the mic. Thank you.

Sure. I would just suggest that you Consider if you're going to look at the county's valuations just consider that they're not always accurate The county assessor's office has focused more on updating the residential properties not so much commercial So it their counties RMV isn't always accurate unless there's been a recent sale So you might want to consider coming up with a per square foot number instead of going by the RMV just a suggestion Yeah, I thought about that and I know that they're usually much less than actual market value there but at least it gives us a

Yeah, and it might not be fair if the building was recently transferred and then somebody's like well Now my mail buildings worth way more than this other bill, you know I got a smaller building but this bigger one is gonna pay less of a fine So that is something in order to even it out. Maybe a per square foot would be a better idea Yeah, I don't know but at this moment like I

Something sure I appreciate that input you bet I can think of several examples of very similar properties that have Greater than 50% difference in their valuation and they're not that far apart in actual value. Okay, that would Produce an inequitable result and I think that's not what you're after.

That's so just and I would imagine that the Real market value of a building that's dilapidated would probably be much lower than yeah, correct So per square foot

Okay, any other public comments? All right, hearing none, we'll close public hearing. And we'll discuss this again. I think the fee schedule here that we're talking about, if we want some action to happen, we need to do something differently. I don't know what that different is. But also, I want to address that I think that we're more than willing to assist and help. Our urban renewal has gone from a facade program that we would fund now to improvement grants. If we want to broaden that even more to help facilitate a business getting involved, I think there's lots of ways to do that. It's not that we're not willing to help a business try to locate in downtown or anywhere in the city. It's just the frustration I get that this is unfortunate we have to even do this. So the other question is, what happens if it's partially occupied? We have a 20,000 square foot building and 500 square feet is rented. So is that considered occupied or not?

Yeah, that's a great question. So again, living document, right? We may have to modify this as we see challenges that kind of go outside of what the intention was here. So to me, the majority of that building would be vacant or blighted. We would treat it as a generally. I mean, that's just how I would approach that, whether or not that fits within code. I would hope we've given it enough Ray, that there is this piece to kind of consider the full building as a whole versus just the small section that is inhabited.

and considerations for staff, I presume. I don't think, I don't know if council is ready to accept this. And the other thing is, is that I still think that we need to, we need to understand is that because one of the buildings is, has a small occupancy and the rest of it, which is a huge part of it is not. And that's one of our biggest impediments in this community. It's this one facility, this one building, this one facility. And the other one that we just ran into is one that used to be the Lemon Tree Bakery. And I don't know what the name of the building is now. So the city of Coos Bay condemned it. And we started looking into it and taking it over. We got to the point where it's not feasible. There's $450,000 in liens against this building. So if we were to take it and condemn it, then we'd have to tear it down. to whatever the cost may be. And then we have to try to find someone to go there. And then again, it becomes a parking lot. So that's the frustration that we have dealt with. And what it does, it stops, I feel, development and others to come into the area when they see that. Who wants to put a business next to a building that's got tarps on it and plywood and is run down? Who's going to put a building next to it, right? That's a good question.

Nicole I think I think I know that there's not full agreement But I think there's quite a bit of agreement that the staff needs to go back and put together I think this council wants a bigger stick or at least an option to discuss a bigger stick And I think there's a square footage. We heard that that might be the option in which to do so I feel like that's where we need to go and I think I Think Joe is absolutely right. I appreciate councillor Kilmer's comments and as well, but I also think we have tried to work with many of these landowners and we have been patient and we have tried to do the things and they haven't been working. And so to Carmen's point, the opportunity cost of all right businesses who don't want to go down in that corridor because there are dilapidated buildings, there's an opportunity cost there. And so I think if we have something like this in place, as much as we don't want to have to have it in place, perhaps we actually move this forward and we have a vibrant downtown, which I think is really the goal for all of us, is a vibrant, livable downtown.

So I could maybe offer a solution that might keep us progressing forward. So purposefully, we kept the fees out of the code, because the fees are the one piece that might vary over time, where the code is likely a little bit more solid, maybe some tweaks. So knowing that the code takes a 30-day enactment period, it gives us a moment to hear feedback and folks to maybe question us. And that can change the outcome if that happens. But if nothing, then in 30 days, we have something to work with. And we'll have another meeting date, too, a work session if we wanted to even talk then, in order to vet out what this fee structure looks like. So we're still making progress, but we're refining it just a tad.

So are you suggesting that we go ahead and enact the ordinance, but not the fee schedule?

I'm suggesting you have that as an option. Of course, there are many options.

I understand there is, but if we got the code going, that gives us a 30-day window to work on the fee schedule or at another meeting.

And we can gather some information that might give you some examples of this building at this rate, this is what that might look like, you know, those kinds of things.

I think that's a good compromise.

All right, Council. Any more? How does everyone feel about that, if they are supporting that? So I would suggest that I agree that we should probably enact the ordinance.

I move to enact an ordinance repealing Ordinance 509 and replace it with a comprehensive ordinance establishing a vacant and blighted property stabilization program. Second.

Is there any other discussion? Hearing none, Christine, can you do the roll call, please? Okay.

An ordinance to repeal Ordinance 509 as codified in Coos Bay Municipal Code as Title 8, Section 8.55, and replace with ordinance establishing vacant and blighted property stabilization program. Councillor Nebergall.

Aye.

Councillor Matthews.

Aye.

Councillor De Novo. Aye. Mayor Benetti.

Aye.

Councillor Kilmer.

Aye.

Councillor Stephens. Aye.

Ordinance number 602 has been duly enacted And for the citizens of our area, you know, if you have a suggestion on this like we just got some information from You know about the about charging fees and how it's maybe square-foot instead Cost we would honor or not. Yeah, I would honor and have any opinion about this so if you have any suggestions, please bring them forth to any of the council or the staff and So, thank you. Next item on the agenda is consideration to approve project management contract with HGE Architect Inc. for the seismic rehabilitation of Eastside Fire Station. Chief Atkins.

Good evening. A little while ago, earlier this evening, you approved the acceptance of the Business Oregon grant for a little under $2.2 million for the seismic retrofit of Eastside Fire Station. The next step on that process would be to hire a architect, project manager, to continue the work on that. We already have all the design work done that was done two years ago, or over the last couple years, when we originally got the grant award. There was only $1.1 million at that time, which was less than the bid contracts that came through. So HGE Architects is the one that did the original work on it. They've done a substantial amount of work already, including all of the design, all the seismic study, soil engineering. So instead of going out for an RFP or a request for a proposal for this, we would like to enter into a contract with HGE to act as a project manager for this. For a hundred and seven thousand nine hundred ninety seven dollars That includes a ten percent contingency fee to cover any unknowns while we're doing this rehabilitation project And Joe slack is here from HG if the council has any questions for him Any counts a question for the chief about this project or even the Arctic Joe's here himself slack Wow So he's a pleasure Joe Anyone

Okay. With that being the case, I need a motion, please, to approve.

I'll move to approve the contract with HGE Architects for the project management of the Eastside Fire Station's seismic rehabilitation project in the amount of $107,997, which includes a 10% contingency. I'll second. I'll second.

Okay, it's been moving sick to approve the project management contract with HEE architects Inc for the seismic rehabilitation Rehabilitation of the Eastside fire station. Is there any other discussion or comments? Hearing none. I'll call for the question all in favor say aye Any opposed passes awesome And Joe, I'm going to come down and talk to you about some suggestions for this fee schedule that we're going to be looking at. I have a couple ideas. Good. All right. Let's see here. Next item on the agenda is discussion regarding the downtown boardwalk maintenance project. Nicole?

So I'm going to start us out, but I'll recognize that both Jennifer, well her team essentially, but Greg is here also. They've really been the drivers of this and probably are definitely the subject matter experts here. So we were proposed during the budget committee meetings this year to maybe pay a little bit more attention to the maintenance and upkeep of the boardwalk area. There was some understanding of what that cost might be, and we took that information, created a scope, put that scope out on the streets, got some bids in, and they came up a little bit more than what we initially were thinking from the budget committee discussions. So we're here tonight with that, result of that bid, and just an ask to say, are we comfortable with that? We found a funding source for that. And asking, we'd like to award that and get that work going in a more formal, long-term way. Way versus our interim solution. So we were ready for the big holiday that just came And then I guess after that I'd pass it if Jennifer Gregg had anything further they'd like to add otherwise Question for Nicole Jennifer Gregg

Approve the motion.

Just to confirm, this base bid is for 12 months, and you're suggesting we go with alternate one?

That's correct, and alternate one is for 12 months as well.

All right. Well. this is significantly higher than we anticipated and being on the parks Commission and knowing that our building and maintenance budget was reduced from $75,000 to $50,000 this year for the entirety of all of our properties this is quite high for one particular location That being said this is a really important like Keystone part of our parks or public spaces. I Do think that this helps to alleviate some of the workload for the staff which I think is appreciated although I I worry about the sentiment that it sends to the staff in terms of We found the money we got creative and to put some money towards this project, but we're still kind of, cutting the staff pretty short with the rest of the load in terms of the money that they need to complete their job. And we have high expectations. And they do a wonderful job. I'm amazed what they're able to do with the budget that they're given. So that being said, I just want to put that out there, that this is, I think, something that is appreciated. staff and I think it would be it would land well but there's also some disheartening sentiment that I think that that could send that you know we found money somehow to do to complete this work but maybe not through the traditional parks budget So that being said, I think we should make inroads to making this happen. But I kind of want to at least hear some support for maybe increasing the parks budget in the future somehow, some way, or finding creative ways to fund the project wish list on the parks commissions and the public works departments, you know, to-do list, which is extremely long. I mean, there's so many things that we need to get done, from the wiring at the Minks Park stage, We're just talking Mingus Park, which is another, I think, jewel of our community and always needs help. The little gazebo over there could do some work. We need playground equipment. There's all kinds of things that could be updated in that specific zone, and that's just one park. That doesn't include all of the parks that they're overseeing. While I want to go forward with this so we have a beautiful boardwalk, I also am worried about how we're going to message this to our staff so that they are supportive in this direction and feel supported in what they're trying to accomplish. So I don't know what that looks like, but right now I do want to go forward with this because we've been working on it. So is that a motion? I don't know if it's a motion. It's a discussion.

I want to just add, I appreciate you giving some additional information about what they're doing in other parks and what they're struggling with, because that was my question. I know it's an important piece, but at the same time when, I mean, you're balancing Toppitz Park, Mingus Park, and the boardwalk. And how are we balancing that? Because all of those places receive a tremendous amount of activity. But I think when the public is going to look at us and say, you're putting this amount of money into your boardwalk, and we have all of this other stuff that should be getting done that maybe isn't. And I know it's a struggle. I appreciate the information. I hear what you're saying.

Yeah.

Not that it's necessarily my time to talk, but I'm doing it. So I would add, like, right, that's true of all of our parks. We have a list. There's a laundry list. We don't have the funds to do that. But I would recognize that we've recently put our grant rider to great leaps and bounds in bringing in dollars. We have a lot of work we just did in Mingus that was grant funded. We've done some work at Toppitz with the kayak launch, and we're doing a fishing dock out there. And so trying to figure out how we kind of spread that wealth reasonably, again, this is a lot of money. Is there an opportunity for us to come back with that low bid contractor and say, hey, what are some things we might not do with this that could reduce those costs a little bit? I think that could be an opportunity. i just don't want to lose sight of acknowledging the great work that's already happened there have been some significant projects that have gotten to take place do we have more gosh tons more but we're gonna keep at it right we're gonna keep looking for grants that fit those other projects so i don't wanna i don't want it to be just disheartening because i think we're do there is great work that's happening you guys have supported so many great projects and giving us That lift with adding a grant coordinator was significant. So just two cents.

So I think we should go ahead and support this. This is something that is bigger in scope than we anticipated, but staff felt it was justifiable because it went further down. Doug Irving. I'm not sure we can do this year after year and I understand but I think this is a great start and I would always want the boardwalk to now be maintained and I can tell you that since we've been maintaining it and we've been contracting it out and I'm I'm gonna guess that what we've been contracting out is more than what we're looking at here and It is so much more activity down there Over the last couple weeks. I've walked and I see people up on the Coos tug I seem on the boardwalk. I became a pavilion I saw a family of the day having a picnic with 20 people in there Which I have never seen for a long long time, but because it's clean and it's inviting that's what's happening And that's what we want. So with that being said though Agree that the our parks budget was 75,000 would get down to 50 and this is basically what we're spending here I mean, it's hard to justify it. So in my opinion when the budget comes back around next time I'm hoping that we can double our budget if not more I think we also need to look at what Carmen talked about and We have the facilities in the Mingus Park that need some attention. Can we put some grant money or look for grant money there? I think we need to get creative, though. We can't just put it all on staff. I think we need to look at a park and rec district we've talked about multiple times. I've talked to Arianne who's on the parks Commission. She feels that The park and rec district at this time is premature. She feels that we should do friends of the park to raise funds I think that might be maybe the next step that we take to help facilitate some of this. So That's a mouthful

I have a question. On the bids, we had the Tug-Irene, Menasha tree. You know, that area has been cleaned out. Is that something that we have to do in this alternative right now? I mean, what...

So they planted grass there. In fact, I was walking, and I got to see the action. They were digging up the, there was some dirt, and they were putting some sprinklers in it, and there's some grass seed underneath there, and that's what that straw mat is to hold the grass seed down. I'm taking your thunder here, Greg. But anyway, that's what I learned, because I ask when I'm around. Well, it looks 100% better already. This award would be them maintaining that grass. Oh, okay. Okay.

I think another thing to consider is that the boardwalk is in our downtown corridor, and we just had a conversation about blighted buildings. And if we do not continue, we have to walk the walk, right? Is that it? Walk the walk, walk the talk, whatever it is. And quite honestly, that boardwalk does need some work. And yes, we have put grant dollars in Mingus, and we've done some stuff at John Toppitz as well. And I know it was more than what we originally expected the price to be, but I also walk that as well. I have seen less unhoused people in that space. I have seen more people as well. And I think, again, It is the gateway, right? It's how we present ourselves to this community and we're asking everyone else to step up their game, right? You need to make sure that your businesses look clean and we need to make sure that we have a vibrant downtown society Corridor, how can we do that if the boardwalk and I know that this group is supportive of this project but I I I just, again, want to remind everyone that by doing this work, hopefully everyone else will start doing what they need to do as well. That's the intent.

Agreed. Just one point of clarification. We found the money. Can you explain where we're funding this from?

Yeah, I understand this to come from our tourism dollars.

Great. So I would like to see more of that for projects like this, where we're beautifying our community instead of, you know, we do a great job of bringing people here, but we got to nail it when they get here. We got to make it look nice and inviting and warm. So I just want us all, like, while I will support this, just want us to remember this conversation. For the next time there's a thing that needs to be funded for the parks or in the budget for next year, I will bring it up one more time. I know Greg will do the same. The parks need their support, our support. And so I just, I'll keep hammering at this. I feel like I'm doing this all the time. Bike lanes, parks, constantly. But I'm gonna keep ringing that bell.

You forgot parking lots, that too, right?

Yes, well parking lots cause they have maintenance. So we've got a we've got that's a parks maintenance thing I mean the new third and central parking lot I imagine there's quite a bit of maintenance that goes on from this Parks Commission or from the parks department and you know that that's not free and we got to pay for it somehow so I need a motion.

It doesn't call for an action, just consensus, right, Nicole?

Yeah, this is essentially in my authority to grant, but this has been such a topic of conversation, we want to make sure we are taking the right path. So I think we're there, right? We've heard.

Okay, so we have a consensus, or we can do a motion, but we have a consensus to have Nicole move forward on this contract. Yep.

Alternative one.

All right. all right next item on the agenda is a consideration of approval of a proposed city charter amendment approval would require adoption of resolution 26-5 calling for a measure election to submit to the election electors of the city Nicole yes thank you

The charter is a living document, but it does take a little bit more effort to modify. We have had some things shift over the years. For example, we used to have a municipal court. We no longer have that. It speaks to the need or necessity of having one. So that's one of the pieces in here. But the larger part of this conversation is really related to recent state legislation. that gave opportunity to communities to shift their allocation from their transient lodging tax, just speaking of tourism dollars, to a different formula in how we promote our community. And so that's been kind of a conversation across the state and really in our area when we consider how our visitor convention bureau is funded. We know that that's comprised of four members currently. That's the city of Coos Bay, the city of North Bend, the Coquille tribe, and the county. And the organizations currently in that mix are interested in maintaining the formula of allocation. But I think it might be important for us to consider putting that in some sort of document so that future generations acknowledge this allocation as we promote our community. So the charter amendment is going to kind of formalize that. That's what's being presented to you should you wish to move forward with that. should you wish to adopt this resolution, and we'll start that path so we can put this on the November ballot, which would modify the charter.

So this would, besides some housekeeping, the TLT 7030 would be just continuing what it is. We're not asking for any changes. We would ask it just be the same that it is and be put in the charter for the citizens to vote on. And I want to remind everyone, we just got done talking about coming up with money for parks and whatever. This TLT money can be used for parks and those type of things. And I believe some of the cities that were against leaving at 70-30 that I listened to testify at the legislature were talking about infrastructure in their communities. And us, we, I think, have been very good stewards of our infrastructure. We've taken actions to make sure that we're on top of it with this wastewater. The streets, we've taken action with urban renewal money and doing our T.U.E.P. program. So therefore, we're moving forward in a fashion that is helping those things be taken care of. In my opinion, TLT will never be able to support those type of things because it's just not enough. And so TLT brings tourists in, which bring dollars and economic, you know, economic development into our community, I don't know, to the tune of how many millions?

250 million dollars.

right so those okay so those dollars are gonna stay and I just want them the future councils and citizens understand this is in a document it can be changed and they have the right bitch gonna make them think about doing it and that's why I'd like to see this in this charter and that's to prove it So how would you like to proceed?

I just think to go back to Carmen's conversation as well is if we do this, which as Mayor Benetti said, there is no change, right? We're just putting in writing what we're currently doing. We use those dollars to promote the area, and we've seen the impact, as Mayor Benetti and Janice just shared with us, and that will continue to grow. If we stop investing as much into the organization, we potentially lose visitation. And so we need those TLT dollars to continue to support parks and programs and beautify the region. So I think by putting this in place, it does exactly what we're intending to do. And as Mayor Benetti said, some of those opposed on the Oregon coast were from the north coast. And their occupancy looks... slightly different than ours, but no one is at full occupancy, so there's lots of opportunities to continue to drive more visitation in this community.

Is there a way that we could understand how we've been using that 30% in recent past?

So, yeah. First, this is kind of a little bit more complicated conversation, but that rule that said the 70-30 is a newer rule for... Tax rates that were implemented after the date, I'm not going to remember that.

After 2003.

2003. So we had a tax rate in place before that, which had an allocation percentage. So the 70-30 is just for the new 2.5%. We use that to fund various things throughout the city. Some is people. So... Parts of staff are in that that helps cover costs of supporting the various amenities that we have here We also use it for projects that bring value to the greater community and draw people in fourth of July fireworks We just that's funded out of there. Our Christmas trees are fun out there. Those are things that we're hoping other area folks come in to participate in so it's helping to support a bigger program than just maybe what promotion, but we also fund, that's where our funds for being a part of the Visitor Convention Bureau come from.

Well, I want to clarify, I am in support of this split. I think it is good to reinvest our money into promoting this area to continue to drive visitorship here, which will help us build the TLT dollars. Just I just wanted to know how we're using them currently and now we're stewarding that 30% in terms of the kind the part that we have control over and I will make a pitch for more park support in that and that Yeah, so we're at this again.

I think mayor Benetti said we're just asking to memorialize this in a city document for currently how we divide that up.

Yep, and That's the problem I have with it Were tying the hands of future councils that said I just read an influencer that visited this area that Talked about how we have a difficulty here in In attracting unlike we do for the North Coast because we are so far rural but I'm not a fan of tying the hands of future leadership of the council. It can be changed. It is very difficult to change a charter. I was in media when we had the charter amendment. change um and so it's just for that reason i don't think that that needs to be in there i think we have the latitude it can be a policy decision i i don't have a problem with a policy i think it's much easier for a council if situation changes to come in and say you know this isn't working out for us and we need to make sure that this stage i just don't like it in the charter

Well, I definitely don't agree with that. I think a charter can be changed. It's done all the time. And if that was the case, the state legislature, I mean, look how difficult it is to get things changed there. I mean, you know, but it got changed. And so I think this is something that we're protecting an asset and taking care of what is important. And I think it makes a council think twice before they go ahead and do it. And therefore, they can change if they wish.

I don't know if it's helpful to the conversation, but in part of that changes at the state level, there was also an increase of 1.25% to the state tax. And so that's an increase that all guests will experience. And so in some areas, the transient lodging tax is going to be really expensive. Portland's concerned about it because of conventions and how that will impact their community. And so I think Oregon, right? I sit on the Oregon Tourism Commission. And while we cannot advocate for or against, there is real concern in the industry of how this will impact us. That's at the state level, right? So that's at 1.25% that's going towards wolves, I think, right now, right? And I'm sorry, I could do a better job than that, but I'll keep it there. And so I think, to your point, Stephanie, I understand the concern. I really do. But I also think doing the 70-30 now, I feel... I feel like we have a duty to do it right now, because we don't know if that... We've opened up Pandora's box, and that's a lot of money, and people can continue to tax it. The tourism industry for Oregon is a $14.3 billion industry, and now, potentially, we've jeopardized that. I think what we're doing is actually being stewards, good stewards of those dollars and protecting it for this community because each community is slightly different. And I know you don't disagree with that. I just think that I thought it should be said that from the state perspective, we need to be concerned about that 1.25%.

And I want to just add into it that, you know, in 2003, the Lodging Association took this to state legislature and asked them to – put this on themselves for the promotion and help of tourism and that's been neglected and i think that's a shame that shouldn't have happened but you know what it was in the state legislature we no one ever thought that would be the case you had governor kulangasi that supported he had all the legislature support all the tourism industry the orla all of them supported it right with that intent that it would stay that way and it got changed because again And I just don't want that to be the case here. I want this future councils to think twice before the act, and that would make them think twice.

Well, and I just want to say that generally I don't like, uh, people that are in decision-making positions like ours to sit on the fence, but that's where I was. I just had to say the other side. I, you know, I don't like people who are in decision-making positions. totally support what is happening for our community, and it's made a huge difference economically. So I want to make that clear. I'm just tying the hands thing.

Any other comments?

So the 70-30, my recollection from the budget committee is that 70% that is designated for tourism is very subjective. Correct. We paid for things like fireworks. We give some of that to the BCB. We pay for a variety of things that support tourism. Correct? Correct. And that comes before us in our budget meetings with the details. Correct. And so there is some opportunity move those around in some different categories as long as it promotes tourism.

It's tourism promotion, community promotion dollars, right? That's how we want to bring those folks from the outside to come in. So we're not spending the same dollar all the time. So yes, there is that kind of space there. Thank you.

Jacob, any comment?

Yeah, just a clarifying question. So does that mean that a council, like if we did adopt the 30%, could we adjust it without adjusting the charter? Could we make it 40% or some other percentage that's higher?

So mathematically, if you make that 40, you've got to make the other side 60. So what we're saying is we want tourism and promotion, whether that's contributing to VCB doing the fireworks, is that 70%. Okay. Okay. Now, some of that promotion is happening on our side. Some of that's happening on VCB. We are acknowledging 70% shall stay stagnant. This body here is acknowledging that in the charter towards promotion. Okay.

Which is what we do today. So the city keeps 30%. What we do with that 30% is the fireworks and all these other things. The 70% is given to the VCB. The VCB is then charged with using those dollars to promote tourists outside the area.

That's not my understanding.

So the overall, this is where it becomes really challenging, is the mix of those two tax rates result in... Sorry.

Yeah, I apologize, Sarah. Thank you.

Yeah, ours is a little bit different than just, it's not a straight 70-30 of all the taxes we collect. Because if you do it... Well, it's two sevens, five sevens, so it's kind of 70-30. Yeah, because we had 5%, and then we had 2.5, and 70% of the 2.5 is what's being used for that, which really allocates to about 40% of the total TLT.

Correct, but we're not taking our 70% of our TLT and giving all of that to the BCB. Right.

No, you're right.

Yes.

But it is very focused promotional things. So for example, we would not want to use that to put new carpeting in council. Correct. Yeah.

Because we don't really get tourists here. We don't. Shocking. You guys, my dad's here.

He's a tourist.

But it's like the boardwalk we did, and you could use it for the park in like the gazebo or something like that or the stage that needs electrical work or whatever it may be. So yeah, we have some flexibility there. Anyway, I think it's a good mix of what we have. It's not a straight 70-30 situation. So it gets complicated. And I'm not passionate about it at all. So there.

OK, I would move to approve the proposed changes to establish charter provisions governing the use of the transient lodging tax revenues, make the position of municipal judge optional, and authorize the establishment or discontinuance of a municipal court by ordinance, revise candidate qualification procedures to reflect the municipal judge changes, and remove obsolete, unnecessary, and outdated language, and adopt resolution 2625 to place a ballot measure on the November 2026 election.

Very good. Do we have a second?

Second.

Okay, we're moving second to adopt Resolution 26-25.

Okay.

All in favor say it.

Oh, wait. Discussion? Oh, yes, of course. I apologize. Yes. Like we haven't had enough? Yeah, right. So just for clarification, and you stated it in your motion, this will be placed on the ballot measure and the public decides whether or not this charter amendment happens. And I just wanted to make that clear.

You're right. Absolutely correct. So this will be something for the citizens. They'll go on the ballot to make a decision on. So anyone has an opinion on that can have. I think this will be in different venues throughout the city throughout the year, which is great. We'll have the discussion. Anything else? Okay, I'll call for the question. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, it passes. Thank you. Consideration to contribute to the Oregonians for floodplain protection. Nicole?

Yes. Um, we made a, uh, the council made a, uh, uh, a contribution to the Oregonians for footprint protection in, um, January of 2025, following the FEMA biop decision, which really shifted the way many of the, um, parcels in our community could be developed. This is impacting, you know, much of Oregon, most counties, cities are impacted by this. So acknowledging that we need some help kind of fighting this rule that's been placed upon our community, there was interest in supporting this larger group across Oregon, many cities participating. We did 10,000 originally. And in your packet is the email from the kind of lead for this group. And he shared the various steps they've taken, the progress they've made. They have a bill in front of Congress right now that will hopefully move the National Flood Insurance Program forward. They're working to get co-sponsors for the bill. They're making some good progress there in the executive branch. Worked with the FEMA review council to put forth a recommendation that the biological opinion be rescinded and they're making some good progress there so Because of those efforts and the impact it would have to this community for the current stance to remain they've asked for Continued support so they can continue to fund this work moving forward It's again asked being made for

10,000 but any amount I'm sure they would be happy with so that's what's being proposed certainly interested in whatever you guys would be willing to support with yeah so we this council went ahead and supported 10,000 and besides hindering economic development this thing moves forward in the fashion is it's going to also would impact this financially Chelsea how much do you think we'd have to add to staff to could to have to deal with this

I mean, I think we'd need a good one full-time person to handle this. Dedicated, yeah.

And it would put a real burden on any business to go through development. And I'm sure Joe from HGE can attest to that. I know of a building downtown that had a roof put on, and they had to go through this. I mean, it's through an engineering process and whatever. So the cost to the business that are established and how it would affect and hinder any economic development that we do in our floodplain area would be horrendous. And so... I'm glad that they were able to push back on FEMA and got them to stop right now and they're negotiating with this Molly Lawrence is the attorney they're negotiating with her right now and moving forward I hopefully they can in my opinion it'd be great if the whole thing went away I'm sure that probably won't happen there'll be something that we have to deal with but hopefully not the impact that we're looking at now So I think we should do it, but how does the rest of the council feel?

Do you need a motion?

I do.

I move we approve the 2026 contribution to Oregonians for floodplain protection. That was not easy to say. Second.

I move to second to contribute to the Oregonians for the floodplain protection for the amount of $10,000. Any other discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for the question. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, it passes. All right. A lot of discussion. A lot of interaction. Good meeting. City Manager's Report.

Yes, thank you. So a couple things, just to reiterate the importance of the work we've done with getting some additional funds, outside funds, to come in and support projects for us through grants. We are working on a dashboard, so we can make sure that we're reporting this out regularly. and maybe inclusion in Friday Update, all those things, but really kind of having a kind of current, up-to-date dashboard so we understand how we're looking to other sources to help fund the things, knowing this community has some challenges sometimes to come up with extra dollars. I wanted to also give a minor update. Over the weekend, we had a boat at the docks fail to stay afloat. And so we are working through that with the owner. Ultimately, the responsibility is the owner. But we as a community want to do what we can to preserve our natural spaces so we're going to step in and we've had a boom in there and some buoys and things to make sure we have awareness we're going to kind of upgrade that a little bit to do a little bit better job collecting but bigger picture is that boat can impact our dock so we're probably going to need to step in and take action keeping track of costs all the things because that owner has that ultimately has that responsibility and we expect to push that forward onto them in whatever way can encourage payment do we have a hey guys here no okay was that boat insured that is a great question one of the pieces of the puzzles we've been struggling with that new owner to resolve so thankfully this body made a decision to modify how we operate and maintain that the dock system down there, and that's a requirement now. So while we also understand folks live there, and so we have a challenge in kind of managing that while there are folks living in those boats, our first and foremost is to make sure we can preserve that space. And so, yes, we now require, and they were struggling with that piece. So it doesn't remove responsibility, though, just because you have insurance. And then I wanted a couple shout-outs for the fireworks this weekend. I think they were spectacular. I appreciate the fire department's part in that, supporting that. Obviously a little bit bigger than usual because of our 250th birthday here in the United States. And then another shout out to the Water Quality Division. Just as a reminder, we brought this body, brought back operations and maintenance of our wastewater system on July 6th of 21. So we just passed the five-year mark. And we have reminders every day of that being the right decision for this community. So that's kind of what I wanted to share. It's a busy time for us right now across the city. You're going to see lots of projects happening, so.

Yeah. And the Friday update, you'll see that, uh, the things that have been accomplished because we've taken this in house and what's been done and how many of the violations we are not incurring because of it. And I, the wastewater staff has done an excellent job. So I'm very proud that, uh, I didn't five years. It didn't seem like five years, but anyway, they've done a great job.

Anything else, Nicole, Jacob.

Well, I'll start by saying the fireworks show on 4th of July was spectacular that the city put on so I had a great time watching that I'll also say that Thank you to all the candidates who came out for the library board That's to John Chris Suzanne Peter and Marty It was very good to be a part of this and I'm excited to get to work and hopefully see some faces out in the community doing other things, too And I also am very much looking forward to a cho she update that we might be getting from another counselor.

So yeah My turn I guess Christine do you are you how many skills do you have? I know you have a million Okay backgrounds counselor neighbor gall and organized an event with a class. And the city of Chosie, which is our sister city, sent us some fans that a class had made. And so Counselor Neville, if you'll recall, coordinated myself coming in and presenting about our sister city. And then the kids doing an art project along with they wrote some letters. And so this is a display case that is right inside of Choshee City Hall right when you walk in. It's filled with all sorts of things from Coos Bay. And this is a video of that with our fans and the letters from the kids. And the man who I had the privilege of visiting or being my translator when I got to visit went in and translated all these letters for the kids that had sent the fans. So potentially this could be a pen pal relationship in the future. It's the hope, right? Yeah, so pretty cool video. That's, again, inside of Choshi City Hall with all of those awesome fans. So we'll have to make sure and share that with that classroom. Yeah. That's all for me.

Stephanie?

I don't have any. I wasn't going to say anything, but I just think that is the coolest thing ever. Boy. And you did that. You started that whole process by taking your time and and your resources to visit that city and look at what you've brought back to this community. That's wonderful.

It sure is. Lucinda.

I wanted to thank the Chief and Western Fireworks Display for a tremendous fireworks display this year. And I also wanted to congratulate Chief Chapinar for his participating in the FBI National Academy. I had to look it up in the news so I got it right, so that was the noise. I apologize. The prestigious leadership program for senior law enforcement, and I think you're one of very few in Oregon who got to participate in that program, so it's such an honor and we're so thrilled. It sounds like you learned a lot that you will be able to apply to our community and in this great state. Congratulations, what an honor. I don't know if you have anything to say, but I'd love to hear more about it.

Thank you, thank you for that. Yeah, it was an honor, it was a privilege, and there was a lot of information that I learned and will be bringing back and just really evaluating a lot of the programs that we already have implemented and maybe some that we need to implement within our organization. So yeah, there's just gonna be a lot of great things.

Well, congratulations. It just speaks to the incredible stuff that we have. And I also wanted to thank Greg for all of the work on the boardwalk. It's been a passion project for me. I think you know, you and Jennifer specifically. So I wanted to thank you for all the work and the diligence that you went through in the RFP. And so I'm grateful to you both. And we're so fortunate to have such a great team. So thanks.

Thanks, Lucinda. Carmen?

Yeah, most of my comments are related to thank yous. Water quality for five years, like, really killing it. It seems like we had so many DEQ violations and public service announcements, you know, In the past with our pasta Contractor and we just don't have those anymore. So I just want to say thank you to you and the staff for really being the stewards for clean water in this community and just We we use your services every day very important I also wanted to say thank you to the park staff there's a lot talking about parks in general the Public Works Department and you all are doing an amazing job with limited resources and I just want to let everybody know that you are seen and we really appreciate the work that's being done it's it's an amazing amount of lift and I I know that the people who work in that specific department really care about it and it's it's just something I want to make sure that we recognize and then additionally we had a lot of discussions about various things tonight in general the staff has been so supportive of like listening to what we have filling out all of our pores at all the time and it's just amazing that you all can make things coherent and cohesive and digestible for us all so thank you to staff for doing all this work and pulling things together RFPs and it's just it's a lot of work and I just want to say thank you and the fireworks finale was really really good so I just I saw that from from our Marshfield Cemetery, which is a wonderful place to view the fireworks. Oh, wow. Yeah, so it was open for that night, and I saw Cricket Souls down there. She was greeting everybody and letting them know what's happening, and it's a wonderful space to see it. So I hope everyone had a good Fourth, and yeah, that's all I got.

Yeah, so I also want to thank what we had, the wonderful fireworks we had. I mean, not just the City of Coos Bay, which was fantastic, but also for the Coquille Tribe, excuse me, Coquille Casino Resort, who put on their show. It was wonderful, and it brings a lot of people into their area, and I know they're appreciative. We had a little bit of delay, but it turned out to be wonderful. I heard many compliments about it, and it's wonderful when you go out in the community and they're very pleased with what's going on. Also, I was involved in the July 4th activities of the park. And I want to thank the participation of the police department, fire department, and the library, who had booths there. And we had a few others. And I talked to Beth with the Downtown Association. The Downtown Association is the one that handles this. And what she said was it's getting more difficult and harder to get participants to do these events. I saw Steve Snyder, because we didn't have a food event, you know facility that was selling hamburgers in the past it was a boys they see the boy scouts but this year they were helping with the fishing derby with the odf and w so i hit up steve snyderman and said hey how about rotary taking it on and he thought that they would so i'm challenging all of us to find others in the community that might be able to go down there and get more vendors to participate and have booths there to make it more viable and try to get more people active again If we don't, she was afraid, and I would be also, that maybe it goes away, which would be a shame. But anyway, they did have the firecracker run, which was great, and it was fun to see the kids run it. My niece and nephew did, and then it was great to see the adults run it. So it's always a fun time down there. So anyway, the other thing that's come up is I came upon this I'm not sure I got the information but topping trees in our community in our city is Not allowed because of a municipal code. I think we should visit that and I think there's an opportunity for our tree committee to review these. So just to eliminate no topping, when I think there's an option that can be thought about, I think that we should consider that. So I would like to see the Municipal Code come back to the council for consideration and staff's suggestion on whether we top trees or we don't. Okay, I think that would be all right, hopefully. The other thing, pavilion roof down there. We've talked about a metal roof being on one of the pavilions. What's the status of that? I know it was going to be a metal roof on one of them. That was coming back to us. Is it coming back?

That's good.

And that's the end of my comments. I want to thank everyone for staying and listening to all our dialogue. I hope it was interesting and informative. It was one of the better council meetings that we had discussion. And so that's what this is really about. And so I appreciate that from the council and staff. We do have an executive session, so we won't be adjourning the meeting because we're going to an executive session. But I thank you, everyone, for attending. You won't be able to stay for the executive session. We won't be coming back out of executive session to making any decisions. So thank you so much. We'll take a five-minute break and come back.

City council will now meet in executive session pursuant to ORS 192.6602E to discuss real property negotiations. If the council intends to come out of executive sessions to take final action, the presiding officer should announce when the open session will begin again. Representatives of the news media and designated staff shall be allowed to attend the executive session. All other members of the audience are asked to leave the room. Representatives of the news media are specifically directed not to report on any of the deliberations during the executive session except to state the general subject of the session as previously announced. No decisions may be made in executive session.