Yeah. Water rescue. >> All right, we'll call our work session
to order. Have a couple things to talk about tonight. First up is a request by
councelor Moresy to uh consider further council discussion regarding flidation
of the city water system. >> Great.
» There you go. >> Thank you. I have a statement. I'll try
to hustle through it. Then I know councelor And throw wants to say
something and possibly councelor Monttero.
All right. Tonight I'd like to speak about city of Seaside's water flidation
policy. It's history. A few facts worth knowing and a request I'll bring as a
motion later this evening. So how we got here the 1984 decision. Thank you
Spencer and Kim for digging into this for me. In 1984 seaside voters approved
adding fluoride to the public water supply. I want to be precise about that
history because how the decision was made matters as much as the decision
itself. On February 13th, 1984, this council faced a choice. Adopt flidation
by ordinance or refer the question to the voters. One counselor argued that
the council could and should simply enact it. But the council chose a
different path. Council President Robert Miller said the matter should be put to
a vote of the people, in his words, so it would be supported instead of the
council attempting to mandate it. The council then voted unanimously to send
it to the ballot. On March 27th, 1984, Seaside held a special election. The
measure, shall the city of Seaside Place fluoride in the city water system,
passed, 576 to 402. About 978 residents voted. Roughly 59% said yes and we have
fluidated ever since. I start here because the way that decision was made
is important. Referred by the council, decided by voters. Now, a few facts
about water fluidation. Uh, fluoride does not improve water purity or safety.
Unlike chlorine, which disinfects, fluoride serves no treatment purpose. It
does not make our water cleaner or safer to drink. Number two, its only purpose
is dental to reduce tooth decay. That was the stated purpose on the 1984
ballot and it remains the sole rationale today. It is not the natural occurring
mineral form. I think there's a lot of confusion around this. Uh the fluoride
we add is a manufactured industrial chemical called sodium fluoride produced
from hydrophalic acid and in our case imported from a chemical manufacturer in
China. Uh number four cost money. The city pays approximately 10,000 a year to
purchase this chemical according to our great finance director Zack Fleck. The
benefits are modest and contested. So some studies do suggest a small but real
reduction in cavities. Other studies show no statistical change. But the most
rigorous recent review found the benefits today is much smaller than it
was a decade ago now that dental hygiene and fluoride toothpaste are universal.
The potential harms I'm going to try to state these carefully and factually. So
dental fluorosis uh that's a streaking of children's tooth and animal is one
that effects no one disputes at the levels we use. The leading review
estimate affects roughly one in eight people in Florida communities.
Lower IQ in children. In 2024, the federal national toxicology program
concluded with moderate confidence that higher fluoride exposure is associated
with lower IQ in children. And in September of 2024, a federal court ruled
that fluidation at the current levels poses unreasonable risk and order the
EPA to act. Bone effects. Fluoride accumulates in the skeleton over a
lifetime. It's cumulative and at higher doses, it's linked to skeletal changes
and fracture risk. Thyroid functions. Some studies at higher exposures suggest
effects on thyroid home hormones. Vulner groups, it affects bottlefed infants
more because they're getting too much of it in their bottle milk. Uh even the
American Dental Association suggested lower fluoride water as an option.
People with kidney disease have a hard time processing it. Heavy water drinkers
whose dose rises every time they consume. Uh to be fair, the strongest of
this evidence is at concentrations higher than what we currently put in the
water. And credible experts disagree on whether this is good or bad. But many
credible institutions, including a federal court and a federal toxicology
program among them, have reopened the question we considered closed in 1984.
When the experts stop agreeing, the public deserves to weigh in. One local
fact, since 2015, federal health authorities have recommended a fluoride
level of 007 milligrams per liter. Seaside's most recent reported level,
this was a sample in 2021, was about 1.04 04 milligrams per liter above that
recommendation. This alone warrants a closer look by staff. Okay. Why I'm
raising this now? So I bring this forward because it's been 42 years since
this council and seaside residents had a say. I'd like to bring the topic back
and open it up to our residents, to dentists, and to public health experts.
Two things to keep in mind. This is entirely our decision. So Oregon does
not mandate fluoride. Seaside has the full authority to continue it, to end
it, or to return it to voters. Two, seaside is not an outliner for asking.
Roughly 74% of Oregonians on public water systems do not have fluidated
water, including our neighbor to the south can of beach. Only about 26% do.
And this conversation is happening all around us. In just the last few years,
Oregon communities have taken this up again and again. Sweet Home Council
voted to remove it 2025. Lebanon voted to end their flidation program. The
voters did in 2024. Hillsboro voters rejected add again in 2024. Portland,
the largest city in Oregon, does not add Florida and they rejected it again in
2013. And then Warrington, right next door up the road, voters chose to keep
it in 2026. The lesson isn't which way they went. Some kept it, some mended it.
The lesson is of community after community decided deserves a fresh
public decision and let their people make it. All right. My biggest concern,
it's a policy no one can opt out of. So, just to name it plainly, the policy
has real consequence for residents who are worried about this additive because
there is no way to opt out of it. Everyone drinks water. We bathe in it.
We cook with it, water our gardens and lawns with it. At a coffee shop or
restaurant in town, you're drinking it too, whether you know it or not. A
resident who has read the recent science and decides that they want to avoid it
cannot. as long as the city adds it for everyone. A policy this sweeping with
potential second order effects deserves closer and current examination. And
there is a related problem. Even among those who drink it, there's actually no
way to control the dose. So fluidation sets a concentration in the water at the
the city level and not a dose per person. So everyone drinks different
amounts of water. And a construction worker, an athlete who's drinking
gallons a day is going to get far more than someone who just drinks a glass or
two a day. a large adult, a small child, someone with a medical condition that
makes them drink more. All receive very different amounts from the same tap is
unlike any medication a doctor would ever prescribe where the dose is matched
to the person. Here concentration is fixed and the dose is left to chance. So
what I'm asking tonight, I'm not asking anyone to decide tonight whether flood
stays or goes or is good or bad. What I'm saying is that a policy decision of
this magnitude, one that reaches every person that drinks our water, deserves
our time and attention, deserves input, and the generation living with it today.
The original decision was made 42 years ago. Very few people who made it are
still here to speak to it. The gen this generation of Seaside deserves a vote.
No decision needs to be made tonight, but later this evening, I will make a
motion to bring the issue back to a full agenda so the staff can analyze it and
with a chance for our residents or dentists health experts to be heard. And
I'll hope that you will join me in giving them this opportunity.
» Thank you. >> Your cost estimate, it's about actually
two to three times that the 10,000. actually closer to 20 to 30,000 after
you do the permitting stability. Okay. Pumps, all the systems.
» I think that was just the cost of the actual
» just the cost of the material. You're right about that.
» I'll update that. >> The whole fluoride system and the
permitting is 20 to 30,000 a year. >> Thank you for that. Uh councelor. Yeah,
I I support everything you said and you hit a lot of the high spots that I was
going to bring up. And uh I'm just going to reiterate a couple of things. Uh
there are several states that recently reconsidered
or prohibited fluoridation and federal agencies have begun re-examining aspects
of fluoride policy particularly regarding ingested fluoride products for
our children and a broader health questions. Uh Oregon as you pointed out,
remains one of the least fluidated states in the nation, ranking near the
bottom of the percentage of residents receiving fluoridated community water.
Uh some points, uh when this was rolled out in the 1950s, many Americans had no
regular dentist. Uh fluoride toothpaste wasn't common place. Dental sealants
didn't exist. Oral health education was limited. Sugar consumption patterns were
different. Today, fluoride toothpaste is nearly universal. Fluoride mouth rinses
and professional treatments are readily available. Sealants protect children's
teeth. Preventive dentistry is standard practice. Even on every tube of fluoride
toothpaste, it reminds us not to swallow it. That naturally leads many people to
ask reasonable questions about adding fluoride to the drinking water. Those
questions deserve respectful discussion. I'm asking that we place the topic on a
future agenda for discussion. Whether someone supports fluidation or opposes
it isn't really the point. Public policy shouldn't be placed on a shelf for 75
years and never looked at again. Community water flidation began in the
40s and became federal policy in the 50s. At that time, dentistry, nutrition,
preventive dental care, it all looked very different than it does today. We
now have fluoride toothpastes, fluoride rinses, dental sealants, routine
cleanings, and much better public education about oral health. At the same
time, communities across the country are once again asking whether this remains
the right public policy. States are reconsidering it. Federal agencies are
reviewing aspects of fluoride policy. Regardless of where each of us stands,
it's fair to acknowledge that this conversation is happening nationwide.
I believe asking questions is exactly what good government is supposed to do.
If after reviewing the facts, our community decides flidation should
continue, then so be it. If our community decides otherwise, then it
should be respected as well. Our role isn't to decide that for the people
today. Our role is to ensure that they have the opportunity to hear the facts,
that they have the opportunity to ask questions and ultimately make an
informed decision. That's why I'm supporting placing this issue on a
future agenda and if appropriate allowing the voters of Seaside to
decide. Our responsibility is not to defend
yesterday's decisions. It's to make sure that they're still the right decisions
for today.
Well, this couldn't be more timely because uh as you know, I had my
orientation uh dance card over the past week and a half and as soon as uh I went
up to the water treatment plant and met with Ron and I took notes specifically
about the fluoride and the next morning I'm in the shower and we know what
happens when we're in the shower. We think
» we well we we hope we know. So I I came up with this and then all of a sudden
this is on the agenda. So I appreciate it. Uh the seaside water use and
fluoride fluoride treatment cost analysis. The following is ba is based
on the seaside residential population of seven roughly 7,300 plus 2700 visitors
in out of city users for a total of 10,000 person average daily population
outside of high season. So as you can find this information anywhere, the
typical water use per person uh is approximately 100 gallons per day and
that's laundry, dishes, shower, toilet, cleaning, washing your car, whatever
you're doing. Uh and the daily household per person water usage for drinking and
cooking is anywhere from one to 2%. So the left hand column is if you used 1%
of water and the right hand column just shows if you used two gallons of water.
So there's your math. So on a basic on a 10,000 population daily total we are
using a million gallons approximately and that is based on the uh city's
website report. I'm sure it's goes up and it goes down but I'm sure it goes
more up. So that's our water usage. When you're looking at the fluoride itself,
these 50 lb bags come in a pallet with 50 and so they're approximately $60 per
bag and they're put in every other day. So you could say $30 a day, right? Okay.
So $30 a day at 365 days a year is $10,950.
Okay. The annual Cost of fluoride effectiveness
is either 1% or 2%. In other words, the total consumed discharged fluoridated
water based on 1% actually consumed is 99%.
You're we're flushing it down the drain. And if you are a high water drinker,
then it's 98%. [clears throat] So there's asterisks on here. and
drinking tap water, food prep, cooking, boiling pasta, washing vegetables, and
making hot soups or beverages uses an average of 0.1 to one uh gallons per
total per person daily. Portion of total used. The direct oral and culinary use
represent only one 1% to one and a half% of total households.
a household is based on uh four people and that is according to the US EPA.
Um household refrigerators with filtered
water dispensers do not remove fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral. Statistics do not
include restaurant ice makers and restaurant tap water consumed is
approximately 1% of uh all water use. So, I'm coming from a a different angle,
but um I just wanted to make everybody aware and that's that's just for the the
sodium fluoride itself and has nothing to do with the pipes and permits and
everything else. So, it's an expense that we are literally flushing down the
drain. >> Great input. Thank you.
» Else want to make a comment before we move on. I'd be interested in knowing
what the sodium fluoride does to our pipes.
Maybe our public works director can tell us.
» I think staff would prefer to find out what you want to know and
come back prepared rather than just off the cuff
remarks. I think and I think that's what council mores is asking is to bring it
back for a larger discussion. But if we do that, it would be helpful for us to
know what should we come prepared with. Exactly like that.
» Yeah, I think that's part of it. But I know there's also a lot of members of
the public that want to speak as well. So maybe it's a combination of your
analysis and then taking testimony. >> Yeah.
» Well, it be like any other item we bring up.
» There'll be a staff report about it, public comment.
Do >> you have anything?
» That that was really where I was headed. I don't know anything about
what what else has to be done besides not putting this bag in the water. Like
does it require any other um reconfiguration or reconstitution of the
way that the water is treated at the treatment plant the cost to the city?
» That would be good question for the staff report to answer as well.
» This has been a a issue that's come about
mo mostly recently. So, um I'm fine with it going before the public. It's you
said it's been a long time and I don't see any reason why we wouldn't
go to the public as opposed to us deciding. I think we're all agree with
that, right? >> So, um
there are there are counterpoints to some of your points.
thing that I always look at is uh dental plans are not available to a good
portion of our public both young and old because that's not covered under
Medicaid and that means a lot of our kids that are at the poverty level you
know they're going to have to find some place to make sure they get the fluoride
and maybe toothpaste is enough but there's certainly a lot less dental
care available And so hearing from Dennis will be an
important part of it. Um we can you know like you said Warrington just went
through this so we can follow up what they said see what they
did and obviously sees sides of different
cities. So we'll see. >> I do have a motion but I'll I'll bring
that out during my comments.
» Don't really have to have a motion. Um >> I'm the that sets the agenda along with
you and and staff. So, as far as I'm concerned, I think we have a consensus
that yeah, it's it can become an agenda item.
» Great. >> Tell you that
» not be able to go on the ballot this year. We don't have enough time for
that. >> So, we'll probably be looking at the May
um not sure costwise. That's something else staff can figure out. um it will
cost us something to put it on the ballot and if it's at a general or a
primary election for instance and it's less it's not nearly as expensive.
» I can tell you that um any child that um is enrolled in Head Start once a year
headart offers the fluidation treatment and the parents can elect not to have
it. >> That's a pretty small amount of kids
compared the hundreds in our primary schools
school. Okay.
» Yeah. Just thank you everyone for the input.
» Thank you. Thanks for putting it on the topic.
» Okay. Next up, uh we have a item on the agenda tonight, consideration of the
parks advisory committee's estuary plaque proposal. So, who's uh going to
come up? I have a uh
» I think Nancy and Bill and probably Paul, do you want to come up as well?
» Okay.
[clears throat] >> Make sure you're in a spot where we can
catch your lovely faces. You got him.
» You want to introduce this
» mayor and council? Um, I'll introduce this. So, this came this I think was
announced. This is the first time I heard about was at our last meeting. Um
but it's been from what I've told been a discuss topic of discussion for many
years at the parks committee level and so um once I think councelor Ansbro
mentioned this um there was a parks committee is planning a plaque ceremony
thought okay let's let's dig a little deeper into that and councelor Tono um
also um asked for more information about it um and so looked into it and um the
parks committee would like to do a plaque ceremony recognizing Neil Maine
at the estuary park and uh they've uh made some plans and I uh met with Nancy
and we had discussion about how and a reminder about how the parks committee
is advisory. So, they want to do something. That's where they need to get
council approval. And we talked about how the new um updated council ordinance
would help with that and provide a better mechanism for clear
communications and direction and things like that. So, um but um there was time
between um the event that they would like to hold uh and uh well, we have
this meeting in between then. So there was an opportunity for the council to
come and listen to the uh idea, the proposal, ask some questions, provide
some feedback, and then if you're comfortable with it, they can move
forward. If you'd like to make adjustments to it, um that can also
happen. Um if you'd like to go a different direction, that can also
happen and we can have that discussion. And so it's on uh what we can talk about
in the work session and then any decision from the council will be in the
regular meeting. And I've got we got a couple of slides.
Um here's I think people are generally familiar with the Echuary Park across
the street from the old high school. Here is the um advertisement that
they've put together. And then Paul can fill you in a little bit later if you
want do want to move forward. His recommendation is not so much on a rock
like that, but on a pedestal. And this is what we're talking about where it
would be located. But I'm going to leave it on this slide and turn it over to
Nancy as our chair of the parks committee to introduce it and talk a
little bit about why the parks committee would like to pursue this.
» I think Paul knows too though. Um, we need to wrap up about the quarter to
six. So again, we're not making any decisions here, counselors. This is
strictly a discussion. We want to make any decisions, we'll do it in council.
» Good evening. I'm Nancy Holmes, chair of the parks advisory committee, and to my
left is Phil Monttero, our vice chair. Um,
in January 2023, the city of side initiated initiated a complex pro
process of purchasing land which is now known as Esttoary Park. At the same
time, several residents came to the park's advisory meeting, suggesting that
if the purchase was successful, Neil Maine, a local educator,
conservationist, and wildlife photographer, should be recognized for
his work in helping protect the vital coastal estuary and wetland habitats
along the Oregon North Coast. During his 31-year tenure at the Seaside School
District, he taught biology, created outdoor programs, connected with our
students, connecting our students with local ecosystems. After his retirement,
he was one of the founders of the North Coast Land Conservancy. That was 40
years ago. Based on public recommendations, the committee looked at
several ways to honor Neil for his lifelong work. In their September 4th,
2025 meeting, the committee and members of the public suggested creating a
plaque as a tribute to Neil. Several of Neil's former students and friends of
the committee designed the beautiful plaque you see on the flyer.
Aware that Neil is in poor is now in poor health, anonymous donors arranged
for the plaque to be cast and presented to the committee so Neil could be
honored during a living tribute ceremony while he was still able to share in the
occasion. Lexi Halahan has engaged former students
and longtime friends of Neils to speak at a living tribute event planned for 1
p.m. Tuesday, August 11th. Many other friends and former students
have been invited to join at the edge of the beautiful seashore sea side estuary
to reminisce about the exploration of that land and when they had an
opportunity to discover its secrets with their miss with their teacher Miss
Germaine. The committee has applied for a vent permit from the city. Several
potential locations for the plaque, both public and private sites, have been
considered. The parks advisory committee's recommendation to the
council tonight would would be best would it that it would be best mounted
on a rock or concrete monument to be installed at Estuary Park. We can talk
more about that. We respectfully request your approval of our recommendation to
provide permanent public recognition of Neil Main's extraordinary service and
lasting tri legacy through the installation of this commemorative
plaque as part of the living tribute. Thank you.
» Bill, anything to add? >> No, we looked at several locations. Um,
we talked to school, you know, school district is willing to do it. Land
conservy's willing to put a plaque there. We thought it was most
appropriate here in Seaside because he was a seaside teacher and brought a lot
of the stu the people that we all know to the estuary and actually made him
aware of what it is and it's expans.
» Okay, counselors questions. Uh, I I guess my only concern would be if we do
do an upgrade to Estuary Park, are we going to put this in a place where it
doesn't have to be moved? So, we almost have to kind of figure out what we're
going to do there, I think, before we place it.
» Why don't Why don't we We had that exact discussion we met on site today. Paul,
do you want to walk through your ideas here and what we talked about when it
comes to that? What I told Paul is that I don't want to design the park around
the plaque. So we have to do it in such a way that it can be relocated if
necessary. >> So uh I talked with my folks and we came
up with this idea for a concrete base for the for the plaque. Um you would sit
about a foot underground. So the three feet below the plaque is really two feet
and the five feet's really only going to stick up four. But, uh, we made it a
certain size so we could sling this out of here very easily and move it around.
Um, it would be solid as it was, but it would be an easy matter just to pick it
up and move it wherever we wanted to. If they had to move it out of the park or
if we had to move it to another location of the park, that's definitely something
we can do. It's not beyond the equipment's uh mass loading and it's not
like anchored into a much larger base which would be far more problematic to
move >> and it's heavy enough that nobody else
could do it. >> Yeah. So, [laughter]
it's it's just under 3,000 lbs with that much concrete. So,
» um >> Wow.
» Yeah. It's um it's fairly substantial, but not too much that our little mini
excavator can't pick it up and move it around. So, that's kind of the the
weight limit that we were looking at in order to kind of uh satisfy the
requirements.
» Thank you. >> The estuary is not in good condition. in
the extruary park is not in good condition and um I would suspect that
we're going to be doing a lot of work there in the future. Um so one of the
questions I have is because it's not in good condition and there's activity
there all the time. Um what would be the plan
for the um to maintain
this and maintain the plaque? I really don't want to see something like that
defaced. >> Right. So um we still have um the
process of going through maybe some uh concept with architects on may how we
may adjust work out there. Um the platform does
need help. It uh is in disrepair. Um we have two um staircases going down, both
made out of wood. Um I'd like to pull both out, replace one of them with a
concrete one. I think the best thing to do, uh since Echuary Park has, you know,
a natural habitat theme is to keep everything man-made in one little area.
So, as you can see in that photo, right to the extreme left on the lower photo,
that's where the stairs go down right now. And the other one is way down on
the end. I would take the ones on the on the north end out completely, replace
these with uh concrete. Um, since it is in the flood plane, um, there's going to
be permitting. I'd rather not rock the boat, as you may say, and rebuild on the
existing platform that's there, um, which would be a minimal regulatory
impact to us, um, while still preserving, you know, a wonderful place
to observe the estuary. >> So, if we were to pull out that
platform, would we be legally permitted to put it back in?
» Um, well, what's really we're talking about are the pilings. That's what's in
the flood plane. So that's what's holding the stuff up. We maintain those.
They're in good shape. It's it's the top decking and some of the railings that
that need replacement that if we just did like for like it shouldn't be an
issue whatsoever. Um if we want to upgrade it to say using a composite
material like TX or something like that, we'll have to put additional supports
underneath of it. But I don't believe we would need more pilings. So that which
actually impacts the flood plane of the pilings, I don't believe that we would
need additional ones that we could build the structure off of the existing.
» Cross your fingers. >> What's the cost for the concrete basin?
Who's paying for that? Um the cost um we're talking let's see
we're talking like a $100 worth of concrete
um and maybe another $100 worth of just uh boards for forming it up. So
basically $200 worth of material cost and about a day to put it together. So
» So labor for a day. >> For a day. Yeah.
» For one person. >> Mhm.
And then $200 >> pretty much. Yeah, it's a pretty low
cost. And that's the doing the boulder. It would have been really difficult to
find a boulder with a face. And the boulder itself probably would have cost
at least $600 to $1,000 after all said and done. So, um I think
that the pedestal we can control it better and it'll make a better mounting
surface and we can move it easier, too. Um a boulder that size would be probably
one and a half to two times the weight of that. So, it'll be a little more
difficult and it wouldn't sit, you know, we can lay this on its end and move it
around if we had to move it to another location. It would be an easy, safer
move to this. It's also easier to anchor [clears throat]
um the plaque down to this. >> So, how high is this above the ground?
» Four feet. The top of that will be four feet. So, the top, it says five feet
from the bottom of the top. The bottom foot will be below grade.
» Do we have to worry at all about skateboarders?
» Um,
there's not a lot of what I would call good skateboarding surface right there.
We're going to be off of the pavement anyway. Um, I I think it I'm trying to
see how a skateboarder would want to utilize that.
» Um, >> they do prom. Yeah. Um, we've tried to
put it as far back from any of the paved surfaces so it doesn't um congest any
ADA or any people coming in and going. It also pulls it back far enough so that
we went in and rebuilt the platform. It's not going to be in the way of the
construction, too. Plus, it's I think it's a good prominent location. People
come in there and it's right there and they can see it, but it really doesn't
get in the way of, you know, wheelchair traffic, pedestrian traffic, uh, even
bicycles. So, >> I like that they have it turned around
so they have to get out of their cars. [laughter]
» Yeah. But then they're have their back to the estuary when they're reading it.
» They're out of their cars. >> That's it. Yeah. Um
» concrete. Uh we have a lot of concrete that likes to get tagged.
» Yeah. Um >> aggregate.
» We could I mean they'll still tag it. I mean
we can we could try to seal it um as best as possible to try to mitigate uh
you know make it easier to clean. Um >> can we seal it? We can you can seal
concrete to a degree um just so that it has a more uh the surface is easier to
clean. >> Then you have to redo it.
» You have to redo it. So >> um I don't know if tagging has been an
issue out there. Um but again if you build it they will come.
» Yeah. >> Kind of a thing.
So, uh, yeah,
there's only so much you can do. >> And that's the question, and I am
certainly not the engineer, so let me caveat my comment with that.
» But, um, it seems like when you see a plaque somewhere, you
don't typically I mean, I'm not like envisioning it in this big concrete
block that has to be moved by an excavator. It just seems sort of
like a heavy installation to me for something like this. But like I said,
I'm not an engineer. I'm hearing the the the point of making it so heavy is that
so it can't be moved or so that nobody can tamper with it. Is that accurate?
» Yeah. So, I mean, it's it's not so heavy that it can't be moved um by heavy
equipment, but it's too heavy to basically if someone leans up again,
it's not going to fall over. It'll weather better this way. Um and that was
the intent. It's like what's going to be something that's going to be the least
amount of maintenance. It's going to hold up to the weather as best is not
going to be, you know, if someone tries to knock it over. It's going to it's
going to be pretty difficult. You'd have to have several people pushing on it to
knock it over. Um but still be able to move it uh in case it's in the way of a
future development of the park. So, >> okay, that makes sense.
» That was our compromise. >> And what about the maintenance of the
plaque itself? if there's tagging or there's um I I
doubt that somebody could remove that from
» it's pretty similar but in fact it's identical to what you have on prom all
along all the along each light post you have brass plaque or bronze plaque
exactly the same >> even the Louiswis and Clark statue is
» yeah so I mean >> it's no different than that so if
somebody were to tag it you can use acetone on it and it's not going to
degrade the brass for the bronze on it and it's raised
lettering. So, >> good
» with a with a rough background. The photograph is the only thing that might
take some special >> is that sealing? It's sealed already.
» I haven't tried estim
use a Q-tip because alcohol works better.
» Touch it till it's tagged. >> Huh?
» I can touch it till it's tagged. It's tagged. That's right. We can replace it.
» You could replace Yeah, you can replace that.
» Keep the photo. >> It's a lovely project.
» We do or have in the past anyway. refinished some of the plaques around
town. The one at the turnaround, for instance, for our uh for the prom was
redone. The one out here was redone by public works a number of years ago.
There was I don't remember which guy it was, but one of them knew how to do
that. And they clean up really well. Of course, you know, it probably been there
for 20 years, so it's possible. Very doable.
Well, Neil Maine did a lot for the community. I think it's definitely
deserved. So, I applaud you for making that effort.
» Yeah, we had a lot of people. They wanted to name the park Neil M. He just
said, "No, that's not our job." >> Easiest,
» but that difficult part. >> We thought the easy ask was a plaque.
[laughter] >> Yes.
» Well, and we don't have an official name for the park. Not yet.
» Let's put that on the list. >> It is.
» Okay. >> Thank you guys for
» Thanks. >> Thank you.
» Anything else you want to discuss that's on tonight's agenda?
Just a reminder that we are going into executive session
» to discuss Spencer's review. Uh anything that's done or said in there will stay
in there. It doesn't come back here at the end. I've written up a
general statement that I'll read assuming you guys agree to the
um we will discuss any changes to his salary or
any of the benefits and we do have a option to discuss there.
» This is all standard. This is how we do it every year.
Is this what it is? I'm trying to
Call the city council meeting to order for July 27th. Please rise for the
pledge of allegiance.
To the flag of the United States of America and to
» nation under Gody and justice
» again. Please call the role.
» Thank you.
R. Montero here. Coun. >> Oh, excuse me. Councelor R. Monontto
» still here. >> Councelor Baker
» here. >> Council President Morsy
» here. >> Mayor Wright
» here. >> Councelor T. Monttero
» present. >> Councelor Ansbro
» here. You >> guys are throwing me a loop. N
» all all present and accounted for. I have a motion for approval of our agenda
for tonight. >> So moved.
» Second. >> Council President Morrisy, Councelor
Baker. All those in favor say I. >> I. I.
» Any opposed? Motion carries. No proclamations tonight. Public
comments. Do we have anybody signed up in audience
for public comments? We have one person in Zoom.
didn't didn't make it. Okay, >> she made it.
» We had some um file written comments. They'll be in the minutes.
Any counselor wish to declare a potential conflict of interest?
» Just noting that uh Bill Montero of the parks advisory board is my husband.
» Thank you.
» I have a motion for approval of the consent agenda. I would move to approve
the consent agenda. >> A second.
» Council President Morsy, Councelor Baker. All those in favor say I.
» I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries,
but it's nice when we can just write through. No reports and presentations
tonight. Uh, city of Seaside Boards, City Council commissions and committees.
We still have a vacancy on airport advisory one, community center
commission two, planning commission one, transportation advisory commission one,
city tree board two, and city council ward three. A reminder, W three remains
open until we appoint somebody could remain open until um the election of
2028 unless somebody decides to step up. Anybody that we do appoint will remain
in office until then.
Unfinished business. Ordinance 2026-06 regarding
amending chapter 31 to establish uh general provisions for boards,
commissions, and committees.
We had this on the agenda before. Spencer, you got a quick update for us?
» Yeah. So, this will cover the changes that the council discussed and wanted
implemented uh since the last meeting. The first was to clarify membership and
terms. So, um you can now serve on up to two committees. Um the and there was
some discussion of ordinance versus policies. The ordinance says you're done
at the end of your term. The policy may allow someone to stay on until they're
reappointed, but that's not contained in the ordinance, which was believe my
understanding of the direction. And then uh their temporary service is
obviously not a guarantee of uh reappointment. We want to open it up as
much as possible. So recruitment and reappointment. So the city recorder will
uh begin the process at least 60 days before the term is expired.
Um we will basically want to broadcast this out to as many people as possible
including the person who's currently in the role. if they want to continue and
then the city council may consider all applicants including the person if they
choose to be reappointed and they the discussion there has been you know
making sure there's an opportunity for um fresh ideas to come on board.
There are some questions and comments and direction on quorum and
subcommittees. So, we clarified added clarifying language on what's a quorum
that they uh cannot take action unless they're uh officially a quorum and we've
kind of given some examples in there what that would be making any decisions
and whatnot. Um but they could receive updates. I think it's especially
important for our committees where sometimes we're less sure if we will
have a quorum, but for those who do come, we want to recognize their efforts
to come and at least have a meaningful discussion or an update if we can. And
then subcommittees, we add the language to say that the the committees cannot
create any permanent or standing subcommittees without first coming
through to the city council. And then one I think the the provision there we
want to be careful of is off the committee work takes considerable staff
time and resources and we want to make sure that we are not multiplying that
and so there will be a review process as to whether staff can accommodate that
whether staff needed and maybe any other considerations.
Those are all the changes uh that were requested to go with the after the first
reading. And so here's the requested action and an optional third reading and
adoption if you choose tonight. Okay, I'll uh open the floor to anybody
from the public that wants to make any comments
seeing none counselors any comments? >> I don't have any comments.
» I'd be interested in knowing if um anybody from any of the committees has
given us any input. I've not received any feedback from the committees.
» Okay. [snorts] >> And then there's one thing um where
attendance at the at a virtual uh attendance at a meeting can be virtual
and I think um we talked about it last time as well. Um
it did not follow the same rules of the council where if we attend virtually we
must be visible at the meeting. I believe I sorry I should have put that
on here. I believe I updated language to include the phrase with camera on or
something like that. Uh >> didn't see that
» to make it in compliance with the electronic meetings policy.
» Um yeah, >> I didn't see that. Um the other is um on
the section that if a member's term expires and nobody's been appointed yet
um you said the vacant they can serve
temporarily until the vacancy is filled if they're willing to continue serving.
Is there any time limit on that? >> No. That would be um the council can
make a decision at that point. I think trying to keep uh options open
for the council, >> right? Trying to leave us as much
flexibility as possible. >> And that's in policy.
» That's what I'm reading. >> Right. It's in policy, not ordinance.
» Yeah. >> Yeah. And that's Yeah. It doesn't say
there's any time limit. So if it takes us 6 months or a year, that person can
continue to sit on a temporary basis. Is that intent?
» Well, if if they want to as well. I mean, if they're not signing up again,
they probably won't want to go that long.
» Okay. >> So, um, councelor Mont leaves in our
hands. Yeah. See, um, page 46 of your packets
in the, uh, in the policy,
let's see, second paragraph on page, sorry, page
45, second paragraph. To be counted as present while
participating electronically, a committee member must be able to hear
the meeting, be heard by others, participate in discussion, be identified
for attendance and voting purposes, and keep members camera on during the
meeting unless otherwise allowed by law, the city the city council's electronic
meetings policy or an approved accommodation.
» So, keeping the camera on is different from being visible.
I could keep the camera on and you don't see me. So I might not be
» Do you want to suggest an amendment to the language?
» I think that what we've got for counselors
I does the council one say just keep the camera on.
» I'm guessing this is that language but I can look at
» okay >> I just think it should be equal. Um,
also on page 39 under reappointments, um, you said,
"A [clears throat] member seeking reappoint is not required to complete a
full new application unless requested by the city council, city recorder, or city
manager." Um, you know, I think that starts to get um somewhat unfair because
that means that one person asking for reappoint might not be asked to fill out
an application while another one might be asked and um uh it starts to look
kind of judgmental against that incumbent. I think everybody should be
doing the same thing and you could add to an application
um a space for any kind of comments that a new applicant or an incumbent
applicant might want to say about what they're doing. I know that later on you
do have uh that the council may reappoint and they may consider
attendance, participation, preparation, conduct, etc.
Um, I just I just think that saying we don't have to ask for this, but maybe
we will and it kind of ends up depending on who that person is. And so I kind of
I would like to see it be the same for everybody.
» So I will say I don't think staff has any plans or I can't envision a time
when we would request it on our own. It would be somehow at the council's
direction. So, if you want to remove that language, that's fine. The um the
question about whether or not they should fill out full application was
something the council discussed last time and the direction we received from
the majority was we didn't want a full application again. Um, but again, just
putting in some flexibility in case there are circumstances where where it
makes sense, but I I can't see any reason why staff would initiate it if
council hasn't. Um, maybe there could be a time and that's why there's some
flexibility. So, I'd be fine if you left it in or removed the city manager and
city recorder. The only thing I could see would be if our application had
changed and so there was just some information that we wanted from them so
that we had it on file that we didn't currently have or something. But
otherwise, I can't see us initiating that.
» And and my comment isn't about staff requesting it. So, I'm going to share a
story. This is back in about 2005.
I sat on what was then called the advertising committee. I had sat on that
committee, attended every meeting, been very active uh for three years.
I I'll say it really nicely ticked off a few members of the council
who for the first time ever asked that a someone who wanted to be
reappointed made me do the application and made me do the um the interview.
They never asked anybody else. There was nobody else who wanted the position. I
don't ever want anybody going through that.
That's why I am so committed to you do it the same for everybody
because it should not be political.
I'm not really [clears throat] as concerned of what the process is. I just
don't want to have to see folks fill out a new application that are already
serving because we already have such a challenge of getting volunteers. But
whether it's a email to Kim or a written confirmation or a phone call, I mean, I
don't really have strong feelings about what that process is. I just know that
it should be simple if someone's already been approved and is already serving.
I I agree. I I think it's the second sentence in the [clears throat]
paragraph that's important. The city may use a simplified written confirmation or
reappoint form. So, >> well, because you've already got the
original application on file, >> right? But this is four years later and
we don't know if that person I hopefully the committees will be giving the
reports. Did that person participate? Did they attend the meetings?
And that kind of thing. Reappoint shouldn't be automatic.
It should be based on whether or not people fulfill the commitment they made.
And doesn't the uh the committee chair uh give a report as to what's going on
anyway? >> The leazison.
» That's what we're hoping for. the layers on.
» This is just one small piece in that. >> Yeah.
» As we move forward, >> I think what you just said is different
than the process for reappointment in this paragraph. So, I'm not quite
understanding.
Well, the next paragraph or two paragraphs down, it does say the council
may consider attendance, participation, preparation, conduct, relevant
experience, committee needs, the annual report and work plan, the value of
continuity, and the value of providing opportunities for new applicants.
And how do you consider that if the person hasn't if all the person has said
is I want to stay?
I think there is a difference between uh staff
uh andor the committee providing information like a report to go with
someone who's interested in being reappointed and them filling out an
application. I think those are two different issues. So, one is are you
interested? Yes, we can pass that along. And as we're passing it along, here's
the feedback from the chair or here's their attendance record or whatever we
decide and you decide is helpful for you to make that decision. We can provide
that, but that's not something that would come from the person serving in
that role.
I'm okay with the way it's stated right now. The um it leaves as much
flexibility as we want and it's going to be our decision in the long run. Um
hopefully everybody uh pays attention and doesn't make it a personal thing.
But you know, we can't stop that from happening by changing some language. Our
application is not really that useful because it just has data. It doesn't
tell us anything about the person. That's why we interview them. And one of
the things I'm looking forward to is getting that annual report and working
with the committees so that we can say, "Okay, here's what we agree with you on
going forward. what happens next year and then um reviewing that and going
forward we end up with a much more efficient way of all of our boards and
committees working with the council and doing the council's work.
There is plenty of flexibility there now. Um and the things that we're
considering remployment basically none of those are on the
application. Those are all going to be things that we find out from the annual
report and you know who's doing the work. It puts a lot more work on
committee chairs making sure that people are showing up and recording when
they're not or why they're not. So, um we're going to depend on them uh
significantly and
» but the committee chairs change. It's not always the same person. Not for the
four years. >> Doesn't have to be. They have a job
described in the uh the documents. And it shouldn't matter who that chair
is. >> And who will be making sure that that
job is done? right now
» if we don't get the report. >> Okay.
» Any other comments,
» mayor? >> Yeah,
» just circle back. I pulled up the um the city council's adopted electronic
meetings policy and it does mirror that language. It says members of boards,
commissions, committees or councils who wish to participate in electronic
meetings must keep their video on during the meeting to be considered present. So
I think the intent was that they are uh I think the intent was to avoid a
situation where I'm sure many of you have been in a virtual meeting. Yeah.
Where some people choose to just keep their camera off to participate. I think
that was the point is to avoid that. We have not had an issue to my knowledge of
people having their camera on but pointed somewhere else. If that becomes
an issue, we can certainly bring it up. It is in the policy. That's much easier
to change than the ordinance. And the policy is not what's up for adoption
tonight. It goes with it. Um I think um if the council uh does a second reading
tonight, we'd probably bring back the uh policy at the next meeting to adopt with
the adoption of the ordinance. Or if you choose if the council chooses to do a
third reading and adoption tonight, there's always a 30-day um period until
the ordinance goes into effect. So, we would bring back the policy at the next
meeting to go into effect at the same time as the ordinance. So, um but again,
just going back to the policy, it's easier to change.
» You indicated that we haven't had any input from any of the um committees. I'm
not sure which of the committees have had the opportunity to view this and
talk about it at one of their meetings. Um I know for both of my committees they
have not had that opportunity yet. >> The um
there not we have not changed very much in the year and a half since the first
draft was put together. Recently it's been more
um procedural in splitting it up between ordinance and policy but the bones of it
are essentially the same. And um there was a request put out to the u each of
the committees at that time with a copy of that proposal and everyone right away
started working on or looking at discussing their own personal committee
stuff and did not provide any feedback on the overarching policy and I think in
the discussions I've had with the staff liaison people are generally in favor of
one overarching uh ordinance
and then specific things for their individual um committees. Um but uh like
I said that we did reach out and there just wasn't any
that wasn't the topic they wanted to talk about. So
» Okay. May I have a motion? I move for a second reading of ordinance number
2026-06 by title only. I'll second. It's
» council Baker. Councelor R. Montero. All those in favor say I.
» I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Spencer.
» Ordinance number 2026-06. an ordinance of the city of Seaside,
Oregon, amending chapter 31 of the Seaside Code of Ordinances to establish
general provisions governing city boards, commissions, and committees.
» Thank you. So, we'll discuss the uh third reading
on uh our next meeting. New business, consideration of the parks advisory
committee estuary plaque proposal. We had that um during our work session. I
think we understand what's going on. Anything you want to add, Spencer?
» No, I think that's it.
» Any further comments from the council?
I don't know if we have a proposed We have proposed motion.
Can um Is Paul still here? Hey. Hey, Paul. I
got a question for you. Um,
and I I got it confused between the pedestal and the uh boulder. What What
is the weight difference between the pedestal and and the boulder?
» Uh, boulder is variable, but it would be probably somewhere between 3500 lb and
5,000 lb. Whereas the pedestal is about 2,700 lb.
» Okay. 2700 lb. Okay, cool. And um is there going to just out of curiosity I
know that the footprint on that is >> the base is 2 feet by 2 feet.
» Okay. And um no worry about that sinking down or having an impact on the uh
environment? >> No. What we'll do is we'll dig a hole
and we'll put some gravel in there and compact it to give it a good subbase and
then it'll sit upon that and it should distribute the load pretty well.
» Make a foundation. Yeah. Okay. >> Thank you. That's what I had.
» Where is that new business? >> Anybody else?
Um I see that one. Oh, do you have something else? I saw um that one person
in the audience wants to make a comment. We did not list uh public comments, but
we generally allowed. Is that okay with the council? Okay. Step forward.
» Thanks, Paul. My question. >> Oh, okay. No question.
I think this is a great way to honor Neil Maine's legacy. So, I would move
that we'd approve the monument at Echuary Park.
» I'll second. It's >> Council President Morrisy and Councelor
Armono. Okay.
» All those in favor say I. >> I.
» I. Any opposed? Motion carries. So there will be an event assuming that
it can get done by August 11th, right? No problem. Okay. So um August 11th at
1:00 at Estuary Park. You're all invited.
Thanks to the parks committee and uh for what you've done so far on that and
we'll see you at the event.
Next up's the liquor license application limited on premises sales license. Uh we
got uh owner here. You want to come forward, introduce yourself, tell us a
little about your business.
» Hi. Uh my name is Mario Garcia and uh I have a seven years opened small business
in a south uh 800 South Reserve belt. >> And you're located just north of the
like the Shell station, right? >> Yes.
» Okay. Any questions from the council?
» No questions. No. >> All right. Can I have a uh motion?
» Looks like Seaside Police Department reviewed the liquor license application
and did not discover any disqualifying information. So, I would move to approve
the liquor license application for Tequira
El Tarasco LC. >> I second Elasco.
» Okay, Council President, Council President Morrisy and Councelor
Hanssboro. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I.
» I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Congratulations.
» Thank you.
» Next up item about library intergovernmental
agreement. We have our library director Jennifer here.
Yep. Welcome. tell us all about
what we're doing here. >> Uh this is basically Is that working?
Okay. Um basically just a restatement of uh an agreement that we've had uh in the
past. Uh we took the opportunity to clean up some of the language and just
reinforce that all of those things were still happening is uh the agreement
between the three cities uh to provide the library services.
Uh we also um took the opportunity to remove the termination date or the term
limit on it. Uh in the past it had been either for three years or five years. Uh
this way you don't have to come back in 5 years and have me do this again.
» That's it. >> That's pretty much it. Um I included in
the packet uh information you the background of how uh this uh evolved
from uh just sort of uh librarians driving books around in between the
different locations to establishing a courier uh system and then uh joining
forces to share a library catalog. And uh that's really where um the all of
that information um all of this allows us to be able to provide that service um
with the expectations that all three uh libraries will maintain their
collections and um be good partners.
» I only had uh one question uh on item 12 on notices. Um, it said, um, any notices
under this go to the library director or designated representative. I mean, it be
obvious to you. I just thought it probably be a good idea to have a copy
go to the city manager as well since it's a intergovernmental agreement.
» Mhm. >> So, I'd ask for a slight change there.
» I noticed Clatup County was involved. What is their connection to all this? So
they um generously fund the libraries rock program. Uh so we receive uh a
chunk of money for for that program. And so it's just sort of the continuation of
having the support for that program um and providing library services and
materials to all children in ClassUp County.
Mayor, in my orientation uh at the library, Director Reading
really offers a slick operation behind the scenes. I mean, those those books
are going out, those books are coming in, and it's a wonderful, wonderful
service for anybody who's a part of it. And thank you. I
» think it's always a surprise, I think, to folks when they come and they they
say, "Well, I have a card at Atoria." I said, "Well, yeah, they [laughter] could
you can use the library here, check out materials. We can move them around.
» It's wonderful. >> It's a nice feature."
» And of course, it's worth the drive for them to come because we had the best
library. >> That's right. [laughter]
» Sure. >> I wanted you to be on the record for
saying that. [laughter]
» Well, the other thing I'm, you know, I'm always thinking money. Um, Atoria pays
for their library operating out of their budget, but they had to get a levy to
actually do their new building. >> It doesn't
» um Seaside's entirely city paid. Warrington uh needs a property tax levy
and it's been questionable on and off and obviously the county has no library,
but it's great that they support uh your group. So, of course, we have the best
library. Any other comments or questions?
» I like that you all work together >> up and down the North Coast. I think
that's great. >> Yeah, it's it's really it's a nice
opportunity. And I'll share, you know, people always ask why isn't Canon Beach
part of it. Canon Beach isn't um a public library because it doesn't
receive any public funding. So, it is is a private library.
» So, otherwise um they would be we would bring them into the fold.
Can I move it make the motion? Ready for it?
» I think so. Anybody? >> I move to authorize the city manager to
execute the intergovernmental agreement for cooperative library services subject
to any changes deemed necessary or appropriate by the city manager or city
attorney. >> I second that.
» It's councelor T. Monttero and councelor Ansro. Any further discussion? All those
in favor say I. >> I.
» Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Thank you.
» Thank you. >> Thank you.
» Wow. We're moving right along.
Okay, this is going to be a tough one.
Come >> on up.
It's not often you have a question about buying something where the the
department brings the money to buy it with you them. [laughter]
» Well, >> division chief, please tell us what
you're asking for and why. >> Uh so, good evening, council. Appreciate
you guys. For those that don't know me, I'm the EMS chief for Seaside Fire and
Rescue. Um we are here I think about a month ago uh with our NDA report talking
about ambulance operations. Um and during that time we uh uh informed you
guys that we'd went after uh two grants. Um they started awarding those on July
1st at 8:00 in the morning. But about 7:52 that morning we were told that we
had received one of the grants um to purchase a new ambulance and outfitted.
Um, with that, um, the one we are attempting to get is a bronze select
ambulance. Uh, it's the latest and greatest. It has kind of the gold
standard. Um, and it's through True North out of Hillsboro. They're the
local dealer for that. >> That's great. Um
but with that it uh the in your packet it it talks about the amount of the
ambulance um and which exceeds the uh city manager's authorization to purchase
without city council's approval. Um it's over that $150,000 mark. So um I know
the number for what the cost of the grant was versus the ambulance is
different. I know I've had that question a couple times since we've uh received
word that we got that. Um, just know that that's the purchase price uh listed
there is just for the ambulance itself. It's not a cardiac monitor. It's not a
stair chair. It's not the gurnie, the power loader. All that
» fully fulfills the whole $600,000 that we were awarded. So,
» so will you be able to use the balance for those other things you just
mentioned? >> Yeah. Um when we when we applied for the
grant um we included uh outfitting at all except for the basic medical gear
which we have in stock at the station. Um but it's all for the big purchase
items. >> Great. Outstanding.
» So >> wonderful.
» So it's basically an additional 50% just to outfit the uh
» uh >> close to it.
» It's close. >> I'm not going to lie. Yeah. Um we've
seen a lot of price increases over the last couple years and so
» when do you think we'll be able to put it into operation?
» So um so that was the big that was one of the biggest things is the timeline on
this uh it has to be operational. Everybody trained on it by September
30th of 2027. >> Um the uh the current one that we're
looking at right now is will be built in April of next year and be delivered by
August. Uh it's absolutely the quickest we can get it.
» Um if we went for a custom build, we would be almost two and a half years out
on an ambulance. So um this is what they call a demo unit. It's just kind of a
cookie cutter box. Um but we did have one here and if it's a cookie cutter we
get, I'm okay with that cookie. So >> um so yeah, we would receive it August
1st. Um uh it would be decal painted, everything would be installed and it
would give us about 45 days to get people trained up. Uh it's quite a bit
different than our current one where everything is switches uh in the new one
everything is touchscreen. >> Oh.
» So it's it's a training opportunity. So >> Right. Definitely.
» And um you think the one we've got now is going to last that long?
» Fingers crossed. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah, it's got, like I
think we talked last month, almost 300,000 miles on it and it's
» 21 years old this year. So, for an ambulance, it's it's seen its days. So,
» you're going to need a bigger garage. >> We could bring that back to city
council, but [laughter]
» there's the catch. >> There it is.
» Grants aren't always the easiest thing to apply for. So, thank you for doing
that on behalf of >> Absolutely. We use this uh program. It's
called Funding Navigator and they helped us write this and back and forth. It
probably took about two months to get this dialed in, but uh they have been a
lifesaver for us. Great. >> So, yeah.
» Wonderful. >> Awesome.
» It's always worth spending money to get a whole lot more money.
» Absolutely.
» Definitely. >> Spencer, anything to add? No, I'm just
This is excellent that we able to get the grant and uh because it's a really
expensive thing for what we're trying to do, but I think this will be a great
service our residents for a long time.
» Any further comments, counselors? If not, I'll take a motion.
» I move to authorize Is this a good time? All right.
» Good. I move to authorize the city manager to execute a purchase agreement
with True North Emergency Equipment for an ambulance in the amount of $416,467
as outlined in the staff report and direct staff to complete any necessary
budget action to recognize the grant revenue and related expenditure.
» I'll second. >> Council Hanssboro and Councelor T.
[clears throat] Montero. Any further discussion?
All those in favor say I. >> I.
» Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Thank you.
» Thank you. >> Thank you.
» Yes. >> Excited. I want to ride in it on in the
front. >> Yeah. [laughter]
» Yeah. We don't want to be in the back. >> Next up,
uh, ordinance 20267, ordinance adding chapter 97, parks and
park facilities to the code. Spencer, any introduction?
» Sure. This came up at a work session last time I think it was in April uh to
get some initial direction from the council and uh we took your initial
thoughts uh and the major policy questions to the parks committee to get
uh their input and discussion. Um, so for our public, uh, just so they
know, we don't, the city has never had a parks ordinance and so
» where that comes, >> we have signs though,
» right? And so if we ever [laughter] want to choose to enforce those signs,
um, which isn't often, we need to have an ordinance. But I will say one of the
areas that we consistently have problems have to do with parking lots in our
parks. Um, we have lots of signs around the city that say no overnight parking.
That's also difficult for a police officer driving by to determine what's
overnight. If they're there from midnight to 3:00 a.m., is that overnight
or it's a there's a lot of ways to argue it. And so, the cleaner thing is you
can't be parking here between these hours. You pull up, you know, if if
right or wrong. And we do, this is the time of year we do see some people
setting up shop >> in estuary parking lot, cove parking lot
and and elsewhere. And so this will help us put up clear signage that is also uh
enforcable. >> Um and so we don't have that. That's why
it's needed. Parks Committee reviewed it and uh
approved or recommended approval of all the major policy issues you had already
addressed and given some initial feedback on.
Um those main uh so main approach here with the ordinance is that we have again
kind of like our committees one baseline ordinance governing everything and then
we can have um park specific rules and whatnot as determined. Generally we want
them to be the consistent throughout the city police officer or anyone else
doesn't have to think what's different about this one. usually be different if
there's a different use of the park and there's good situations for that.
Uh some of the the highlights of this is having our park hours. They're open from
5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Um parking lots would follow those same parking hours.
And again, we can have different ones for other parking lots. you know, for
example, I don't and uh the what we traditionally call the convention center
parking lot, the downtown parking lot isn't really associated with the park,
but um let's say the one at 12th Avenue is, there might be a good reason why
that one with access to the beach would have different hours. Um, sometimes the
um the clamming
opens up earlier than 5:00 a.m. and people are going out. Um, although other
otherwise downtown parking, there are businesses that are open past 11 p.m.
and we don't want people to not be able to stay because the parking lot's
closed. And so those are some situations where we might have uh different hours.
Um, but otherwise, these are what the hours would be.
Um the recommendation is that we prohibit smoking, vaping, any tobacco
and marijuana use in city parks. Um generally speaking, if there's a need to
specify a designated area that the ordinance does allow us to do that.
Um, dogs must be on leash and uh unless they're in a designated uh area such as
a dog park and uh following public comment, the leash must be under the
physical control over the handler and then protections in place for service
animals. Um, we do the ordinance does allow uh
for event reservations and private res reservations. We don't have that set up.
Now, this ordinance doesn't necessarily create that, but it creates the
opportunity if we want to begin having a pavilion
uh reservation program. We can generally speaking, if there isn't a great need, I
prefer to do it as a first come, first serve, but things change and this would
allow us to create a policy for that at a future date.
Commercial activity, generally speaking, it's prohibited unless you have
authorization. So, um, authorization could come through a permitted event
through the city, some sort of license agreement or other permit or something
like that. [snorts] Um, as an example, um,
uh, what is a good example? Uh, let's say someone wanted to do a
yoga class in the park. It's one thing to have a group of people come together
and do a yoga class. Someone wants to teach a private class in the park,
that's a different thing. they're running their business. And so if that
were to come up, we would want there to be uh an approved process. Uh so when we
do and don't allow, do they have insurance? You know, things like that.
Uh and so um it's allowed and as those come up, we can either address them
through our current processes or create new ones if if one hasn't been um
created. Uh no fireworks allowed in the parks and
uh based on the feedback from the fire department, they don't want any open
fires, open flames with the exception of propane grills that are meant
specifically for that.
Those are the major changes or not changes, those are the
major items in here. And so if you're ready, here's the motion for a first and
an optional second reading. I'm happy to take any questions.
Council Evansboro, you have any questions?
» I like the consistency. I like keeping things regular and and so that they're
right there and there's no real question about uh how to implement these things.
Um are we going to be changing any of the signs in any of these parking lots
to reflect these new hours? >> Yeah, for sure. uh the that will we'll
we'll we've already begun a kind of assigned inventory of what our parks and
parking lots say and so based on this they'll probably be updated as needed.
» Um for sure anything outdated or inaccurate would be removed and areas
that we know are problematic areas we would want to ensure signage is up.
Everything in between um we'll go through and see what's really needed.
» Thank you. That's it.
» The um I missed um allowing the public to say anything. Anybody out there have
a comment?
» State your name. >> Sheamus McVey. Uh I just want to ask for
clarification because I didn't follow a particular example given in the prior
slide to this one on uh commercial activities. In the example, uh, city
manager Kyle, you said if somebody wanted to have a yoga class, uh, that
would be permissible. Um, however, if you wanted to teach a yoga class, then
you might need a different thing. And and I think I'm confused on the
difference between >> commerce
» teaching a yoga class >> and having a yoga class.
» I think is is it >> charging for the commerce? Okay. If it's
a free yoga class, then it's okay. If it's a
» if you're if you're operating your business in the city park,
» then there needs to be an authorized process.
» If it's just people getting together to recreate, then it wouldn't be
» uh that would just be permitted outright.
» So, the formality level then, >> I think it's if you're charging for it
or not. >> Okay. Thank you.
» Anybody else?
Okay. Councelor Montero. T- Monontto. >> T- Monontto. Yes. Um the most egregious
instances that I've seen have always been at um uh the Estuary Park and
they've uh always been either campers or RVs. Um we don't specify campers or RVs
in your definition of motor vehicles. I would like to add that I know that we've
got some ordinances that are very old that uh we've not been able to do some
things we need to do because um they didn't say trailers or motor homes or
you know this kind of thing for for some other items. So, I' I'd like us to be
specific on campers, RVs, and motor homes
because that's that's who I see down there most of the time.
» Yeah, I can I I can I can that's easy to include. The one thing I will say is
with a park closure, it doesn't matter what it is.
» I understand, but if we, you know, if we don't include in the definition,
somebody can always dispute it. Um the other thing is that um again at the
estuary park what I see a lot of is people uh parking and take and parking
laterally instead of heading in and so they're taking up two or three parking
spots. And so I'd like to make sure that we have something that says you can't do
that. >> I think uh and I'll check on that and
you brought it to my attention previously. I think our traffic code
probably already it's already >> against the rules to do that.
» Um that being said, at the estuary we don't have striped parking and so um
we'd probably address that with signage at that location because otherwise I
think there are likely already existing laws on the books that say you can't,
you know, take up multiple parking spaces or something like that. So
whether you're a trailer parking sideways or a
» car >> luxury vehicle that doesn't want any
dings and parks in the middle of two parking spaces, either one would be a
violation, >> right? Um you also uh say you can't
vape, smoke, etc., etc. Do you need to include um the uh consumption of
alcohol? I think that's addressed. Well, it's not
addressed because the council direction was not to include it. That was the
council direction was we didn't want it didn't seem to be a problem. So, we
didn't want to uh >> restrict it.
» You restrict it. And so, if it becomes an issue, then we would address it then.
But, uh I think if I recall, the direction was let's not create a more
restrictive law where it hasn't been a problem. And then if somebody has a
permit or a reservation to use part of the park or the the uh cooking area,
does that limit the use of that area by anybody else?
» Yeah. So, we don't have a process for that, but certainly, let's say, um,
Seaside Kids wants to do T-ball at Cartwright Park, like they do, um, we
would have a process for that. So they could reserve that and then they would
yeah they would have exclusive right to um use that for their T-ball programming
as an example. Um certainly I could see this when we build the north 40 and we
have more program sports happening there that there will be a pretty robust you
know reservation system and uh if you reserve it then you are able to have
exclusive access but we haven't created any of that and so um
at the time when we wish to start doing uh implementing process like that we
would put um all that together in terms of a uh rental policy, reservation
policy. >> Okay. Thank you.
» Do you have any thoughts on what that process would look like as far as a
reservation system and is that something you're planning on managing?
» We're not planning on doing it right now. I think right now we have a first
come, first serve and it works well. Um, mostly what we have is, uh, when
anyone's trying to hold an event or something, um, we have our event
permitting process. And I think that's typically how we would handle it. Now,
um, I don't think we have, um, a big demand for pavilion rentals.
If we did, we'd probably look at some sort of online resource. Um, it's also
very possible that this may there may be an opportunity to partner with Sunset
Empire on some of the online registration they have and work with
them on parks reservations. U, that's something I've Skyler and I have, you
know, had brief discussions about, but nothing nothing serious. I think more
likely we'd cross that bridge when we get there.
» And as far as specific park rules, what is that process going to look like?
Um I think as we identify specific parks that need exceptions or something
different um that would be a good job and I think I've already kind of briefly
suggested to the parks committee this would be a good uh assignment for them
would be to go through each of the parks and say okay what exceptions are here or
what special rules need to apply here and that uh we would bring that back and
um I think that we would implement those through uh not necessarily in the
ordinance but through um a resolution. Uh either that or it's possible on some
things that staff can handle it alone on some of the signage and whatnot. Um, but
I think we'd have them do some of the initial work of canvasing our parks and
uh coming up with that list of um uh ideas of what parks need something a
little bit different than the governing policy.
» Some of that work happened right Nancy during uh the time when we came up with
all the signs because not all the signs are the same for every park. So again,
we've got the cart before the horse in some cases, but some of that work's been
done.
Either one. Any comments? >> Go ahead, Chris.
» I appreciate that you took the previous comments um and made the adjustments and
in particular the restriction around the open container because I think that was
an important one for residents. So appreciate that as well as the parks
committee reviewing it and giving their blessing. So I'm good.
» Well, this was before my time and I can't say thank you enough. It's about
time that this is being solidified. Um I have a couple questions.
So if I understand right, you're saying that yes, if you wanted to have a beer
in the park and you're over 21, you can do it because it's not a problem. Okay.
So, has has the the vaping and the smoking and the whatever whatever become
a problem? Because I notice on some of the signs
right now, Goodman Park, it says no smoking within 20 10 or 20 ft of
building. So, was there a problem that this all of a
sudden is a solution for? >> I uh I'm not aware of any problems. I do
think more and more um most cities that have adopted rules
in the last 25 years or so are leaning towards um no no smoking, no tobacco use
uh for a number of reasons. One is so it's not around other people. Often it's
so it's not around children or an enticement for teens and stuff like
that. Um, I would say that's the uh that would be what I sense is the general
direction for most cities. I think that's um a pretty
standard rule from every park I've seen. >> Okay. I was just wondering on that. Um,
so let's see. I I want to rent a space at Broadway Park. Is there going to be a
QR code on that sign that'll take me to the city so I can make a reservation?
» Right now, no, because we uh are not we're this ordinance makes it possible
in the future if we want to have reservation program, we can at that time
we would we would we could put something together, but this ordinance itself
doesn't do that >> in general or even just contact in
general. If I had questions about a park or Yeah. whatever. Uh,
we can put signs in there. I would, uh, that if you have questions about the
park, you can contact city hall or something like that. I think that
happens naturally already, though. >> Yeah. Well, that's what I was thinking.
QR code might just make it simpler. Um, so the reservation processes to follow
down the road. So, to uh, piggy back on uh, uh, counselor T. Montero's note,
Nanakum, as we know from um, uh, 1st to 12th. Mhm.
» And will we be be putting up uh the parking hour signs there as well?
» So that that one is not covered under this code because this code is covering
parking lots associated with a park. That is the parking regulations that
exist in our traffic code and parking code which is a different chapter. And
so those are not a part of this. Um, I am aware that there are some updated
signs that are likely needed, but not necessarily associated with this
ordinance. >> And I do support the parking space
striping at at Estuary Park. >> And that is it. And thank you for doing
all the work here on this policy. I appreciate it.
» I uh don't really have any other questions. Um, the one thing I thought
of was what if somebody is in their car smoking? U
whether the windows are up or down, I don't care. But basically, is that
covered under our ordinance. >> I think by strict interpretation, uh,
that would not be permitted. That being said, there is what's allowed and what's
not allowed and there is what the police are going to do.
» What they're going to do. Yes. And so >> so I don't propose changing anything for
that. [clears throat] The uh and the other thing to note is
that marijuana use already prohibited outdoors. So we're just reiterating that
» some of this will also be I mean there's the rule and there's how we communicate
it through signage and other other things like that. And a couple of my
neighbors specifically asked I at least mention this that um
the one about dogs being on a leash at all times except where specifically
designated Cartrite Park has a place where people like to throw the ball and
let their dog chase it and they're off the leash. They're away from people. So,
um they hope that whoever decides that will decide that that is a designated
spot and some of the other parks are big enough to do that as well. So,
okay. Um and that was Yeah. The other comment um you know we
um councelor T. Montero wanted to add RVs more spec specificity
for motor vehicles just make sure that we don't run a foul of anything that
we're trying to define motor vehicle that the state may say something
different about. I wouldn't think they would, but uh we want to be careful with
that. Okay.
May I have a motion? If that's all the comments,
» I move for a first reading of ordinance number 2026-07
by title only. >> A second.
» Councelor Baker. Uh, Council President Morrisy. All those in favor say I.
» I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Spencer.
Ordinance 2026-07 an ordinance adding chapter 97 parks and
park facilities to the seaside municipal code in establishing rules for the use
of for the use of city parks, parks facilities, and park associated parking
areas. >> Thank you. That be on our next uh
agenda. Wow.
One hour in and we got through the regular agenda
» record. [laughter] >> Yeah.
I thought that might take longer. City staff, anybody else?
» Actually, [laughter] um
when can we expect to get some sort of report on um all of the Fourth of July
activity?
We'll uh I'll talk in our department at meeting tomorrow and we'll see what's
left to gather and what we'll take to put it all together and and uh we'll put
it on an upcoming um agenda. >> Thank you.
» Sorry, I just got one more uh from Chief Daniels. Um, so over the last couple
weeks, um, we had the honor of being deployed on wildfires.
» Um, I just returned today with my crew, uh, that was out. We were gone for 14
days, uh, Sumpter, Oregon, Milton, Free Water, and then into Primeville. Um, but
just kind of an update on that. Um, division chief Dave Rankin is still
deployed with the OSFM red team as a division supervisor. He's on, I'm going
to mispronounce it, the Aawa fire outside his sister's organ. and he's
been he should um he's currently I think set to wrap up his 14-day deployment on
Thursday. Um we do have a crew over in on the Hagen fire outside of Milton
Freewater. Um the primary or the preliminary word is they're going to do
demob tomorrow morning. They timed out on Saturday, but after 11 days, it
sounds like they're going to come home in the morning. And then this afternoon,
three and a half hours after my crew got home, we deployed another team and they
headed to the Grasshopper fire in Wasco County. Uh that includes Chief Daniels,
division chief Jennese Dennis and two one of our career staffs and one of our
part or interns. >> Um I know talking with the OSFM team
overheads. Um so far I think they've deployed 35 uh task forces um so far
this year. Um it's uh reflecting of the 2020 wildfire wildfire seasons which was
one of the worst in the Oregon history. Um with the 18% snow pack this year, uh
they expected to get uh worse somewhere not even in August yet. So I just want
to give you guys that update that we do have crews out. Uh we are covering
everything at home and we appreciate everybody's support.
» Thank you. >> Thank you.
» I think I read that we're over a million acres are on fire now. Jeez Louise.
» [snorts]
» John, anything?
» I asked him to uh give us an update on what's required for the upcoming
elections. >> Put my glasses on for that.
since every one of us is uh or at least our positions whether you're all running
or not. I I am I'm on the ballot now. Um make sure that the dates are you're all
aware of that. Keep in mind that the uh the one term the one position for ward
uh three is going to be by appointment. That's the only way we can fill that.
Kim. >> Yes. So, all of this information is on
the city's website or you're welcome to call me. Uh I will help you uh go
through everything that you need to do as far as if you would like to run for a
position for the city. Right now you have positions that are filled by for
instance um Robin Monttero is in ward
uh >> one two
» two one and two excuse me at large Christine Baker is at ward one Seth
Morrisy is at ward three and four at large you have Mayor Wright's position
mayor uh TA Montero's position ward two is
open and Um and uh Patrick Annsboro um he his
position is open actually for Ward 4. So W three is the only position that's not
open as far as for elections. It's only you can apply but it's for the city
council. So, all of these positions are open and
even though Patrick, Teta, the mayor, Seth, Christine, and Robin all sit in
those seats, they're all open for anybody to apply.
Um, the application process is actually very
easy. You just fill out one sheet, you come in and get that approved, and then
you can go out and you just get 20 signatures. And that's really what it
entails. The deadline for that actually elections opened on June 3, 2026.
The last day for a local elected incumbent, for instance, Teta, the
mayor, Seth, all are incumbents. They were um elected by the people of the
city of Seaside. They all will get their applications in if they so choose to
rerun by August 18th at the latest. That's their deadline, a week before
everybody else. August 25th would be for Robin, for Christine, and for Patrick
and for anybody else that runs for elections outside of um the council.
And so I would just like to see some people get some applications in and
let's just have a great election year. So if you have any questions, you can
come and see me um or it's on the website. You can go and review that.
Call me and I'll talk you through everything. Just I'm here to to help to
get people running for the city of Seaside that are interested.
» Okay. And you actually strongly encourage
people to get them in at least two weeks earlier in those dates if you can
because they need to be ver the signatures need to be verified by the
county. And uh even though you know they look
fine to you, the county may not agree with you. So uh get it done as soon as
you can uh so Kim can get it to the county clerk.
Okay,
Spencer. >> The only thing I think I'd add to that
is uh for our vacancy on W three, I just encourage our council, you're the
biggest champions of the city and I think where we haven't had a lot of
interest in applications, um our best bet is going to be through
direct recruitment. So, be thinking about people that you know that live in
Ward 3 and reach out to them, encourage them. I think oftent times people
wouldn't normally consider it, but if they're approached and someone says, "I
think you'd be really good at this," it motivates them to consider it. Um, and
I'd say the same for any of those who you think are influential in the
community to do the same. But I think uh I don't think Ward 3 will be filled just
by biting our time. I think [cough] it's
going to take some uh some recruitment and this is one area where I will stay
completely out of it. Part of my code of ethics is I don't get involved in that
kind of stuff. So we did place on the city's website an election page that's
uh encouraging people to consider it and just has information on there. Um but
when it comes to individuals, that's where I will let you all do it. Um but
certainly um the success of our future council will be really the makeup of
seven individuals. So to the extent you're able to recruit someone that
would be great on our council, um that will go a long way and who also serve
those residents in W three. So just encourage you to be thinking about that
and uh reaching out to those who you think could also be influential in
getting others to consider it. >> Thank you.
Council bro. >> Yes sir.
» Counselor comments. >> Okay.
Uh, first of all, I want to thank our police officers, firefighters, EMS
crews, dispatchers, tow truck operators, and everyone who responded to the two
serious accidents our community experienced this past week. Uh, I happen
to be caught in the traffic from both of those accidents. So, I understand how
frustrating it can be when traffic slows down to a crawl or comes to a complete
stop for hours. I know people had places to go, places to be, jobs to get at. Um,
it's in those moments it's easy for frustration to take over. Unfortunately,
impatience can lead to unsafe decisions that create additional hazards for the
very people who are working to help. The next time you find yourself stopped
in a traffic because of an accident, I invite you to take a deep breath, say a
prayer, uh or simply send a kind thought to those involved and remember that um
how fortunate you are that it isn't you, your family member or a friend that's
involved in that. Hopefully, a little perspective and a little gratitude can
go a long way for all of us. Uh moving to uh the community here. Uh
Seaside's newest mural was unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony. Uh and it was
created by Casey McMman and assisted by Seaside High School student Kennedy
Clumper. And I got a chance to meet her family. And they are so proud of you,
Kennedy. They are really proud of me. Express that a lot. Um and they should
be. Uh you can find this awesome work of art located at the facilities building
in the public parking lot at Ocean Way behind the carousel mall.
Uh parks advisory committee. We have a large number we are blessed to have a
large number of parks and a variety of parks in our seaside community. So I
would recommend that people reach out to the visitors center for a list and then
go for a walk. Uh the Japanese have a term for being in nature and it's called
forest bathing and it's very good to get out into the forest or into uh the
public areas uh of na and nature and just breathe that in. It's good for the
soul and it's good for your physical being. I uh I also had an opportunity to
go to a church picnic. I haven't been to a church picnic in a long time. And this
was uh Reverend Sarah Kit and the Calvary Exper uh Episcopal Church. They
were hosting a picnic uh with uh cool music by uh Secats jazz band and they do
that on a regular basis. So if you get an opportunity and you want to go listen
some good music uh put on uh check out the Episcopal Calvary Episcopal Church.
Um, so my ward updates, um, the Vista Ridge project. To my constituents in
Ward 4, please continue to make your voices heard about this project. Be safe
and stay within the law when you document, video, and take photos of the
project's progress and uh, its impact to the neighborhood. Just, you know, bring
your voices to the table here. Uh, Pacific Power LED replacement project.
If you have thoughts or questions, we'd love to hear them. Please submit your
public comments to city hall and uh yes, um we talked about the fluoride earlier
and um I support Seth bringing that and hopefully we'll get that on the agenda.
And if you have any uh input with regards to fluoride, please uh do it uh
politely and fact-based and submit your public comments to the city hall.
All right. And then the city uh the coffee with the counselor is going to be
on Zoom this time and I'm going to check with Kim. August 8th, right? It's the
second Saturday. Thank you. [laughter] Uh August 8th, 9:15 to 10:15. Please see
the city's website for the Zoom invitation. Uh we can chat from the you
can chat from the comfort of your own favorite chair while your cat walks
across your keyboard. That's just fine. Uh or something similar. Uh bring your
ideas. bring your challenges, bring your solutions. Uh I look forward to seeing
you all virtually. And then um just want you to remember
that um every council meeting is about projects, budgets, and decisions, but at
the end of the day, it's really about our community. It's really about people.
If each of us leaves here looking for one small way to make our neighborhood a
little bit better this week, those little things add up pretty quickly. So
until next time, please be kind to each other, be prepared, and take care of one
another. Thank you.
First thing I want to do is um thank our our u firefighting people. Um I have
family in Primeville and um they were ready to evacuate.
Um it's scary to think about what happens
and we know that you are um keeping us safe here.
So, um, it's I think it's hard sometimes to loan you out and what we all need to
realize is that you're putting your lives in danger for so many people and
we really appreciate it. Definitely.
Um, okay. My committees, the tree board met
um on July 15th. We did not have a quorum so we had a
discussion. Um the community center commission will meet on August 5th and
we finally uh have a quorum on that commission. So hopefully we will be able
to conduct some business. So that's at the community center at 10:00 a.m. on
the 5th. Um, my coffee with a counselor is on
August 12th at 10:00 a.m. at the Ocean Cafe at the Best Western at 4th and
Prom. On July 20th, um, the uh, Mechanicum
Watershed Council had their second meeting regarding project that they want
to do regarding Thompson Creek. um because of there's a lot of flooding
along Thompson Creek. They gave another presentation to um uh a group of
residents and they have they presented three options for um helping the
situation at Thompson Creek. And I think now they're going on to um uh price out
or uh I can't remember the the word they use, but to spec out uh at least one of
those options to see if it would work. And it it sounds like um they have an
option to do nothing, an option to do something halfway, and an option to do a
big change. And what's interesting to hear is that the big change would cost
less than doing the halfway change. And um it it's very interesting to talk with
them about that. So I'm looking forward to seeing um more about that. And I
think that's it for me. One thing at the uh community center is
that I notice uh Paul that he has um started the drain work for the mini lake
that was out there. So thank you very much for that.
» Yes. >> T uh our monto counselor.
Um, first of [clears throat] all, I'd like to uh echo exactly what Teta said
because her relatives are my relatives over in Primeville and we just keep our
fingers crossed and thank you. Um, first of all, let's say orientation as a city
councelor getting behind the desk, if you will, was a an absolute gas. I had a
wonderful time with every department head and appreciate their time that they
spent with me and their expertise. I loved every minute of it and I now keep
a pair of boots in the back of my car at all times.
Uh let's see. Um, I got to meet with uh Director Stall at the transportation
advisory uh committee and councelor Bicker was there with me and it it was
wonderful. Um, Paul had brought forward the plan the uh parking plan for Avenue
U and the prom. There were a few uh minor tweaks, but it's it's going to
happen. It's going to happen and I'm looking forward to serving on that
committee. Had a great time. I love asphalt. What can I say? Um I am
announcing my candidacy for the general election in November.
Uh collecting signatures as we speak and I will be having conversation with
the counselor on Thursday, August 6th at um 10:00 a.m. at the Seaside Coffee
House. and thank you.
» Okay. Um, we have a social event this week on
Wednesday from 4 to 6 for the villages project. I've talked about it many
times. Quick reminder, it's a grassroots effort to create a village here in
Seaside to help older adults age in their homes and to give support to the
elderly in our community. So, if you are interested in a little bit of fun bingo
um and just learning more about what the villages are and what we're trying to
do, it's going to be at the Cavalry Episcopal Church 503 Holiday on
Wednesday. Thank you to Reverend Sarah. She's hosting um from 4 to 6. So would
love to see people there and there will be snacks. Um
I also am super excited about the Avenue U paving project. I think um it's just
going to be fabulous for that area and especially for the people that leverage
that area to get out to the beach on the Moby Mats. So, I'm just super grateful
to Paul and Public Works and everybody who's getting that going. What I do
think I heard is that it's going to be completed before the salt makers
hopefully mayor. So, >> that's the plan. Um,
let's see. I have my coffee on August 1st, Saturday morning, 9:00 Seaside Golf
Course. Would love to have you there. And then lastly, um I'm wondering one
thing I've been wanting to talk about, uh perhaps during a workshop, so I'm
wondering if anyone wants to join me, but I would like to see a review of our
entire capital project list. We did look at it during the budget process. I have
uh a lot of concern over the infrastructure in our city and I want to
make sure we are doing what we can to support
um city staff in prioritizing and funding and making sure all of that is
um where it needs to be. So I would like to see a review of that at one of our
workshops. >> Anyone interested?
» I think we can manage that. >> Got it. Okay. try to have maybe a
quarterly report just where we're at later on in the budget.
» That'd be great. >> And lastly, there is some community
enthusiasm around moving the Statue of Liberty
uh over to Seltzer Park, thinking that it would go with the theme that exists
uh veterans kind of theme and uh would be a good place to relocate the Statue
of Liberty. So, point of order, how would one go about making that
recommendation?
» I don't know that many [clears throat] people even know about this little
Statue of Liberty we have. It is a city um owned piece of uh statuary. It's
about 5t tall, something like that, mounted right now on a pallet if I
remember right. It had been at the museum just for the Fourth of July for a
few years. Um, I would I don't [clears throat]
think the council will care. I think maybe we should ask the parks committee
to get their approval and uh bring it back to us.
» Okay. >> And by approval, you meant
recommendation. >> Recommendation. [laughter]
Recommendation. >> How tall is this thing?
» About 5t. >> Yeah, it's very green.
very green. Um, yeah, there's a whole story about it. Um, the, uh, if I
remember right, Ken over at the visitor center has the the actual artist name.
It was a guy that did this for many states. I mean, he sent them all over.
So, it's one of many.
» The museum used it as a photo op. We placed it right next to our sign. So
when people took pictures, there you go. >> So parks committee add, please add that
to your agenda. That would be fabulous. >> You got a uh
» Oh, yes. >> Council le theison on there.
» Asison. Thank you. >> Thank you. And lastly, I'm just going to
triple quadruple echo the thanks to the fire department and um for helping out
everybody in our community. Ditto.
All right. Council Ansbro mentioned it, but thanks everyone for participating in
the city water flidation conversation. I believe this is an important public
policy that deserves a bigger discussion and I'm excited this council is going to
finally make that happen. Uh TAC meeting July 15th. The discussion was mainly
focused on tourism grants and we also got a recap of the marketing campaign to
try to discourage illegal fireworks on the fort. So, it's very interesting to
see everything they went through to try to make that happen. And obviously, we
didn't do a perfect job, but I think we did make some progress. Uh, there is a
new woman's shower at the cove. This has been a project that we've been working
on, I don't know, maybe someone would know more than me. How many years? Five,
10. It's been a long time. >> Five maybe.
» Yeah, it's been in public in the public works.
» Seven. >> He says seven. So, [laughter] yeah. So,
it's exciting to finally see that installed. And I know a lot of the
especially female surfers really appreciate that having their own little
area. So I don't know if it's just a woman's shower or if it's for everybody,
but it is a separate show. >> Yeah, it's a separate shower. So
» actually soft station.
» Okay. >> Where we're going to have a group
shower. >> Okay.
» Um and then uh as far as my future as a city councelor,
» I did pick up a packet today. I'm not 100% certain what the future will hold
for me, but I got to speak to the family and try to make that final decision very
soon. But with that being said, I just want to encourage anyone out there
that's considering serving to reach out to Kim. She doesn't bite. She's very
friendly and she will walk you through the entire process.
Uh coffee with the council president, Tuesday, August 4th, 9:15 a.m. Seaside
coffee house. Thank you. followed by the mayors. People come to
his, they don't stick around for mine. >> Oh, come on.
» Um, I'm always and always have been amazed
by uh the fire department this time of year when so many people are out across
the state and sometime other states and yet we still have great service here as
well. So, all of our our staff and volunteers are just amazing.
We appreciate all that they do. Um, I attended Tom Horning's um
memorial, I guess, um, at North Coast Land Conservancy a week, two weeks ago,
and it was it was amazing. Um, heard a lot of great stories. I didn't think I
was going to be able to make it, but I'm really glad that um things worked out
that I could. >> A lot of things coming up. Um volleyball
week is um next week. >> The week after, well, not this week, but
next week. Yeah. Um, I happen to be attending the OMA,
the mayor's conference that week, so we can all go and talk about our councils
and our city managers and our staff. Yeah. No, it's a great time for mayors
just to go and and you know, everybody you're talking to is another mayor and
can uh share things with you that um are sometimes a little easier when it's
mayor. Uh but on the 7th uh our local regional small cities meeting happens.
Um so I'm hoping that somebody from Seaside will be able to attend that.
It'd be down in Bay City. I'll be giving you homework for the last half of August
when we don't have a meeting. Uh we need to determine our top five priorities for
the League of Oregon Cities uh lobbyists for the 2027 session that's coming up.
Uh this is one case while I will uh actually I'll have Kim print the entire
uh 20 pages or so out and give to you because this is the kind of thing where
you need to make notes and look at everything on there. We will come back
probably on the first meeting in September and hold a vote and determine
what Seaside thinks the LOC board should support.
Um, we know there's a ceremony on August 11th at uh Estuary Park. There's also
going to be a ceremony on September 11th, which happens to be the 25th
anniversary of the tragedies in uh on the East Coast. Be at the American
Legion. Um I forgot to write down the time. I think it's 1:00, but uh it'll be
honoring the first responders. Um, we had a citizen just come forward and say
he'd like to arrange it and uh worked out at 4:00. 4:00. Okay. At the American
Legion. So, um, we'll get information out. The flyer was just created today, I
think. So, you'll be able to get an invitation to that. My quote for
tonight, um, has to do with teamwork again. Um, and kind of particularly
because we're talking about city manager when we get done after this and the city
council. It's a quote from Alan Moly who was a former CEO at Ford and he
worked many years at Boeing as well. He said leadership and this so this applies
to not just Spencer leading the staff but the council leading the citizenry
and Spencer leadership is having a compelling vision a comprehensive plan
and a relentless what happened to the rest of the quote
Well,
» the rest of the quote's gone. >> Well, we need to bag of Skittles.
» Um, I'm sure it's a relentless desire to keep things going. So, I'll uh I'll give
that to uh you all later. What we're going to do now though is
move into an executive session in accordance with OS192.660
2I to review and evaluate the employment related performance of the chief
executive executive officer of any public body a public officer employer
staff member who does not request an open hearing. Afterwards, we'll
reconvene into regular session. And uh you're welcome to stay if you want, but
it may be a while. You're all free to go. We will be back, though.
We're back from executive session. I'm going to read my quote over. I found the
rest of it because the most important part was left out. Leadership is having
a compelling vision, a comprehensive plan, relentless implementation, and
talented people working together. We uh are returning from our executive
session and pull up the right thing here.
Um I have a statement to make regarding um our city manager's performance. what
we talked about. Overall, the city council is very
pleased with Spencer Kyle's performance during the past year.
We appreciate his professionalism, thorough preparation, collaborative
leadership style, and his ability to present complex issues in a way that
helps the council make informed decisions. As we look ahead, we
encourage Spencer to continue building the leadership capacity of his
department heads through greater delegation, to streamline reports and
presentations, to focus on the key issues, to continue improving budget
processes, and to help us strengthen communication with residents that builds
public confidence in city government. We also look forward to continued progress
determining the council's strategic priorities particularly related to
infrastructure planning and implementation
while maintaining our positive momentum that has benefited the city of Seaside.
We'll move from that into uh determining uh what changes we may want to make to
his um annual salary. Uh you have seen uh the letter he wrote
to us, but uh the overall compensation that find my glasses here that um the
cost of living increase this year was um 2.8%.
And so I would uh propose that we move the base pay for city manager Spencer
Cow by 2.8% to 186,41 per year.
retroactively effective 71 of 2026. >> I'll second that.
» Uh the mayor made the motion and councelor T. Monttero seconded it. Any
discussion? Feel free. I mean I'm I rarely make a
motion. So, >> right, you know, um I think we want to
also make it clear this is the uh cost of living raise and it was um Spencer
who uh indicated not to give him a merit side. And I want to make sure that from
a historical perspective, nobody looks at zero merit and sees it as a demerit,
as a negative, because it is not a negative. It is something that we're
doing to fulfill another request of um of uh the city managers. And so I want
to make sure we make that point.
» Any other comments? All those in favor say I. I.
» Any opposed? Motion carries. The um next step is to u possibly uh and
we don't have to decide this tonight, but um make the um proposal to move some
of Spencer's or put some u money into Spencer's deferred income. there's no
provision for that in his current contract
and um you saw with the surveys that we've done that that is one area that um
he is kind of lacking in as far as overall compensation.
So um what we are proposing is to change the language to allow deferred
compensate compensation. Uh what we're talking about for the
first year is 2% which is pretty minimal. Um
so that's that's a fairly simple change straightforward.
And what we would do would have uh Spencer go back and u we will I will
work with him and create a new amendment to his contract and bring it back to the
council for approval. Comments, questions?
» Sounds like a good plan, >> huh?
» Sounds like a good plan. >> Yeah.
» Yeah. >> Your mic on? Yeah. Okay.
» Mayor, is uh what is the term of the contract? Is there a a definitive term
or just open? >> No term for there until you don't want
me here. [laughter] >> Thank you.
» And Dad, what the mayor said, I think coming back with that at a different
meeting would allow it to, you know, be in the packet and everything like that.
So, like any other item, there's the public has an opportunity to have some
eyes on it and rather than a time like this. So
» would when it when it comes back would we be talking in general about the
program the administration the cost of the program are any other s employees
going to be eligible like is that what you're saying bringing back? No, we
already we already have the program. Um >> uh when I got here, that was one of the
things that we were missing. And so we've implemented we all employees have
an opportunity themselves to contribute to the um it's basically through PERS,
but it's their their 457 plan. And so it's all voluntary contributions. And so
the request I put in there is for a 2% city contribution on my behalf. But the
program's already there. It's already in payroll and employees already use it.
» I understand now. Thank you. No city match currently,
» right? >> Got it.
» Is that generally acceptable to everybody? Sounds okay. Okay.
» So, yeah. >> The second one that is going to engender
more conversation, uh, he has asked um, well,
you wrote this in an email, right? Everybody sent it. Okay. So, everybody
knows about it. um why don't you explain it first and
then we'll talk about it. >> Sure.
» From your standpoint and what you've learned from other city managers.
» So this is so the request is at a provision that the uh city manager um
may not be terminated within 6 months of a new counselor taking office.
um it isn't um it was something I just didn't worry about negotiating when I
came here and um hopefully it never needs to be used. Um I will say there
was a discussion there was a at the city manager conference this summer there was
a um a session on city managers contracts. So there was a discussion
about this and I don't say that to think make you think city managers go to these
conferences to figure out how we can amend our contracts. Um but there was
some good discussion about this clause in particular and I think it is a common
clause uh in what I would call for lack of a
better word some of the more sophisticated cities and agreements. Um,
they have other cities where the managers are like contract, you know,
uh, or some of them are pretty basic, but I would say it's probably 50/50 on
something like this being included. Um and the reason for it is um there are
oftent times especially after elections you have a full change over and there is
an immediate rush to make a change with the city manager which often is not in
the best interest of the city. Um especially where the city manager and
staff sometimes can be constant. And so the idea there is that when new people
take office, they need to kind of work with staff um develop that relationship
and actually assess them based on working with them rather than kind of
the campaign trail. And um so uh I think this time more than any other would be
appropriate. We don't have people rushing in to fill
vacancies, but it is conceivable that there are six different peop, seven
different people sitting here a year from now. And um it would be good, let's
say they all took office in January, that there is some time for us to work
together um to see if it's a a good fit. And so I think um it's not a cost to the
city, but I think it adds some stability um when it there can be um rougher or
more contentious patches. And you sometimes see
higher volume of turnover um with councils with with managers
coming and going every two years and whatnot. It's I think a bit of a um
in uh opportunity to avoid some of that and add some stability. And I don't and
I don't um I don't want to say that that obviously it benefits the city manager
as well in terms of um some uh added protection. Um but it it still allows
the council to ultimately make the same uh separation decisions that the
contract currently allows. it just uh maybe a bit of a a waiting period or
cooling off period after an election or um for that to happen. And so I think if
there was ever a time to um put it on, I think this would be a good time. That
being said, I hope it's never needed to be used, but um uh not, you know, I've
seen cities change on the you know, on the with one election and things go a
completely different direction. And so you never know. Uh, I don't feel like
there's any concern with that today, but I can't always say for sure in the
future. And so I think there's a a benefit to the community um as well as
to the city manager by putting something like that in place.
» I have um addressed we've chatted a bit about it too. Um, we actually changed or
discussed changing the original wording from just elected to appointed as well
because this can come up kind of all of a sudden any time. Uh again, one of the
things I do when I talk to mayors, I find out what's happening and I follow a
lot of the news stories and there was a city on the coast here that uh basically
the one counselor quit and then the mayor quit and the remaining city
councilors um kicked out the city manager and you know they had to pay a a
severance for doing that. But um he was I thought a pretty good city manager and
was leading him the right direction and they just refused it. So I'm uh I'm I
don't know what's going to happen there. the um I don't know if this I I just
realized it that a city council that's elected um or appointed I suppose I I
didn't think of that actually can't be recalled for 6 months
» so it's kind of the same thing you when you get into office you can't
immediately recall the city manager you have to wait 6 months just like people
have to wait six months for you my only uh question was whether it
should be based on one counselor or more than that and uh I
because the flexibility is already there if the remaining counselors want him to
go all they have to do is make an agreement a severance agreement and he's
gone if they can make him agree to it he him or her so I don't think it really
changes anything but the the idea is there and so I'm I think I'm fine with
it being just one counselor either is appointed or changed and that you know
all of a sudden that changes something. I I just can't see that happening
particularly with our city manager but you never know.
So comments >> well I can't either. That's maybe why
I'm having a hard time crystallizing this. Um but if we look at the last two
years let's say or almost two years since I was appointed
» that would be there would there would be the whole time the whole two years this
would be in place. >> So is that
» but again you still have the option to come up with an agreement. So you know
if you really want him out you're going to pay to to get him out. I I guess what
I'm thinking though is is one counselor going to make a difference and get the
whole council to fire this person. So I'm I'm I'm thinking you have to have,
you know, a majority >> and one new counselor on the council is
going to create that majority. Um and that kind of goes along with what Chris
is saying. in general if it's
best practice for >> city manager you know contracts I'm
» I would say I'd say it's not uncommon I I don't know if there if this would be
in the best practice category um
not uncommon uh for those who have taken up and
discussed it uh but not a I wouldn't say it's standard or anything like that
» okay well better to be proactive active than reactive. [clears throat]
» I think six months I think that's if I'm understanding this I [clears throat]
think that that's totally acceptable. I mean um you got to have an opportunity
to know somebody before you go onto the path of removing them. Uh my wife's got
a contract with me for 6 months that I do a moratorum on any remodeling that I
do on a new house. She says absolutely not. You have to wait six months and
then after that you know the gloves are off, the hammer comes out and the drill
goes. So I think that uh I like this idea of
six months at the very least. You know, you get a chance to know the person that
you're going to be spending time with and understand them. I guess my concern
is what councelor Benker brought up is where you could have a situation where
you have so much transition in counselors that there would never be an
opportunity. So I I I'm not ready to make a decision on this tonight. I'd
like to give it more thought and kind of think about it and
» it would be something that would be brought back for the next time anyways.
And >> I mean maybe I would be open to a lower
threshold, but I I could see a situation where we would need to potentially
remove a city manager. wouldn't be able to because if there was constant
turnover and that's what I'd be concerned about.
» I'll see if I can if there are some other options that would could serve the
same purpose but not be so restrictive
in light of the last few years that there could never be an opportunity
because it's not in the city's interest to not be able to let go of a city man.
» And that's part of our main power we have is the city. Let me give it some
thought and uh as we come back at the next meeting um I can give you a couple
of different options to discuss and >> I could potentially see if the majority
of the council changed maybe there's a higher threshold but one I I I just
think that could be an issue. >> Spencer, did you say that there is
precedent for implementing this? >> Yeah, I think I think there are quite a
few cities that do this. Um can't remember if it was Ashland or
Corvalis. One of them there were there was a panel discussion. One of them said
that theirs didn't have a timeline, but it said uh if the city council
terminates the city manager within 6 months of someone taking office, um the
city pays out double the severance that the contract currently calls for.
that might look too good that someone might try to get [laughter]
off. >> So, um like I said, um
uh some I would say many cities have it of of the cities that are more
sophisticated probably 50/50. That's just a total guess. And so, by no means
is it a standard thing. By no means [clears throat] is it uncommon.
» Thank you.
uh just reiterate that I have seen um this transpire and it's not pretty and
it's definitely not good for the city. Um you know that city's struggling. I
think they finally appointed an interim but I don't know how long she'll last
with the council situation.
We'll see. I hope they succeed.
Okay. Thank you very much and we are
adjourned.