[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6046335,"mediaKeyId","3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b","parentId",3548440,"title","Residents press Coos Bay officials to repair boardwalk and support Mingus Park Pool","audioSeconds",74,"startMs",3580000,"endMs",3506000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b&start=3580&end=3506","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b/thumbnail_3580000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6046335/Coos-Bay/Coos-County/Oregon/Residents-press-Coos-Bay-officials-to-repair-boardwalk-and-support-Mingus-Park-Pool","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046335-1b6eed779a6c7ef2f9cdafab4cbea584/orig.mp4?Expires=1775220469&Signature=hwuwHEWR4VGRhp~z-UxNU8q4QmHKYMT9QvsdFW-CLml~AIVX7S92xQ-3BrILginA00tDoVvURlVy9WsK2h2cd55AXvxdNH7v-4R6MK6h--QTcK-sssZGgohPcY~Wa362GYHBV4e2XWoaL-bBMnZSESncq-EFSm1rHf1pWM~P~BmeVmILtwFZx4etYq5lMhjgbY7BovcjY7ruyl-BYErmwdf8nGFgEDPWUiNdvEDn-mZC9MMjlr0Ayy5z28ACdjaGZGoTLMzwdfMZEmmlQk7sE7WOHzQaZyTC632rrD0jCIo0eltWP7zSnqj1ywdYf2P7R-xxYw2m-MQXclm7cH20iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Coos Bay, OR","date","2025-05-08T00:00:00Z","article","Several Coos Bay residents and nonprofit representatives urged the city’s budget committee and council on Thursday to accelerate repairs to the waterfront boardwalk and continue support for the city-owned Mingus Park Pool.

Tom Leahy, a longtime resident and advocate for maritime tourism, said the boardwalk is a visitor-facing asset and called for more sustained work to restore it. “I likened it to your front porch. If you have a front porch, I know you like to take good care of it,” Leahy said during the public comment period.

Multiple speakers said some boardwalk work has been done: councilors and staff noted recent grant-funded interpretive signage and replacement of about 38 bulkhead sections. Councilor Lucinda DeNova said staff had successfully pursued grants for signage and interpretive panels. But speakers said much more needs to be done; several suggested citizen-led fundraising groups similar to existing “friends of” organizations for other city facilities.

On the pool, Jamie Faraday and Doug Gebreline spoke on behalf of the Mingus Park Pool nonprofit board. They described a new, more-efficient boiler purchased with the nonprofit’s fundraising and support from Energy Trust, and they said the pool has a rainy-day fund raised through community donations. Faraday, who said she is part of a strategic energy-management team with the city and Energy Trust, said she expects the city and the pool to reduce energy costs further over the next year as baseline data are collected and efficiency measures are implemented.

Gebreline noted the pool’s regional draw and the board’s longtime volunteer support. He described the pool’s swim-lesson programs and asked the committee to continue city support.

City staff acknowledged the public comments and confirmed some work has proceeded through grants and in-kind effort, but they also pointed to limited city resources and the need to prioritize projects within the budget. Committee members suggested the idea of a “friends of the boardwalk” group and encouraged volunteer involvement where it is safe and permitted.

Speakers also asked for clarity about how citizens can help with maintenance and whether volunteers could perform tasks such as pressure washing. City staff and councilors said liability and coordination with city crews need to be considered before large volunteer physical works are undertaken.

The comments did not result in immediate budget changes; committee members recorded the concerns and placed park and waterfront items on the list of topics for further budget review and potential redlining.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5/8/2025 - URA / City of Coos Bay Budget Committee Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and nonprofit representatives urged Coos Bay officials Thursday to accelerate repairs to the waterfront boardwalk and keep supporting the city-owned Mingus Park Pool after public commenters described recent grant-funded work but said much remains to be done.","taxTitle","Coos Bay, Coos County, Oregon","taxId",61742,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6046342,"Coos Bay budget committee warns of ‘no contingency’ as PERS and insurance costs rise",638,4385000,5023000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b&start=4385&end=5023","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b/thumbnail_4385000.jpg","/articles/6046342/Coos-Bay/Coos-County/Oregon/Coos-Bay-budget-committee-warns-of-no-contingency-as-PERS-and-insurance-costs-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046342-9064e1d922c42bc478850b02ac3f98ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1775220469&Signature=RtJFbIps3V~DKfjqAu2CJHTQN28w8WfT2qVLybHJiaPgb49cz0ho-4r5C16mLtMRv3hqflnTg5-~dQhgA9xSKQQ4PRoLMMYawYu8sjorIQPOVQl8A67LJtimMEzlpCZQlu2TSoxh71yl8n5ib1hj2NhAo5mgjcibSipDh9rbtrcYtqQL7AsvpLZMCfZlGqmlpoC66LkUHecz5F7KLQbpP6qQNf6TyA8LTyOYYUfqwfAClfQJ25gD6AOOzT~h1m001nJTkoMsDD7HBdQ4mPQBvxW8GDytFrT5NlbUSyoc8U3a--92LbwbKnPAV9mOpgsgHTqZqfsn1TlDPu8wh8722Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coos Bay budget committee members on Thursday were warned the proposed city budget for fiscal 2025–26 leaves little room for error: contingency is effectively zero and the unappropriated ending fund balance is projected to fall sharply compared with the current fiscal year.

City Manager and budget officer Nicole Rutherford and staff presented a citywide proposed budget of about $80 million that covers operating funds, the city’s water and wastewater capital program, and other funds. Rutherford told the committee the proposal was prepared conservatively; revenue estimates were conservative while expenditure estimates included incremental increases and necessary cost items.

Committee discussion repeatedly returned to two structural pressures: rising Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) costs and growing insurance expenditures. Mayor Benetti noted the city’s PERS obligation has grown markedly over recent years, calling out a jump from about $1.4 million in 2016 to $4.8 million in the current budget; together with employee insurance the combined cost exceeds property tax collections in the general fund in the city’s estimates.

Rutherford said personnel expenses make up about 45% of the operating budget, with benefits representing a significant portion of that total. City staff estimated PERS expense for the coming year at roughly $4.8 million and anticipated a roughly 10% increase in employee insurance to about $3.4 million.

The presentation showed contingency account GL 6001 at $0 for FY 2025–26 and an unappropriated ending fund balance of about $171,000 — a decline of roughly $600,000 from the current year. ‘‘This is not ideal. This does not leave any room for error,’’ the chair said while urging members to consider redlines and staffing revisions.

Committee members asked for options to trim costs and discussed redlining several line items for later consideration, including a $50,000 library planning line and other discretionary items. Staff recommended using a redline process (setting items aside for later discussion) so the committee can keep the review moving while preserving items for follow-up.

Members also discussed grant-writing capacity and noted a grant writer position had been formalized earlier in the year; staff said that employee started full-time in January and will help pursue outside funding but cannot by itself offset structural PERS and insurance pressures.

The committee did not adopt deep program cuts at the session; instead members identified candidate cuts to review and requested staff to present options for balancing the budget with a focus on preserving essential services and building carryover. The budget will return to the committee and goes to the City Council for final adoption in June.

For residents, the staff presentation highlighted the city’s limited ability to absorb financial shocks, and members emphasized the need to review personnel allocations, grant revenue opportunities and capital-timing decisions to protect the city’s short-term fiscal position.","City staff presented a proposed $80 million city budget for fiscal 2025–26 and warned the budget leaves virtually no contingency. Committee members and the mayor cited rising PERS and insurance costs as structural pressures, and leaders discussed potential redlines and staff adjustments to protect the city’s carryover balance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6046346,"Coos Bay budget committee approves Urban Renewal Agency proposed budget, continues special levy for downtown",798,1365000,2163000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b&start=1365&end=2163","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b/thumbnail_1365000.jpg","/articles/6046346/Coos-Bay/Coos-County/Oregon/Coos-Bay-budget-committee-approves-Urban-Renewal-Agency-proposed-budget-continues-special-levy-for-downtown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046346-2df2ebd3d814cead53898294c089b0d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775220469&Signature=djFBuK22RYPgY9F64h57tacBVG4JY~4LYRNHhWjgHejGa93Nh6YX~ewrEfV0f3YrGbfL8rw0a44sOYBr9C-c8ub1Lh2JT01vzCsXW9JE19Rxj7cvZ7Phr8JZ3Guu6-R9kMAjw~1UASzXasTgLwo2mZaFqlBnkR6DeNMmCWux~iMIkgJhGep0JedrsQP0useL7A6YDBCJHtxKErVWR55GLWhAdb9L93RsPMekNkVHd8UsKHL8x7NkLk8IakntPxkN8m3nfrccOEYEUr5Aa3XltfWEV3WotyDzxeToLdMCGt3mnLJYQ85SU4TW6Sv-66F15YeqrWyigoJYkHYLHa4FoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency Budget Committee on Thursday approved the agency’s proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget for the Downtown and Empire urban renewal districts and voted to continue a downtown special levy option capped at 28%.

Budget Committee members approved three required motions: selecting the collection method for urban renewal taxes pursuant to ORS 457.343(52)(a), imposing the division of taxes and the downtown special levy option (limited to 28%), and approving the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget. The committee recorded the approvals and forwarded the budget to the Urban Renewal Agency Board for adoption at its June meeting.

The agency’s tax increment financing structure remains the same: a frozen tax base was set when each district was created, and the growth in assessed value above that frozen base goes to the Urban Renewal Agency to fund projects. “The growth above that frozen base is what is provided to the Urban Renewal Agency,” City Manager Nicole Rutherford said in her presentation.

The budget documents show the Downtown Capital Projects fund with roughly $4.2 million proposed for projects this year, including Front Street pedestrian work, sidewalks, parking-lot improvements, boardwalk restoration work and a continuing allocation for building acquisition and redevelopment. The Empire District’s capital projects total about $2.3 million and include the Empire Blueprint implementation, Newmark Avenue seawall follow-up work and parking-lot improvements. The downtown district also anticipates using a special levy estimated to yield roughly $600,000 in the coming year; that levy has been dedicated historically to street improvements.

Committee discussion noted phasing and timing for some projects. Staff explained some Empire expenditures have not been spent yet because design and planning work needed to be finished before construction can start. Members also discussed the boardwalk and ongoing annual sidewalk and parking-lot set-asides for downtown.

The committee’s motions were procedural and administrative: they set the method of tax collection and confirmed the amount of the special levy option, and they approved the proposed budget for referral to the Urban Renewal Agency Board. No amendments to the budget were adopted at the meeting.

The agency’s capital-funding plan relies on a mix of tax-increment revenues, long-term bonds previously issued to fund Fourth Street and other projects, and short-term \"du jour\" loans between the city and the Urban Renewal Agency to smooth cash flow between tax collections and debt service repayments. Rutherford reminded the committee that urban renewal operations typically carry outstanding debt to finance projects and that the Downtown and Empire districts are at different repayment schedules: one Empire issuance is scheduled to be paid off in fiscal 2027 and another in 2028.

The Urban Renewal Agency Budget Committee’s approval means the proposed plan will be considered by the Urban Renewal Agency Board at its formal adoption meeting in June. The committee did not change levy percentages or add new projects at the session.

For residents, the city emphasized that property owners’ bills remain the same under urban renewal: the tax paid by a property owner does not rise because a district exists — rather, the growth in assessed value above the frozen base is redirected to the agency for redevelopment work.

The budget documents and the committee proceedings are public records and will be available with the Urban Renewal Agency’s June agenda for final adoption.","The Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency Budget Committee approved the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget for the Downtown and Empire districts and voted to continue a downtown special levy option capped at 28%. The committee also selected a tax collection method under ORS and forwarded the proposal to the Urban Renewal Agency Board for adoption in June.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6046324,"Coos Bay Fire Department hires five apprentices with $1.6M grant, adds inspector funded by fees",225,8111000,8336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b&start=8111&end=8336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b/thumbnail_8111000.jpg","/articles/6046324/Coos-Bay/Coos-County/Oregon/Coos-Bay-Fire-Department-hires-five-apprentices-with-16M-grant-adds-inspector-funded-by-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046324-2f583b0d47f1f842974251780105e599/orig.mp4?Expires=1775220469&Signature=gN5X4SfSg0UqTcQDVP1O7PKIY3KVdsUYiI0CmXBXiCPG12a2emLEjvRSj78DDan2ggn873y8qQNxQEJ8qcvjxCc6vZPs4srS0SRHKZ5I4umI7WITGE2h49tJxg~zAp~ilAHBy2hBsfMk4CJVUbmOYpjl72Zw-50aBv7LLoRmfdS~sMyTDO0XPbS2YxVQBG5tP~fy6GjDA9eEB2m0QPpM5POA0bOeihqJueqv9OxgccS5lKbM~U8c2lLMKNMtL6IkA2AcXu2~E6zrtGIajtGbsQV2ARy2OnUXh-CeBdKIJcynSNBnZUr7kxdhD5mOmLcgAfsU9PRYywJIxJfSkF0eJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Coos Bay Fire Department told the budget committee Thursday that a $1.6 million grant enabled the department to hire five full-time apprentices and to reserve funds for training, equipment and program support over a two-year apprenticeship period.

Chief Jeff Adkins said the grant, made available through the Bureau of Labor and Industries and the Oregon State Firefighters Council, provided half the two-year funding upfront and that staff created a new GL account to track apprentice-related expenditures (training, equipment and materials). The apprentices began in January and the grant covers salaries and program costs during the two-year span, Chief Adkins said.

The department also added one full-time fire code inspector, a position funded by increased business-license revenues and a newly implemented fire-inspection fee. The inspector’s duties include code enforcement, inspections and fire-prevention education. Chief Adkins said the position improves the city’s ability to increase inspections, code compliance and occupancy safety enforcement.

Staff flagged the need to keep dedicated accounting for the apprenticeship program so the city and auditors can reconcile grant expenditures and program outcomes. The grant-funded hires raised the department’s full-time equivalent count from roughly 16.25 FTEs to about 22 FTEs for the year in which apprentices are on payroll.

No changes to the department’s cost of ongoing operations were enacted during the meeting; the committee received the update and will see the final budget when it advances to Council for adoption.","The Coos Bay Fire Department said it received a $1.6 million workforce grant and used it to hire five full-time apprentices and to fund training and equipment; the department also added a full-time fire code inspector funded by user fees and building-permit revenue.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6046330,"Coos Bay proposes vehicle lease program and consolidates North Coos dispatch budget",1087,6915000,8002000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b&start=6915&end=8002","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3548440-3806d25dcd6f49785be85e956090e11b/thumbnail_6915000.jpg","/articles/6046330/Coos-Bay/Coos-County/Oregon/Coos-Bay-proposes-vehicle-lease-program-and-consolidates-North-Coos-dispatch-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046330-416d67e69dcfb3bebeeaf6ba8b4bb63a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775220469&Signature=YLWuhQVSUhSEjgB44pUFfVoB1YScrtsbRY5zhb4fXZ9gXyUPedXPCo1UoOueBXm~yIHN3DBDG0Er-AUgJqfxScPalq-KvYNQhE5i9bYOuww4f5kbcYGxI1vSQbehV24IIhIkdepQqjiKdc4IdZQJAZyz1EMHi6K0OWvt6U9c1PEKKRONBCweHUaksKEQH8ntWCSNAvsIbWqG160XJ16GQpT-ROQQdySCU-jestxS4EDt3GRQTHjduHqVUQNlxr19-26QlMey8PXCNwnnPvN4pEQkFogxsEzfu8Rb48XAXciD09JjGajhRi2c~0a37uAlrXSJ3d6QWqzLX-rQC6jRyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coos Bay police and public-safety budget items featured two notable items at Thursday’s Budget Committee meeting: a planned vehicle-lease program for patrol cars and a consolidated North Coos dispatch center budget that covers county-wide 911 dispatch services the city now operates.

Police Chief Chris Chabonar told the committee the department plans to enter the enterprise lease program and budgeted for four upfitted patrol vehicles in the coming year. The department expects a monthly lease cost and will show related debt-service lines for principal and interest; the presentation included a GASB-driven accounting treatment that books the multi-year lease and the associated capitalized asset values for audit and reporting purposes.

Chief Chabonar said the lease program should reduce overall maintenance costs and improve fleet management. The program includes vendor support for fleet lifecycle management, with replacement and resale timing intended to capture higher resale values and recycle equity into future fleet needs. The department estimated patrol fleet size at 11–14 marked units historically and said it is evaluating whether to operate with fewer vehicles (possibly nine) if lifecycle maintenance and lease management reduce the need for spare units.

The committee asked about the large budget line showing a multi-year representation of vehicle costs. Staff explained accounting rules require booking the asset value and long-term payment obligation to comply with GASB reporting; the adopted budget will show the annual debt-service payment that the city must appropriate.

On dispatch, the committee reviewed Fund 10, the North Coos Dispatch Center, which now covers police, fire and emergency services countywide after the city consolidated dispatch operations. The budget is sized for a fully staffed communications center of about 21.25 full-time equivalents, and the city said it is close to fully staffing the center with a few hires in background checks. Communications administrator Tessa Cupp was introduced and credited with coordinating the consolidation.

Staff presented the dispatch budget as a consolidated and more transparent single fund so the city can track actual dispatch costs and subscriptions (for CAD and related software) and establish a stable funding base for the center. Committee members asked about subscription costs, least principal and lease interest lines, and the city explained those items relate to capital and subscription accounting.

The committee did not adopt additional changes to police or dispatch budgets at the session; staff will present the full adopted package to the City Council in June.","The Coos Bay Police Department’s budget proposes participation in an enterprise vehicle-lease program and requests four fully upfitted patrol vehicles; the city also presented the consolidated North Coos dispatch center budget following county-wide consolidation of 911 dispatching.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press Coos Bay officials to repair boardwalk and support Mingus Park Pool

Coos Bay budget committee warns of ‘no contingency’ as PERS and insurance costs rise

Coos Bay budget committee approves Urban Renewal Agency proposed budget, continues special levy for downtown

Coos Bay Fire Department hires five apprentices with $1.6M grant, adds inspector funded by fees

Coos Bay proposes vehicle lease program and consolidates North Coos dispatch budget