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Residents urge Depoe Bay to protect working harbor; council moves on slip‑assignments, fees and inspections
Summary
Multiple residents urged the City Council to preserve Depoe Bay’s working harbor and to support the harbor commission; council considered one‑time exceptions to slip assignments, approved a harbor removal/storage fee resolution, and authorized a line item (up to $20,000) for a structural inspection of the fish plant to include in the next budget.
Public commenters at a Depoe Bay City Council meeting urged officials to protect and support the city’s working harbor, citing economic, cultural and safety concerns, and the council discussed a suite of harbor management items including slip reassignments, a storage/removal fee and a planned structural inspection of the fish‑plant building.
A resident who identified herself as Shulei with Newsy urged the council to "preserve and support Depoe Bay’s working harbor," calling it a living economic and cultural asset and asking the council to give the harbor commission authority and space to plan long‑term dredging, maintenance and safety work.
Other commenters raised specific harbor problems. Steve Johnson described a personal financial loss after being required to move his boat during recent harbor work and requested the council consider waiving or pausing any rate increases for people who were forced to move. He referenced Oregon landlord/tenant law (ORS 90) while warning he might pursue a small‑claims action if the city does not address the alleged loss.
Commercial fisherman Terry Thompson described navigation and safety challenges in specific slips and asked for continued harbor‑master flexibility to reassign pedestals and slips for operational safety. Desiree Copping and others emphasized the harbor’s historical and cultural value.
On staff recommendations and council actions: - Staff proposed a one‑time exception to the harbor’s slip‑assignment timing rule to allow current slip holders to request reassignments this season. Council members signaled general concurrence; staff will accept requests and the harbormaster will make assignment decisions based on need and boat size. The exception was described as a single one‑time opportunity for the current year. - Council voted to approve resolution 580‑25 (recorded as passed during the meeting) to add language allowing a storage-removal fee in the harbor ordinance; council debate included differing views on whether the fee level is punitive or reasonable for current harbor users. - Staff reported a city engineer estimate of $10,000–$20,000 for a higher‑level structural inspection of the fish plant. Council agreed to include a line item capped at $20,000 in the upcoming budget for that inspection and to pursue the work next fiscal year if not completed immediately.
City staff and council members acknowledged the process may not satisfy everyone and warned that available slips, boat sizes and safety constraints limit guaranteed relocation outcomes. Harbormaster and staff will notify slip holders and accept requests (deadline set for May 18 in the staff plan), and the harbormaster will use discretion to resolve competing requests.
The council also heard that several harbor punch‑list items and pedestal locations are part of a planned correction list for contractors; staff said an engineer recommended rounding the edge of new dock tables to reduce future issues.
The transcript records strong sentiments among harbor users about fairness, safety and communication. Several speakers said they were willing to assist with planning, outreach or grants to preserve the harbor as a working waterfront.
