Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Votes at a glance: Depoe Bay council approves lighting bill, water-planning grant and moves charter amendment plan forward
Summary
The council approved a $13,438 payment to GreenLight Electrical for council-chamber lighting, authorized the mayor to sign a $70,000 Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund grant contract for watershed planning, and voted to move forward with a ballot measure concept to allow borrowing for water and sewer infrastructure.
DEPoe BAY, Ore. — At its Feb. 18 meeting the Depoe Bay City Council recorded several formal actions on bills and grants and agreed to pursue a voter-authorized charter amendment to enable borrowing for water and wastewater infrastructure.
The council approved a $13,438 invoice from GreenLight Electrical to replace council-chamber lighting, fans and associated wiring; a motion to accept the bid passed by voice vote.
Separately the council authorized the mayor to sign a Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund grant contract for $70,000 to begin watershed planning — part of a larger water-quality planning effort city staff said will feed into design work on treatment and infrastructure.
Councilors also voted to move forward with drafting and placing a narrowly worded charter amendment on a future ballot to allow the city to incur debt for water and wastewater infrastructure and to pursue loan and grant programs that include principal forgiveness. Staff said the language will be tightened and accompanied by detailed cost estimates and program descriptions before placement on a ballot; council members discussed timing and whether to seek a May or November election slot.
All three items passed at the meeting; the council’s motion on the charter amendment passed after discussion and a majority vote (voice vote recorded as carried). Council members said staff will return with refined ballot language, cost estimates for priority projects (water treatment plant, sewer repairs and other infrastructure), and information on loan-forgiveness programs before the item is finalized for voters.
Ending: Staff will prepare the voter packet language, capital-priority list and back-up materials for council review; the council instructed staff to pursue grant/loan opportunities and to develop explanatory materials for public outreach.
