Council approves professional services agreement with Sustainable Northwest for water-source work; final Business Oregon review expected

Depoe Bay councilors voted to approve a professional services agreement with Sustainable Northwest to carry out tasks tied to a water-source protection grant; staff said the grant had been approved but the city had not yet received funds and that Business Oregon would review the final scope.

Kim (staff member) told the council the professional services agreement covers tasks required under a grant to support a 3‑D water-source protection project focused on the watershed referenced in the packet. Kim said other partners on the project include Oregon State University and groups that have already engaged timber companies and watershed partners; she said she made a sole‑source determination because those partners had already been doing preparatory work.

Kim said the grant award has been approved but the money has not yet been released; the agreement would go forward pending a Business Oregon review and any requested edits. She asked councilors for preapproval to sign the Sustainable Northwest agreement so work could begin if Business Oregon raises no substantive changes; she said any substantial edits or cost changes returned by Business Oregon would be brought back to the council for approval.

Councilor Watson seconded the motion to accept the professional services agreement, and the council approved the item by voice vote.