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Lane County approves 30-year lease for North Jetty Park, clears $2 million in improvements
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 June 10 to authorize a 30-year lease with the Oregon Department of State Lands for North Jetty Park in Florence, allowing Lane County Parks to invest roughly $2 million from the 2022 local option levy in parking and access improvements and to plan future parking fees to recover operating costs.
Lane County commissioners voted 5-0 on June 10 to authorize the county administrator to sign a 30-year lease with the Oregon Department of State Lands for the North Jetty property in Florence.
Brett Henry, parks division manager for Lane County Parks, told the board the action would formalize the county’s long-running maintenance role and allow capital investment. "The purpose of this board meeting is to authorize the county administrator to enter into a long term 30 year lease with the Department of State Lands for the North Jetty property," Henry said.
Henry said North Jetty Park comprises two parcels totaling about 226 acres and has been maintained by Lane County under a maintenance agreement that began in 2019 and expires at the end of the month. County staff presented a package of planned work that includes reconstructing two parking areas, adding public restrooms and security lighting, and dune-vegetation restoration; an engineering design for the largest lot is about 35% complete. The board packet shows the county plans to fund initial capital work with proceeds from the 2022 local option levy; Henry said the county expects to invest a little over $2,000,000 on the property.
On recurring costs, Henry told commissioners the county’s current operation and maintenance estimate is about $50,000 to $55,000 per year while parking revenue‑projections from comparable data range roughly $90,000 to $120,000 annually. County staff said they plan to begin collecting parking fees only after capital upgrades are finished (staff estimated full construction through about 2027), following additional public process. Henry described a phased enforcement approach: public notice, a warning period of 12 to 18 months after posting, then citations.
Vice Chair moved to approve Board Order 25061013, which authorizes the county administrator to execute the lease with the Department of State Lands; Commissioner Buck seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously, and the motion passed 5-0.
Commissioner Buck said he supports the lease because the county is investing capital and needs a longer-term interest to ensure reinvestment is recouped. "I'm very supportive," Buck said.
The board order authorizes the county administrator to sign the lease and directs staff to provide regular updates to the commissioners as capital work proceeds. County staff said they will return to the board with additional public process on parking fees and with progress reports on the design and construction schedule.
What’s next: if the county administrator signs the lease, staff will proceed with final design and the planned capital work funded by the 2022 local option levy, begin public outreach about proposed parking fees, and follow the phased enforcement schedule outlined to the board.
