The Astoria City Council on Jan. 6 elected Councilor Adams as council president and approved a package of land‑use updates, a public‑works contract and budget amendments that move funds into capital outlay for the Sixteenth Street waterline replacement project.

Council leadership and procedural votes
Councilor Adams was nominated by Councilor Davis and seconded by Councilor Andrea Mazzarella; the voice vote carried and the council made Adams council president for the term. Councilors approved the consent calendar by motion of Councilor Davis, second by Councilor Vance Lump, by roll call votes recorded as “aye.”

Land‑use amendment and ordinance first readings
The council approved amendment request A24‑05 to amend the comprehensive plan and development code to allow an exception to Statewide Planning Goal 16 and adopt an expanded flow-lane dredge disposal map for the Columbia River within the city’s urban growth boundary. City Planner Amanda Perrin presented the staff report and explained the change aligns the city’s local definition with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Thalweg definition and Clatsop County’s recently approved plan revision.

After the Astoria Planning Commission recommended adoption, the council voted to adopt the planning commission’s findings and to hold first readings of three ordinances: (1) amending the Astoria Comprehensive Plan pertaining to flow‑lane disposal of dredged material; (2) amending the Astoria Development Code pertaining to flow‑lane disposal; and (3) adopting the updated flow‑lane map into the city’s land‑use map. Finance Director Hillary Norton read the first-reading language on all three ordinances. The motions carried on roll call votes with the council recorded as “aye.”

Public‑works contract award
The council authorized award of the Public Works Equipment Shed Siding and Roofing Project to Wickwire Contracting LLC, the lowest responsive bidder, in the amount of $85,938. Council approved a 15 percent construction contingency of $12,890.70 for the contract. Councilor Davis moved the contract award and Councilor Vance Lump seconded; the motion passed by voice vote.

Sixteenth Street waterline budget amendments
Council approved two related budget actions to support the Sixteenth Street Water Distribution Line Replacement Project, a complex project that will replace an 18‑inch cast‑iron main in a roughly 900‑foot tunnel at depths up to about 80 feet with a 24‑inch HDPE main.

First, the council approved a resolution transferring $64,187 from contingency to capital outlay in the ARPA fund (Fund 130) to be used on the project. Second, the council approved an amendment that adds $22,700 in grant fund revenue and transfers $100,000 from contingency to capital outlay in the Sixteenth Street Waterline Project Fund (Fund 196). The motions passed on roll call votes. Finance staff explained the ARPA amounts are reimbursement grants that must be obligated by late December 2024 and the transfers move appropriated contingency dollars into spending lines so purchase orders can be issued.

Votes at a glance
- Consent calendar: moved by Councilor Davis; second Councilor Vance Lump. Outcome: approved (roll call: all recorded as Aye).
- Election of council president (nomination of Councilor Adams): mover Councilor Davis; second Councilor Andrea Mazzarella. Outcome: adopted (voice vote).
- ORD 25‑01 (first reading) — readopting certain Oregon Revised Statutes into the Astoria Code (first reading): mover Councilor Adams; second Councilor Andrea Mazzarella. Outcome: first reading held (roll call: Aye).
- A24‑05 / Comprehensive plan & development code amendment and new flow‑lane map: mover Councilor Vance Lump; second Councilor Davis. Outcome: findings adopted and first readings held (roll call: Aye).
- Public Works equipment shed siding & roofing contract award to Wickwire Contracting LLC ($85,938) and 15% contingency ($12,890.70): mover Councilor Davis; second Councilor Vance Lump. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Resolution transferring $64,187 from contingency to capital outlay in ARPA Fund 130: mover Councilor Lam; second Councilor Adams. Outcome: approved (roll call: Aye).
- Resolution adding $22,700 grant revenue and transferring $100,000 from contingency to capital outlay in Sixteenth Street Waterline Fund 196: mover Councilor Vance Lump; second Councilor Andrea Mazzarella. Outcome: approved (roll call: Aye).

What it means
The flow‑lane amendment aligns the city with a County/Army Corps map that updates where dredged material can be placed in the Columbia River estuary; the change required a formal exception to Goal 16 because some of the Corps' Thalweg‑based disposal area encroaches into local aquatic conservation zones. Staff said the map will be updated by the Army Corps and Clatsop County on a five‑year cycle and that Astoria will update its map in sync.

The public‑works contract will replace deteriorated metal siding and roofing on a Public Works equipment shed; the contingency covers unforeseen conditions discovered during construction. The Sixteenth Street waterline actions move obligated ARPA reimbursement funds and other budgeted contingency into spendable lines so the city can issue purchase orders and continue construction on a technically complex replacement of a primary distribution main.

The meeting also included ceremonial items and a proclamation recognizing school-board members; those remarks did not change city policy.

The council recessed briefly midmeeting and reconvened to complete the agenda. No formal appeals or litigation actions were reported at the meeting.