Coos Bay council enacts library-board size change, ratifies appointments and routine items

The Coos Bay City Council on a unanimous vote enacted an ordinance reducing the city library board from eight members to seven and approved a set of routine actions including appointment and ratification items, a firefighter cancer-awareness proclamation and the Urban Renewal Agency annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

City officials said the primary reason for the ordinance change is to avoid tie votes on the library board. Under the enacted amendment to the Coos Bay Municipal Code, the council-appointed seat remains available, and the library board will be asked to align its bylaws with the revised code after the 30-day enactment period.

The ordinance was introduced in a public hearing and moved for enactment by council motion. Mayor Joe Benetti and councilors present voted “aye” when the council adopted Ordinance No. 580, which amends the code provision (previously referenced as Ordinance No. 218) that establishes the library board. Council discussion noted the former eight-member structure could produce a 4–4 tie; reducing membership to seven restores an odd-number panel while preserving the council-appointed representative.

In the same meeting the council ratified the Planning Commission’s recommendation to reappoint Bill Davis as that body’s representative to the Parks Commission through a term expiring Dec. 31, 2028. The council then formally appointed Councilor Jacob Niedergebal as the city’s representative to the library board.

The council also approved a proclamation designating January 2025 as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Lieutenant Josh McGonigal read the proclamation text at the meeting; the motion to adopt the proclamation passed unanimously.

Finally, staff presented the Urban Renewal Agency annual financial report, which the council accepted. City staff explained statutory requirements under Oregon law for the annual financial impact statement and highlighted that the Downtown and Empire urban renewal districts have seen assessed-value growth of more than 200% since their inception. Staff noted that participating taxing districts forego incremental tax revenue to support urban renewal projects; the city foregoes roughly $1 million and the local school district forgoes about $776,000 in incremental revenue but is made whole through the state school funding backfill under the Oregon state funding formula. The council voted to approve the report as required by statute.

Votes at a glance - Consent calendar: moved, seconded and approved (unanimous). No roll-call names recorded in the transcript. - Ordinance amending Coos Bay Municipal Code to change library board membership from eight to seven (Ordinance No. 580): motion moved and seconded; roll-call recorded as Mayor Joe Benetti — Aye; Councilor Kilmer — Aye; Councilor Stevens — Aye; Councilor Cribbins — Aye; Councilor Niebuhr Gall — Aye; Councilor Matthews — Aye. Ordinance No. 580 duly enacted. - Ratification of Planning Commission’s representative to Parks Commission (Bill Davis): motion moved and seconded; approved (no opposition recorded). - Appointment of Councilor Jacob Niedergebal as city representative to the library board: motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous). - Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month proclamation (January 2025): motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous). - Urban Renewal Agency annual financial report FY 2023–24 (ending 06/30/2024): motion moved and seconded; approved (unanimous).

Office and staff notes - Staff advised that, after the 30-day enactment period for the library ordinance, the library board will ensure its bylaws align with the revised municipal code and will bring any needed bylaw changes to the council. - City staff stressed that school districts are made whole under the state school funding formula for revenues foregone by participating in urban renewal districts.

Ending The council completed the listed votes and then moved on to the city-manager report and council comments.