Astoria council approves phase‑1 contract for lift‑station work, adopts tribal engagement policy and updates meeting rules

The Astoria City Council on Jan. 5 approved a phase‑one construction manager/general contractor (CMGC) contract for a multi‑station sewage lift‑station rehabilitation project, adopted updated council meeting rules and passed a tribal engagement and consultation policy that appoints a council liaison.

Councilors voted to move forward with Emery and Sons Construction Group LLC for phase‑1 preconstruction services for the lift‑station rehabilitation project after staff described the systems as "pushing 50 years old" and explained the CMGC approach is appropriate for complex infrastructure with long lead times for materials. City staff said the three lift stations handle from about 1,000,000 gallons per day under normal summer flows to as much as 18,000,000 gallons per day during winter peak rainfall events and are nearing the end of their useful life. "When you typically do a complex project that requires technical expertise or long lead times on materials, the CMGC method is an appropriate tool to use," City Manager Ryan Spence told the council.

Councilor Adams, who moved the contract approval, said the public‑works and engineering teams invested significant time in project planning and funding pursuit. The motion to approve the Emery and Sons phase‑1 contract passed (motion carries).

In other actions, the council conducted a first reading of ORD 26‑01, a housekeeping ordinance that formally readopts state statutes referenced in Astoria's municipal code after changes made during the 2025 legislative session. Assistant to the city manager Ryan Quigley described the screening process staff used to check which Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) changes are cited in the municipal code and recommended the global readoption to ensure local code references remain valid.

The council also voted to adopt an updated City Council Meeting Policy and Procedures document that clarifies procedural language (including optional sign‑up sheets for public commenters), adds a new communications chapter guiding how council members should distinguish personal views from official council positions when speaking to media or outside groups, and sets cadence for an annual review. "If you do read in the paper, there's a clear understanding and there's no misunderstanding with your colleagues that you're speaking as an individual council member," Spence said in explanation of the communications language.

Separately, the council unanimously adopted a tribal engagement and consultation policy intended to formalize outreach to the Chinook Nation and the Clatsop‑Nehalem tribal leadership. The council then appointed Councilor Davis as the tribal liaison. Councilor Davis will be the council's point person for initial engagement and staff will provide administrative support for meetings and logistics.

Votes at a glance: Emery and Sons CMGC phase‑1 preconstruction contract — approved; ORD 26‑01 first reading — passed on first reading; updated council meeting policy and procedures — adopted; tribal engagement and consultation policy — adopted; Councilor Davis appointed tribal liaison — approved.

The council also approved routine consent items, elected Councilor Davis as council president for 2026, and made several commission and committee appointments. Staff said they will return to council with any policy language changes recommended after the minutes/transparency review discussion. The council adjourned at 7:48 p.m.