Depoe Bay council approves staff bonuses, appoints new mayor and advances several city business items

Depoe Bay — At its meeting, the City Council handled a slate of administrative and policy items: it approved staff appreciation bonuses, moved forward on a surplus‑property process for the former fish plant, adopted a proclamation opposing an ICE facility, and accepted the mayor's resignation while appointing a successor.

Bonuses and staffing: A motion to award Lee Wagner and Kim Coleman Horton $5,000 each was made and seconded; the chair called for a voice vote and members responded "aye." The motion was recorded as approved on the record; staff said the expense is covered in the budget for staff appreciation.

Fish plant disposition: Council considered declaring the fish plant property surplus and authorizing disposition either by direct sale or through a request‑for‑proposals process. Staff stated a plan to run an RFP and to advertise in the usual local outlets; a resolution to declare the property surplus and authorize sale/RFP (resolution 593‑26) was moved and seconded and discussed. Staff said all RFP responses will be provided to the council for review.

Mayor resignation and appointment: The council moved to accept the mayor's letter of resignation. Members discussed options for filling the seat — appointing from within, soliciting applicants, or waiting for the November election — and emphasized continuity and the workload of the office. The council appointed Valerie (surname not specified on the record) to the mayor position and reorganized council leadership by majority voice vote.

Tree ordinance and workshop scheduling: Council debated a proposed tree protection ordinance and heard concerns about perceived overreach and enforcement; several members asked for a focused workshop to refine exemptions and enforcement language. The council scheduled a workshop before a regular meeting (proposed for 5:00 p.m. on the thirteenth) to focus on the ordinance.

Sanitary district/rate study: Council members reviewed an ongoing rate/SDC study and a letter from GSD proposing customer terms (noting a $6 per 1,000 gallon rate cited in the record). Members asked staff to clarify whether proposed rates include capital costs and asked for better flow‑meter data to ensure accurate billing and cost allocation.

What happens next: Staff will run the RFP process for the fish plant property, deliver the sewer‑reimbursement history and findings requested by the council for the Stanley Avenue matter, and present a refined tree ordinance draft at the planned workshop.

Reporting note: Quotations used in this article are taken from the meeting transcript and attributed to speakers named on the record.