Depoe Bay council adopts harbor fee and nuisance-lighting rules; approves water alliance funding and camera grant application

The Depoe Bay City Council took several formal actions at its Dec. 9 meeting, adopting two ordinances, approving a small countywide water-alliance contribution, and authorizing a grant application for sewer inspection equipment.

Ordinances: The council adopted Ordinance 358-25, establishing a harbor fee, on second reading by voice vote after brief comment and a motion to approve (recorded on the Dec. 9 agenda and packet). The council also conducted first-and-second readings and adopted Ordinance 359-25, establishing residential nuisance and trespass lighting regulations, including a declared emergency; the ordinance sets measurement standards and includes limited exemptions (discussion focused on glare measurements and flag-lighting exceptions).

Budget/allocations and grants: The council approved a $2,000 participation/startup payment to the Lincoln County Water Systems Alliance; members discussed safeguards to ensure no unintended loss of local water rights and requested the alliance bylaws and scope be reviewed. Separately, the council moved and seconded a motion to apply for a CIS grant of up to $5,000 to purchase a sewer-inspection camera; if grant funds are awarded the council authorized staff to spend remaining funds to complete the purchase (vendor quotes in packet ranged from roughly $10,009 to $15,006).

Asset disposition: Councilors discussed the city-owned fish-plant property (assessed value in the record shown as $381,170) and voiced support for marketing the asset for sale. Members debated options — offer for sale by realtor, RFP for a buyer or realtor, or auction/highest-bidder with a reserve — and asked staff to research state statute and process requirements before committing to a sale method or reserve amount.

Personnel and other actions: The council accepted the resignation of a parks-and-recreation commissioner (listed in the packet as Zoe) and discussed next steps for filling the mayoral vacancy announced during the meeting (mayor’s resignation effective Jan. 6). Several routine or operational items (e.g., repairs, staffing updates, project schedules) were also recorded in the minutes.

Votes at a glance (outcomes recorded on the Dec. 9 record): - Ordinance 358-25 (harbor fee): adopted (voice vote). - Ordinance 359-25 (residential nuisance lighting): adopted (voice vote). - Lincoln County Water Systems Alliance participation ($2,000): approved (voice vote). - Motion to apply for CIS grant and to spend remaining funds toward camera purchase if awarded: approved (voice vote). - Acceptance of resignation of Zoe (Parks & Rec): approved (voice vote). - Fish-plant property: council directed staff to research sale process/options; no final sale vote taken that night.

The meeting record shows these items passed by voice votes; the packet and staff memos in the record contain more specific vendor quotes, ordinance redlines, and an attorney recommendation to continue the Stanley Street reimbursement matter. The council set follow-ups for staff to provide ordinance implementation language, confirm enforcement pathways for nuisance lighting, and provide additional legal research on property sale procedures.