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Council requests revised scope for forest watershed management engagement
Summary
Nehalem's council supported a comprehensive community‑engagement option from Sustainable Northwest for a forest watershed management plan but asked staff and the presenter to return with a revised scope and clearer deliverables; the Timber Fund balance and potential grant opportunities were discussed.
Sustainable Northwest presented two draft engagement options to help develop Nehalem’s forest watershed management plan, and the City Council on Jan. 13 signaled support for a more comprehensive approach while asking for a clearer scope and budget before authorizing work.
Daniel Wear, senior forest program manager for Sustainable Northwest, described a broader scenario that would include a facilitated listening session, a community survey, coordination with the contract forester during plan development, and a report back to Council. He also described a narrower option limited mostly to facilitation and handing off results to the City and contract forester. Wear said both proposals were drafts and that scopes and budgets could be adjusted to meet the City’s needs.
City Manager Lori Longfellow reported the Timber Fund had $127,557 remaining from salvage income after payments and cautioned against duplicative costs between the contract forester and Sustainable Northwest. Council President Hilary Howell noted the contract forester had previously said he would participate as a technical expert and questioned paying twice for similar work. Mayor Phil Chick and others said the two parties bring different skills and supported Sustainable Northwest facilitating while the forester would serve as a subject‑matter expert.
Mark McLaughlin of the North Coast Land Conservancy and visitor David Browning both endorsed the more comprehensive engagement scenario; McLaughlin noted anticipated Oregon Health Authority grant funding that could be pursued. The Council asked Sustainable Northwest to revise the scope and provide clearer travel estimates, deliverables and staff‑hour allocation so the contract could return to Council for approval. Wear said travel costs in the referenced scenario were budgeted at no more than $2,000 and that Sustainable Northwest could adjust staff coverage based on expected attendance.
No contract was finalized at the Jan. 13 meeting; Council direction was to refine the scope and return for formal approval.
