Nehalem council unanimously adopts volunteer coverage and recreational immunity resolutions and raises water rates 8%

The City of Nehalem Council on July 14 adopted two resolutions and approved an 8% increase to water rates.

City Manager Lori Longfellow explained that Resolution 2025-09 updates workers’ compensation coverage for certain volunteers and that such resolutions have been adopted previously; Council President Hilary Howell moved to adopt the resolution and Councilor Kristina Quintana seconded. The motion passed 3-0 (Yes: Howell, Larzelier, Quintana).

Longfellow also presented Resolution 2025-10 to establish recreational immunity from certain personal injury or property-damage claims, noting the city’s small population makes this step necessary for claiming recreational immunity. Councilor Doug Larzelier moved to adopt the resolution and Council President Howell seconded; the motion passed 3-0 (Yes: Howell, Larzelier, Quintana).

On water rates, Longfellow reviewed the city’s water-rate history and recommended an 8% increase to reflect inflation and fund capital needs, including meter replacement. Tim Tice of the Oregon Association of Water Utilities told the council that material costs have risen sharply and that new meters might increase revenue by roughly 6–7% depending on how poorly old meters read. Council President Howell moved to raise water rates 8%, Councilor Larzelier seconded, and the motion passed 3-0 (Yes: Howell, Larzelier, Quintana).

All recorded motions passed unanimously by the three voting council members present; no effective date for rate changes was specified in the meeting minutes provided.