Nehalem council approves Sustainable Northwest contract to facilitate forest watershed plan

The Nehalem City Council on Feb. 10 approved an updated scope of work with Sustainable Northwest to support facilitation of the city's Forest Watershed Management Plan, with a total cost not to exceed $15,000 and amended insurance requirements.

City Manager Lori Longfellow told the council staff had clarified contract language on mileage and allowed unused hours in one category to be moved to another. Daniel Wear, senior forest program manager with Sustainable Northwest, presented the revised scope, saying the changes increased hours for community engagement and reduced hours for coordination with the city forester; he described the hours in the contract as estimates with flexibility, provided the total cost did not exceed $15,000. Wear also noted Sustainable Northwest would attend multiple in‑person engagements.

Mayor Phil Chick urged strengthening the insurance language in section 5.2, saying the contract should specify workers’ compensation insurance, general liability coverage, and auto liability coverage each at a limit of no less than $1,000,000 because the contractor might operate vehicles on city property. Councilor Doug Larzelier moved to approve the updated scope of work (scenario 1) with the added insurance provisions; Councilor Kristina Quintana seconded. The motion passed 3‑0 (Yes: Chick, Larzelier, Quintana).

The approved agreement now moves forward with the amended insurance terms and the clarified mileage and hour reallocation language. The council did not specify a start date in the meeting minutes; staff will follow up under the terms of the contract.