Yachats is lowering the noise and shortening its July 4th fireworks show, having deputies patrol beaches

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle

YACHATS — The Yachats city council discussed Fourth of July fireworks plans, moving forward with new licensing software and advancing management of conservation easements at its monthly meeting Wednesday.

The council also addressed regional threats to water security and the impact of deputy shortages in the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

Fourth of July planning is underway and the council has adjusted celebration plans based on community feedback gathered through meetings and surveys. This year’s fireworks display will be shorter and use the lowest decibel fireworks possible. Additionally, the extremely bright, flashy fireworks used last year will be eliminated.

Four sheriff’s deputies will be stationed in town for the holiday, including two assigned to foot patrols on beaches to speak with individuals setting off illegal personal fireworks. In conversations with the sheriff’s office, city manager Bobbi Price said that personal fireworks emerged as the chief concern in the community survey.

“And they are going to do their best to address those this year,” Price said.

Most personal fireworks are illegal in Yachats, Lincoln County and on Oregon beaches. Price noted that because they are illegal, she encourages residents to report violations through the Request Tracker on the city’s website so a code compliance officer can contact property owners.

New licensing software

Beginning in July, the city will transition to a new software program to manage its licensing, including vacation rental and business licenses. The system will collect taxes and track submissions and payments. The software will also scan the internet for Yachats’ vacation rental listings to identify unlicensed properties and generate compliance letters.

“And we have a $1,000 a day fine for anybody that we can confirm is renting without a vacation rental license,” Price said. “We know that it’s happening right now, but we don’t have the ability to clearly give the evidence that they are renting without a license other than hearsay”

Price said the software will also help ensure that if accessory dwelling units are approved in upcoming housing code amendments, they will not be used as vacation rentals.

The city council unanimously approved an agreement with the sheriff’s office to continue sharing a contract deputy with Waldport. Over the past two years, the shared contract provided 1.5 full-time deputy hours to Waldport and a half-deputy to Yachats, translating to roughly 20 hours per week. However, vacancies at the sheriff’s office recently reduced Yachats’ coverage to a quarter-time deputy.

“I feel like we’ve noticed the lack of the presence and that the half time really does feel like there’s more deputy presence here than the quarter,” Price said. “But they do still have a south county deputy that’s been very responsive …”.

The new contract features a 3 percent increase due to a settlement between the county and the deputies’ unions, bringing the city’s cost to roughly $97,000 a year. The city has accounted for the expense in its proposed 2026-27 budget.

Lt. Karl Vertner told the council that the department has hired three new deputies and is seeking more. Following their training, Vertner expects to return Yachats to half-time deputy coverage by December or January.

Conservation easements approved

The city approved a service contract with the nonprofit View the Future to manage two municipal conservation easements. The project has been under review for several months.

The first, the Landmark property at Ocean View Drive and U.S. Highway 101, was purchased by the city using 804 Trail mitigation funds as part of a settlement that required the land to be placed in a conservation easement. The second easement, also on Ocean View Drive where a city wastewater lift station is located, was also part of that settlement. To complete the agreement, Lincoln County, which owns the lot, must transfer it to the city.

The contract with View the Future to manage the easements in perpetuity is valued at $30,000 and to be paid out in $10,000 increments over a three-year period.

View the Future will also consult with private landowners interested in donating property to the city. View the Future will support those discussions to assure they align with the city’s green space preservation goals.

View the Future co-chair Joanne Kittel also told the council that the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians will host an event in Yachats on June 6.

“It’s the first time the tribe of Siletz Indians are initiating an event here,” Kittel said. “Do you know how big that is? It’s huge. I mean, they now have a sense of trust with this entire community, where they’re talking about a very powerful and intimate subject, honoring the whale”.

View the Future will coordinate the event with the support of multiple local partners.

“I have to say, the coordinators at the Siletz Tribal level are both surprised, but very pleased that they’re getting this much support,” Kittel said. “In fact, they’re so pleased, the Siletz tribal food bus will be there. The kids gather the food, fish the fish, they cook the food, they sell the food. They’ll be down there at the Amanda gathering area with their bus. And people who participate will be able to have authentic tribal food.”

Mayor raises water concerns

Mayor Craig Berdie announced he will attend the Lincoln County Water Systems Alliance meeting next week, noting the alliance is “kind of in the stormy phase” but has developed bylaws for a member vote. The alliance is a county-wide initiative evaluating how regional water systems can adapt over the next 50 years while identifying additional water sources.

“I think it’s taking shape,” Berdie said. “Trying to get enough members aligned is kind of a challenge”.

He also called special attention to proposed amendments to the Northwest Forest Conservation Plan.

“As you know, I’m actively pursuing the Lincoln County long-term planning for water, but we have a more short-term threat to our water that I want to address and make sure people are aware of more than anything,” Berdie said. “And that is the Northwest Forest Conservation Plan Amendment. Which is now in process of being written and will be coming up for review, I believe in June.”

Berdie said the current administration’s proposed amendments lean toward opening significant portions of Northwest forests to logging. Berdie submitted a letter — as mayor — requesting special consideration for the watershed around Reedy and Salmon creeks, where Yachats draws its municipal water.

He focused his letter on the economic impacts, saying while logging might generate a few million dollars for certain entities, “it would destroy our city.” The mayor cited a 2016 study indicating that while old-growth forests exude water through the summer into September, harvested forests fail to produce water even 50 years after being cut.

Berdie urged residents and business owners to review the proposed amendments and submit public comment to the Forest Service.

“If it were to be logged, we would be in a world of hurt,” he concluded.

In other business

• Council elections: Municipal elections are approaching, with the mayor’s seat and two council positions on the November ballot. Candidates must gather 20 verifiable signatures and submit them by Aug. 13. Councilor Nicole Hedlund announced she will run for mayor; Berdie has said he does not plan to seek re-election.
• Little Log Church Museum reopening: A soft opening for the Little Log Church Museum is scheduled July 3. “After a little more than six years, the Little Log Church Museum is almost ready for company,” said board president Karl Christianson, who noted the refurbished museum hosted a successful Valentine’s Day vow renewal ceremony three months ago as a partial reveal.
• Committee transitions: Price reported that an April council decision that moved the Emergency Preparedness Committee and the Library Commission into workgroups has proven successful. “So far, what I have seen from both the library and from emergency preparedness, that this has really opened up their ability to do so much more work,” Price said. “So, it’s been a very positive transition for them”.
• Traffic speeds: A study by the Public Works & Street Committee indicates traffic speeds through Yachats have decreased since the introduction of a new automated speed trailer. Councilor Catherine Whitten-Carey suggested the city consider buying a second trailer to simultaneously monitor both ends of town.
• City audit: The city’s audit is underway and scheduled for completion by June 20. Yachats remains current on its audits.
• Committee appointment: Lance Bloch, a former planning commission chair, was approved for a position on the community spaces committee;

• Garret Jaros covers the communities of Yachats, Waldport, south Lincoln County and natural resources issues for Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at [email protected]