Astoria meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Astoria council weighs workforce housing developer, stormwater study, police vehicles

Astoria's City Council this month reviewed proposals for a workforce housing development at the Customs House, considered a stormwater utility study, and weighed purchases of solar lights and police vehicles. All items were on meeting agendas; minutes have not yet been published, so no final decisions are confirmed.

Housing at the Customs House

At an Aug. 11 work session, the council reviewed proposals for the Customs House Workforce Housing Development. The agenda included possible authorization for the city manager to negotiate exclusively with Edlen & Co. and Proud Ground, and direction to prepare a development agreement with milestones, affordability, and land terms. An alternative was to invite both teams for developer interviews. The council also discussed year-end priorities.

Emergency road repair change order

At the Aug. 11 regular meeting, the council considered a change order for the Irving Avenue at 27th Street emergency road repair. The change increased the contract cost by $10,717.87 due to expanded scope and prevailing wage requirements. The agenda also included the swearing-in of police officers and a consent calendar of routine items.

Stormwater study, solar lights, forestry, and police vehicles

At the Aug. 14 and Aug. 18 regular meetings, the council considered several contracts and purchases:

• A contract with FCS Group for $74,025 to prepare a Stormwater Utility Formation Study.
• A resolution to transfer $60,000 from Contingency to Capital Improvements for solar bollard lights (Aug. 14) and a separate resolution to transfer $40,000 within Fund 102 for forest management activities (Aug. 18).
• Purchase of 40 solar bollard lights from Crescent Electric for $57,078 for the Riverwalk between 35th and 39th streets.
• A contract with Springboard Forestry for up to $68,560 for FY 2026-2027 forestry stewardship consulting.
• Approval to purchase a 2026 Dodge Durango Pursuit Vehicle and a 2027 Dodge Durango Unmarked Vehicle.

The council also considered a resolution to establish an Arts & Culture Advisory Commission and a request from Recology for solid waste rate increases. Routine consent items included meeting minutes and a contract amendment for the Trestle Repair Project.

Historic Landmarks Commission

On Aug. 12, the Historic Landmarks Commission held public hearings on four requests:

• Exterior alteration at 1152 Marine Drive (remove sliding door, add window/door, change garage doors, add awning, lighting, repaint) by Mark Utti/T M Development LLC.
• New construction of a detached outdoor storage enclosure and grain silo within the City River Trail right-of-way at 1152 Marine Drive.
• Design review for exterior changes to the north elevation, storage enclosure, and grain silo at 1152 Marine Drive.
• Exterior alteration at 156 Lincoln Street to reconfigure entry steps, reconstruct front porch, and install new windows by Morgan Battisti.

The commission also reviewed draft minutes from June 16, 2026, and received staff updates on the OAPA Annual Planning Conference (Sept. 15-17) and the next HLC meeting (Sept. 15).

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next 14 days.

Astoria council to weigh housing tax, stormwater grant, and workforce housing developer

Astoria city officials this week will consider several significant proposals, including a potential tax on vacant homes, a state grant for affordable housing infrastructure, and selection of a developer for a workforce housing project. All items are on upcoming agendas; no final decisions have been made.

City Council: Aug. 4 meeting

The council will hold an appeal hearing on a Historic Landmarks Commission decision denying an exterior alteration request at 1064 14th Street. It will also consider authorizing a $550,599 Oregon Business Development grant for stormwater infrastructure to support the Copeland Commons affordable housing project.

Council members will discuss a citizen initiative petition to impose a vacant residential unit excise tax to fund a community housing fund. Other items include a $80,974.83 contract with Waterways Consulting for Cedar Creek Spur 1 Bridge design, and a budget amendment transferring $140,000 for the 17th Street Floating Dock replacement plus a contract amendment for $383,500.

City Council work session: Aug. 11

The council reviewed proposals for the Customs House Workforce Housing Development and may authorize the city manager to negotiate exclusively with Edlen & Co. and Proud Ground. If authorized, staff would prepare a development agreement covering milestones, affordability, and land terms. An alternative is to invite both teams for developer interviews. The session also included an agenda-setting discussion for year-end priorities.

City Council: Aug. 11 regular meeting

The council will consider a change order for the Irving Avenue at 27th Street emergency road repair project, increasing the contract cost by $10,717.87 due to expanded scope and prevailing wage requirements. The agenda also includes the swearing in of police officers and a consent calendar of routine items.

City Council: Aug. 14 meeting

The council will consider a $74,025 contract with FCS Group to prepare a Stormwater Utility Formation Study. It will also vote on purchasing 40 solar bollard lights from Crescent Electric for $57,078 for the Riverwalk between 35th and 39th streets, with a resolution to transfer $60,000 from contingency to capital improvements for that purchase.

Other items include a $68,560 contract with Springboard Forestry for FY 2026-2027 forestry stewardship consulting, approval to purchase a 2026 Dodge Durango Pursuit Vehicle and a 2027 Dodge Durango Unmarked Vehicle, a resolution to establish an Arts & Culture Advisory Commission, and a review of a solid waste rate increase request from Recology.

Historic Landmarks Commission: Aug. 12

The commission will hold public hearings on four requests. Three are by Mark Utti/T M Development LLC at 1152 Marine Drive: an exterior alteration request (EX26-04) to remove a sliding door, add a window/door, change garage doors, add an awning and lighting, and repaint; a new construction request (NC26-01) for a detached outdoor storage enclosure and grain silo within the City River Trail right-of-way; and a design review request (DR26-01) for the same property. A fourth request (EX26-05) by Morgan Battisti at 156 Lincoln Street seeks to reconfigure entry steps, reconstruct the front porch, and install new windows. The commission will also review draft minutes from June 16 and receive staff updates.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. Residents should check the city's official meeting calendar for any newly scheduled sessions.

Astoria City Council to weigh stormwater grant, dock contracts, housing tax petition

Astoria's City Council has a full agenda in the coming weeks, with no decisions yet recorded. The most significant items include a $550,599 state grant for stormwater infrastructure at the Copeland Commons affordable housing project, contracts for a bridge and dock replacement, and a citizen petition to tax vacant homes. All meetings listed below are scheduled but minutes have not been published, so no votes have been taken.

Historic home appeal

The council will hold an appeal hearing for Exterior Alteration Request EX26-02 at 1064 14th Street. The appeal challenges a Historic Landmarks Commission decision to deny the alteration request. Staff recommends upholding the denial. This item appears on the July 27 supplemental packet and again on the August 4 council agenda.

State legislative priorities

A work session on July 28 will review and discuss the city's priorities for the state legislature, along with routine agenda setting.

Housing capacity analysis

The Planning Commission will hold a work session on July 30 to introduce and overview the 2026 Housing Capacity Analysis. No formal decisions are listed on this procedural agenda.

Stormwater grant and infrastructure

At its July 31 meeting, the council is scheduled to authorize a $550,599 grant from the Oregon Business Development program for stormwater infrastructure at Copeland Commons. The council will also consider accepting a utility easement at 305 Industry Street for $7,500 (shared cost). The same grant authorization appears on the August 4 agenda.

Bridge and dock contracts

The council will consider awarding an $80,974.83 engineering contract to Waterways Consulting for the Cedar Creek Spur 1 bridge replacement. For the 17th Street Floating Dock replacement, the council will consider a budget amendment transferring $140,000 to the 17th Street Dock Fund and a $383,500 contract amendment. These items are on both the July 31 and August 4 agendas.

Housing tax petition

A citizen initiative petition to impose a vacant residential unit excise tax, with proceeds going to a community housing fund, will be considered at the August 4 meeting. The petition is listed for discussion but no recommendation is provided in the agenda.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks beyond those listed above. Residents interested in the council's actions can attend the August 4 meeting or review the published agendas and minutes on the city's website.

Astoria City Council set to act on $550,599 stormwater grant, dock contracts, and housing tax proposal

Astoria's City Council has the busiest agenda of the past two weeks, with a slate of contracts, grants, and a citizen petition on a proposed housing excise tax all scheduled for consideration at its August 3 meeting. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, this roundup reflects what was placed on the agendas, not confirmed outcomes.

City Council — August 3 agenda

The Council is scheduled to act on several dollar items:

• Accept a utility easement at 305 Industry Street for a shared cost of $7,500.
• Authorize a $550,599 Housing Infrastructure Financing Program grant for the Copeland Commons stormwater project.
• Award an $80,974.83 engineering contract for the Cedar Creek Spur 1 bridge replacement.
• Amend the budget to move $140,000 to the 17th Street Dock Fund for floating dock replacement.
• Authorize a $383,500 contract amendment for the 17th Street Floating Dock replacement.

The Council will also consider a citizen petition to create a vacant residential unit excise tax and hear an appeal of a Historic Landmarks Commission decision denying Exterior Alteration Request EX26-02 at 1064 14th Street. Staff recommends upholding that denial.

City Council — July 21 agenda

An earlier Council agenda included a second reading and adoption vote on an ordinance to allow transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft to operate within city limits. Also listed:

• A $689,317 paving contract award to Big River Construction for asphalt overlay on city streets.
• Purchase of ELEMENTS XS asset management software from NOVOTX for $78,500.
• Emergency sanitary sewer repair at 6th Street and Marine Drive for $62,910, also to Big River Construction.
• Acceptance of a $25,000 Oregon Emergency Management grant for security cameras at the public safety building and Fire Station 2.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission scheduled a public hearing on Conditional Use Request CU26-01, filed by Kevin Byers of Anchor Baptist Church, for a semi-public use at 1619 Marine Drive, Suite 101. A separate July 30 work session was set to introduce and overview the 2026 Housing Capacity Analysis, with no formal decisions listed.

Development Commission

The Development Commission was scheduled to consider an Astoria Partnership Program application from Friends of Suomi Hall to support Phase 1 of the Lifting and Leveling, Stabilization of Suomi Hall project.

Parks Board

The Parks Board agenda included a review of the Aquatic Center's fiscal year-end budget and a calendar-year attendance comparison between 2026 and prior years. Also listed: an update on recreation programs and revenue, planning for the Astoria Column centennial celebration, and the unveiling of a York Interpretive Panel at the Astoria Column on July 1 at 5 p.m.

Traffic Safety Advisory Committee

The TSAC agenda for July 28 was limited to reviewing draft minutes from its April 28 meeting. No old or new business was scheduled. The next meeting is set for October 27, 2026.

Council work sessions

Two Council work sessions, on July 24 and July 28, were set to discuss state legislative priorities and routine agenda setting. No votes or public hearings were scheduled.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Readers seeking confirmed outcomes from the August 3 Council meeting and the other recent agendas should watch for published minutes, which were not available at the time of this roundup.

Astoria Council, Development Commission Tackled Paving, Sewer Repairs, and Suomi Hall Stabilization

Astoria's City Council and Development Commission held a busy stretch of meetings over the past two weeks, with agendas covering infrastructure spending, rideshare rules, and a historic building stabilization request. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of the three sessions, what follows reflects what each body was scheduled to consider — not confirmed outcomes.

City Council — July 7

The Council's July 7 agenda centered on a five-year Public Works Capital Improvement Plan identifying roughly $246 million in infrastructure needs. The plan was listed for adoption alongside the updated Parks Master Plan covering 2026–2036.

Consent-calendar items included accepting a utility easement for Bethany Lutheran Church at 420 34th St. and approving a License to Occupy a portion of the 11th Street right-of-way near 1122 Lexington Ave. for a retaining wall.

The Council was also set to hold a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance allowing transportation network companies — rideshare services — to operate in Astoria. Additional agenda items included possible charter amendments, transportation system development charges, and a salary resolution for city employees.

Development Commission — July 17

The Astoria Development Commission was scheduled to review an Astoria Partnership Program application from Friends of Suomi Hall for Phase 1 of the Lifting and Leveling, Stabilization of Suomi Hall project.

The Commission's consent calendar included adopting draft minutes from November 3, 2025, and June 1, 2026. Public comment was limited to three minutes per speaker.

City Council — July 17

The Council's July 17 agenda included the second reading of the rideshare ordinance, moving it closer to final adoption.

Two construction contracts were on the agenda: a $689,317 paving project contract and a $62,910 emergency sewer repair contract, both listed for authorization to award.

The Council was also set to approve a lease of Heritage Square for the Astoria Regatta at $1.00 and accept a $25,000 Homeland Security Grant for security cameras.

What This Means for Residents

The Capital Improvement Plan, if adopted, would guide roughly $246 million in infrastructure spending over five years — affecting roads, utilities, and public facilities. The rideshare ordinance would determine whether companies like Uber and Lyft can legally pick up passengers in Astoria. The paving and sewer contracts address immediate maintenance needs. The Suomi Hall application could advance preservation of a landmark building.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should check the city's official agenda portal for newly posted sessions.

*Note: All three meetings listed above are reflected by agenda only; minutes have not yet been published. Final actions, vote tallies, and any amendments will be confirmed when minutes become available.*