Vertical Evacuation Structure (VES)

The Vertical Evacuation Structure is in its final stages of design. The community is invited to a VES update meeting currently scheduled for May 28, 5–7 p.m. at Ocosta School. Watch for flyers around town and on social media as the date approaches.

Beyond its primary role as a tsunami evacuation structure, the city plans to use the VES as a year-round viewing tower and event space, complete with a restroom and parking. The project was made possible through a FEMA grant awarded to Westport, with funding split as follows: 90% FEMA, 5% state Emergency Management Division, and 5% local.

Marina Planters and Flower Baskets

Council Member Wes Galvich is spearheading a plan to update all city-maintained planters and flower boxes with locally sourced plants, selected for year-round color and resilience in our coastal climate. If approved, there will be a callout for volunteers to help clear out the old beds and plant the new ones.

*Yarrow is a colorful choice to add to the city flower beds*

Dune Crest Berm Association and Coastal Erosion

South of the Dune Crest condos, erosion is claiming an estimated 5–6 feet of shoreline per year. Twenty affected neighbors have formed a nonprofit — The Dune Crest Berm Association — to address the problem and protect their homes.

Scott Boetcher, a private consultant for Grays Harbor County, presented the council with a potential path forward: forming a Coastal Erosion Special Purpose District, similar in structure to a school or fire district. Such a district would open the door to grants and state appropriations to fund mitigation efforts such as dynamic revetment, which could otherwise cost millions. The formation of a special district would require legislative approval and would impose additional taxes on residents within the district. Mayor Welter expressed the city's support for exploring the idea.

Residential Trash Cans and Bears

Tom Fleckenstein, Westport's Municipal Code Enforcement Officer, reminded the council that with bear season underway, it's a good time to review the rules: trash cans may be set out no more than 24 hours before pickup and must be rolled back within 24 hours after. A first offense results in a warning; a second automatically enrolls the resident in Le May's rollback service at an additional monthly cost.

A few tips from Fleckenstein: if you're only in town for the weekend, ask a neighbor to roll your bin back, and use rigid straps to keep bears out.

Undersea Fiber Optic Cable Coming to Westport

Sealink, a subsidiary of Alaska Power & Telephone (AP&T), is constructing a subsea fiber optic cable landing site in Westport that will connect Ketchikan, Alaska to our coast. In addition to the cable infrastructure, AP&T says the Westport landing could enable them to offer broadband services to local residents, businesses, and schools.

Sea Link will lease land adjacent to the Westport Water Plant in Cohasset Beach as a staging area. In a related note, Alaska Power & Telephone recently donated $35,000 to the girls' softball field.

Pacific Seafoods to Close for Shrimp Season

Pacific Seafoods has elected to close during shrimp season to update its facility for Department of Ecology permit compliance. Mayor Welter drafted a letter of support on their behalf. You can read more about the closure here.

Dovescut Landing Subdivision Approved

The Dovescut Landing long plat subdivision has been approved. Developer Brian Olsen has plans for 13 single-family residential lots.

Workforce Housing RFP

The city will post a Request for Proposals (RFP) on April 1st for workforce housing development on Newell and Forrest Streets.

What Happened at the Meeting- March edition