What Happened At The Meeting — April Edition

A Farewell to Frank Eshpeter

April 27th’s City Council meeting was marked by sadness as the community mourned the passing of Council Member Frank Eshpeter. The meeting opened with a moment of silence in his honor, followed by heartfelt reflections from his fellow council members.

Frank Eshpeter, 1949-2026. Photo by: Kristi Welter

Council Member Louis Summers called his passing "the city's loss and God's gain." Council Member Troy Meyers remembered that Frank "always approached things from a do no harm and the greater good." Mayor Welter said he will miss Frank's "guidance, dry sense of humor, and perpetual smirk," and honored him with an official proclamation designating July 10th as Frank Eshpeter Day — coinciding with the opening day of the Westport Windriders Kite Festival, an event Frank was deeply involved in. Read more about Frank, his life, and legacy, in this article from The Daily World.

With his council seat now vacant, the city is accepting applications for council position #5 through May 7th at 5:00 pm.

AirBnB/VRBO Cap

Louis Summers has called for renewed discussion on capping short-term vacation rentals. His concern is that affordable homes are being purchased by second homeowners for use as vacation rentals, potentially pricing out local families looking to buy their first home. Council Member Tom Aronson raised the counterpoint that many second-home properties sit vacant, questioning which scenario is preferable. Expect more discussion on this topic in the coming months.

VFW Building For Sale

The VFW hall, which closed in February, will soon be listed for sale. It will first be offered to an area VFW branch, and if they are unable to purchase it, the building will be made available to the public. Council Member Louis Summers suggested the city itself consider purchasing the property.

Marina Planter Makeover — May 19–20

Council Member Wes Galvich has spearheaded a project to refresh 87 planters throughout the Marina district. The community is invited to participate on May 19th and 20th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Read more about the project here.

Knox Box Emergency Access

The Knox Box system allows emergency services to access homes and buildings quickly without forcing entry. A Knox Box is a small, wall-mounted steel key safe installed on the exterior of a building where owners store keys, access cards, or gate codes. The box is secured with a high-security lock that only local fire or police departments can open with a master key. Westport Police is working to get this system up and running.

In locations like East Grays Harbor, residents purchase a Knox Box, notify the fire department, and the fire department comes to your home to ensure the Box is accessible and working properly. More details to come.

Community Events in May

Community Shred Day — May 16th, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Community Clean-Up — Throughout May, Westport residents can receive a voucher for one free dump run at the LeMay transfer station. Vouchers must be picked up in person at City Hall.

Port of Grays Harbor Special Commission Workshop

The Port of Grays Harbor held a Special Commission Workshop on April 27th to review a study on the Westport Marina Waitlist, and the community was invited to participate.

The Port highlighted the vital role local commercial fishing plays in both their budget and the broader community, noting that Westport receives more Port-maintained public amenities than any other area in the county. Modernizing the marina docks carries an estimated price tag of $60 million.

Local fishing families expressed hope that the meeting signals progress toward resolving transient moorage fees for working boats. The study found that Westport's transient rates are among the highest of any marina in the region.

Westport Fresh Catch Community Meeting

On April 30th, Westport Fresh Catch (WFC) held a community meeting to discuss the program's progress and next phase. Launched in 2021, WFC is a partnership between the Westport Marina, the City of Westport, and the local fishing community, created to support fishermen, seafood tourism, and the working waterfront.

Discussion topics included education, marketing, tourism, and collective branding, with a focus on strengthening the local seafood economy. Key questions included how to better educate residents and visitors on purchasing fresh seafood directly from boats or local markets, how to connect with local restaurants about featuring fresh catch on their menus, and how to market Westport's seafood culture beyond Grays Harbor County to a nationwide audience.

One notable theme was the absence of any formal representation for Washington State seafood at the state level, a gap the group sees as worth addressing. There was also an emphasis on the importance of charter and commercial boats and markets working together in a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that a rising tide lifts all boats for the Westport community.