August's city meetings covered everything from short-term rental enforcement and Flock cameras to the start of construction on the Vertical Evacuation Structure.

Short-Term Rentals Are Still a Hot Topic

Short-term rentals continue to come up at both City Council and Planning Commission meetings, with the conversation turning toward compliance and enforcement.

Mayor Ed Welter said he has personally been receiving complaints about short-term rentals and their lack of compliance.

Council Member Troy Meyers said he has been working on STR compliance issues. He also said the city's zoning regulations need a review and update. On August 31, Council approved a $33k spend on a STR software management program, which will help the city and STR owners with permitting, billing, and compliance.

Flock Camera Community Roundtable

The City of Westport, Westport Police Department, and a representative from Flock Safety held a community roundtable this month to answer questions about the city's Flock cameras. The city purchased two Flock cameras in 2025 at an annual cost of $6,000 but has never activated them.

Flock cameras are automatic license plate readers that take photos of vehicles as they pass. Police can search the images to identify vehicles connected to an investigation. Flock has faced public backlash over privacy and data concerns, police misuse, and public records issues in cities around the country.

The community roundtable was an effort by Flock, the city, and Westport Police to explain the technology and answer questions. Most questions centered on privacy concerns, surveillance, data storage, and whether the cameras are worth the cost to the city.

On the police side, Chief Ron Phillips views Flock as an enhancement to the department and another tool in its toolkit. "We are ready to get them up and running," Phillips said.

When asked how many times Flock cameras could have assisted Westport Police in the last six months, Phillips identified two cases, both auto thefts.

Ultimately, the city still has to decide whether to activate the cameras or discontinue the contract.

At the end of the meeting, Mayor Welter said Council would need to approve or disapprove the contract. Residents with concerns about Flock cameras were encouraged to contact council members or attend a City Council meeting.

Here are a few takeaways about Flock cameras from the meeting:

What are Flock cameras used for?

Tracking vehicles involved in felonies, misdemeanors and vehicle thefts, as well as assisting in missing-person cases.

What does a Flock camera see and collect?

A vehicle's license plate, make, model, color, and distinguishing characteristics, such as dents, roof racks, or bike racks.

Who owns the data collected by the cameras?

The City of Westport. According to information presented at the meeting, data is deleted after 21 days unless it is being retained as part of an ongoing investigation.

Who can Westport Police share the data with?

According to information presented at the meeting, departments within Washington can use selective sharing, allowing agencies to choose what information they share and with whom. Flock representative said there is no federal sharing of Westport's Flock data and no searching or sharing outside Washington state.

How are police held accountable when using Flock?

Every vehicle search requires a case code. The system can flag unusual search patterns, such as repeated searches for the same license plate, and users can be locked out for unusual search activity.

How does Senate Bill 6002, signed into law on March 30, 2026, affect Flock cameras?

According to ACLU of Washington, the new law:

Prohibits agencies from collecting ALPR data around certain sensitive locations, including facilities offering protected health care or immigration-related services, places of worship, and schools.
Prohibits agencies from using ALPRs for immigration investigations or enforcement, tracking people accessing protected health care services, or tracking people engaged in constitutionally protected activities such as protests.
Restricts agencies from sharing ALPR data, with some exceptions, including when required by a court.
Requires law enforcement to obtain a warrant before obtaining ALPR data from private entities and prohibits the buying and selling of ALPR data.
Requires regular auditing and transparency reporting, along with accountability measures for agency and vendor violations.

In a later council meeting, Meyers said some community members had asked about covering the Flock camera by the school if it is not in use. No decision was made, but with the new law in place, that camera will have to be relocated if the city moves forward with the contract.

VES Moves Into Construction

After years of planning, Westport's Vertical Evacuation Structure is moving into the construction phase.

City Council approved the contract with Absher Construction, authorizing Mayor Welter to sign the agreement and allowing the city to issue a notice to proceed.

The project will include monthly progress reports for the community. An official groundbreaking is being scheduled for a Saturday in September.

Fishermen's Memorial Plaque Approved for Bryson Fitch

One of the more emotional discussions at City Council this month involved an application to place a plaque honoring Bryson Fitch at the Fishermen's Memorial. Fitch was 23 when the Ethel Mae sank while commercial crab fishing in Willapa Bay on Feb. 5, 2023. His body was never recovered. At the Aug. 20 meeting, City Council approved placement of the plaque at the Fishermen's Memorial

Where Should Westport's Tourism Dollars Go?

A discussion at the Aug. 5 Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting raised a larger question about where Westport's tourism dollars should, and shouldn’t, be spent. The issue came up after the Windriders Kite Festival, held in Grayland, applied for Westport lodging tax funding.

Committee members discussed whether events outside Westport city limits should qualify for funding, particularly when those events may still bring visitors who stay, eat, or shop in Westport. The current answer is no.

The issue isn't quite that simple, however. Events such as the Kite Festival, Cranberry Festival, and other longstanding South Beach events can draw visitors to the area, but county funding has not always been available. Mayor Welter said he supports helping where the city can, but doesn't believe Westport taxpayers should be responsible for filling that gap. "The county needs to be doing a better job," Welter said. "It's not on the onus of the taxpayers of this city to pick this up."

One possible compromise was for the city to provide letters of support for South Beach events seeking funding through the county. Meyers later reported that he had drafted letters supporting Jog the Bog and the Cranberry Festival.

Charter Boat Association Receives Tourism Funding

One tourism application that did receive support came from the Westport Charter Boat Association.

The association requested funding for a "Meet the Captain" project at the weigh station, including a photo opportunity featuring a salty fisherman, signage, a QR code linking visitors to Experience Westport and a "Name the Captain" contest.

The association requested money for both installation and promotion of the project, including paid social media advertising. LTAC recommended approval, and City Council later approved $6,168.13 for the project.

Water Department Looks at Expanding Storage

The Water Department is beginning to explore options to increase the city's water storage capacity over the next decade.

Water Department Maintenance Supervisor Jason Barnum said Westport currently has about 3.5 million gallons of storage, which is not expected to be enough to accommodate projected growth over the next 10 years. Options under consideration include additional reservoirs, a project estimated at roughly $33 million that could add another 9 million gallons of storage.

Barnum stressed that the water need is not based on the proposed golf course or expansion of fish-processing operations, but on anticipated growth in the area over the next decade. Barnum is looking at grants or other potential funding sources. No specific project has been selected, but Barnum said they want to begin planning now while maintaining the existing system.

Council member Louis Summers asked Barnum about an update on the Roberts Ranch property and the city's potential future water supply there.

Mayor Ed Welter said, “Fish and Wildlife has asserted that the Department of Ecology deemed the future wells essentially unallowed due to the impacts they would have on the aquifer. We are working on a legal response.”

Could More Murals Be Coming to Westport?

*Sea Bird Gifts and Candy owner Paula Bird stands in front of a mural she had painted on the side of her business.*

Murals were another topic at the August LTAC meeting.

The committee discussed whether large murals could serve as photo opportunities and tourism attractions, and whether lodging tax dollars should help pay for them. Several possible locations were mentioned, including buildings around the marina district.

Committee Member John Shaw noted that public art isn't forever and asked whether murals should be privately funded, city-funded, or supported through lodging tax dollars. Meyers said murals add character and said large-scale murals could help change the "tone and tenor" of entering the marina district.

No funding decision was made, but it sounds like the mural conversation may continue.

Fire Lane Fines Could Increase

The Planning Commission discussed increasing penalties for vehicles parked in fire lanes or in front of fire hydrants. The current fine is $50, which commissioners suggested isn't enough of a deterrent for what they described as a serious safety violation. There was also discussion about whether vehicles blocking fire lanes should be immediately towed.

Community Garden and Street of Trees

Council member Wes Galvich is working on updates to the community garden. Combination locks have been installed due to theft and vandalism, and Galvich is developing a new set of rules and etiquette for garden users.

The city agreed to draft a letter of support for the Port of Grays Harbor as it applies for a grant to help revitalize Westport’s Street of Trees along Montesano Street. According to a memo from Westport Marina General Manager Molly Bold, “Established in 2003 through a partnership among the City of Westport, South Beach Fire Authority, and the Port of Grays Harbor, the Street of Trees project enhanced the entrance to the Marina District, while creating a lasting community asset.”

Important Dates

September 5th- 75th Annual Seafood Festival and Craft Show as well as Corvettes at the Marina
September 11-12 Westport Longboard Classic, the Jetty
September 18-20 30 Miles of Junque, all over South Beach
October 10-11 33rd Annual Cranberry Festival, Grayland
October 11 Jog the Bog, Grayland
October 14 The Great Shakeout
October 17 3rd Annual Mushroom Festival, Grayland
October 31 Trick of Treat at The Docks

What Happened at the Meeting August Edition