What Happened at The Meeting- May Edition
Westport Skatepark Coming Soon!
I feel like we’ve been saying the Skatepark is coming soon for some time now- BUT after May Council meetings, I’m confident it really is going to happen!
City Council approved world-renowned skatepark builders Grindline as the company that will build the Westport Skatepark. Much debate ensued over the cost of the park, as the bid came in significantly higher than the funds available for the buildout. Westport residents Darcia Davis and Hana Perlee, who have worked for many (many!) years to bring this project to fruition, encouraged the council to allocate the extra funds to build the biggest and best version of the park, saying this would be a huge benefit to local youth, visitors, and the surrounding community. Council pushed back, debating whether City and/or LTAC funds could or should be used to help cover the gap, and whether skateboarding, like surfing, functions as a tourism draw that drives heads in beds. Council ultimately did not approve the higher-priced park design, but did approve a smaller version. The park buildout should start in July, and Grindline expects to get most of it completed before the rainy season.
Shiver me timbers: Pirate Daze is almost here
The Local Tourism Advisory Committee (LTAC) got a full rundown on the upcoming June 26–28 Pirate Daze festival, put on by the Chamber of Commerce, and it sounds like this year’s event is going to be a big one. Isaac Singleton Jr., Bosun from Curse of the Black Pearl, is confirmed as an attendee, which should help draw a crowd.
The footprint is shaping up: bouncy houses and a kids’ area on the lawn at the Maritime Museum, a Sunday afternoon parade, cannon demonstrations near the viewing tower, vendors along the esplanade, and a full schedule of entertainment on two stages.
LeMay is donating dumpsters, extra porta-potties are secured, and the Coast Guard will handle security.
Westport Tsunami Tower
On May 28th, a special meeting was held by the design and idea team behind the Westport Tsunami Tower. Over 12 years of planning is coming to an end, and the community got an up-close look at what the tower will look like. Earthquake and tsunami maps and modeling were shown, and sobering facts about tsunamis were given. On the South Beach, the loss of life estimate for “the big one” is 34-60% of the population. Attendees also got a chance to tour the tsunami station on top of Ocosta Elementary school- built in 2016, it was the first VES tower in North America.
The Westport VES will be built just off Harms Avenue in the Westport Marina area. It will also serve as a viewing tower and a possible event venue. It will have emergency power and lighting for up to 48 hours, 2000 gallons of water storage, and a 3000-gallon septic holding tank. Piles will be drilled to a depth of 50 feet, the stairs will be surrounded by concrete, and the building will have a lifespan of at least 75 years. Groundbreaking is planned for late July or mid-August, with completion targeted for September 2027.
Community questions included how much it will cost to maintain the tower, how much emergency supplies will cost, and who will pay for them. The tower will serve up to 1000 evacuees.
Short Term Rental Public Hearing June 16
The Planning Commission discussed short-term rentals. The current cap of STR’s is over its limit. It’s a heated topic as both sides, for and against STRs, have understandable and valid viewpoints. The biggest debate is the number of STR’s in residential neighborhoods. A motion was set to have a Public Hearing on June 16.
Standout quotes from the meeting:
“I didn’t purchase my home on Surf Street to have a commercial business right next to me. I want to build a relationship with my neighbors. I can’t do that with STR’s.”
“To try and convert a STR to long-term rental housing, you would earn 1/3 of the income that could be made from STR.”
News Worthy City Updates
May’s first council meeting included appointing a new council member. Land surveyor Rick Mature was appointed to the position left vacant by Frank Eshpeter’s passing. Mature said he wants to see big things happen for Westport.
Long-term sidewalk planning is underway. The vision is for connected sidewalks from the school to the docks, requiring coordination among city, county, and highway agencies.
The Fishermen’s Memorial group met with council members to discuss updates: the concrete pad needs to be ripped out and repoured, the planters irrigated, and electrical service run from the nearby restroom.
The council approved joining Safe Streets for All. Westport’s share of the cost-match runs $8,000–$12,000.
The fire department shared an important reminder: fire alarms are available at the station, just ask.
John Shaw collected VFW historical items for preservation.
Chief Ron Phillips brought a proposal to the Civil Service meeting: a 0.01% sales tax dedicated to public safety — essentially $1 for every $1,000 spent, applied only within Westport city limits.