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City of Yachats eNewsletter

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City ofYachatsSeptember 2025E-Newsletter Message

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0305070910121314Message from the MayorUpcoming Events & ActivitiesYachats Library UpdateFrom the City Manager’s DeskWater CurtailmentRecycling UpdatesSign up for Lincoln County AlertsYachats Proclaimed Bird CityTABLE OF CONTENTS541-547-3565 | www.yachatsoregon.org | @cityofyachats

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Message from the MayorAs we navigate the current economic landscape, I want to share somethoughts on our city’s financial health. Like many of you, I've beenkeeping a close eye on rising inflation and job market uncertainty. Giventhese concerns, I was pleasantly surprised by the financial results fromthe fourth quarter of our fiscal year. While not a record-breaking period,our tax revenue from hotels and short-term rentals, and food andbeverage revenues increased compared to the same time last year. Thisis a positive sign and a testament to the ongoing appeal of our wonderfulcity.Our biggest revenue period is the second quarter, which runs from Julythrough September. This is when we see the largest influx of visitors, andwith them, the most significant restaurant and transient room taxrevenue. We will not have the official numbers until October, asbusinesses have until the end of the following month to forward thesetaxes to the city.However, based on my personal observations of increased activitydowntown and conversations with business owners, it seems we’ve hada strong start to the quarter. National trends offer mixed signals:restaurant spending saw a small increase in July, though diners areincreasingly seeking "value" options. In the hotel industry, bookings andrates are reportedly down nationally, but with significant regionalvariation. While it's difficult to predict where Yachats will land, our earlyindicators are encouraging.Fiscal Prudence and Our City StaffDespite this promising start, we must remain cautious. Many of our hoteloperators are concerned about sustaining this momentum. I share theircaution, as the city's financial picture for this quarter isn’t complete. Asa result, we will continue to monitor our discretionary spending withcare. This doesn’t mean we will be cutting back on staff. In fact, for the “City Budget vs National Economy” by Craig Berdie3

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first time in a long time, our city staff is fully trained and equipped toefficiently handle the needs of our residents and projects. Our staff area critical part of our ability to deliver the high level of service youexpect, from quickly resolving issues and complaints to proactivelymaintaining our water and wastewater systems. We are confident in thestaff’s ability to serve our community.While we are not considering staff reductions, we may need to delaysome non-critical projects if revenue falls short of our projections. Ourbudget for this fiscal year already anticipated a 15% decrease inrevenue from last year, so our plans are conservative. We will proceedexpeditiously if the numbers come in as planned. If not, we will adjustour spending accordingly. While some projects may be delayed,residents should not notice significant changes to city services.Thank you for your continued support and for making Yachats the Gemof the Oregon Coast.Our staff is excited to welcome returning and new families as we gearup for another great year. The After School Program beginsSeptember 2, and Preschool starts September 8. To enroll or join thewaitlist, contact 541-547-4599 or email yyfapdirector@gmail.com.Families Together and the Infant/Toddler playgroup will return later inSeptember—stay tuned to our social media for updates.A big thank you to the Yachats Lions for supporting our After SchoolProgram this fall, and to our ongoing partners: the Yachats Library,City of Yachats, and Lincoln County School District. Your supporthelps us serve local children and families—thank you!The YYFAP Team, Yachats Youth Programs541-547-4599 • https://yachatsyouth.org/(continued...)4Message from the MayorYachats Youth ProgramContinued...

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Yachats will come alive with the sounds, smells, andtastes of Bavaria this weekend as the Yachats Oktoberfestreturns. Enjoy traditional food, music, dancing, andfestive cheer at the Yachats Commons. Admission is free,with food and drink available for purchase.5BannerAuctionFarmersMarketYachatsOktoberfestYou’ll have the chance to bid on these unique artworksat a lively live and silent auction. Proceeds go towardsupporting arts programming and next year’s bannerproject.Held every Sunday from early May through mid‑October,9 AM to 2 PM, right off Highway 101 on West 4th Street.Browse fresh local produce, artisan goods, crafts, andmore in a welcoming, pet-friendly setting.Upcoming Events & ActivitiesSeptember 20thSundays on 4 Street - 9am-2pmthSeptember 27thJoin us on YouTube to see theCity Council Meeting Recapyoutube.com/@CityOfYachatsCIVIC MEETING SCHEDULECity Council 3rd Wednesday, 1 pmCOMMISSIONSParks & Commons1st Tuesday, 2 pmPlanning Work Sessionfollowed by Regular Session3rd Tuesday, 2 pmPublic Works & Streets2nd Tuesday, 2 pm COMMITTEESEmergency Prepardness1st Monday, 2 pmFinance 1st Thursday, 2 pm

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There is a lot happening in our city these days. Here are some updates onjust a few of our projects and priorities.City Community Grants Open The new Community Grant application will be available on the City ofYachats website and open for submissions starting September 20th! This grant program supports impactful projects by public and nonprofitorganizations, as well as cooperative initiatives, with a total of $50,000available for projects and organizational support to organizations thatenhance visitor amenities and promote general community development.The maximum grant request per project is $15,000. Applications must besubmitted through our official website. Please visit www.yachatsoregon.orgfor more information on eligibility and the application process.New Basketball HoopsExciting news, Yachats! We now have brand new basketball hoops installedand ready for action in the multipurpose room of the Yachats Commons! To make the most of this fantastic addition, we’re looking for a communitymember to lead an open gym time, similar to our existing pickleball, pingpong, and exercise groups. If you’re passionate about basketball and wantto help foster a fun, active environment, please reach out to our CommonsCoordinator, Rosa, to discuss how you can contribute to making regularopen gym times a reality! South Lincoln Intertie Recently, the crews and managers from the City of Yachats and the SouthLincoln Water Public Utilities District gathered at our water intertie location.An “intertie” is a connection between two different water systems.Together, the public works crews conducted flow tests and measured waterlevels to ensure that our connection is operating smoothly. Thiscollaboration is crucial for maintaining seamless service to our system,especially in the event of a water shortage. A heartfelt thank you to SouthLincoln Water for being such a valuable partner in ensuring a reliable watersupply for our community! 7From the City Manager’s DeskBobbi Price, Yachats City Manager

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Pavilion UpdateAre you wondering what’s happening with the Pavilion? It’s been quite ajourney for this beloved building! Initially, we had a contractor ready toenhance the space by adding doors and bringing it up to the OregonState Fire Code. However, we discovered significant rot, which led usback to the drawing board. The good news is that during the August City Council meeting, a decisionwas made to move forward this spring with essential repairs to make thebuilding usable and enjoyable year-round. This fix will include weather-proofing, ensuring that the Pavilion remains a treasured communityasset. A big thank you to the City Council for their commitment topreserving our unique spaces! 8From the City Manager’s DeskVideo Tour of our Water SystemLet’s talk water! Rick McClung, the City of Yachats WaterTreatment Plant Operator, has been serving ourcommunity for 26 years. Watch the video on the City of Yachats Facebookpage, where Rick walks us through where ourwater comes from, how it flows through thesystem, and current conditions, which are someof the lowest we’ve seen in recent years. You canhelp us use our water wisely by following the tipson page 9.Continued...

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9Here are some practical tips to help you reduceyour water usage effectively:Limit watering lawns and plantsUse a broom instead of a hose on surfaces suchas patios and driveways.Avoid washing vehiclesCheck faucets and toilets for leaks and fix themimmediately.Shorten showers.Monitor your water bill for signs of unusuallyhigh use.Wait to run the dishwasher or laundry until youhave a full load. By implementing these strategies, we can allcontribute to conserving water during this criticaltime. Let’s work together to protect our preciousresources!Time for Water Curtailment Water conservation methods are encouragedfollowing Lincoln County drought declarationsby Governor Kotek and the Lincoln County Boardof Commissioners.

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10Dahl Disposal ExpandsRecycling OptionsJuly 2025 means the start of expanded recycling for Dahl’s blue-lidcarts! Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act is taking effect thismonth, which means you can put more items in your comingledrecycling cart. The goal is to make the list the same for the entire state.This has been a collaborative effort between Oregon’s Department ofEnvironmental Quality, waste haulers, local governments andrecycling facilities to create a standard recycling list for the state aswell as establishing responsible recycling markets.WHAT’S IN:Plastic bottlesMetal cansCardboard and mixed paper currently accepted in our program willcontinue to be accepted in our blue-lid recycling carts.WHAT’S NEW:PLASTIC additions are tubs, buckets, and rigid plant pots.Bottles and tubs are limited to #1, #2 & #5 plastics.CARDBOARD additions are food and beverage cartons.WHAT’S OUT: Aerosol cans and aluminum foil will move to depot-basedcollection (start date TBA for these items).Dahl will be mailing new waste guides directly to customers, signage atthe recycling center will be updated, and you will see statewidemessaging in local and regional media outlets. For more information on this law and the planned improvements toOregon’s recycling system, please go to:https://www.oregon.gov/deq/recycling/pages/modernizing-oregons-recycling-system.aspx.Download the full page Recycling Guide shown here:https://www.dahldisposalservice.com/new-recycling-list/

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Residents are encouraged to stay informed and safe with county alerts.Here’s why you might want to sign up:Emergency NotificationsSevere weather (tornadoes, floods, snowstorms)Wildfires or earthquakes Evacuations or shelter-in-place ordersAmber Alerts or missing personsRoad Closure and Traffic UpdatesMajor accidentsRoad constructionBridge or highway closuresUtility Outages & Service UpdatesPower outagesWater main breaksBoil water advisoriesPublic Health AlertsDisease outbreaksAir quality warningsHazardous material incidentsBenefitsTimely information: Often faster than news or social media.Tailored alerts: Choose only the topics or locations relevant to you.Free and easy to opt out.Sign up for Lincoln County Alerts:https://www.co.lincoln.or.us/789/Lincoln-Alerts And just a reminder that City Hall carries pre-packed go bags for sale for$35. They contain a good starter set of items to get your bag ready to go ifneeded.12Be PreparedSign up for Lincoln County Alerts by Kathryn Torrence

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On Aug 18, the City Council approved a Bird City Proclamation, which isthe last step in designating Yachats a “Bird City”, a certification thatrewards cities for their efforts to help birds and wildlife. Our applicationsummarizes these efforts, which includes Native Plant Garden (ProspectPark), Controlling Invasive Plants (Trails), Providing Habitat (SWIFTY -Swallows in Flight to Yachats), Conservation and Stewardship (View theFuture), Sustainable Infrastructure (The Yachats Trails System), Education(Cape Perpetua Collaborative and Wild Things Festival) and EliminatingThreats (Quiet Water - Outdoor Cat Ban, and Yachat’s Dark Sky LightingOrdinance). To maintain this certification, a Steering Committee has been establishedwhose role is two-fold: 1) to do more projects to help wildlife and 2) towork with the Chamber and the City to publicize this unique “feather in thecity’s cap”, the first designation of its type on the Pacific Coast. The Committee is co-chaired by Jim Welch (jameswelch1009@gmail.com)and Catherine Whitten Carey (catherineawc@gmail.com). Our nextmeeting is scheduled for 10:00 AM on September 19th at the Lions Cluband is open to the public. If you have projects to share, please get in touchwith the co-chairs. Black Oystercatcher with Mussel - Photo taken off the rocks at 7th St. by Alex Morley Yachats proclaimed a “Bird City”13

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541-547-3741 At theCommons441 Hwy 101 NRoom 8Mon - Sat12pm-3pmJuly Summer Program Success! 14Yachats Library UpdatesTraci Altson, Library Administrator The Yachats Public Library had an eventful July! Wehosted the Yachats Youth and Family ActivitiesProgram (YYFAP) summer day-campers each Mondaymorning in July for Storytimes and crafts. Each childreceived take-home books and their artwork. Also,they spent one afternoon with Recess OutdoorAdventures and were entertained with bubbles!Also on Mondays, in the afternoons, the oldest agegroup (9-12) of campers came back to the library forour Junior Conservationist lectures. They learnedabout DePave, a corporation that replacesunderutilized pavement with gardens, they learnedabout the Amanda Trail and indigenous plants foundthere. They also learned about ocean and coralconservation and last, but not least, they learnedabout local tribes’ use and dependence on Camasflowers. They went home with badges, certificates,books, journals, colored pencils, stickers and Camasbulbs.

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15Yachats Library Updatescontinued...Thank you to: Emily Rawls for driving from McMinnville to run these twoprogramsJanet Rackleff for all her help with book and supply orders as wellas helping with the planning Liz Morrill and Nancy Eisenberg for helping with morning craftactivities

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16Woody's World: A Pup's Perspectiveby Woody the Dog Hi, Everybody! It's me again, the pup with hispaw on the pulse of Yachats. And there's a lotto report, as usual, all of it good. First off, ourcity manager wanted me to say "great job!" toour residents for paying attention to watercurtailment. This cur wagged his tail! Myfriend Bridget and her guardian measure rainup the street from me, and Bridget saysthere's been a pawcity of it this summer. I'mhappy to report the dogs of Yachats are alsoon the job, doing their bit to curtail usage byrefusing unnecessary baths. We all want tohave enough water to keep those dog waterbowls filled! Need water curtailment hints? Just go to the Yachatsofficial website, yachatsoregon.org.Meanwhile, the Yachats Volunteers Barbeque, a well-known highlight ofour town's social calendar, was really a hit. The weather was perfect, andeveryone was in a super good mood. The food looked mouthwatering,although, unfortunately, I was not allowed to try any of it myself. Suresmelled good though. The high point for me was my being introduced toour new City Hall pup, Savannah. She wagged her tail. I think she likesme. It kinda made it up to me for not being able to snag a cupcake whenno one was looking. That's it from me for now, until we meet again in October. I'm still Woodythe Dog, and I'm still an optimistic, always happy pup who loveseverything about Yachats. Got something great about our town toshare? Just email yachatswoody@gmail.com and tell me about it. And ifyou see me around town and happen to have a spare dog treat in yourpocket, you know what to do.Signing off, your pal on the street, Woody the Dog

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541-547-3565www.yachatsoregon.org501 Hwy 101 N. Yachats, OR 97498Contact Us