City of Yachats eNewsletter : simplebooklet.com

Message from the MayorThis month, I want to take a moment to recognize some of the dedicatedcitizen volunteers who make Yachats the special place it is. Let us startwith the Budget Committee. Alongside the City Council, five communitymembers volunteer their time—hours of preparation followed by longmeetings—to review the city budget crafted by our exceptional citymanager and her dedicated staff. Now, I understand that budgetdiscussions may not sound thrilling to most people, but the attentionand care that go into them are critical for our community’s well-being—both now and in the future.Our citizen representatives—Marc Sakamoto, Brad Webb, Ric Sant, DonGroth, and Julie Ekdom—are at the heart of this effort. I want to extend aspecial thanks to Julie, who has dedicated countless hours to assistingour city manager and her staff. Julie’s expertise in spread-sheets andfinancial insights, honed during her actuarial career, has been a trueasset. We are incredibly grateful for your contributions, Julie.Julie has also been instrumental in the smooth transition following TomLauritzen’s decision to step back from his volunteer roles. For overtwenty years, Tom served Yachats with unmatched dedication, helpingthe city achieve financial stability. Though he humbly requested nofanfare, I simply cannot let his departure go unrecognized. Tom, thankyou for your hard work, your insight, and your wisdom. Please know thatwe are deeply appreciative. Enjoy your well-deserved second (or third?)retirement.On a different note, I had the chance to attend a presentation by theSWIFTY group, where they shared their efforts to create favorableconditions for local bird populations. Not long after, the YachatsAcademy of Arts and Sciences sponsored a talk on geology. I amcontinually impressed by our community’s commitment to lifelonglearning. To top it off, I wrapped up the evening at the Presbyterian by Craig Berdie3

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Church for open mic night—yet another reminder of the extraordinarytalent we have in our town. These events are all run by volunteers.And that is just scratching the surface of the volunteer spirit in Yachats. To name a few: the Lions Club, the Ladies Club, the Yachats CommunityCollaborative food pantry and Don’s Place, the commissions, andcommittees like Emergency Preparedness, Beautify Yachats, Trails andYIPS, Finance, and planning groups focused on projects like the GreaterCommons Master Plan and Estuary Walkway. There is also the socialjustice group, View the Future, Cape Perpetua Collaborative, YYFAPvolunteers, and many more. (Feel free to remind me if I missed yourgroup!) It is truly inspiring to see how many people step up to make adifference.Volunteering in Yachats is more than just lending a hand—it is aboutknowing our neighbors and shaping our community together. It is aboutbuilding the kind of place where we can all live positive, rewarding lives.To each and every one of you who volunteer your time and energy,thank you. Our community is stronger because of you.(continued...)4Message from the MayorContinued...

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5YachatsLions ClubSpeakerSeriesYachatsYouthSummerCampIn this public-level talk, with pictures and videos fromobservatories such as the Hubble Space Telescope andour own Pine Mountain Observatory, Dr. Fisher revealsthe wonders of the Universe through what he calls "TheCosmic Perspective".The YYFAP team is busy planning an action packed,educational, and fun summer camp experience forlocal and visiting children ages 3-12. Camp will takeplace in four weekly sessions Monday throughThursday from 9-3 beginning July 7th. Space is limited,so contact YYFAP for registration materials at 541-547-4599. Tuition is just $100 per week. We will bepartnering with the Yachats Library as well as LincolnCounty School District's Summer Literacy program thisyear. Join us! Upcoming Events & ActivitiesSunday, June 8th at 2:00 p.mBeginning July 7th - Register NowCIVIC 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 Tuesday, 2 pm

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Dear Residents of Yachats,I am pleased to present the Proposed Budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. As City Manager, I am proud of our team and the positive impact wecontinue to have on the City's operations. With a fully staffed City team, weare dedicated to serving our community and consistently deliv-ering qualityservice while our team thrives in a positive workplace culture.The City team is actively working on significant, long-awaited projects.Rehabilitation of the City-owned Little Log Church Museum and theconstruction of the new library building are well underway. Both buildingsare planned to be completed by the end of 2025 and back in operation in2026.We continue to improve city buildings, including the Commons and Pavilion.These projects will extend into this fiscal year, ensuring we remain up tocode, safe for residents, and of good quality for all its many uses.Over the past year, we have collaborated with a design team from Ashland,Oregon, to develop a 25-year master plan for the Greater Commons Area.This plan will evaluate optimal uses to support our community's growingneeds in the building's shared space, how to evolve our outdoor spaces,and ensure a regular maintenance schedule for years to come.Our Public Works team is making significant progress on major projects,including stormwater and street rehabilitation plans. Major paving isscheduled for spring and summer 2025. Other important projects on thehorizon include enhancements to our Reedy Creek water source, Phase 3 7From the City Manager’s DeskBobbi Price, Yachats City ManagerWe’re in budget season!The City’s staff and budget committee spend many hours preparingthe budget for our fiscal year. If you are interested in learning moreabout the City Budget, this year's budget book aims to educate ourresidents about our City’s organizational structure, our form ofgovernment, and, most importantly, the fund accounting we use.

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of the 2nd Street water line from Loma to River Road, and feasibility studiesfor a new water reservoir.New this year, the City’s DMO will implement a three-year strategic marketingplan for tourism promotion to ensure a return on investment, supporting theGeneral Fund's single largest revenue source: the Transient Lodging Tax. Thisstrategic marketing plan ensures that, while we promote our City, we do so ina sustainable manner that encourages responsible tourism and allows us toshare our approach with the community, ensuring they understand thetourism promotion strategies.This proposed budget enables the City to pursue its goals and mission whileenhancing city services and infrastructure. It reflects the City Council’s goalsand administrative work plan. Aligning the budget with these goals enablescity staff to plan and implement initiatives that benefit the communityeffectively.Council Goals:Infrastructure: Achieve water sustainability.Livability: Provide safe access to and use of city infrastructure, parks, andtrails.Housing Supply: Expand housing supply and diversify housing options.Environmental Stewardship: Be environmentally aware in all we do.Public Awareness: Deliver efficient, effective, and transparent municipalservices.Fiscal Sustainability: Effectively manage and plan for the city’s financialneeds.Alignment: Synchronize and update city policies and administrative rules.As we enter the new fiscal year, we are dedicated to fostering positive energyand teamwork. We will actively engage with residents as we advance projectsand pursue our goals, collaborating effectively.Sincerely,8From the City Manager’s DeskContinued...

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Our proposed budget book is available in the document center onthe City’s website, www.yachatsoregon.org.It is designed to make it easy to understand our restricted funds, whythey are restricted, how they can be used, our non-restricted fundusage, and delve into the nitty-gritty details of line items. In June,after our Budget Committee has reviewed the proposal and suggestedchanges, the City Council will adopt the budget. Our new fiscal yearwill start on July 1.9Proposed Budget Book is OnlineWoody's World: A Pup's Perspectiveby Woody the DogHi, Everybody! I'm Woody the Dog and I've got mynose to the ground in our superspectacular town, just straining atthe leash to report everythinggood about Yachats and itsinhabitants. Everything is sosplendid, I can hardly contain mytail. Everyone is super friendly,especially to us dogs. Sometimes itseems to me there's a potential patin every hand and a treat in everypocket. Not to mention all thewater bowls appearing outsidewhen the weather heats up! Youguys are great. No kidding.So much stuff is going on when I take a stroll through town. The foodsmells from the restaurants are swoonworthy! I love walking by thewater treatment plant. As I understand it, the smells there aren't asappealing to most humans, but for a dog like myself, oh, man! As if that

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wasn't enough, right next door, the new library is going up. Newconstruction smells are super exciting. Which is why I also love cruisingby the Little Log Church Museum. It smelled great before, but just thinkwhat it's going to be like when it's all spiffy and reconstructed!Humans are amazing, what with their opposable thumbs and all. AndYachats humans are the most amazing of all. Friendly! Generous! Kind!They show up when you need them. A lot of them show up on either sideof the Yachats main street to tell everyone how they feel about things.You might disagree with what they're saying, but you can't argue withthe passion for community they all show. I love 'em! How could I help it? Well, that's all for my first newsletter. I'm Woody the Dog, and I'm anoptimistic, always happy pup who loves everything about Yachats andits denizens. Got something wonderful about our town to share? Justemail yachatswoody@gmail.com and tell me about it so I can get thelowdown and bark about it next month.Until then, keep smelling the flowers! (And the rosemary. That's myfavorite. It seems to grow everywhere!)Signing off, your pal on the street, Woody the Dog10Woody's World: A Pup's PerspectiveContinued...

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Yachats Trails/YIPS! is a group of volunteers who get together for twohours on the first and third Saturday of each month. Yachats Trails/YIPS!has two major areas of focus – trails and invasive plants. I’d like to talkabout trails in this issue of the Newsletter and we’ll talk about YIPS! nextmonth. Our mission is to maintain existing trails, develop new trails, and let thepublic know about them. One of the main areas of focus so far this year has been the Amanda Trailthat starts near the south end of Yachats Ocean Road and goes to the viewpoint at the top of Cape Perpetua. We maintain the section of trail fromYachats Ocean Road to the Amanda gathering area. A frequent task is theplacement of gravel on parts of the trail to improve the tread, especially inmuddy areas. To get the gravel to the locations in which it is needed, wecarry it in buckets. Frequently, people pass the areas in which we areworking and almost always express their appreciation for our volunteerefforts. One day earlier this year, a family with two young children passedour staging area; as well as thanking us, the father carried two buckets 11Amanda Trail focus of ongoingmaintenance and careby Bob Langleyquite a distance up the trail toour work location. That was agreat expression of tangiblecommunity support as well as areally good example for his twochildren who I trust will becomelifelong hikers.If you would like to get involvedin maintaining our trails andkeeping invasive plants a bay,please check out our website –yachatstrails.org.

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Sunday, June 8th at 2:00 p.m.—Doors open at 1:30 p.m.Yachats Lions Hall, 344 4 Street, Yachats, OR thIn this public-level talk, with pictures and videos from observatories suchas the Hubble Space Telescope and our own Pine Mountain Observatory,Dr. Fisher reveals the wonders of the Universe through what he calls "TheCosmic Perspective". Dr. Fisher hopes to connect us to the Universe weinhabit using an easy-to-grasp scale that explains the actual size of the solar system and MilkyWay galaxy. Dr. Fisher willthen discuss one of themost exciting recentdiscoveries in all ofastronomy - the existenceof Exo-planets. Exo-planetsare planets that are knownto orbit stars other thanthe Sun, as of November2024 we have confirmedthat over 5700 planetsexist outside our SolarSystem.Dr. Fisher is a Professor ofPhysics at UO and Directorof the Pine MtObservatory. Previously heworked at National ScienceFoundation and GeminiObservatory in Hilo,Hawaii.Yachats Lions Club Speaker SeriesHere Comes Your Cosmic Perspective: Our New Place in the Universe12

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Library launches new website, Summer programs541-547-3741 At theCommons441 Hwy 101 NRoom 8Mon - Sat12pm-3pm13June Updates • Yachats LibraryTraci Altson, Library Administrator This month the Yachats Public Library proudlyintroduces our new website and new Summerprograms as we are saying goodbye to a program thatwe began in 2023.Please take a moment to check our new website! Veryexciting! www.yachatslibrary.orgHere you will find our hours, location and contactinformation as well as a link to “Reserve a Book”.“Reserve a Book” is where you can search ourInformation System and place a book on hold. Thenew website will include monthly lists of new print,eBook and audiobooks. You will also find links to alllibrary-related Lincoln Chronicle articles under the“About” tab. And you will also find information aboutour Summer Children’s programs under the Programstab. We are always looking for new Volunteers and youcan fill out a Volunteer Application by using the linkunder the “Volunteer” tab.

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This year in addition to our Summer Reading program, which we have sync’d upto match up the dates of YYFAP’s summer camp program, (the four weeks of Julybeginning 7/7) we are excited to be hosting several Conservation speakers. Pleasesee the website under “Programs” for more information. This Conservation seriesis geared towards an older group of YYFAP children (ages 8 and up) but take alook! There will be space to include 5 additional community members (includingadults) to attend. You may attend one or more session by emailing me atLibrary@yachatsmail.org. Everyone (with the exception of YYFAP) must have areservation to attend.In May we officially wrapped up our second year of participation in OHSU’sWalking Study. The Yachats Library was one of 20 Oregon libraries to participate. We began with 22 walkers andended with a solid group of 15.Fifteen people dedicated an hourevery Thursday afternoon sinceMay of 2023 to walking as a group.These walkers committed to theirfitness but also reaped the benefitof an hour each week of socialinteraction with fellow Yachatians.Congratulations to this dedicatedgroup of individuals! We expect tosee the results of this study inpublished Academic Researchpapers as soon as 2026. This is an ideal time to join. With our new building on the horizon and the need toinitiate new policies for the soon-to-be-functioning conference room, there willbe plenty to do. If you have ideas, enthusiasm and a love of reading andeducating, contact Kimmie Jackson at City Hall. recorder@yachatsmail.org14June Updates • Yachats LibraryThe Yachats LibraryCommission has an opening fora new memberContinued...

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Herewith the story of La Belle Bell, our Little Log Church Museum’s antiquerelic that was once a corroded secondhand church bell whose worn outclapper was at one time jury-rigged with a motor winding:Curator Karl Christianson and Steve Reinmuth of Reinmuth Bronze Studiohave been communicating regularly since the bell was removed on March20th and taken to Reinmuth’s foundry in Eugene. Reinmuth providedChristianson detailed reports of his evaluation of the bell’s condition uponarrival, his proposals for its rehabilitation, and step by step descriptions of the processes he used to bring it tolife again. This involved blasting,rust removal, rebuilding of thepulley wheel with new brazedmaterial, powder coating andreassembling with a new clapper. Reinmuth has managed totransform our bell into a museumexhibit we can be truly proud of.Arrangements were made for LLCMvolunteer board member DavidJohnson to bring the bell back toYachats where it can be safelystored until it can be re-placed inits new home on Third and Pontiac.It seems our bell has become asymbol of our museum’s entirerejuvenation. We plan to have aspecial ceremony when that timecomes, and Steve and ZoAnnReinmuth have been invited toattend. “Ring out the old and ring inthe new”. We’ll continue to keepyou informed. Thank you to the Friends of theLittle Log Church Museum forfunding the restoration of the bell.15Museum Improvements LLCM Bell gets much needed transformationCaption: The newly restored bell, andthe REAL bell clapper

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You may be able to help our community in the event of a crisis, withequipment you might already own. The increasing adoption of satellitecommunicators reflects a broader trend towards ensuring connectivity andsafety in remote and underserved regions. A few examples of these systems would include:Garmin inReach ZoleoSpotXIridium GoThuraya SatSleeveMany people already own and utilize some of these systems. TheEmergency Preparedness Committee would be interested in knowing if anyof these systems are available or in use in the City of Yachats orsurrounding communities.If you would be willing to share that information with the city for Emergencyuse only in the event of a disaster please fill out the Crisis Volunteer Format www.Yachatsoregon.org/crisis.Emergency PreparednessCommittee seeking satellitecommunications Users16by Kathryn Torrence,Emergency Preparedness Committee Member Image from andrewskurka.com

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Volunteer Spotlight: Peter Hurst, Meditation LeaderMeet Peter Hurst, a dedicatedmeditation leader here at theYachats Commons. Peter workedin higher education, including 17years at Naropa University. Afterretiring from his respected field,he moved here from Boulder,Colorado with his partner Laurenand his son Michael in 2022. Peter’s favorite aspect of Yachatsis how amazing it truly is in everyway. It seems perfect to him. He loves its size, the easy access to things he wants (most of the time), theopenness and warmth of those he has met, and the awesome displays ofnature. His favorite aspect of his meditation sessions is split between Membersstating “wow that went by so quickly” after the ending bell of the session, andThursday afternoon discussions after the sitting session is completed. As Peterputs it “Sometimes something someone says really clicks for everyone and it’slike the room gets brighter and warmer.” Peter began offering classes in 2023. Meditation has been such an importantaspect of his life that he wanted others to have the opportunity to benefit frommeditation. For those that do not know what Meditation is, it is where one turns theirattention to a single point of reference, such as one’s breath or bodilysensations, or a word or phrase known as a mantra. The practice has beenshown to decrease distraction and rumination, make negative thoughts seemeasier to let go of, and promote greater enjoyment of the present moment.For those interested in joining, Peter’s meditation group meets everyWednesday, at 9am, in Room 3 of the Commons, As Well as at 4 pm, onThursdays, at the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church. All are welcome! 17

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Are you ready to Explore Summer in Yachats? The YYFAP team is busy planning an action packed,educational, and fun summer camp experience forlocal and visiting children ages 3-12. Camp will takeplace in four weekly sessions Monday throughThursday from 9-3 beginning July 7th. Space islimited, so contact YYFAP for registration materialsat 541-547-4599. Tuition is just $100 per week. Wewill be partnering with the Yachats Library as wellas Lincoln County School District's SummerLiteracy program this year. Join us! Our school year programming is winding down withPreschool Graduation on June 5th and the last dayof our After School Program on June 11th. Thisyear has been filled with lots of learning, laughter,and growth. Thank you to our community partnerswho gave so much to our students and familiesthis year especially the Yachats Library, YachatsLions Club, Yachats Ladies Club, C&K RewardsProgram, Yachats Chamber of Commerce, City ofYachats, Lincoln County School District, andcountless volunteers. On behalf of our students,families, and staff please accept my heartfeltthank you. I am looking forward to exploringsummer with our campers.For more information, call 541-547-4599yachatsyouth.org/YYFAP Ready for Summer! 18Kristi Anderson, Executive Director Yachats Youth Programs

City of Yachats eNewsletter

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