Government

Mayor and City Council

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Joe Benetti Mayor

Joe Benetti was elected as Mayor in November 2016.  He was born and raised in Reno, Nevada, and he moved to Coos Bay in 1979 and started Benetti’s Italian Restaurant.  After 38 years Joe sold the restaurant and semi-retired. 

His love of the Bay Area prompted him to become involved in his community.  He wanted to give back to a community that has been so good to him.  Over the years, Joe served three terms as mayor of the City of Coos Bay, and twelve years as City Councilor. After several years out of city government, Joe successfully ran for the mayor’s spot again in November 2016.  He has served on numerous other committees.  Currently, Joe is a director on the Oregon Pacific Bank Board. He serves on the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport Commission. He is a member of Coos County Urban Renewal, Coos County Tourism Advisory Committee, and Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board. 

Term Expires 11/2018

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Lucinda DiNovo Councilor

Lucinda DiNovo was elected to the City Council in 2016.  She has lived in the Bay Area for the last 21 years.  Lucinda began her career in the gaming industry 20 years ago, and she is the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Mill Casino * Hotel & RV Park in Coos Bay, Oregon. 

Councilor DiNovo has a degree in Business Management and Marketing from Oregon State University.  She is past President of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, and she has served and continues to serve on numerous boards including the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, Board of Trustees for Coos History Museum, City of Coos Bay Budget Committee and Advisory Committee for the International Port of Coos Bay.  

Councilor DiNovo has a passion for a collaborative process in all that she does and giving back to her community through service. She enjoys the outdoors and sharing her love and knowledge of the wonders of Coos Bay-North Bend Oregon’s Adventure Coast.

Term Expires 11/2020

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Drew Farmer Councilor

Drew Farmer was elected to the City Council in 2016. He has lived in Coos Bay off and on since his birth.

After he graduated from high school, he joined the U.S. Navy as a Personnel Specialist. Following an honorable discharge at the expiration of his contract, he returned home for a year to attend SWOCC before moving on to Portland State University where he obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. Returning home once again, he has been employed previously as an Executive Assistant at Chuck Bracelin Transportation, Inc., and currently works as an Employment Specialist with the Working Wonders non-profit.

 His previous board experience includes sitting on the board for the Shama House non-profit, as the treasurer of the city’s Library Board, and on the Urban Renewal Advisory Committee.

Term Expires 11/2020

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Jennifer Groth Councilor

Jennifer Groth was elected to the Council in 2010.  She has lived in Coos Bay with her husband and daughter since 2000.

Councilor Groth graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in Economics and Political Science, then earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Syracuse University.  Prior to moving to our community, she worked as a budget analyst and supervisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and she was employed by the American Funds Service Company in San Antonio as a business analyst and operations supervisor.

Since arriving in Coos Bay, Councilor Groth has become involved in the community as a Business Manager and subsequent volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club, has served as the President and Vice-President of the Coos County Historical Society, as the Treasurer of the Coos Bay Schools Community Foundation, the League of Women Voters, and the Zonta Club of the Coos Bay Area, and as the Coordinator of the Coos Waterfront Walkway Partnership.

Term Expires 11/2018

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Stephanie Kilmer Councilor

Stephanie Kilmer was elected to the Council in November 2016.  She is a life-long resident of Coos Bay residing here with her husband and three children since graduating from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications. Councilor Kilmer returned to Coos Bay to pursue a career in broadcasting.  She held numerous positions at KCBY TV before leaving the industry to work in the billing office of Bay Cities Ambulance (previously owned by her parents).  A year later, she began working for KDCQ FM (K-DOCK Radio) where she is currently the General Manager.

Councilor Kilmer has been involved in a variety of boards and committees. She is currently serving on the Coos Bay Downtown Association (CBDA) and Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Boards.  She also serves as the Secretary of the CBDA Foundation Board, and she is a board member of the Southwestern Alumni Association.  She serves on several committees including the Coos County Relay for Life, Bay Area Fun Festival, Cruz The Coos, and MHS Media Advisory committee.  She has also served as President of the Rotary Club and Bay Area Jaycees.

Term Expires 11/2020

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Stephanie Kramer Councilor

Stephanie J. Kramer was elected to the City Council in November 2006.  Councilor Kramer has lived in the Bay Area since 2002.  She grew up in Ft. Collins, Colorado where she attended Colorado State University.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Nutrition.  Stephanie and her husband Thomas moved to Coos Bay from San Diego, California where she was the general catering manager for San Diego State University.

Stephanie and her husband own the Old Tower House Bed and Breakfast, and Coos Bay Marine Towing and Salvage holding contracts with Vessel Assist/Board US.  She has been on the board and a charter member of the Concerned Citizens of Empire, is a member of the Charleston Merchants Association, and the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.  She currently serves as a Council representative on Alternative Youth Activities, Boat Building Center Board, Community Coalition of Empire, and Mingus Park Pool Management Board.

Term Expires 11/2018

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Philip Marler Councilor

Philip (Phil) Marler was elected to the Council in November 2016.  He has lived in Coos Bay since 1992, and he has been a residential real estate appraiser in the area for over 20 years.  

Councilor Marler served on the Coos Bay Planning Commission, the Coos Bay Budget Committee, and the Coos Bay Streets Task Force prior to becoming a City Councilor.  He has also been a Coos Bay Lions Club member for 23 years.  

Term Expires 11/2018

Departments

• City Manager's Office
• Community Development
  • Building Codes Division
  • Planning Division
  • Code Enforcement
  • Economic Development
  • Urban Renewal
• Finance Department
• Fire Department
• Library
• Police Department
• Public Works Department
  • Parks Department
  • Engineering Division
  • GIS Services
  • Operations

City Goals

City of Coos Bay Mission Statement

The Mission of the City of Coos Bay is to work as a stable, progressive municipality to enhance the quality of life for all citizens through a government that is accessible to everyone and dedicated to the development of a diversified economy, sound fiscal planning; and preservation and enhancement of the cultural, historical, and natural beauty of our area. 

City Council’s 25 Year Vision

• Coos Bay is a vital, thriving, and beautiful city serving both local residents and visitors. 
• Our community is a safe place.
• We are thoughtful and intentional in our approach to growth in all nodes of the City – Downtown, Empire, and Eastside.
• We have a diverse and bustling economy. Coos Bay is welcoming and supportive for businesses small and large. 
• City infrastructure and facilities are well-maintained and fully meet the needs of the community. 
• Our waterfront, greenspaces, sidewalks, and trails offer healthy recreation opportunities for all to enjoy. 
• We work closely with our partners in North Bend, Coos County, and the region to achieve our mutual goals. 

City Council’s Leadership Approach for 2017-2019

• The Council serves the whole City. 
• The City is a good steward, good partner, good communicator, and collaborative leader.
• The Mayor and Councilors are leaders in articulating a vision for our City and demonstrating how we can achieve that vision.  
• The City builds credibility through tangible actions, large and small, that benefit the people of Coos Bay.
• The City effectively informs and engages the community. 

2017-2019 Council Priorities​

1.    The Coos Bay City Council has identified ongoing maintenance and improvement of the City’s Wastewater System as a priority.  

The City is in year five of an adopted twenty-year Wastewater System Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).  It’s the Council’s desire to focus on the upcoming five years of the Capital Improvement Plan with emphasis on the following:

• The creation and adoption of five-year Financial Plan to address planned capital improvements and ongoing operational and maintenance needs.  (To be accomplished before end of FYE2017)
• A Communications Plan aimed at educating the public on the health of the infrastructure to include deficiencies, the adopted CIP intended at addressing major system deficiencies along with the cost to operate and maintain this vital community utility.  (To be accomplished before end of FYE2018)
• Evaluate current and potential policies aimed at improving and maintaining privately-owned business and residential sewer laterals which connect to the wastewater utility.  Policies to be evaluated could include but are not limited to: (1) the requirement of sewer lateral inspections and the completion of necessary repairs prior to the sale of the property; (2) City considering financially partnering with private property owners who’s laterals beneath the City’s streets need to be replaced; and (3) an ordinance requiring commercial business to limit fats, oils, and grease from entering in the City’s collection system. (To be accomplished before end of FYE2019)

2.    The Coos Bay City Council has identified maintenance and repair of the City’s Transportation and Parking Infrastructure as a priority.  

The health of the City’s roads and parking lots are in fair to poor condition due to deferred maintenance from a lack of sufficient resources.  In 2013, the Council established a Streets Task Force which provided recommendations on the management and financing of transportation infrastructure.  Two of the recommendations and been completed and a third pursued: (1) updating the City’s Street Conditions Assessment report (updated in 2014 and adopted in 2015); (2) increasing the Pacific Power and Light franchise fee 2% to cover streetlight and traffic signal expenses paid out the limited City’s share of state’s gas tax which limited resources for street maintenance (franchise was renegotiated and adopted in 2015); implementing a local fuel tax (a gas tax ballot measure failed in 2016). 

It’s the Council’s desire to focus on improving the health of the City’s transportation and parking infrastructure through the following:

• The adoption of an ordinance aimed at preserving the health of the infrastructure through the establishment of requirements for utility companies who disturbed the road surface and/or road beds to maintain or install utilities.  (To be accomplished before end of FYE2017)
• Consideration of increasing needed revenue through a local gas tax, Urban Renewal special levy, a street utility fee, parking district assessment and/or General Obligation bonds. (To be accomplished before end of FYE2018)  

3.    The Coos Bay City Council has identified the building of a new Library facility outside of the tsunami inundation zone as a priority.  

The foundation pilings supporting the Library have failed and resulted in foundation settlement.  The cost to mitigate and stabilize the foundation far exceeds the value of the 60-year-old facility which is located within the tsunami inundation zone.  While the foundation continues to sink, it is still considered safe to occupy; but there will come a time when it will no longer be useable.  In 2014, the Council established a Library Facility Steering Committee who have undertaken a strategic planning process (Council adopted the Strategic Plan in 2015) and completed a library needs assessment in late 2016.  It is currently being evaluated.            

It’s the Council’s desire to focus on the following:

• Locate a site for the new library facility outside the tsunami inundation zone; and if possible, within the downtown URA district.  (To be accomplished before end of CY 2017)
• Consider co-locating community resources to meet unmet community needs and generate funding options.  (To be accomplished before end of CY2018)
• Create a capital building project budget and a fundraising plan to fund the project.  (To be accomplished before end of CY2018)

4.    The Coos Bay City Council has identified economic development as a priority.  

There is little doubt that tourism is an important sector of the economy in our city and the greater community. The City’s role in support of tourism promotions has been through its longstanding partnership in the Coos Bay North Bend Visitor Convention Bureau (VCB).   The City of Coos Bay has a long history of supporting tourism attractions such as the Coos Art Museum, Marshfield Sun Museum, Egyptian Theatre, Dolphin Theatre, Coos Bay Boat Building Center, Coos History Museum, annual Tall Ship visits, Fun Festival, Blackberry Arts Festival, and Empire Clamboree, just to name a few organizations and events.

Through the City’s two Urban Renewal Districts, a vast number of economic development projects have been undertaken over the years in an effort to eliminate blight which adversely affect how our city looks and the economic health of our community.  While much has been done, the existing Downtown Urban Renewal District and the Empire Renewal District plans are in need of updating.

It’s the Council’s desire to focus on the following:

• Stabilize the VCB though an updated agreement.  (To be accomplished before end of FYE2017)
• Consider increasing the transient occupancy tax with the goal of providing additional funds to the VCB. (To be accomplished before end of CY2018) 
• Update the Downtown URA Plan. (To be accomplished before end of CY2017) 
• Update the Empire URA Plan. (To be accomplished before end of CY2018)
• Complete the Jordan Cove Community Enhancement Plan and encourage adoption of the Plan by our Enterprise Zone partners. (To be accomplished before end of CY2017)
• Pursue development of the Hollering Place property. (To be accomplished before end of FYE2017)
• Update the Front Street Plan. (To be accomplished before end of CY2017)
• Update and reinstate System Development Charges to defray the costs of creating additional capacity in transportation, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure for future development within the City.  (To be accomplished before end of CY2018)
• Create and adopt a 20-year infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan to identify and plan for future infrastructure needs. (To be accomplished before end of CY2018)

5.     The Coos Bay City Council has identified updating the City Charter as a priority.

The Coos Bay City Charter is the most important legal document of the City. The Coos Bay City Charter defines the powers, functions, and essential procedures of city government. The City Charter has been amended from time to time to meet the needs of the City and the desires of the voters.  One of the prior amendments (public safety staffing levels) was determined after the amendment to be unconstitutional and invalid.  The wording of another amendment (bonding) contradicts another section and is overly broad and limits the City from taking timely advantage a financing option.  Part of the original City Charter language (meeting requirements of the Council) could be amended to provide greater flexibility for the Council to meet as needed.  

It’s the Council’s desire to evaluate possible changes to the City Charter to include, but not limited to the following:

• Section 4.1 Meetings of the Council (To be accomplished before end of CY2018)
• Section 9.11 Funds for Police Officers and Firefighters (To be accomplished before end of CY2018)
• Section 9.12 Sales of Bonds and Warrants (To be accomplished before end of CY2018)

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission is a seven-member citizen advisory board appointed by the City Council. It is the decision-making authority for many land use applications. It also makes recommendations to the City Council on land use planning issues. The Planning Commission meets the second Tuesday of each month at City Hall. Its meetings are open to the public.

Planning Commission Ordinance

Agendas & Minutes