🏛️ LINCOLN CITY COUNCIL — WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA?

Monday, August 24, 2026 | 6:00 PM
City Hall — 3rd Floor Council Chambers

Monday's City Council meeting has several significant items involving city spending, Schooner Creek Discovery Park, Parks & Recreation, city-owned property, nonprofit grants, and the search for a new City Attorney.

Here's the breakdown:

🌳 PARKS & RECREATION: $30 MILLION IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE

The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board will present its 10-year update to the city's Parks & Recreation System Plan.

One number stands out:

Approximately $30 MILLION in deferred maintenance.

The department says it now has responsibility for parks, parking lots, beach accesses, restrooms, trails, sidewalk maintenance and wayfinding signage.

The updated plan identifies future needs including:

• Beach access repairs and ADA improvements
• Restroom repairs and replacements
• Community Center improvements
• Playground and park repairs
• Regatta Park improvements
• Wecoma Park improvements
• New trails and recreational amenities
• Completion of Schooner Creek Discovery Park

Parks & Recreation fees also increased 8% on July 1, 2026, following previous increases in 2022, 2024 and 2025.

⚠️ SCHOONER CREEK: CONTAMINATION CLEANUP

Council will consider awarding a contract to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater at Schooner Creek Discovery Park.

According to the agenda packet, when the City purchased the property from the School District, a DEQ-approved cap covered contamination associated with leaking underground oil tanks.

Further investigation found that the contamination had migrated, and a cleanup plan was developed.

Five companies submitted bids.

The lowest bid came from Anderson Environmental Contracting, LLC — $771,585.

With contingency and other project costs, the packet lists an estimated total of approximately $859,606. Funding is identified from the Parks Capital Fund.

💰 UP TO $1 MILLION LOAN FOR SCHOONER CREEK CLEANUP

Council will separately consider Resolution 2026-24, authorizing financing through Business Oregon's Brownfields Redevelopment Fund.

The resolution would authorize the City to obtain up to $1 million to finance the Schooner Creek remediation project.

An important detail in the resolution:

The City Manager, Finance Director or their designee would be authorized to negotiate the final financing agreement, including the principal amount, interest rate and payment terms.

The resolution also allows the City to pledge legally available funds—including transient room tax revenue, to the extent legally available—toward repayment.

LCC RESEARCH NOTE: This graphic below was created by Lincoln City Connect using independently researched public records and environmental documents. It is not a City of Lincoln City graphic and is not included in the City Council agenda packet. It is provided as additional background information related to the property discussed in the agenda. 👇

👆 The above image is not a City of Lincoln City graphic and is not included in the City Council agenda packet. 

🚛 $240,000 BUCKET TRUCK

Public Works is asking Council to approve the purchase of a new 2026 Ford/Altec bucket truck for $240,000.

The City's existing truck is a 2016 model with a 37-foot reach. The proposed truck reaches 52 feet and includes outriggers, a jib and a winch capable of lowering branches weighing up to 1,000 pounds.

Staff says the equipment should improve storm response and reduce the need to hire outside contractors for tree work.

The $240,000 purchase was already included in the FY 2026-27 budget.

⚖️ SEARCH FOR A NEW CITY ATTORNEY

The city is beginning its recruitment process for a new City Attorney.

Residents will have an opportunity to comment on the position, including:

• Whether legal services should be in-house or contracted
• What legal expertise the City Attorney should have
• How the City's legal office should be structured

Council will also consider adopting the new City Attorney job description and moving forward with recruitment.

Once the hiring standards are adopted, the city can continue portions of the recruitment process through executive sessions as allowed by law.

🏠 CITY PROPERTY / MORRIS LAND EXCHANGE

Council will consider granting a 12-foot utility and access easement along city property at 1800 NE Surf Avenue.

In exchange, the city would receive a narrow 20-foot-by-665-foot tax lot located next to the city-owned Spring Lake Open Space.

Council previously held a public hearing on the proposal in January.

🛣️ LAKONIA RIGHT-OF-WAY VACATION

Council will consider formally vacating portions of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Street rights-of-way in the Lakonia Plat.

The city held a public hearing on the proposal in May.

If approved, ownership of the vacated rights-of-way would attach to adjoining properties, while public utility easements would be retained where required.

The staff report lists no financial impact to the City.

💵 NONPROFIT GRANTS

Council has also been discussing distribution of its nonprofit grant funding.

Organizations requested a combined $406,500, while the city has $150,000 available.

Council previously narrowed the proposed awards to 14 organizations totaling $139,000.

One thing to note: the grant staff report included at the end of this packet is dated September 14, 2026, even though “Non-Profit Grant Discussion” appears on the August 24 agenda. The attached proposal totals $139,000, so we'll watch what action, if any, Council takes Monday.