Seaside council adopts downtown‑district extension and business‑license change, approves mural and passes budget

Seaside’s City Council took a string of formal actions on June 8, passing downtown assessment and business‑license code changes, authorizing a public‑art partnership and adopting the city’s 2026–27 budget.

Ordinance 2026‑03 (Downtown Maintenance District): The council completed third reading and adopted Ordinance 2026‑03, extending the assessment district term established under ORS 223.112–223.132. The ordinance passed by unanimous roll‑call vote. Council staff explained the ordinance extends the district and that the related annual resolution levying assessments was handled on the consent agenda; staff said they will look next year at whether a multi‑year ordinance could reduce annual paperwork.

Ordinance 2026‑05 (Business‑license revenue distribution): After three readings the council adopted Ordinance 2026‑05 to repeal the existing formula that automatically directs business‑license revenue to several accounts. Going forward license revenue will be deposited into the general fund; the council approved a companion resolution and manager direction that continues funding for the Chamber and the Seaside Downtown Development Association (SDDDA) at levels similar to the prior formula but handled through the annual budget process. Staff noted roughly $580,000 in business‑license revenue is typically available and that transient‑lodging taxes are the preferred source for tourism‑related expenditures.

Public art: The Seaside Chamber of Commerce asked the council to allow a mural on the north face of the convention‑center parking‑lot restroom. The chamber will fund the artwork, seek an arts‑and‑vitality tourism grant and present an approved design for final city sign‑off; the council authorized the city manager to negotiate an agreement that will assign maintenance and public‑property responsibilities (including graffiti coating and removal). Estimated artist quotes presented at the meeting ranged from about $6,000 to $25,000 depending on complexity.

Budget adoption (Resolution 4089): After public hearings on revenue‑sharing and budget items, the council adopted the 2026–27 city budget by resolution. Staff noted small technical corrections to contingency formulas for special funds and proposed an internal accounting approach to handle unexpectedly high convention‑center food‑and‑beverage receipts in the coming year (staff asked to increase the convention center materials line so expenditures are matched to revenue in a segregated budget line). The council adopted the budget package unanimously.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2026‑03 (Downtown Maintenance District) — adopted unanimously; Ordinance 2026‑05 (Business‑license distribution) — adopted unanimously; Resolution 4089 (2026–27 budget) — adopted unanimously; mural concept — approved by motion; companion resolutions on business/tourism partner funding were adopted as part of the budget package.

What’s next: Staff will return with RFP language for the strategic‑plan process, finalize the mural agreement with the Chamber (design, funding and maintenance terms) and implement the adopted budget; staff also plans to review downtown maintenance district procedures to reduce repetitive ordinance work.