Ocean Shores meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Ocean Shores Lodging Tax Committee Approves $129,250 in Reimbursements

Ocean Shores' Lodging Tax Advisory Committee approved $129,250 in reimbursement requests at its Aug. 5 meeting, the only confirmed decision from the past week's meetings. The City Council held a first reading on a cannabis ordinance and a budget study session, but minutes have not yet been published.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee

The committee approved reimbursement requests for 2025 and 2026 funding totaling $129,250. It also received reports from several grant recipients. Grays Harbor Youth Athletics reported $26,275.28 in expenses and 94 out-of-town attendees. Reports were also presented from the Sand and Sawdust Festival, North Beach Community TV, and the Master Gardeners Garden Tour. The meeting was informational and procedural; no other formal decisions were listed. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the Ocean Shores Library Meeting Room.

City Council

The council held a regular meeting July 28, where it took up the first reading of an ordinance amending Municipal Code Chapter 5.10. The ordinance would update terminology from "marijuana" to "cannabis" and remove the local cap on cannabis retail licensees to comply with state law. The agenda also included the mayor's reappointment of Mike McGregor and Bob Krueger to the Civil Service Commission, subject to council consensus. The consent agenda included approval of July 14 meeting minutes and claims. Committee reports from Finance, Public Safety, and Public Works were also listed.

The council held a study session Aug. 1 to review the 2027 budget calendar, financial best practices, and budget development policies. The agenda included a review of Resolution 860, which would set financial best practices and reserve policies, as well as a discussion of the 2027 Budget Book example and a council survey on budget priorities. No decisions were recorded.

Several board and committee vacancies were noted at the July 28 meeting: twelve on the Ethics Committee, three on the Radio Board, two on the Building Code Board of Appeals, two on the Civil Service Commission, one on the Parks Board, and one on the Planning Commission.

Cancellations

The Ocean Shores Radio Board meeting scheduled for July 28 was canceled. No business was conducted.

Coming up

The City Council will hold a regular meeting Aug. 11. The agenda includes a request to authorize Aetta Architects to prepare a USDA Preliminary Architectural Feasibility Report (PAFR). The mayor is also set to reappoint Darrell Prowse to the Radio Board and appoint Councilmembers Dooley, Wills, and Cline to the Annual Salary Review Ad Hoc committee. The Library Board will provide an update from Library Director Keitha Owen and Board Member Gail Johnston. The meeting will also address four vacancies on the Ethics Committee, three on the Radio Board, and two on the Building Code Board of Appeals.

Ocean Shores council takes up cannabis license cap, 2027 budget process in busy week

Ocean Shores City Council had a full schedule the week of July 28, 2026, with a regular meeting, a budget study session, and a canceled Radio Board meeting. Because minutes have not yet been published for the council meetings, the items below reflect what was on the agendas; final outcomes are not yet confirmed in the public record.

Cannabis retail license cap on the agenda

The July 28 regular City Council meeting included a first reading of an ordinance amending Municipal Code Chapter 5.10. The proposed change would update terminology from "marijuana" to "cannabis" and remove the local cap on the number of cannabis retail licensees, described as a step to comply with state law. A first reading is a preliminary step; no final vote was recorded in the available agenda materials.

The same agenda listed the mayor's planned reappointment of Mike McGregor and Bob Krueger to the Civil Service Commission, subject to council consensus. The consent agenda included approval of the July 14, 2026 meeting minutes and approval of claims. Committee reports from the Finance, Public Safety, and Public Works standing committees were also scheduled.

The agenda noted multiple board and commission vacancies: 12 on the Ethics Committee, three on the Radio Board, two on the Building Code Board of Appeals, two on the Civil Service Commission, one on the Parks Board, and one on the Planning Commission.

2027 budget process reviewed in study session

On August 1, the council held a study session on the 2027 budget process, led by Mayor Pro Tem Denise Siers and Finance Director Sara D. Logan. The agenda covered the 2027 Budget Development Calendar with key deadlines, adoption of Resolution 860 setting financial best practices and reserve policies, a review of a 2027 Budget Book example and budget commitment/grant match overview, a review of the prior priorities list from May 2, 2026, and a council survey on budget priorities.

Because this was a study session and minutes are not yet published, the available record does not confirm which items were formally adopted versus discussed.

Radio Board meeting canceled

The Ocean Shores Radio Board regular meeting scheduled for July 28, 2026, was canceled. No business was conducted or discussed.

Coming up

• **Lodging Tax Advisory Committee — August 5, 2026.** The committee will review reimbursement requests for 2025 and 2026 funding totaling $129,250 and receive reports from Grays Harbor Youth Athletics ($26,275.28 in expenses, 94 out-of-town attendees), the Sand and Sawdust Festival, North Beach Community TV, and the Master Gardeners Garden Tour. The agenda describes the meeting as primarily informational and procedural, with no formal decisions listed. A future meeting is scheduled for October 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in the Ocean Shores Library Meeting Room.

All recent council meeting details are drawn from agendas; official minutes have not yet been published. Readers can consult the city's official agenda and minutes records for confirmed outcomes.

Ocean Shores council set to weigh USDA loan for City Hall/Police building; Finance Committee reviews $31.76M in city funds

Ocean Shores officials have a packed late-June schedule, with a special City Council meeting slated to consider a USDA loan for a new City Hall and Police building and the Finance Committee reviewing a May financial report showing $31.76 million in total city cash and investments. The regular June 23 City Council meeting was canceled, and no business was conducted.

All meetings below are listed as agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. Items reflect what was scheduled for discussion or action, not confirmed outcomes.

Special City Council Meeting — June 30

The council was scheduled to consider authorizing a USDA loan to fund the purchase and construction of a new City Hall and Police building. The agenda also included adopting revised City Council Guidelines and Procedures, establishing reinspection trip fees for transient accommodations, and approving the purchase of a South Fire Station EMS Communication System. Patrick Wendlandt was slated for appointment to the Radio Board.

Finance Committee Meeting — June 25

The committee was set to receive the May 2026 Financial Update, which reports total citywide cash and investments of $31.76 million as of May 2026. The report lists General Fund revenues at $16.40 million, or 64% of budget, and expenditures at $17.96 million, or 66.37% of budget.

Revenue trends flagged in the report include a 4% year-over-year drop in sales tax and a 24% drop in building permit revenues. On the expenditure side, the police department was reported at 72.85% of budget and planning at 91.59%. The committee was also scheduled to discuss financial best practices and certify the budget calendar for the upcoming fiscal year.

Radio Board Meeting — June 23

The Radio Board agenda included discussion of the existing radio tower contract, which expires in 2028, and exploration of using a shorter city-owned tower near the police station. Other items were a studio carpet cleaning update, board vacancies with applicants being sought, financial reports for review, and a 10-minute civic engagement discussion. Public comment was scheduled.

City Council Meeting — June 23 (Canceled)

The regularly scheduled City Council meeting on June 23, 2026, was canceled. No business was conducted.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should watch for posted agendas and any rescheduled dates, particularly follow-up on the USDA loan item and the Finance Committee's budget calendar certification, both of which were on late-June agendas with minutes not yet published.

Council Agenda Included USDA Loan for City Hall/Police Building; Finance Report Shows Revenue Dips

Ocean Shores government meetings in late June saw a major facilities project, mixed financial trends, and a canceled regular council session. A special City Council meeting agenda featured a vote on a USDA loan for a new City Hall and Police building, while the Finance Committee reviewed a report showing declines in sales tax and building permit revenues alongside a strong overall cash position.

Special City Council Meeting (June 30)

The City Council was set to convene for a special meeting with several action items, according to the published agenda. The most significant was authorization of a USDA loan to fund the purchase and construction of a new City Hall and Police building. No details on the loan amount or terms were included in the agenda.

Other items listed for votes included:

• Adoption of revised City Council Guidelines and Procedures.
• Establishment of reinspection trip fees for transient accommodations.
• Approval of a purchase for a South Fire Station EMS Communication System.
• Appointment of Patrick Wendlandt to the Radio Board.

Minutes of the meeting were not yet available, so official outcomes remain unpublished.

Finance Committee (June 25)

The Finance Committee reviewed the city’s May 2026 Financial Update, which showed total cash and investments of $31.76 million. General Fund revenues stood at $16.40 million, or 64% of the annual budget, while expenditures were $17.96 million, or 66.37% of budgeted spending.

The report highlighted year-over-year declines: sales tax revenue dropped 4%, and building permit revenues fell 24%. Certain departmental spending ran ahead of the year’s pace, with police department expenditures at 72.85% of budget and planning department at 91.59%.

The committee also discussed financial best practices and certification of the budget calendar for the next fiscal year.

Radio Board (June 23)

The Ocean Shores Radio Board met to discuss the existing radio tower contract, which expires in 2028, and the possibility of relocating operations to a shorter, city-owned tower near the police station. The agenda also included an update on studio carpet cleaning, outreach to fill board vacancies, review of financial reports, and a 10-minute civic engagement discussion.

Canceled Meeting

The regular City Council meeting originally scheduled for June 23 was canceled. No business was conducted.

Coming Up

As of July 5, no government meetings were listed on the public calendar for the next two weeks.