City Council Tackles COWS System Overhaul, Debates Tree Ordinance, and Reviews Financial Report

Moment of Silence and Public Comments

The Cannon Beach City Council meeting began with a moment of silence for a community member named Sam. Following this, the floor was opened to public comments. One resident, Richard, voiced concerns over the lack of communication within the city, particularly regarding the broken COWS (Community Outdoor Warning System) sirens. He suggested using utility bill stuffers to improve communication. He also mentioned the nuisance caused by elk in residential areas and asked for follow-up on a previous affordable housing meeting.

Another resident, Debbie Workman, thanked the council for addressing the COWS issue and emphasized the need for better communication, noting that many residents and business owners were unaware of the sirens' status. She suggested using multiple channels, including social media and community boards, to disseminate information.

Randy Jenkins, a new resident, echoed these concerns, highlighting that many people were still unaware of the COWS malfunction. He suggested a system where neighbors could notify each other in emergencies, especially for those without cell phones.

Andrew Tonnery criticized the proposed tree ordinance, arguing it was a solution looking for a problem. He expressed concerns about the financial burden it would place on families and suggested that the ordinance would ironically only allow wealthy individuals to build due to increased costs.

Elaine expressed her opposition to the tree ordinance, finding it overly complex and biased. She questioned the necessity of such stringent regulations and suggested that the city was overstepping by acting like a homeowners association.