Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Astoria public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
5 issues in water utilities
LED streetlight conversion proposal
Pacific Power wants Astoria to convert roughly 700 street lights to LED, with incentives cutting the city's share to about $50,000 and saving around $25,000 a year — a two-to-three-year payback.
Emergency water and sewer repairs on Marine Drive
A collapsed sewer pipe at 6th Street and a February waterline break at 30th Street are getting permanent fixes before ODOT's ADA ramp work starts this fall. The waterline fix costs about double the original estimate.
Water and Sewer Rate Increase (4%)
Your water and sewer bill is going up 4% starting FY 2026-27 — roughly $7-8 more per month for a typical household. The money mostly keeps pace with operating costs; the city has no dedicated capital fund and about $250 million in unfunded infrastructure needs.
Stormwater utility formation study
Astoria has 35 miles of stormwater pipe but no dedicated funding source. The $74,025 study could lead to a new stormwater utility rate in FY 2027-28, phased in as CSO loans are paid off to limit ratepayer impact.
Sewage lift station rehabilitation grant
Three 1970s-era lift stations are finally getting rebuilt, and the state kicked in another $170,000 to help keep utility rates down.