Local Government
Formal CBEMP updates and implementation occur at the local level, across Coos County, the City of Coos Bay, and the City of North Bend.
Coos County
Coos County serves as the lead administrative agency for maintaining the master CBEMP document, meaning the Community Development Department and Planning Director are tasked with keeping the plan on file, hosting it on the county website, and distributing public notices.
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The Planning Director directly oversees and coordinates the CBEMP and all subsequent plan updates, actively attending committee meetings and serving as a vital content expert across the Joint Steering Committee, Citizen Advisory Committee, and Technical Advisory Committee. When a citizen or jurisdiction initiates a plan amendment, county planning staff receive the application and must forward it to all advisory committees, partner cities, and affected tribal nations within five business days. Staff then organize a coordinated pre-application meeting within 30 days, file the formal Post-Acknowledgment Plan Amendment (PAPA) notice, and ultimately help the Board of Commissioners select the seven members who comprise the Citizen Advisory Committee.
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The Coos County Board of Commissioners acts as the final legislative decision-maker, holding at least two formal public hearings to gather testimony before voting to adopt plan revisions or final amendments via local ordinance. The Board also retains structural oversight over the process by issuing formal appointment orders for all members of the Joint Steering Committee.
Cities of Coos Bay and North Bend
The Cities of Coos Bay and North Bend act as joint collaborative partners, endorsing the estuarine uses within their boundaries and adopting the relevant portions of the CBEMP by reference into their respective municipal codes. Local city planning staff provide distinct perspectives from their municipalities, collaborate on jurisdictional plan amendments, and serve directly on the Steering Committee. Before an amendment reaches the county for a final vote, the city councils and planning commissions join the county in multi-jurisdictional work sessions.
City Council
The City Councils of Coos Bay and North Bend review the draft changes and issue formal recommendations for approval, denial, or conditioned approval to guide the final report. The city councils also coordinate with the County Board of Commissioners to adopt jurisdictional agreements, aligning on the contents of the CBEMP and any necessary implementation requirements.
Tribal Nations
Tribal Sovereigns are formally integrated into this local government planning framework to ensure co-management and protection of cultural resources. Under the current structure, each Tribal Council coordinates directly with local government by submitting an appointment order to seat a designated Tribal representative on the Coos Estuary Joint Steering Committee and on the Citizen Advisory Committee.
Whenever a site plan application involves potential excavation or development near historical and archaeological resources, the local government must notify the Tribes within three working days, granting them a 30-day window to mandate appropriate protective measures or mitigation.