CBEMP Special Interest Groups
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Steering Committee
Steering Committee provides overall direction and coordination for land use planning efforts, such as updates to the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan.
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Citizen Advisory Committee
Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) provides a formal way for community members to participate in Oregon’s land use planning process.
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Technical Advisory Committee
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) provides scientific, regulatory, and professional expertise to support land use planning and policy updates.
Steering Committee
Steering Committee provides overall direction and coordination for land use planning efforts, such as updates to the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan.
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City of Coos Bay: Chelsea Schabel
North Bend: Vacant
Port of Coos Bay: Vacant
Coquille Tribe: John Ogan
Confederated Tribes: Courtney Krossman
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The Coos Estuary Steering Committee serves a vital role as a dedicated planning committee responsible for the ongoing and structured maintenance of the CBEMP.
Shared responsibility: The Plan is a joint obligation of all three jurisdictions, each with land use authority and regulatory responsibilities within the estuary and shorelands.
Regular review: The Plan requires periodic, comprehensive reviews to stay aligned with the most up-to-date science, data, and community needs.
Predictability: A coordinated plan provides clarity and certainty for conservation, development, and regulatory activities.
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Citizen Advisory Committee
Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) provides a formal way for community members to participate in Oregon’s land use planning process.
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Confederated Tribal representative for the Citizen Advisory Committee: Courtney Krossman
Coquille Tribal representative for the Citizen Advisory Committee: Vacant
Coos County Citizen Advisory Committee At Large: Rick Osborn
City of Coos Bay Advisory Committee At Large: Jamie Fereday
City of North Bend Advisory Committee At Large: Ken Bonetti
Maritime Industrial Background: Pat Goll
Commercial or Sport Fishing Background : Vacant
Aquaculture or Seafood Processing Background: Steven Miller
Public Health or Social Services Background: Emily Reinig
Recreational or Tourism Background: Michael Graybill
Local Business Background: Darrel Smith
Citizen with Environmental Interest: Ashley Audycki
Citizen from Priority Population: Vacant
Citizen with an Environmental or Conservation Background: Christine Moffitt
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The CAG serves in an advisory capacity to the Steering Committee. This group plays a vital role in ensuring broad public engagement throughout the estuary plan update process. By representing a cross-section of community members, civic organizations, property owners, cultural interests, and business stakeholders, the CAG provides valuable local knowledge and perspective.
Its responsibilities include:
Reviewing draft materials and proposals before they move forward to the Steering Committee.
Acting as a conduit for community concerns, ideas, and values.
Ensuring transparency and accountability by keeping the process open and accessible to the public.
The Citizen Advisory Group does not carry direct financial obligations for the local governments. Instead, it is designed to be self-supporting and collaborative, with members volunteering their time and expertise to strengthen the planning process. This structure helps ensure that the CBEMP remains a community-driven plan, while the Steering Committee retains responsibility for final direction and coordination among the three jurisdictions.
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Technical Advisory Committee
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) provides scientific, regulatory, and professional expertise to support land use planning and policy updates.
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Marine Economist/Blue Economy Expert: Vacant
Port and Shipping Specialist: Vacant
Recreational and Tourism Planner: Michael Graybill
Cultural Heritage Expert/Anthropologist: Vacant
Historian: Vacant
Environmental Conservationist: Kyle Motley
Coastal Engineer: Susan Foreman
Marine Biologist: Shon Schooler
Sociologist: Vacant
Recreational Fisheries Expert: Chris Clair
Watershed Specialist: Haley Lutz
Water Quality Specialist: Melissa Cribbins
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The TAC serves as a companion body to the Citizen Advisory Group, providing specialized expertise and scientific input to the Steering Committee. While the Citizen Advisory Group represents the public’s values and concerns, the TAC ensures that decisions are grounded in sound science, regulatory compliance, and best management practices.
Its responsibilities include:
Reviewing technical studies, scientific data, and regulatory requirements relevant to estuary and shoreland management.
Advising on issues such as water quality, habitat conservation, navigation, fisheries, shoreline stabilization, and climate resilience.
Coordinating input from state and federal agencies, resource scientists, and other professionals with specialized knowledge.
Assisting the Steering Committee in evaluating whether proposed updates are consistent with state and federal mandates, including Oregon’s statewide planning goals and the Oregon Coastal Management Program.
Like the Citizen Advisory Group, the TAC is not intended to impose a financial burden on any single local government. Instead, it is self-supporting, relying on participation from agency staff, academic institutions, and technical experts who contribute their knowledge as part of their professional roles or organizational missions.
By incorporating technical expertise into the planning process, the TAC helps ensure that updates to the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan are scientifically defensible, legally compliant, and environmentally sustainable, while still reflecting the economic and community priorities identified by the public.
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Apply for a Vacant Position
If you're interested in serving on a committee, please complete the form. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.