Cannon Beach City Council sets court date, gets update on city hall, police station

Published 12:21 pm Friday, December 12, 2025

The Cannon Beach City Council on Tuesday navigated a packed agenda that included construction updates, committee appointments and more.

Referring to an appeal filed by resident Michael Shelton, the council voted to continue the hearing into next spring to meet the city’s 180-day appeal requirements. The public hearing concerns Shelton’s challenge to the city’s approval of a development permit for property at 231 E. Monroe St. The permit had previously been approved.

Before taking action on the appeal, the council reviewed jurisdictional questions, asking whether any councilor had personal bias, a conflict of interest, or had made a site visit. No issues were raised.

The council then voted unanimously to continue the hearing to May 5, 2026, giving Shelton, staff, and the applicant time to assemble and complete records before testimony begins.

Construction updates: City hall and police station

Earlier in the meeting, the project team for the new city hall and police station delivered progress reports, describing both buildings as approaching critical stages of construction.

Leslie Jones, associate architect at CIDA Architects and Engineers, briefed the council on the city hall project’s progress. Jones said the building’s design incorporates four architectural themes — hearth, roof, enclosure, and mound — to acknowledge the site’s history as a former logging facility.

As of November, the project was approximately 40% complete. The project broke ground on April 15 and is estimated to be finished in August 2026.

The total construction cost for the new city hall is $14,106,276, and $11,314,258 for the new police station. The cost of the police station showed an increase tied to an unexpected sewer line replacement under Highway 101.

Jones said the police station is farther along than the city hall, with interior finishes underway and cedar shingles being installed on the exterior. Completion for the police station is expected in May 2026.

The Cannon Beach City Council is scheduled to meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Chamber of Commerce, Steidel Community Hall, 207 N. Spruce St.