History of Dunes City

In a 1957-58 Pacific Coast Recreation Area Survey, the National Park Service (NPS) initiated plans to incorporate a large area for preservation as the Oregon Dunes National Seashore. Various lands were previously acquired by the NPS in the United States for similar purposes. Some of these properties could not be purchased at a “reasonable price” from their owners. Therefore, the properties were condemned and acquired by the government anyway through eminent domain laws at prices set by the government and the property owners lost what they believed was the real value of their property. Residents of Dunes City sought to avoid this by incorporating and becoming a fully functioning municipality.

Dunes City was formally organized in August 1963. The town’s first meeting took place in the Woahink Lake home of Doctor E.S. Stong and in addition to Dr. Stong, the first Council members present were Phil Himmel (first Mayor), Martin Christensen, Ray Riesenhuber and Clair Hammond.

The first order of business brought before the new city was the appointment of a municipal judge, Bill Grenbremer, and the first ordinance passed concerned the construction of new houses and subdivisions within the city boundaries. A rather challenging problem for this new council was the Oregon state law which required all cities to adopt a budget before any spending could take place. No revenues could be collected until the following July when liquor and gas taxes would become available, so residents dedicated to the formation of Dunes City contributed the initial funds required for operations and this formed the basis for the City’s first budget. Initially there was a five person Budget Committee comprised. David Dier, Bernie LaForge, Ray Smith, Ted Simmoneau, and Bob Merz. Their initial budget required a vote of approval by the residents of Dunes City before any money could be spent so it is no surprise that Mayor Himmel was busy soliciting pledges of support from local residents.

Martin Christensen headed the Council’s Census Committee, which was charged with the responsibility of counting the Dunes City population. A census was required for the calculation and receipt of gas tax and liquor license revenues. This effort was vital to future Dunes City budgets and funding.

There were many challenges facing this fledgling city. Decisions would be required regarding sanitation and building codes, completion of census data, zoning, lawsuits, personnel, roads and police requirements. To help guide the Dunes City Council through it’s infancy, John Luvaas was employed as the first City Attorney.

More detailed information is available about these issues in a special scrapbook, which was assembled by local historians and is maintained at the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum in their library archives. Of special interest is a copy of the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service Question and Answer survey, which was created to answer questions regarding the government’s future proposed use and preservation plans for the Dunes Seashore Area.