With the Nov. 2 general election in the background, the city of Coos Bay will move forward with more than $560,000 in upgrades to its sewer system and will begin to establish a systems development charge reimbursing the city for hooking up new construction.

As one of its last actions before Tuesday's election, the Coos Bay City Council approved the drafting of a supplemental budget to allocate more than a half million dollars in 2003-2004 carry-over funds for several city-wide sewer projects.

Finance Director Jannel Howard said the city has slightly more than $1 million in carry-over funds from the prior fiscal year, due to unanticipated revenues, a rebate from Operations Management International - the city's wastewater contractors - a prior sewer-rate increase and savings due to cuts to the Community Services director's position.

Howard said about $210,000 of the carry-over is dedicated to help the city bridge the gap between the end of the fiscal year and November, when property taxes are collected, but the city has more than enough to budget for four major projects, including:

• the replacement of 600 feet of a pressurized sewer line beneath Coalbank Slough, carrying wastewater from Eastside and Bunker Hill. The line is shared by the city and the Bunker Hill Sanitary District, although 69 percent of its flows belong to Coos Bay. The city's share of the cost for the replacement is estimated at $297,000. The Bunker Hill district has applied for the permits and is undertaking engineering and environmental studies. The replacement is expected to begin next summer.

• redirecting a storm water line between North Main and Morrison streets at Harris Street. Two existing city storm water outfalls drain onto private property. The owner has told the city he intends to fill and develop the parcel and needs to have the outfall redirected. The project is estimated to cost $37,000.

• the replacement of 250 feet of sewer line dating to 1905, on Alder Street from North Second Street to North Broadway. The city said the pipe has a history of problems, including spills at manholes and structural failures. The project is estimated to cost $86,000.

• repairs on a storm water line outfall at the end of Market Street. The project is estimated to cost $17,320.

Drafting the supplement budget will help the council establish a future systems development charge to allow the city to charge new construction for hooking up to the wastewater system. In September, the city contracted with the Dyer Partnership to create a storm water master plan for the central portion of Coos Bay. The plan includes a study of the watershed basin and the proposed pump stations.

In other action the city:

• awarded outgoing Councilor Anna Marie Larson a plaque honoring her four years of service on the City Council. Larson was elected to the council in 2000 and chose not to run for a second term. She followed in the footsteps of her husband, Ralph Larson, who also served on the council and as mayor of Coos Bay.

"It's a great honor to receive this plaque in honor of Ralph," she said. "This was all his idea. It has been an honor and a privilege."

Larson, who often had been at odds with the council in casting the sole dissenting votes to numerous actions, teared up as she was honored for her service.

"This community should have a lot of thanks to say to the Larsons," said Councilor Roger Gould. "Thank you for all you've done and thank you for having been on the council."

Larson's position will be filled by Dr. John Muenchrath, who was elected on Nov. 2 after receiving nearly 25 percent of the Coos Bay vote, split between five candidates.

•  the council also honored City Manager Chuck Knight, who presided over his last meeting. A former Coos Bay Police Chief, Knight began his career with the city more than 38 years ago. He retired from that position about 18 months ago and was asked to serve as interim city manager after the resignation of former City Manager Bill Grile.

"The words grace and wisdom really apply," Councilor Jeff McKeown said. "We were lucky to have you."

Knight responded in likeness, thanking the council and complimenting the group for its progress through a turbulent city period.

"This group collectively is absolutely the best I've worked with," he said.

The city appointed Finance Director Janell Howard interim city manager. Scott McClure, a former city administrator for the city of Brush!, Colo., was recently hired for the permanent role and is scheduled to begin work on Nov. 15.

•  authorized the Coos Bay Police Department to purchase four new Ford Crown Victoria squad cars. The city budgeted $110,000 in the major capital reserve fund for the purchase. The city typically replaces its older police vehicles on an annual basis but interrupted the schedule in 2003 due to budget struggles. The total cost for the four vehicles is approximately $115,085. Chief Eura Washburn said the department budgeted the additional $5,085 in its minor capital reserve fund for vehicles. The city will buy the vehicles directly through h the state's Administrative Services Purchasing Division, which eliminates the need to go through a bid process.