City Manager Scott McClure won a vote of confidence from the Coos Bay City Council at its Tuesday night meeting.

”Our last evaluation was very positive,“ said Mayor Joe Benetti, giving a report on McClure's performance. ”We're very pleased with what he's accomplished in the short time he's been here.“

Benetti noted McClure, who started in December 2004, has had to work without a community services director and deal with seasoned councilors who each have different expectations of him.

McClure listened without comment as Cindi Miller said she echoed Benetti's report, adding ”I think he's going to be a really good city manager.“

Benetti's report followed a quick series of council votes awarding contracts for public works projects, repairing streets, a boat ramp and a section of Ocean Boulevard where a mudslide occurred.

All three votes on the contracts were unanimous, with City Councilor John Muenchrath absent.

The Empire Boat Ramp will get a new debris boom to prevent floating objects from bumping and damaging the ramp.

Lone bidder West Coast Contractors of Coos Bay was given a $99,913 contract to replace the wooden log boom with a polystyrene structure. The city is matching $15,200 of the Oregon State Marine Board grant for the boom.

City Operations Administrator Steve Doty said a second phase of the project - repaving the boat ramp parking lot - will be put out to bid next year. The city will not have to match funds for that part of the project, he added.

Johnson Rock Products of Coos Bay outbid two other companies for a $69,017 contract to repair parts of several streets, including D Street, Southwest Boulevard, Newmark Avenue and South Empire Boulevard.

Doty said the project, which includes 16 areas that need repaving, had to be contracted out because the city doesn't have the necessary staff or equipment to do it.

Johnson Williams Construction of Coquille was the only bidder for a contract to repair ground near Ocean Boulevard and 12th Terrace that slid two years ago during a heavy rain storm. Councilors approved the contractor's $43,060 bid.

Doty said a homeowner has granted access through his yard to the slide, which created a large hole behind his property. The slide area has not moved since December 2002.

Also Tuesday, Fire Chief Stan Gibson reported 425 people have registered for Saturday's disaster preparedness workshop at Southwestern Oregon Community College.