Lincoln City, OR – In a swift 50-minute special meeting Monday night, the Lincoln City Council voted 6-0 to let a December 5 deadline from drone-show vendor Sky Elements pass without signing a contract, effectively ruling out a drone show for Independence Day 2026 with that company.

WATCH THE MEETING

Councilor Marci Baker made the motion to “forsake the contract with Sky Elements and allow the deadline to pass.” Newcomer Councilor Nicole Petersen seconded. All present councilors (Todd Barker was absent due to illness) voted yes.

The decision came after pointed public testimony criticizing last summer’s drone show and calling for a return to traditional fireworks after a multi-year hiatus.

Strong Public Pushback on Drones

Several residents, including members of the Hilltop Patriots group and longtime local contractor Jim Hoover, told the Council that the 2025 drone show had hurt tourism.

Hoover, who said he hadn’t addressed Council in six years, recounted a friend who has visited Lincoln City for decades declaring he would not return for the 4th of July after experiencing the drone show. Hoover warned the city would lose significant Transient Room Tax revenue and questioned why no town hall had been held to gauge public sentiment on drones versus fireworks.

Another speaker, Dianna Olsen, said her family found the drone show “boring” and argued that 2026 — the nation’s 250th anniversary — demands a patriotic celebration with fireworks. Caroline Nguyen read concerns about a Sky Elements operator-error incident in Florida that injured a child and stressed the need for broader public input.

Councilor Rick Mark (Ward 3) openly stated, “For the record, I was also disappointed in the drone show last year.”

“This Is One Business’s Deadline”

Councilors emphasized the narrow scope of the meeting: deciding only whether to lock in Sky Elements for 2026, not ruling out drone shows from other vendors or fireworks altogether.

Councilor Riley Hoagland clarified, “This is one business’s deadline,” noting the decision does not preclude exploring other drone providers.

Kim Cooper Findling, Executive Director of Explore Lincoln City, explained that Sky Elements had informed the city a couple of weeks ago — via email with City Manager Pro Tem Daniel Hunter and herself — that December 5 was a hard cutoff for their last available Independence Day weekend slot.

Costs for a 2026 Sky Elements show ranged from $50,000 (200 drones on July 3) to $105,000 (300 drones on July 4), with a 50% non-refundable deposit required immediately.

Fireworks Permitting Challenges Highlighted

Cooper Findling told Council that staff has not yet engaged any fireworks companies for 2026. She outlined significant hurdles at the traditional Salishan Spit launch site, including:

• Returning nesting snowy plovers (a federally listed threatened species)
• Harbor seals and other nesting birds
• Proximity (1,000 feet) to the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge

She described the spit as “an area of high concern” and said the permitting process has become far more complex since the city last hosted fireworks.

Alternative sites mentioned included a possible partnership with Chinook Winds Casino, collaboration with the Devils Lake fireworks show (already planned for July 3, 2026), or other locations, though anything on the beach would also require permits.

Frustration Over Process

Several councilors expressed discomfort with how the special meeting was noticed. The agenda stated “This is a special meeting and generally does NOT include public comment,” yet public comment was ultimately allowed.

Councilor Kevin Hohnbaum (Ward 3) called the meeting “scheduled under false pretenses” and said he was “a little ticked off at the process,” arguing the gathering could have served as the promised public forum had it been properly advertised.

Councilor Hoagland personally apologized for the confusing agenda language, calling it an “oops moment” and saying the entire Council would have welcomed public comment.

Mayor Susan Wahlke and Councilor Mark insisted there was nothing “nefarious” about the agenda wording and thanked residents who showed up on short notice.

What’s Next

Mayor Wahlke confirmed a Town Hall for the 2026 Independence Day celebration will be scheduled for January. Council directed staff to immediately begin researching viable  launch sites and permitting requirements so options can be presented at that forum.

In the meantime, residents can expect fireworks over Devils Lake on July 3, 2026, by the Devils Lake Neighborhood Association.

For now, Lincoln City’s 2026 Fourth of July plans remain wide open — but the clear message from both the public and Council Monday night was that drones, at least from Sky Elements, are off the table.