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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2019)
LOCAL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019 THE OBSERVER — 5A SHELTER Continued from Page 1A Bryan Vance/Oregon Public Broadcasting A business-backed effort to get Oregon voters to reduce the costs of the state’s public pension system has quietly closed shop — at least for the 2020 election. PERS Continued from Page 1A As a result, he said, backers concluded it makes more sense to see how the fi nances of the system play out over the next several years — instead of trying to tackle the costs of the pen- sion system during a 2020 general election dominated by a high-intensity presi- dential election. How to solve the puzzle of PERS has been a hot topic in state politics repeatedly over the past two decades. Democratic Gov. Kate Brown last year defeated a Republican challenger, Knute Buehler, who wanted to make major cuts in PERS benefi ts. But she vowed to take action to reduce the rise in employer rates, which now average about 25% of payroll. Brown signed a measure, Senate Bill 1049, earlier this year that makes some modest benefi t reductions while also stretching out the time to pay off the unfunded pension liability. Without the bill, pension costs were projected to rise to about 29% of payroll, costing public agencies another billion dollars over the two-year budget cycle, Nesbitt said. Instead, employee rates are projected to stay about the same, particularly if this year’s stock market advances stick through the rest of the year. The pension system is heavily dependent on investment earnings, so the stronger the market, the more money generated to pay benefi ts. “The legislation seems well-designed to avert another round of increases which would devastate bud- gets” for schools and other services in the next several years, Nesbitt said. “We should give the legislation time to see how it works.” The withdrawal of the PERS initiatives pleased the public employee unions, which have bitterly opposed any reductions in worker benefi ts. FEES Continued from Page 1A “Revenues have remained fl at while costs for providing environmental health services have increased ap- proximately 5% a year,” according to a written report presented to the Union County Board of Commissioners. The proposed fee structure adjust- ment also would reduce the costs for some new restaurant owners. Pres- ently, anyone opening a restaurant in Union County must pay a full fee regardless of when the facility opens. CHD is requesting permission to LAWSUIT Continued from Page 1A Supreme Court said in Janus v. the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that requiring public sector workers to pay dues to a union when they didn’t want to be members is unconstitutional. The Freedom Foundation argues the unions are vio- lating the employees’ rights under the First Amendment by enforcing the “restric- tive language” in the cards union members sign when they sign up for the union, limiting the plaintiffs’ freedoms of speech and as- sociation. The plaintiffs claim the process is burdensome and confusing and can keep workers on the union’s mem- bership rolls much longer than they want to be. The lawsuit alleges the American Federation of Teachers requires its members to stay in the union for at least a year after joining and only allows them to resign their membership “I think it’s time for them to stop these corporate- backed attacks on hard- working public employees,” said Patty Wentz, a spokes- woman for the PERS Coalition, which represents several unions. She argued that attempts to cut pensions only make it harder to attract and retain talented teachers, fi refi ght- ers and other public employ- ees. And she said that voters made it clear when they rejected Buehler’s guberna- torial candidacy that they weren’t interested in cutting pensions. Nesbitt said his support- ers could return in later years for another attempt at initiative reform. He noted that the Oregon Supreme Court is considering the constitutionality of the PERS measure signed by Brown this year. The court’s decision could roll back some or all of the benefi t cut. And it will also provide more clarity on what benefi t changes it is willing to ac- cept. charge new restaurants that open after Oct. 1 only half of the annual restau- rant license fee. Brogoitti said this step might encourage restaurant owners to open their businesses late in the year instead of waiting for the start of the year to avoid paying a full fee. CHD’s public health administrator said the 15% fee increases proposed are important not only from a fi scal stability standpoint. She explained the Oregon Health Authority sets recom- mend fee standards for the services agencies such as the CHD provide. Brogoitti said agencies are expected to during the month of June. Claudia Strickland, a plaintiff in the suit, joined the union in November 2018, the lawsuit claims. Strickland notifi ed the union in July she wanted to stop being a member. But the union denied her request because she hadn’t been a member for at least a year. Under the union’s rules, she has to keep paying dues until June 2020. “So fi rst of all, it’s ex- tremely confusing,” said Rebekah Millard, a lawyer for the Freedom Foundation. “Second of all, they’re choos- ing to enforce it in the most onerous way possible.” Strickland, and another plaintiff, Linda Newton, who signed up after the Janus decision, weren’t informed of their right to decline joining the union in the fi rst place, Millard said. The other two plaintiffs joined in April, about three months before the Supreme Court’s deci- sion. Neither the AFT-Oregon nor the AFT Local 4671 could be reached for com- The business-backed measures prevented a variety of approaches to reducing costs. They include shifting new workers to 401(k)-style retirement plans and diverting some contributions to existing public employee retiree investment accounts toward paying the costs of the main pension plans, which guar- antee workers a set pension amount depending on their pay and years of service. One other pension- related measure has been fi led for the 2020 ballot. It’s sponsored by two former Republican state representatives — Julie Parrish of West Linn and Mark Johnson of Hood River — and Portland activist Kim Sordyl. Their measure would amend the state constitution to require future benefi ts for all public pensions to be paid without going into debt. The intent is to force public agencies to either lower their pension costs or to ensure they are paid without borrowing. be no more than 20% above below the target standards to be in compliance with OHA rules. Commissioner Donna Beverage said she wanted additional time to study the proposal and see how the Union County’s inspection fees compare with those of other counties in the region before the board votes on the request. The commission may vote on the fee in- crease proposal when it meets Dec. 18. Commissioner Matt Scarfo, citing a confl ict of interest because he owns two restaurants, recused himself from the discussion of the fee increase and will not vote on it. T O Y OUR H EALTH ment Thursday. The Freedom Founda- tion, headquartered in Olympia, Washington, is backing similar lawsuits in the region. And there are roughly 30-50 similar lawsuits across the country, Millard said. HEALTH CARE DIRECTORY CHIROPRACTIC La GRANDE AUTO REPAIR Joel D. Rice, M.D. Adult & Geriatric Psychiatry Mary Goldstein, LCSW www.lagrandeautorepair.com Individual & Relationship Counseling MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE Joe Horst SPECIALISTS BLUE MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATES, LLC 975-2000 Steve Eder, Licensed Psychologist, Associate Testing & Counseling Nancy Anderson, LPC Individual & Family Counseling Joel Goldstein, LCSW; M.Div. Jeff Harman, LPC Mediation Individual & Family Therapy Susan Hughes, LCSW Individual & Relationship Counseling ACDelcoTSS 1-541-962-0162 0267,1685$1&( $&&(37(' 'U7KRPDV'0LOOHU 13LQH/D*UDQGH $FURVVIURP1HZ)LUH6WDWLRQ Holiday Specials Homemade hot buttered rum beer flights: 1.75/flight 3 for $5 wine cellar sellections $20/bottle small plate specials cheese plate $8 bbq pork sliders $8 beef ribs $3/each DRUG & ALCOHOL PROGRAM GRANDE RONDE RECOVERY Outpatient • Detox Chemical Dependency Happy Hour Monday thru Friday 4-6 featured wine $5 pints $5 flights 541-963-8766 tendepotstreet.com 10106 N. ‘C’ • Island City Dr. Joel D. Rice, M.D. 541-962-0162 1501 6th St., La Grande An Independent Insurance Agency Reed & Associates for excellent service LOCALLY! Nicole Cathey community effort. This is a community opportunity to really take care of our people, all of our people, every part of our community. This is a community effort.” He said there is no doubt the community has an immediate need to address homelessness, but “ware- housing” the homeless at a shelter is not the answer. Rather, he said, the homeless need transitional housing and vocational training. Dozens joined Adelsberger in asking the council to uphold the appeal. Business owner Brent Clapp said this was not a case of “NIMBYism” — not in my back yard-ism — but about proper boundaries. Jeri Mackley, owner of the Maridell Center, said she is in favor of a shelter but questioned if the Third Street location was the right place because of its proxim- ity to downtown. And Bella owner Beverly Calder said while downtown is thriving, that is a fragile state, and the warming station presents a threat to downtown busi- ness “beyond what we can imagine.” Dozens also spoke out for Adelsberger’s appeal to be denied so the shelter could open. Vela headed up that front. “All you need to ask yourselves before you place your vote is did we go about the processes of fi ling for our permit correctly?” he told the county, answering, “Yes,” subsequently stating, “We met every single standard we were required to meet in order to obtain out permit.” Vela added the appeal supporters did not provide facts to back up their claims. Local attorney Bruce Ander- son built on that. He said the shelter decriers offered nothing more than a “parade of horribles,” or a list of all the outcomes that could go wrong if the shelter were to open on Third Street. He also said Oregon law allows a governing body to revoke a conditional use permit and shut down a place if it violates the permit. And La Grande Middle School student Mary Koltuv said she encountered homeless people daily without incident when she lived in New York City, and after moving here last year, her Girl Scout troop cooked chili for shelter guests. “I don’t know how we can be a considerate community,” she said, “if we can’t already open up a warming station that already has a plan up in front of us.” Warming Station board member Audrey Smith said the board did its due dili- gence in fi nding a building in the proper zone and that would not require major and costly construction. When it came time for the council to deliberate, Coun- cilor Jim Whitbeck said he did not see how the shelter would lead to more homeless people sleeping in business doorways. Councilor Mary Ann Miesner said she liked Adelsberger’s notion of a long-term solution but hadn’t heard compelling reasons to uphold the appeal. And Councilor Justin Rock said the vote was about rules and regulations, and the warm- ing station hit each one. After the 7-0 vote to deny the appeal, Clements said the city council and Union County government have been “woefully absent in this process,” and with the sup- port of the council, he would make the commitment to engage with the differing sides. “When I say that, I mean bringing the community toward a solution with this,” Clements said. He also said he would be “immensely grateful” if Adelsberger did not appeal the council’s decision to the state. Adelsberger gave no response. He also did not return a call Thursday seek- ing comment. City planner Mike Bo- quist said Adelsberger has 21 days to fi le an appeal with the state from the time the city notifi es him in writ- ing about the denial, and that could happen as soon as Friday. Vela speaking Thursday said the Union County Warming Station hopes Adelsberger does not appeal. That would mean a greater delay to opening, he said, and plumbers, electricians and other contractors already called him and said they are wiling to get to work as soon as they can to get the build- ing ready. But that work cannot begin until the 21 days pass without an appeal to LUBA. If Adelsberger does ap- peal, Vela said he hopes it happens sooner than later, and he believed Clements is sincere about working for a more comprehensive solution to local homelessness. 541-975-1364 Wellness Exams & Physicals Injections & Minor Procedures Men & Women's Health Pediatric Care NEW: • Same Day Appointments • Accepting New Patients • Extended Evening Hours • New Website 2011 4th St. La Grande • 541-963-4139 www.lagrandefamilymedicine.com Medicare, Auto, Home insurance and Annuities Toll Free 1-866-282-1925 www.reed-insurance.net Kevin Reed
