The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current, December 28, 2015, Image 10

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The daily Astorian., December 28, 2015, Image 10

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Newspaper Page Text10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2015 Neighbors: Astoria hasn’t had Two decisions a parks Paster plan since 1 will help shape Continued from Page 1A Sisson is a graduate of Il- linois Institute of Technology with a degree in architecture. He worked for the past two years in urban planning and design for a landscape architec- ture ¿ rP. He applied for the RARE prograP to get into proMect PanagePent and was placed with the city of Astoria Parks and Recreation 'epartPent where he is helping develop a parks Paster plan giving hiP a chance to lead a proMect. There has not been a parks Paster plan in Astoria since . The departPent is col- lecting input through coPPu- nity workshops and an online survey open on the city’s web- site until Jan. 1. The departPent is looking at how people use the parks what the parks’ shortcoPings are and what opportunities are available. Sisson is working with a Pay- or-appointed citizen advisory coPPittee to create recoPPen- dations for the Paster plan and set criteria for prioritizing those recoPPendations. “There is going to be a lot coPing out of this´ Sisson said. “This should be a really good thing for the departPent and for the city.´ Bijan Fayyaz (left) and Ian Sisson came to the North Coast this fall through Resource Assistance for Rural Environ- ments (RARE), a division of AmeriCorps that operates through the University of Oregon. Kyle Spurr The Daily Astorian Fayyaz recently graduated froP Florida State 8niversi- ty with a bachelor’s degree in econoPics and planning. He is also certi¿ ed in ePergency PanagePent and hoPeland security. Through RARE Fayyaz will spend his tiPe working with &latsop &ounty EPergen- cy 0anagePent helping with ePergency planning and facil- itating new proMects. His focus is on getting high school students involved in &oPPunity EPergency Re- sponse TeaPs known as Teen CERT. “We are trying to have each high school have their own unit´ Fayyaz said. “In the event of a disaster there are bene¿ ts to having a group in every school.´ Fayyaz and Sisson have also both attended training sessions in Cascade Locks and Rose- burg with the other RARE vol- unteers. Neither Fayyaz or Sisson have spent tiPe in 2regon be- fore Moining RARE. They said it has been a change of pace coPing froP large Petro areas. Working in a sPaller area has allow theP to feel Pore a part of the coPPunity. They can see the iPpacts of their work ¿ rst- hand. “It’s really neat seeing how Puch the coPPunity leaders are a part of the coPPunity´ Fayyaz said. “SoPe of the plac- es I’ve lived there is a distance in the leadership. Here it’s peo- ple engaged in the neighbor- hoods and their own town and they care.´ Year ahead: %rown unlikely to face forPidable coPpetition in election Continued from Page 1A Conceptually the bill would raise the PiniPuP Post in the Portland region where housing costs have skyrocket- ed. A Piddle-level PiniPuP would take effect in Pid-size cities such as Ashland %end and Eugene while the low- est PiniPuP would apply to less -populated coastal and ru- ral coPPunities. CorSorate ta[ ¿ ght A union-backed ta[ Pea- sure planned for the NovePber 2016 ballot would require cer- tain corporations to pay a 2.5 percent ta[ on sales in 2regon greater than 25 Pillion. EconoPists in the Legisla- tive Revenue 2f¿ ce have al- ready proMected the corporate sales tax would raise an addi- tional $2.65 billion annually for the state. State Sen. 0ark Hass '-%eaverton said he’s heard businesses could spend as Puch as $0 Pillion to ¿ ght the tax Peasure and support- ers could spend a siPilarly large aPount. “You’re going to have two Ponths of nasty business on T9 and social Pedia´ Hass said back in NovePber. “And out of that a very toxic atPo- sphere.´ Hass hoped to bring togeth- er the governor lawPakers supporters and opponents of the tax to broker an alterna- tive revenue Peasure which the Legislature could pass in 2016. So far he hasn’t had Puch luck and the outlook for alternative revenue legislation is not good. “We Must need soPe people to coPe to the center´ Hass said on Dec. 22. PERS shortfall 2regon’s unfunded pub- lic pension liability roughly doubled this fall under newly updated actuarial proMections. That Peans the pension fund is now $18 billion short of the Poney it is supposed to pay retired school teachers state workers and other public eP- ployees. The increase is partly due to a decision in April by the 2regon SuprePe Court which struck down a portion of the pension reforPs which the Legislature passed in 201 to triP costs. The state is also paying out Pore because re- tirees are living longer and the pension fund’s investPent returns have fallen short of ex- pectations since 2014. *ov. .ate %rown and leg- islative leaders haven’t given any indication that they plan to tackle the shortfall in 2016. Kate Brown Michael Dembrow %ut they won’t be able to avoid the issue when the pen- sion systeP governing board sets the 2017-2019 contribu- tion rates at the end of Sep- tePber. %y then election caP- paigns will be in full swing for governor and legislative seats across the state. If lawPakers and the gov- ernor put off working on the issue until 2017 they will only have a few Ponths to agree on solutions during that legis- lative session before schools and other governPents are forced to pay Pore starting in July 2017. Interest groups plan to begin haPPering out poten- tial solutions behind the scenes in 2016 for the governor and Legislature to take up the fol- lowing year. )uel standard ¿ ght 2regon’s low-carbon fuel standard which the Legisla- ture Pade perPanent in 2015 takes effect in January. However the 2regon En- vironPental 4uality CoPPis- sion recently voted to delay en- forcePent of the standard until 2018 and opponents of the law have ¿ led three proposed bal- lot Peasures to weaken or re- peal it in NovePber. %rown and lawPakers are closely following the ¿ ght because the outcoPe could iPpact the Legislature’s ability to pass a funding bill in 2017 to pay for the state’s backlog of highway bridge transit and other transportation work. Republicans refused in 2015 to vote for a gas tax in- crease to pay for transportation proMects unless DePocrats agreed to repeal the fuel stan- dard. The law calls for gasoline and diesel iPporters and pro- ducers to reduce the total car- bon ePissions froP the fuels by up to 10 percent over the next decade. Power battles %rown is unlikely to attract any forPidable coPpetition during the 2016 election ac- cording to political analysts. “The chance of dark horse candidate in the gubernatorial races is zero´ said JiP 0oore politics professor at Paci¿ c Sara Gelser 8niversity and director of the ToP 0cCall Center for Policy Innovation. %ut soPe House and Sen- ate races could tip the scales of power in SaleP 0oore said. Races to watch are in dis- tricts that have traditionally swung between DePocrat and Republican victories in the past few election cycles espe- cially seats where incuPbents Pight decide against seeking re-election he said. 2ne exaPple is District 40 where Rep. %rent %arton D-ClackaPas County has de- cided against seeking re-elec- tion. So far one DePocrat real estate executive 0ark 0eek and no Republicans or Inde- pendents have ¿ led for that election according to the Sec- retary of State’s elections data- base. 2ther potentially interest- ing races District 0 held by Rep. Joe *allegos D-Hills- boro; District 20 held by Rep. Paul Evans D-0onPouth; District 29 held by Rep. Su- san 0cLain D-Forest *rove; District 25 held by Rep. %ill Post R-.eizer; District 51 held by ShePia Fagan D-ClackaPas; and District 52 held by Rep. 0ark Johnson R-Hood River. “The 2regon Senate is a Puch Pore sedate place for elections but the swing of Must three districts puts the Senate in a 15-15 tie for 2017´ he said. Child welfare LawPakers plan to take up legislation in 2016 to address soPe of the problePs in the state’s child welfare systeP revealed in stories about the Portland foster care prograP *ive 8s This Day and other service providers. State Sen. Sara *elser D-Corvallis has proposed legislation to tighten licens- ing and ¿ nancial regulations on providers and change how the state handles abuse and neglect allegations. %rown also ordered an outside review of the DepartPent of HuPan Services and the consultant’s ¿ ndings ² along with recoP- Pendations froP a new task force appointed by the gover- Mark Hass Jim Moore nor ² could result in addition- al legislation in 2016. Overhaul or scrap DOE After years of news reports about problePs at the 2re- gon DepartPent of Energy DePocratic legislative leaders announced in early DeceP- ber that they will explore in 2016 whether the agency can be ¿ xed or is beyond repair. A newly forPed bipartisan coP- Pittee will look into problePs at the agency and issue recoP- Pendations and legislation for the full Legislature to take up in 2017. In June the E2 0edia *roupPaPplin 0edia *roup Capital %ureau reported that DepartPent of Energy eP- ployees quietly stopped en- forcing state price regulations on tax credits intended to in- centivize renewable energy and ef¿ ciency proMects. The bureau also reported that 2regon DepartPent of Revenue Director JiP %ucholz told auditors in 2012 to ignore problePs on tax returns where people or corporations used en- ergy tax credits to reduce taxes they owed the state. People and corporations who bought the tax credits for less than their face value were supposed to pay capital gains taxes on dif- ference but auditors found peo- ple weren’t reporting the gains or paying the taxes. A top of¿ cial at the Depart- Pent of Energy told certain tax credit recipients and brokers they could ignore state rules and the agency retroactive- ly changed the rules under pressure froP a Portland con- sulting ¿ rP that brokered tax credit deals. Republican lawPakers in DecePber asked Attorney *eneral Ellen RosenbluP the state’s 8.S. Attorney the F%I the IRS and Marion Coun- ty District Attorney Walter %eglau to investigate siPilar allegations by whistleblowers. In a response to the lawPak- ers the 2regon DepartPent of Justice asked for Pore details about their allegations. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. 2cean %each Hospital’s future who is excited to live in a rural coPPunity and is pre- pared to deal with the Penin- ILWAC2Wash. ² In sula’s glooPy weather. the ¿ rst few Ponths of 2016 “It really is about ¿ t with 2cean %each Hospital ad- the coPPunity ¿ t with the Pinistrators and board PeP- hospital leadership teaP´ bers will need Sawa said. to Pake two iP- Gorshe and Sawa said they portant decisions don’t know if Co- about the future of hen plans to apply the hospital. to be the perPa- First hospital nent CE2. leaders will need “I’P hoping to ¿ nd a perPa- he will´ Gorshe nent replacePent said. “He’s not for current CE2 Must a place hold- .endall Sawa Kendall Sawa er.´ who in Pid-Jan- uary will depart Considering for a new Mob as the CE2 of potential partners Providence Seaside Hospi- Hospital leaders also need tal. Second leaders need to decide whether to renew an to decide how to Panage the existing “operating agree- hospital. As part of an effort to Pent´ with the PeaceHealth hospital systeP pursue a save the failing hospital partnership with another 2cean %each Hospital leaders healthcare organization or signed a contract in 2012 that Pake another go at operat- allowed PeaceHealth to take ing as an independent hos- over Post aspects of hospital operations and Pade it possi- pital. ble to bring in Sawa who is Search for new leader a long tiPe PeaceHealth eP- Hospital of¿ cials aren’t ployee. going to rush either decision That contract was set to Sawa said in DecePber. expire at the end of the year Hospital board coPPis- but Gorshe recently worked sioners recently appointed with PeaceHealth to extend 2%H Chief Financial 2f- the contract until Jan . 1 so ¿ cer Larry Cohen as the that Sawa could consult with interiP CE2 for 2016. The Cohen during his ¿ rst Ponth one-year contract will give as interiP CE2. So far PeaceHealth of¿ - Cohen a chance to see if the role is a good ¿ t for hiP cials haven’t offered to renew and will ensure consistency the operating agreePent for while the board considers the rePainder of 2016. “It hasn’t been clearly laid their options for hiring a perPanent CE2 Sawa said. out that that is an option´ Cohen will start his new Sawa said. “... We don’t have role in early January and a contract in front of us.´ Gorshe said the hospital should be running the hos- pital on his own by about has changed a lot since 2012. In the beginning she said the Pid-January Sawa said. “At that tiPe I’ll kind of hospital had a “rescue rela- be in the background´ Sawa tionship´ with PeaceHealth and relied on the organization said. Hospital board Chair- for frequent consulting ser- woPan Nancy *orshe said vices. Now that the hospital is she is very con¿ dent in Pore stable it is Pore of an Cohen’s ability to lead the “operating relationship´. As a result leaders at both hospital but he will have to forPally apply for the per- 2cean %each and PeaceHealth are trying to decide whether it Panent Mob if he wants it. “He’s a great candidate Pakes sense to continue the but we want to be thorough relationship. If 2cean %each and do a full recruiting pro- leaders do continue to work cess´ *orshe said adding with PeaceHealth the new that coPPissioners want to agreePent will need to focus ¿ nish setting goals for 2016 on controlling costs and offer- before turning their attention ing Pore services to patients rather than on providing qual- to recruiting a CE2. “I would guess we Pay i¿ ed adPinistrators Gorshe begin a recruiting process said. 2ver the last year the within the ¿ rst quarter but we want to get through the hospital has also considered planning process´ *orshe working with several oth- er organizations including said. Hospital of¿ cials plan Providence ColuPbia Me- to discuss their recruitPent Porial Hospital and 2regon strategy in Pore detail Health Sciences 8niversity during the January board Sawa said. 2ne likely short- Peeting and possibly at the terP option is to work with annual strategic planning several larger health systePs retreat which takes place in who would each work with the second week of January the hospital to deliver speci¿ c Sawa said. Hospital of¿ cials services. “We’ll continue to col- could decide to hire a “head- hunter.´ That option tends laborate where collaboration to be costly but usually Pakes sense´ Sawa said. provides a bigger selection “That doesn’t provide us with of well-quali¿ ed candidates any type of af¿ liation agree- to choose froP Sawa said. Pent but it keeps us Poving They Pay also advertise with forward with our stra- the Mob through industry tegic plan which is to keep publications and websites building upon existing service or through the Washington lines.´ At the PoPent there are Rural Health Collaborative no plans to pursue a forPal Sawa said. “All I can say is the af¿ liation PeaceHealth or board is coPPitted to doing with any other organization it well rather than quickly´ Sawa said but Moining a larger Sawa said noting that re- systeP is still one of the lead- cruiting for high-level posi- ership teaP’s PaMor goals. “We still feel like three tions is often challenging for to ¿ ve years froP now we rural hospitals. In addition to having pro- would like to see ourselves fessional expertise and expe- Pore af¿ liated with an or- rience the candidate needs ganization. That’s been the to be soPeone who under- trend across the country but stands the unique challenges it’s hard to say when that will of running a sPall hospital happen´ Sawa said. By NATALIE ST. JOHN EO Media Group Visit us online at DailyAstorian.com You Tube