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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 Unclear whether lawmakers can stop petitioners’ wage ballot push Governor’s alternate plan calls for raises starting in 2017 By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau SALEM — State lawmak- ers received a sobering mes- sage Wednesday about their prospects of striking a legis- lative deal to hike Oregon’s minimum wage. Petitioners for a ballot ini- tiative to boost the minimum to $15 statewide by 2019 said they intend to continue gath- ering signatures to place their proposal on the November ballot unless lawmakers meet their demands. Opponents to hiking the minimum wage indicated they’re gearing up to thwart the initiative. Today, Gov. Kate Brown announced her plan for a statewide minimum wage in- crease. The proposal calls for a lawmakers have just two weeks before the legislative session starts in February. Justin Norton-Kertson, campaign manager for Orego- nians for $15, said the group has collected nearly 40,000 signatures for its ballot ini- tiative and projects having 50,000 to 60,000 signatures by early March. “We are well on track to have enough signatures col- lected by July to put this on the ballot,” Norton-Kertson said. “With more than half of likely voters in Oregon al- ready polling in favor of $15 and numerous polls conduct- ed statewide, a statewide $15 minimum wage really is inev- itable,” he said. “It’s a grass- roots movement, and it isn’t just going to go away because any old deal is struck in the state Legislature.” Hearing in Salem He said the only compro- tonight Meanwhile, lawmakers mises his group would sup- KDYH UHYHDOHG QR VSHFL¿F port are $15 per hour in the numbers for a potential deal most expensive parts of the and none were expected be- state, namely Multnomah, fore a public hearing Thurs- Clackamas and Washington day night at the Capitol. The counties, or a repeal of a law two-tiered minimum wage that increases gradually over the next six years, starting in 2017. The plan establishes a higher minimum wage in the Portland metropolitan area, where the economy is grow- ing faster and has traditionally been stronger, than in the rest of the state. Outside of the Portland urban growth boundary, the wage will be raised to $10.25 in 2017 and increase to $13.50 by 2022. Within Portland’s urban growth boundary, the wage will be set at 15 percent above the statewide minimum wage, increasing to $15.52 by 2022. After 2022, the minimum wage will return to the current rate of increase, in conjunc- tion with the Consumer Price Index. that prevents cities and coun- ties from increasing minimum wages above the state limit. “If one or both of these can’t be accomplished this session, then we’ll do every- thing we can to get the sup- port needed to put IP 41 on the ballot and win,” Norton-Kert- son said. Betsy Earls of Associated Oregon Industries, which op- poses boosting the minimum wage, advised lawmakers to spend their time on other is- sues. “It sounds like … there will be at least one ballot mea- sure going forward no matter what,” Earls said. “What I would say to you is we will KDYHWR¿JKWWKDWEDOORWPHD- sure probably so we will have to expend resources regard- less of what you guys do. I would advise you to sit tight, do nothing.” Negotiating for weeks Lawmakers, the gov- ernor’s advisers and other stakeholders have been ne- gotiating a minimum wage deal for weeks behind closed doors. Democratic leaders have indicated they want to pass legislation in February to head off a battle at the ballot box in November over two dueling initiatives to hike the minimum wage. One is the $15 proposal. Another union-backed initia- tive would raise the minimum wage to $13.50 statewide and give cities and counties au- thority to increase the wage above that. The petitioners for that initiative have said from the outset that they launched the campaign to spur lawmak- ers to action this session. “We’re hoping to come up with a proposal that makes the most sense and addresses the most concerns and also makes the ballot measures unnecessary,” said state Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Port- land. “We haven’t yet nailed down what that would be, the place between the competing interests.” Dembrow had initially planned to release starting numbers for his proposal in advance of Thursday night’s public hearing at the Capitol. He said he had second thoughts about releasing numbers before the hearing because he wants to use feed- back to craft a proposal for the session, which starts Feb. 1. “I don’t’ want to come up with a proposal that is take it or leave it,” Dembrow said. “I want to propose some- thing that has some consensus around it.” Dembrow’s proposal would set three different re- gional minimums based on area median income and cost of living. The concept is based on research by North Star Civic Foundation that found different minimums would better suit Oregon’s “uneven state economy.” The House Business and Labor Committee plans to submit a proposal that is simi- lar to the initiative to boost the minimum wage to $13.50 and give cities and counties au- thority to raise wages above that threshold. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Seaside considers changes to cemetery rules Amendment would raise price per plot to $500 By KATHERINE LACAZE EO Media Group SEASIDE — The price to buy a plot at the Evergreen Cemetery, managed by the city of Seaside, may more than dou- ble to help offset administrative costs. The Seaside City Council is contemplating an amendment to the city’s ordinance regarding Evergreen Cemetery regula- tions. The amendment was read Monday and seeks to modify some language and update the cost for each plot at the ceme- tery, located off Beerman Creek south of Seaside. If the amendment is adopt- ed at the council’s next meeting Jan. 25, the city will charge $500 instead of $200 for each plot. Public Works Director Dale McDowell said the increase will help cover costs the city incurs by managing the cemetery. “It’s nice that the city looks over and maintains the property, but, for however many years it’s been doing that, it’s cost quite a bit,” City Councilor Randy Frank said. “Even with this price increase, it’s still very reason- able and will help offset some of the costs we get.” At $500, the fee still is less than those associated with other cemeteries in Clatsop County, according to McDowell. Additionally, if the owner of a plot decides not to use it, the plot may be sold back to the city at 80 percent, rather than 90 per- cent, of the purchase price, ac- cording to the amendment. The proposed language changes to the ordinance are minor and simply update what is an old ordinance, McDowell said. City Attorney Dan Van Thiel also suggested language changes to correct spelling and grammatical errors. New gym stations The City Council also ap- proved a request from Seaside High School senior Berkley Posalski to add three new sta- tions to the outdoor gym at Cartwright Park. Posalski de- signed and installed the three existing stations at the park, with guidance from the Public Works Department, last May for his Eagle Scout Project. For KLV VHQLRU 3DFL¿FD 3URMHFW KH plans to design and add three more stations. Additionally, the project will include expanding the concrete borders of the cur- rent stations to make the area around them safer. McDowell said Parks Advisory Commit- tee members indicated interest Crab Feed starts Friday and those younger than 12, for fresh Dungeness crab, cole slaw, WARRENTON — The 27th garlic bread, drink, dessert and DQQXDO )LVKHUPHQ¶V %HQH¿W all the trimmings. The event is Fund Crab Feed is 4 to 8 p.m. sponsored by the Fishermen’s Friday and Saturday at the War- %HQH¿W)XQGDQRQSUR¿WFRUSR- renton Community Center, 170 ration which maintains an emer- S.W. Third St. The cost is $15 JHQF\ IXQG WR KHOS ¿VKHUPHQ for adults, and $13 for seniors and their families. The Daily Astorian R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian Evergreen Cemetery in Seaside. LQ ¿QGLQJ RXW KRZ PXFK WKH outdoor park is being used. City Councilor Dana Phillips said she believes the park is something that is used and she appreciates Posalski’s “interest in moving forward with this.” Plans for former church building An ad hoc committee gave a report on the former church building purchased by the city in 2014. The building on Broadway is centrally located, with close access to Broadway Middle School, the Sunset Em- pire Park & Recreation District, Broadway Park and the Seaside Public Library. The committee is suggesting the council take a three-phase approach to use the building for a variety of purpos- R oasted Chicken D inner With Mashed Potatoes, Veggies, Salad and Bread ALA Dan Friday Jan. 15 th 4 pm ‘til gone $8 .00 6PM “K araok e D ave” W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION HV)RUWKH¿UVWSKDVHWKH\VXJ- gested the city rent out the two RI¿FHVSDFHVZKLFKZRXOGKHOS protect the city’s investment by generating revenue and keeping the building in use and moni- tored. The council will hold a work R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian session at a later date to discuss The entrance to Evergreen Cemetery on Beerman Creek the site. Road. T he fam ily of C harles L eroy Meadow s S r., w ould like to thank all our relatives and friends who gathered with us, or were with us in spirit in the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. S pecial thanks to C olum bia Mem orial Hospital and O HS U and their com bined m edical teams for the care and kindness you show ed him . W e also send our gratitude and appreciation to Hughes R ansom Mortuary. W e are forever grateful for your support. For those family and friends who have sent cards, phone calls, food, flowers and em ails we thank you. R eflections shared will be forever treasured. P lease accept this as a personal acknow ledgem ent of thanks from us all. Your thoughtfulness and support continue to give us com fort. 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