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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 Respite center could lessen burden on hospitals, police State House OKs lodging tax hike Some still want more assurances on security SALEM — A bill that will nearly double Oregon’s statewide tourist lodging tax is headed to the state Senate, after lawmakers in the House voted 37-20 Tuesday to pass the bill. The bill hikes the tax rate from 1 percent to 1.8 percent. Lawmakers drafted the bill in response to a request for a state subsidy from organizers of a world track champion- ship in Eugene in 2021. Nike DQG8QLYHUVLW\RI2UHJRQRI¿- cials have pushed for the state to help pay for the event since at least 2014 and, according to news reports, the Eugene non- SUR¿W7UDFN7RZQ86$ZDQWV the state to provide $25 mil- lion for the event. State Rep. Nancy Nathan- son, D-Eugene, a chief spon- sor of the bill, described the measure as “an economic development proposal.” “More than three-quarters of this (tax) is paid by people from out of state,” Nathanson VDLG³7RXULVPLVDVLJQL¿FDQW sector in Oregon’s economy.” By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — Advo- cates for the mentally ill said Tuesday night that a new crisis respite center could help people before their behavior spins out of control, potentially reducing the burden on hospitals and law enforcement. The respite center in War- renton would have 16 beds, half reserved for residential treat- ment and half that could offer temporary relief for people in crisis. Up to four beds could be secure under the state’s sec- ond-highest class of super- vision, so patients would be locked inside and could not walk away. But patients would not be secluded, restrained or compelled to take medication, the highest class of supervision. The patients who would most likely be taken to the secure sec- tion would be under holds, civil commitment, a diversion pro- gram or guardianship. Sumuer Watkins, the execu- tive director of Clatsop Behav- ioral Healthcare, which will operate the respite center, and Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian A crisis respite center is planned for Warrenton. Marc Chinard, a consultant, briefed the Warrenton City Commission at a work session. The partnership behind the respite center — Clatsop County, Columbia Memorial Hospital, Providence Seaside Hospital and Greater Oregon Behavioral Health — backed the secure rooms last week after complaints from law enforce- ment and city leaders in Asto- ria and Warrenton that poten- tially violent patients would be allowed to leave. Warrenton Mayor Mark Kujala and others on the City Commission strongly urged the respite center to follow through with the security improvements. “I think it would have been YHU\ GLI¿FXOW $EVROXWHO\´ Kujala, speaking after the brief- ing, said of whether he could support the respite center with- out the secure rooms. “I think that’s something that was essential.” City Commissioner Henry Balensifer said he still has sig- QL¿FDQW FRQFHUQV ³, GRQ¶W VHH why it would be practical to sup- port anything that didn’t have at least the option for security,” he said. “And I’m going to hold WKHLUIHHWWRWKH¿UHWKDWZHVWLOO have those secure beds.” Some worry that patients will walk away from the respite center and cause problems for police and disrupt businesses. “What I’m saying is, why not put it out in the country? Where, No. 1, is they’re less likely to walk out. And, No. 2, is to keep it away from people that are try- ing to continue a business in a YHU\GLI¿FXOWHQYLURQPHQW´-LP Gannaway, a co-owner of GB -HZHOHUVWROGFRPPLVVLRQHUV Commissioner Tom Dyer, DQ 2UHJRQ 6WDWH 3ROLFH RI¿FHU believes the respite center could help keep some people off the street. Others in law enforce- ment have said they hope the center can be an alternative to hospitals and jail. “Eight beds doesn’t even touch our problem we have,” Dyer said of the mental health issues facing the county. Watkins said the goal of the respite center is to provide a place where people can volun- tarily seek help before they need to be taken to the emergency room or have encounters with police. She told commissioners it is important to remember that many of the people in crisis are “your neighbors. They’re your family members. They’re the average person walking down the street who is happening to have this episode — crisis — for whatever reason.” Lawmakers make progress on housing legislation Senate Bill 1533 is “a monumental bill for this Legislature, which has been SALEM – State lawmak- struggling with inclusionary ers made progress Tuesday on zoning for many years,” WZR VLJQL¿FDQW KRXVLQJ ELOOV Hass said. — churning out a last-min- ute deal with builders and real Developer incentives Due to resistance from estate lobbyists on inclusion- ary zoning and passing a bill builders and the real estate out of the House that increases industry, lawmakers offered a compromise that would notice for raising rent. The Senate Committee on ensure developers would )LQDQFH DQG 5HYHQXH XQDQL- receive incentives for offering mously recommended passing affordable housing, including a bill to lift a ban on cities and tax exemptions, fee waivers counties requiring developers or expedited services. The measure allows local to include affordable housing units in their plans, which also governments to require devel- is known as inclusionary zon- opers to offer up to 20 percent ing. The bill is now headed for of units at below market rates in exchange for at least one WKH6HQDWHÀRRU “It appears there is an incentive. Developers also agreement that everyone may opt to pay a fee in lieu of can come to the center on,” the requirement. The require- said state Sen. Mark Hass, ments would apply only to D-Beaverton. multifamily housing proj- By PARIS ACHEN Capital Bureau ects with 20 or more units. The units would be offered to those who earn up to 80 per- cent of area median income. The compromise bill also allows local governments to levy an up to 1 percent con- struction tax to help pay for developer incentives, pay for housing programs and pro- vide down payment assistance for home ownership. Notice for rent increases Meanwhile, the House passed a bill to increase notice for raising rent in month-to- month tenancies. The mea- sure passed 48-11 with bipar- tisan support and now heads to the Senate. The bill was part of an omnibus housing package negotiated by House Demo- crats, landlords, builders and affordable housing advocates to address the state’s afford- able housing shortage. Much of the housing pack- age has fallen by the wayside — including addressing prob- lematic no-cause evictions — in the compression of a 35-day legislative session. Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer, D-Portland, chairwoman of the House Committee on Human Services and Hous- ing, said lawmakers failed to reach a deal on some of the other issues in time. “This bill which aims to increase stability is a small step in the right direction,” Keny-Guyer said of Tues- day’s tenant protections bill. “It does not say what the rent should be. It just says give tenants more time.” The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. By HILLARY BORRUD Capital Bureau legislators, Nathanson asked for it to be referred back to the House Commit- tee on Revenue for changes. Concern in rural areas Rural Republicans said hotel and motel owners in their districts did not expect to benefit from the additional tax revenues, while tourism officials in the Portland metropolitan area worried that doubling the state lodging tax would put Portland at a competi- tive disadvantage to other cities with lower tax rates. Democrats from the coast spoke and a Repub- lican from Eastern Ore- gon also spoke in favor of the bill. “I’m going to sup- port this bill because what’s good for tourism is good for the coast,” said Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis, although he added that “most of the people that visit dwellings on the coast are from your districts, not from out of state.” Rep. Caddy McKeown, D-Coos Bay, is a chief sponsor of the bill and had Expands beyond high praise for the 2021 track championship. marketing McKeown said the State law currently requires the government to event will take place at the spend at least 80 percent of track center of the United hotel tax revenues on tour- States and “arguably the ism marketing. House Bill world,” and broadcast in 4146 would allow the state hundreds of countries. to spend that money on any “There will be people trav- “tourism programs,” includ- eling here to train,” McK- ing to subsidize the costs eown said. “There will be of events such as the track a spotlight on this state of championship. the magnitude that is mind The bill would require the boggling. I’m very proud state’s tourism commission, of the opportunity that we TravelOregon, to distrib- have to bring visitors from ute set amounts of lodging across the state to our small tax revenue around the state state.” through regional allocations Rep. Greg Smith, and competitive grants. R-Heppner, said tourism In the two-year budget that is not a major industry in begins in mid-2017, the bill his district but he expects would result in $27.4 million the bill will benefit other in new tax revenue, according communities around the to an estimate from the Leg- VWDWH ³)RONV DUH QRW FRP- LVODWLYH 5HYHQXH 2I¿FH 7KH ing to District 57 for tour- state would send $11 million ism related reasons,” in existing and new tax reve- Smith said. “They don’t nue to regional tourism agen- stop in Rufus or Biggs cies around the state during for an afternoon of tour- that period, and award $5.4 ism ... We’re industrial, million in competitive grants we’re agricultural.” How- to encourage tourism. ever, Smith said this bill is Lawmakers were orig- about the good of Oregon inally scheduled to hold a as a whole. ÀRRUYRWHRQWKHELOO)ULGD\ The Capital Bureau is a but in response to criticism collaboration between EO from both Portland-area Media Group and Pamplin WRXULVP RI¿FLDOV DQG UXUDO Media Group. W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Consult a N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 PROFESSIONAL is Q: What psychosis? Christie Taylor CLATSOP BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE “Helping People Live Well” 65 N. Hwy. 101 Ste.204 Warrenton 503-325-5722 Psychosis is a broad term that covers many symptoms and experiences. Signs include new and worsening difficulties in areas of performance, behavior, and perception. The Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) is here to support youth (14-24) with symptoms consistent with the onset of a psychotic illness. For referrals (anyone can refer!) and additional information on EASA: Call Christie Taylor at 503-298-7416. A : Marcia (Marcy) Harper Insurance Agency Inc. 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