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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 19, 2016)
144TH YEAR, NO. 13 ONE DOLLAR DailyAstorian.com // TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016 Elk wade in the estuary in Gearhart. John Dudley/For The Daily Astorian ‘Animal versus animal’ as elk, dogs clash Elk will charge to defend calves By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian G EARHART — A pet whippet was tram- pled and killed by a herd of deer at the Reserve at Gearhart this month. In another incident reported to Gearhart Police, an elk kicked a dog and broke the dog’s legs. A Little Beach resident said he saw a herd menace kayakers this month when they approached too close to the shore. “They will sometimes get aggressive,” Wildlife Communications Coordinator Michelle Dennehy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said. “It can happen any- time. The advice for pets and people is to try to keep away.” Oregon has two types of elk, Dennehy said, Roosevelt elk on the coast and Rocky Moun- tain elk in the Cascades. Roosevelt elk bulls typically weigh 900 pounds, and cows clear 600 pounds. Roosevelt elk in western Oregon have the larger body size, but typically Rocky Mountain elk — prevalent in Eastern Ore- gon — have larger antlers. “This makes sense when you think about how Roosevelt elk need to get through very thick brush,” she said. With calving season, people and their pets are well-advised to steer clear of the herd, she said, which can reach 60 or more. Dogs no match A sign posted by the dunes in Gearhart warns: “Keep clear of the elk. Elk will charge to defend calves.” Gearhart Police Chief Jeff Bowman said the risk increases at a time when elk cows are protective of newborn calves. “It all boils down to an animal versus animal, and the elk aren’t going to back down from a dog com- ing at them. They’ve got babies. If people are walking and not having their dogs on a leash, they’d better be looking for the elk.” R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian See ELK, Page 10A Mayor LaMear calls for action on guns Astoria mayor will send letter to governor, congressional delegation By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian Astoria Mayor Arline LaMear, struggling with emo- tion, said she would send a let- ter to Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon’s congressional dele- gation calling for gun control. “It doesn’t matter if you’re for gun rights or for stricter gun controls,” LaMear said at Monday’s night’s City Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Mayor Arline LaMear, shown here at the reopening of the Astoria Senior Center earlier this year, wants action to ad- dress gun violence. Council meeting. “As human beings, we share these feelings of horror, sadness, fear and helplessness. “Would a gun resolution make any difference? Do let- ters to the editor and posts on social media help address the problem? I don’t know. But I do know that I must do some- thing,” she said, her voice breaking. “We must do some- thing to put a stop to this madness.” The mayor, who rarely uses her role as presiding offi cer of the City Council to speak to state or national policy issues, made the statement after hor- rifi c violence across the nation. Police shootings near St. Paul, Minnesota, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, revived national demonstrations against racism and police brutality. Racially motivated attacks on law enforcement offi cers in Dallas and Baton Rouge have police on high alert. See LAMEAR, Page 3A A warning sign in Gearhart. Council still cautious on affordable housing City staff will move ahead on ‘granny fl ats’ By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian Unsure about what direc- tion to take on affordable hous- ing, the Astoria City Coun- cil signaled Monday night that the city might lift restric- tions on accessory dwelling units but should wait on more aggressive policy changes. The City Council made affordable housing a goal after hearing from residents and business leaders that the lack of housing is a barrier to liv- ability and economic growth. But the council is not prepared to move on a defi nitive strat- egy without greater public par- ticipation, since new housing projects have been met with neighborhood opposition. Several potential develop- ment code amendments were scheduled to go before the Planning Commission earlier this year but were pulled by City Manager Brett Estes after councilors and residents raised doubts. See HOUSING, Page 3A Tenacity required to tackle code violators Long Beach, Wash., approach based on safety, livability By DAVID PLECHL EO Media Group LONG BEACH, Wash. — Code enforcement may bring to mind over- zealous enforcement offi cers sprawled on hand-and-knee, measuring blades of grass to issue tall fi nes for inciden- tal infractions. But Long Beach M ayor Jerry Phil- lips says nitpicking property owners is not the name of the game. “Let’s make it a safe environment,” said Phillips, “and a community people want to live in, move to, and enjoy.” The mayor says the city prioritizes resolution without resorting enforcement issues based to legal pressures. on level of threat to pub- Simply writing citations, lic safety, and secondarily, he admits, has been largely livability. ineffective. The properties in the “Sometimes by just giv- mayor’s short stack have col- ing a warning, you can get lapsed roofs, mounting fi re more done than by issuing a hazards, rot, mold, infesta- ticket,” said Phillips. tions, and quite often home- But when the written less tenants who lodge ille- requests, warnings and tick- gally; sometimes using the Jerry ets don’t work, the city must decrepit properties as a bath- Phillips take legal steps to correct the room or a convenient cover problems, he adds. for illegal drug use and other crimes. Legal steps, however, aren’t cheap, Recalcitrant owners and suing owners and putting liens on After the worst offenders are prior- properties is looked at as a last resort. itized to the top of the list, the mayor “That’s money I could be using to says owners are then contacted through do something else in my community,” “considerate letters.” Phillips said. The goal, Phillips says, is to build a See CODE VIOLATORS, Page 10A relationship with the owner and fi nd a , y t n u o C p ! o e s t m o s e Cla w a o g s $ n i e b r o f s k n 2 adults tha day… , any Pick a day the week! or stay for $ 1 kiddos $ 1 per car David Plechl/EO Media Group An semi-abandoned A-frame on Pacific Avenue is at the top of the mayor’s list of properties to clean up. “We’ve got homeless sleep- ing there. We’ve got drug users in there,” said Phillips. The owner has been uncooperative. 2016 Clatsop County Fair August 2-6 For more information go to www.clatsopfairgrounds.com