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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2016)
144TH YEAR, NO. 64 ONE DOLLAR DailyAstorian.com // WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 LOGGERS SWEEP PAST KNIGHTS SPORTS • 7A Courthouse security revised after concerns Sheriff objected to new measures By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian A new security protocol at Clatsop County Circuit Court was lifted this week after concerns were raised by the sheriff and others over the extra cost and resources needed to screen all visitors. Visitors to the courthouse can again enter the building without being screened. A metal detector is now set up outside Courtroom 300, where the death penalty trial of Randy Lee Roden, the man accused of murdering a Seaside toddler, is being held. Judge Paula Brownhill, who pre- sides over Circuit Court, enacted tougher security at the courthouse last week in time for the Roden trial in her courtroom. Visitors were directed through a metal detector at one secure entrance off Commer- cial Street in downtown Astoria. Two other entrances on the south side of the building were blocked off with security signs, although one was still accessible to the disabled. The initial change was approved in February by a court security advi- sory committee over the objections of the district attorney, sheriff and interim county manager, who wanted more discussion over security design. Sheriff Tom Bergin met with his staff and County Manager Cameron Moore on Friday to further discuss concerns with the closure of the court- house during the Roden trial, which could last more than two months. “It all boils down to money, and we don’t have the resources or the manpower,” Bergin said. The Sheriff’s Ofice has state funds to cover labor costs during the death penalty trial. However, Bergin said, the ofice does not have the budget to permanently station multiple deputies See SECURITY, Page 5A Preschool ofers room to grow Warrenton could take control of the dam Attorney: Water district has no ownership right By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian Photos by Edward Stratton/The Daily Astorian Christy Bisping, owner and teacher at Gearhart Kids Academy, works with Arabelle Osterhold of Astoria and Jonathan Rosenfeld of Cannon Beach during free play Monday. Childhood specialists stress importance of quality preschool MORE INFO For more information on how to become a licensed childcare provider, contact Tara Mestrich with the Family Care Con- nection program at 503-325-1220. By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian EARHART — After Can- non Beach Preschool and Children’s Center shut down in May, former director Christy Bisping spent at least $12,000 building out Gearhart Kids Acad- emy, her new preschool and daycare along U.S. Highway 101. Hers is the only pre- school in Clatsop County rated through the Oregon Quality Rating Improvement Sys- tem, the state’s foremost method for ensur- ing quality in preschools. Like other providers, Bisping doesn’t have much trouble illing her infant and tod- dler daycare rooms. But two weeks after the start of K-12 classes, she only has four stu- dents out of a possible 20 in her preschool. She said price is the biggest inhibitor, along with a lack of understanding about the impor- tance of preschool. Bisping’s concerns are at the forefront of MORE INSIDE Seaside receives preschool startup grant from the state. Page 10A efforts by local early childhood specialists to better prepare kids for the future. Improving quality Tara Mestrich, coordinator of Oregon State University Extension Service’s Family Care Connection program, said the county has about 35 licensed preschool providers offering a potential 586 preschool slots. There are usually plenty of preschool slots available, she said, while the real demand is driven by infant, toddler and after-school care. Bisping said she worked really hard for the quality rating in Cannon Beach and in Gearhart, but that it hasn’t paid many See PRESCHOOL, Page 10A Preschoolers Anna Schroer, left, and Ryder Ramsdell take a slip down a slide behind Capt. Robert Gray School during Monday. The two are part of Astoria School District’s new preschool, launched with state funding. WARRENTON — The city could take control of the Eighth Street Dam and either operate the aging structure for lood control or hold the dam as an asset and later remove it to offset the wetlands impact of a future development project. Akin Blitz, a Portland attorney hired by the city to conduct a fact-inding report on the dam, argues that the Skipanon Water Control District has no ownership claim and forfeited a city easement when the district ceased operating the dam as intended. Blitz maintains that the city owns the under- lying property so, with no valid easement, the dam reverts to the city. “Any claim the dis- trict makes to the con- trary is baseless as far as I’m concerned,” Blitz said at a City Akin Commission meeting Blitz Tuesday night. Blitz’s indings could prompt a legal ight between the city and the water district, which has operated the dam since it was built by the federal government in 1963. If the water district does not cede ownership interest, the attorney suggested, the city could ile a law- suit to determine title or seize the dam and put the legal onus on the district to prove an ownership stake. The water district has sought to remove the dam as obsolete and a hazard, as well as to improve ish passage on the river. Tessa Scheller, the chairwoman of the water district’s board, does not think the water district will simply accept the city’s argument. Some on the board, however, have said in the past that the water district should turn the dam over to the city for $1 to be free from liability. “I wasn’t persuaded by anything except that, this seems to me, if I had to characterize it, it would be a witch hunt,” Scheller said. “That would be my characterization of what I heard tonight.” See DAM, Page 5A Planning Commission mulls ways to gain homes Tiny houses, garage units on the table By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian The Astoria Planning Com- mission is considering devel- opment code changes that would allow property owners to rent out detached garages and build tiny homes on their land. The amendments are designed to help alleviate Astoria’s affordable hous- ing scarcity but raised red lags for residents concerned about increased rate, according to density and park- Community Devel- ing overlow, and opment Director about whether tiny Kevin Cronin. homes and “acces- A 2015 housing sory dwelling units” study led to a list of would mar the com- recommendations munity’s historic — an affordable character. housing strategy — One of the City to spur more hous- Council’s goals for ing opportunities Kevin the previous iscal in town. The City Cronin year was to promote Council in July did “housing that Astorians can not embrace all of Cronin’s afford.” initial ideas, but did signal A regional supply of every some support for encouraging housing category is at an all- accessory dwelling units. time low, while demand has Cronin’s proposed set of reached an all-time high, in new zoning standards would part because of the North include reducing restrictions Coast’s low unemployment on accessory dwelling units to “encourage more base- ment and garage conver- sions,” and “for construc- tion of new units built above new garages” or as part of new single-family, detached construction. In addition, the new stan- dards would encourage tiny homes to be developed on sin- gle-family lots “under certain conditions.” “Under this proposal, you will be able to use the prop- erty much more eficiently,” Cronin said, adding that own- ers could use the additional income to ix up their house, or “do whatever they feel like doing with it.” Asked how many units the code changes would create, Cronin said, “I can’t forecast that. I don’t know. What I do know is, we’re not going to get any if we continue with the existing standard. We know that.” Noting that the city has received one ADU application in the past ive years, he added, “I would be surprised if we have more than two or three per year. Pleasantly surprised.” Concerns Some residents feared the proposal would lead to tiny homes cluttering up Astoria’s historic neighborhoods. See HOMES, Page 10A
