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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
Submitted Photos
Proposed renovation plans for the exterior of the Seaside Civic and Convention Center. The City Council decided to raise the lodging tax from 8 percent to 10 percent.
Bill: Convention Center’s last expansion was in 1991
Continued from Page 1A
Tax’s history
Enacted in the early 1970s,
Seaside’s original hotel and
motel tax was set at 5 percent.
Over the years the rate was
increased as additional ser-
vices were needed to accom-
modate a growing number of
visitors.
The convention’s last
expansion in 1991 was funded
by an increase in the room tax.
The rate, last changed in
2002, stands at 8 percent. The
tax does not include vaca-
tion rental revenue. According
to the new ordinance, funds
collected are to be divided
between tourism promo-
tion, public safety, the Prom
Improvement Fund and other
city costs. More than half of
the room tax — 56.8 percent
— would be allocated to the
convention center fund for
outstanding debt requirements
and for maintaining, upgrading
and expansion of the conven-
tion center building.
An additional 4 percent of
the tax would be allocated to
the convention center capital
improvement fund for main-
tenance, upgrading and expan-
sion of the convention cen-
ter building, properties and
equipment.
The tax increase could be
approved by January, but the
hikes would not go into effect
at least until July, Winstanley
said.
“I’m very excited about
the process,” Vandenberg said.
“It’s been a long journey, but
we’re certainly looking for-
ward to the completion of the
project, which we’ve been
working on for the last seven
or eight years.”
If the city OKs the tax hike
in second and third readings,
the convention center will go
forward with the bonds.
“Then we’re going to hire
a design architectural firm and
then a construction firm,” Van-
denberg said. “We’ll be start-
ing that process as soon as the
bonds are sold.”
Steele Architects’
rendering of the conven-
tion center’s southeast
corner.
Housing: New owners of the apartment complex are locals
Continued from Page 1A
Norma’s Seafood & Steak,
has described the housing
crunch as a major issue for
the city and has suggested
expanding the urban growth
boundary so more housing
can get built.
The councilor, elected to a
second term last week, has spo-
ken of the need for affordable
rental housing for workers in
the service industry from Asto-
ria to Cannon Beach.
“I would hate to see any-
thing bought up and turned
into condominiums, so I guess
we’re protecting them from
anything like that happening,”
Frank said.
Pam Ackley, a real estate
broker with Windermere Stel-
lar who serves on the Warren-
ton City Commission, han-
dled the sale of the apartment
complex.
Chisholm was a longtime
Seaside resident and business-
woman who lived at the Sun-
rise Apartments. The Bob
Chisholm Community Center
is named for her son, a volun-
teer firefighter who died trying
to rescue a swimmer.
“She looked at her renters
as her friends,” Ackley said.
“They were living there for
way-under-market rents.”
The property is in good
condition, sits across from the
Necanicum River and is within
walking distance of downtown
and the beach.
“The new owners — they’re
locals — which was a really
good thing in the end,” Ack-
ley said. “They have the same
mentality. It’s an investment
for them, but they know most
of the people who live there.”
Ackley called the balance
between preserving affordable
rentals and charging market
rents a “two-edged sword.”
“It’s a difficult line to walk,
really,” she said.
Join us for the 19th annual
Providence Festival of Trees
Providence Seaside Hospital Foundation invites you
to ring in the holiday season!
R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian
Randy Frank, Seth Morrisey, Dana Phillips, Mayor Don Larson, Don Johnson, Tita Monte-
ro and Jay Barber of the Seaside City Council. Larson announced he is stepping down.
Larson: Mayor’s successor will be chosen
by the City Council during future sessions
Continued from Page 1A
you’ve been my friend,” John-
son said. “I’ve always called
you ‘friend,’ and I can talk to
you about anything.”
Years of service
Larson retired in 1991
as a staff training officer for
the U.S. Army Reserve. He
served on the David Douglas
School Board in Portland, the
Seaside Planning Commis-
sion, City Council and other
committees before success-
fully running for mayor in
2002.
In that election, Larson
recounted, he knocked on
1,650 doors.
A member of Clat-
sop County’s Public Safety
Board, Larson was recog-
nized as Mayor of the Year by
the League of Oregon Cities
in 2009.
“We really had some tough
council meetings,” Larson
recalled, including sessions
on short-term rentals and a
new highway to replace U.S.
Highway 101.
He ticked off a list of
accomplishments: a skate
park, a new library and the
North Holladay Drive renova-
tion. The boat ramp at Broad-
way Park. Upgrades to city
buildings. Four bridges, built
to tsunami standards at the
time they were built, and the
Recycling Center on Avenue
S.
“We’ve done a lot, you
guys,” Larson said. “We’ve
done a lot in this city. I didn’t
do these things. This is you
guys and staff who did.”
A successor will be chosen
by the City Council at future
sessions, City Manager Mark
Winstanley said after the
meeting.
Councilors may select any
registered voter with at least
one year of Seaside residence.
The appointee will fill the
remaining two years of Lar-
son’s four-year term.
“Mayor Larson’s been the
mayor for virtually the entire
time since I’ve been city man-
ager,” Winstanley said. “He’s
done a fabulous job. He’s one
of the most active mayors I’ve
ever known. He’s was always
been available for any types
of issue we have had. There’s
nobody who cares more about
the citizens of Seaside than
the mayor.”
Saturday Dec. 3
Community open house featuring Santa Claus
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Free admission
Beautiful trees and Candy Cane Lane
festivities for kids!
Gala Dinner and Auction
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: $100 per guest; $1,000 for table of 10
Proceeds benefi t programs and
services supported by
Seaside
Hospital Foundation
Seaside Civic and Convention Center
415 First Ave., Seaside, OR 97138
For reservations or more information,
please call 503-717-7601 or visit
www.ProvidenceFestivalOfTrees.org/Seaside