7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 Unknowns: More questions moving forward Leaders: Many items on the docket for change in 2017 Continued from Page 1A Continued from Page 1A Another challenge will be to address the water pipes, some of which are pretty old. The city wants to set up a redundant system that will avoid the known landslide areas. “That’s going to be a big project,” LaMear said. And, of course, the city must decide the Astoria Library’s future — whether to construct a new facility or ren- ovate the existing building. Warrenton Mayor Mark Kujala Warrenton Mayor Mark Kujala said that Warren- ton’s to-do list for the new year includes establishing improved maintenance pro- grams for public facilities — such as levees, tide gates and ditches — to protect res- idents from flooding and increased insurance costs. This includes attend- ing to the ongoing property dispute with the Skipanon Water Control District over the Eighth Street Dam. In addition, the city plans to order a geotechnical study of Warrenton’s levees, the first step to getting the levees certified for flood control. Along with other agencies, the city is challenging the Federal Emergency Man- agement Agency’s data that seems to show the city’s levees cannot protect against the 100-year flood. “Since we are such a large geographic area with very little elevation, it’s something that we consis- tently have to be on top of,” Kujala said. To address the hous- ing scarcity, the City Com- mission plans to meet with the Planning Commission to launch a comprehensive plan review. The goal is to see if the city can tweak the development code to make residential building more feasible, particularly for low-income families. The city also needs to continue improvements to the Warrenton Marina’s commercial docks, update the Hammond Marina mas- ter plan and relocate the War- renton Community Library to the downtown corridor. Seaside Mayor Jay Barber “We have a City Council that works well together and gets things done. One of the significant challenges will be swearing in two new coun- cilors in the new year, one newly elected and one that the council will appoint to fill the now vacant councilor seat from Ward 1 and getting them on board and work- ing well with the other four councilors and the mayor. “With the approval of the bond issue for the Sea- side School District, it will be incumbent upon the Planning Commission and the council to address the expansion of the urban growth boundary in the new year to bring the new cam- pus into the city and work to provide proper access to the new location. “Affordable housing in Clatsop County is a major issue that all cities and the county will need to work together to provide workable solutions. “This is an issue that will require input from the county, cities, local busi- nesses, developers and con- cerned citizens. We can learn from other cities and regions where workable solutions are being implemented. This issue is rising to the top of my concerns. “Tsunami preparedness continues to be a major issue of significant impor- tance. The highest prior- ity is to seek funding for the retrofitting of all of our bridges to assist citi- zens to be able to move to safe ground in the case of a major incident. “In addition we need to continue our thinking about resilience. How will we con- tinue to be a city in the case of a major earthquake and tsunami? “Finally, annexation to the south of the city to address blight, vacant and sub-standard housing as well as the need to address access to city water and sewerage.” Gearhart Mayor Matt Brown “As you know Gearhart has gone through a handful of contentious issues the last few years, so I hope 2017 brings a sense of calmness and cooperation, working together with our citizens and other cities in Clatsop County to solve common problems, such as affordable housing. I’m looking forward to having work sessions with our fellow councilors in the months to come to work on strategic planning for the next four years and priori- tizing what is important to our residents. I hope this includes working on a new fire station plan, emergency preparedness and a transpor- tation master plan. “Also, looking forward to working with city staff to find better ways to com- municate with our citizens including building a new city of Gearhart interactive web- site, scheduling town hall meetings and getting folks more involved in the process and decision making. “It’s great to work with our amazing city staff and department heads and I look forward to a very positive and constructive 2017 for Gearhart!” Cannon Beach Mayor Sam Steidel Mayor Sam Steidel, Can- non Beach said the biggest challenge the city will face in 2017 is looking at how vari- ous projects might affect one another. “My concern is that as a council we have a compre- hensive view of all the prob- lems so they can interact as they need to be. I have a feel- ing we do not have a lot of big problems, but lots of projects that intertwine a little. The council will have a goal-setting session early this year to reach a consen- sus on city priorities, using the city’s strategic plan as a guide. Steidel said his personal areas of focus include see- ing how the former Cannon Beach Elementary property could be used and expanding NeCus Park. Steidel’s longer-term goal is for the council to work on developing the city-owned South Wind property. The 58 acres located east of U.S. Highway 101, largely out- side of the tsunami zone, needs infrastructure in place before it can be the site of the city’s essential services, such as an emergency shel- ter, school and police and fire stations. Steidel said he hopes to get discussion about city pri- orities done before the spring budgeting process, when things tend to get “bogged down.” “I’m looking forward to some energy from the coun- cil, and new voices always bring that.” For example, produc- ers who ship wheat, blueber- ries, Christmas trees and other goods to Asia favored the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the trade agreement Trump vowed to cancel. And if Trump’s campaign bad-mouthing of major trade partner China are an indication of what’s ahead, “Holy cow,” said Hayden-Smith. “We are not a food system in isolation,” she said. “If we have poor relations with China and the World Trade Organiza- tion, it could throw the global food system into crisis.” Immigration issues Then there’s Trump’s “build that wall” rhetoric regarding immigration. It worries produc- ers who rely on manual labor to tend and harvest fruits, nuts, vegetables and berries, because they already have a hard time finding and retaining enough workers. The second largest Wash- ington state apple crop on record this past fall, for exam- ple, stretched seasonal workers ever thinner, and employers are still scrambling to find packing shed workers. Reggie Collins, general manager of Chelan Fruit Coop- erative in Chelan, Washington, said a bigger crop means more people are needed for more shifts, and he didn’t know of any packer who wasn’t in the same fix. “We’re not gaining on it,” he said in December. “As many as we hire, we lose about the same number. We’re still short 80 to 100. People move or go to California or Mexico. We’re trying every method we can to hire people.” The Washington Employ- ment Security Department says there were an average of 54,124 seasonal ag workers per month in the state in 2015 with a low of 28,584 in January and a high of 90,782 in June. It won’t have 2016 numbers until next fall. H-2A questions Washington state grow- ers have turned increasingly to H-2A visa foreign guest- workers in recent years, hir- ing 13,641 in 2016. California, Oregon and Idaho use far fewer but are beginning to use more. “There is an absolute short- age and as the economy picks up it will only get worse,” said Kerry Scott, program manager of masLabor in Lovingston, Virginia, the largest provider of H-2A (agricultural) and H-2B (nonagricultural) workers in the nation. Answers to the labor short- age include mechanization and immigration reform. With General Scott Pruitt to head the EPA. In a prepared statement, Duvall said it was welcome news to all who are “threatened by EPA’s regulatory overreach — and should help provide a new degree of fairness for U.S. agriculture.” Still, it’s unclear whether the president-elect is pay- ing attention to agriculture. Into the last week of Decem- ber he still hadn’t nominated an ag secretary to replace Tom Vilsack, who held the post for eight years in the Obama administration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s fund- ing focus may get wrenched. During Vilsack’s tenure, USDA provided Regulatory money for nontra- relief ditional endeav- Labor short- ors such as organic ages and trade dis- research and produc- putes may be hurt- tion programs, small ful — “The TPP is farms, urban farm- obviously dead” — Gail Greenman ing, school nutri- but some changes tion, specialty crops accompanying a and programs for new administration women, minority, could have “really veteran and begin- big benefits” for ning farmers. producers, said Gail Vilsack said the Greenman, national department wanted affairs director for to reconnect peo- the Oregon Farm ple with their food Bureau. and where it comes “I expect a lot of from, strengthen change in the regula- local and regional tory burden imposed Zippy Duval food systems and on Oregon produc- bring new people to ers for many, many replace America’s years,” she said. “Regulatory relief is a big one.” aging farmers. Then there’s the 2018 Farm Producers could wave goodbye to the U.S. Environ- Bill. Some observers wonder if mental Protection Agency’s Trump realizes it’s about more onerous “Waters of the U.S.” than commodities, but includes regulatory gambit, and might programs ranging from farm- see some “honest to goodness” land conservation payments to tax reform, including helpful school lunches and SNAP food adjustments to the estate tax, stamps. she said. Conventional wisdom Price outlook holds that a Trump administra- The outlook for specific ag tion will provide “more good sectors is mixed. A Novem- opportunities than bad for ag,” ber article in CropLife maga- Greenman said. zine said ag retailers believed Zippy Duvall, the presi- 2017 would be “another in the dent of the American Farm current string of down years, Bureau Federation, was partic- with low commodity prices” ularly pleased with the selec- depressing grower income. But tion of Oklahoma Attorney an updated round of conver- the latter, growers want work authorization for illegal immi- grants but the greater need, they say, is improvement or replace- ment of the H-2A program. Frank Gasperini Jr., exec- utive vice president of the National Council for Agricul- tural Employers, said produc- ers who grow, pick and ship labor-intensive crops are con- cerned the new administration and Congress will move aggres- sively on border enforcement and electronic verification of employment eligibility, called E-Verify, without addressing the need for farmworkers. “If that happens, it will be disas- trous,” he said. Bell said part of market- ing Pier 39 is letting people know about the experiences there, from kayak rentals at Astoria Scuba to the live crab tank at Hanthorn Crab Co., which is building a commer- cial kitchen and preparing to open Pier 39 Seafoods restau- rant offering grab-and-go sea- sonal seafoods. “We want visitors to share in this celebration of our history while also enjoying the numer- ous other experiences available around Pier 39,” she said. Pot-pourri At least one edgy ag sec- tor — marijuana growers — apparently believes it has little to fear from a Trump adminis- tration. Writing at cnbc.com, Grow Solutions Holdings Inc. President Jeff Beverly noted Trump has already endorsed medical cannabis use and said recreational pot use is a matter of state’s rights. In addition, several states that provided him critical elec- toral votes also passed mea- sures legalizing various forms of cannabis use. “For Trump to spend sub- stantial political capital bat- tling the legalization trend, when such crucial states to Republican victory as Flor- ida, Ohio and Pennsylvania all passed measures approving cannabis use this year, seems unlikely given the adminis- tration’s priorities on huge issues including repealing Obamacare, improving border security and revisiting interna- tional trade agreements,” Bev- erly wrote. Whales: Higher elevations make better spots Continued from Page 1A In winter, the whales are swimming a bit farther from shore. That makes the best locations those higher in ele- vation, where you can see farther out into the ocean. A few places with the highest success rates include Cape Meares (near Tilla- mook), Neahkahnie Moun- tain (Tillamook), The Inn at Spanish Head (Lincoln City), Cape Foulweather (Depoe Bay) and Shore Acres (Coos Bay). “The whales stay farther out in winter because it’s a little easier for them to nav- igate in the deeper water,” Parsons said. “They’re in a hurry. They’re headed down to Baja to either breed or give birth, and don’t want to miss the party.” Clear and sunny The second major factor in spotting whales is weather. A clear and sunny morning with low winds is best, Par- sons said. “The number of whales that people see really spikes on clear days,” he said. “But in the end, it’s just about having binoculars and stay- ing with it. Patience is often rewarded.” Favorite locations Best hike-in view spot: A combination of one of the Oregon Coast’s best hikes and whale-watching spots comes together at Cape Lookout State Park. A trek of 2.5 miles (5 miles round- trip) takes you to the point of the cape, where you can see landmarks 40 miles away and whales sometimes swim by quite close. The hike begins at Cape Lookout State Park’s main trailhead south of Tillamook. If you don’t want to look for whales in the sometimes chilly outdoor air, set up shop at the Inn at Spanish Head Lobby on the 10th floor. Coffee and snacks can be enjoyed while keeping your eyes peeled on the ocean. Fresh air and whale Bell: “We want visitors to share in this celebration ...” Continued from Page 1A sations showed some retailers now believe 2016 will prove to be the bottom of the down cycle and the coming year will be flat at worst and maybe up a little. Analysts at Northwest Farm Credit Services expect head- winds in international mar- kets due to a strong U.S. dol- lar and uncertainty of how the new administration’s scrutiny of trade will affect ag exports. Michael Stolp, vice pres- ident of customer insights at FCS, said things are looking up for dairy farmers but sev- eral commodities are currently selling for less than the cost of production. Global milk production is down but U.S. production is up 2 percent and prices are strengthening, Stolp said. Class III milk prices are in the high $16s per hundred- weight, with futures prices out to August nearing $18, he said. The cattle industry, however, is in about year two of a six-year down cycle, he said, and prices are below the break-even point for most cow-calf producers. Hay markets are showing regional differences in supply and prices: Low supplies in the Southwest but ample supplies of low- to mid-quality alfalfa in the Northwest, Stolp said. Wheat prices also remain depressed, due to strong U.S. and global supplies and a pro- jected record harvest in Aus- tralia. Strong production in potatoes and onions across the Northwest depressed prices, but the sugar beet and nurs- ery-greenhouse industries are seeing positive returns. Bell and her husband, Grant, who works for World- Mark Seaside, first visited Astoria in 2009 on a week- end getaway, during which she said they made a pact to move to the North Coast. They went house hunting in 2011, and relocated in 2012 with their two daughters, now 4 and 6. “The girls enjoy coming with me to Pier 39,” Bell said. “They love wandering through the cannery museum and vis- iting Coffee Girl, chatting up customers in between bites of grilled cheese sandwiches.” — Edward Stratton watching takes place at Boiler Bay Scenic View- point in Depoe Bay. Just step out of your car and look across the ocean. No luck? Continue just south to the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay, where experts can help guide your search. Top 10 places to spot whales Each year, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Depart- ment keeps track of the num- ber of whales spotted at each of the 24 locations where volun- teers are located during Whale Watch Week. The results from Dec. 27-31 in 2015 can help visitors pick locations with the best chances for a sighting. Cape Meares: 187 Spanish Head: 139 Shore Acres: 135 Neahkahnie Mountain: 112 Cape Foulweather: 97 Cape Ferrelo: 93 Cape Lookout: 89 Ecola State Park: 81 Face Rock: 78 Don Davis: 73 T HE D AILY A STORIAN ’ S C UTEST B ABY C ONTEST If your baby was born January 1st & December 31st , 2016 , between you can submit your newborn’s picture either via email at: CLASSIFIEDS @ DAILYASTORIAN . COM or drop by one of our offi ces in Astoria or Seaside and we can scan in the photo for you. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, January 25 th at 5 pm Entries will be printed in The Daily Astorian on January 31st. *Human babies only please!*