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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017
Bill to raise state smoking
age to 21 passes state House
By PARIS ACHEN
Capital Bureau
SALEM — Oregon is on its
way to become the third state
to raise the legal age to buy
tobacco from 18 to 21.
The state House of Repre-
sentatives on Thursday passed
a bill to increase the legal age.
The Senate, which had pre-
viously passed the bill, then
approved a minor language
change made by the House,
sending the bill to Gov. Kate
Brown for a signature.
“Research has shown that
raising the minimum legal
sale age of tobacco products
and electronic cigarettes to
21 years, in line with alcohol
and marijuana, significantly
reduces the number of youth
who begin using these products
and become addicted to them,
saving Oregonians billions
of tax dollars, and the lives of
thousands of loved ones, each
year,” said state Rep. Rich Vial,
R-Scholls.
Vial and Sen. Elizabeth
Steiner Hayward, D-Beaver-
ton, sponsored the legislation
to help prevent youth from
becoming addicted to tobacco.
Tobacco-related disease is the
state’s leading cause of prevent-
able death and claims the lives
of more than 5,500 Oregonians
each year.
Despite endorsements from
public health advocates and
an easy passage in the Sen-
ate, the bill faced a setback
when tobacco company Altria
hired former state Sen. Marga-
ret Carter, D-Portland, to lobby
against the measure, accord-
ing to a story by Willamette
Week. Carter, the first black
woman elected to the Oregon
Legislature, argued to lawmak-
ers that raising the legal age
could prompt racial profiling
of minority youth, according to
the alt-weekly article.
The House Rules Commit-
tee amended the bill Monday to
eliminate the potential for that
problem and ensure individuals
younger than 21 are not penal-
ized for possessing tobacco.
The statewide law would
follow a similar law enacted in
Lane County in March.
If signed by the governor,
the bill would make Oregon
the third state to raise the smok-
ing age. Hawaii began the state-
wide trend in 2015, followed by
California last year. More than
200 cities and counties, includ-
ing New York City and Boston,
have similar laws.
Roughly 1,800 Oregon kids
become new daily smokers
every year and an alarming 24
percent of Oregon’s 11th grad-
ers report using tobacco prod-
ucts. The increase in sales age
will keep tobacco products out
of high schools, where younger
teens often access them from
older classmates, according to
advocates with the American
Cancer Society Cancer Action
Network. About 95 percent of
adult smokers started smoking
before age 21, said Christopher
Friend, Oregon government
relations director for the Cancer
Action Network.
“High school is a prime time
for youth to begin a tobacco
addiction, but we know that if
kids don’t pick up a cigarette
during these vulnerable teen-
age years that most of them
will never start smoking later,”
Friend said.
County: ‘County manager staff is really small’
Continued from Page 1A
Moore has been trying
to find a clear replacement,
whether it be short term or long
term, since he became county
manager in April 2016. He was
hired to curb a trend that saw
nine different county managers
in 16 years, though the recent
past was not a consideration for
him in this decision, he said.
“That’s the most important
thing a leader does is to plan
for succession,” Moore said.
“What happens if I’m not here
tomorrow. What happens if I’m
not here next year?”
Post was eliminated
The assistant county man-
ager position was eliminated
due to budget cuts in the reces-
sion. But this year’s spending
plan is considerably healthier,
representing a nearly 25 per-
cent increase from just two
years ago.
“Certainly compared to a
lot of other counties in Oregon,
we’re in pretty decent financial
shape,” Moore said. “Other
places are dealing more with
cutting staff and things that
we’re not having to do right
now. It’s a lot more fun to be in
this position than it is to be in
that position.”
The assistant county man-
ager vacancy essentially com-
bined two full-time positions
into one, making this transition
a natural fit, he said. He expects
the move will allow Clatsop
County to engage more com-
prehensively in issues such as
policy advocacy at the state
level.
“The county manager staff
is really small,” Moore said.
“There’s so many things that
we do. There has to be some-
body at a high enough level
at the county that can engage
in discussions with other
counties, maybe cities in the
county.”
Moore and Steele will work
closely, often attending the
same meetings. Having a like-
minded assistant who is privy
to the same discussions will
help Moore maintain consis-
tency with staff even when he
is away.
“That’s important for the
staff, frankly, so that they don’t
wonder if there’s a problem,”
Moore said. “There might be
things that come up when I’m
out of the office, but I need to
be confident that those things
will be handled in a way that I
would like them to be handled
if I had been here myself.”
Three-year goal
The initial goal is for Steele
to become the full-time assis-
tant county manager within
three years. In the meantime,
she will specialize on a rotat-
ing set of issues each year until
her base of knowledge is more
complete.
The budget office planned
to hire a full-time employee
to replace a departing half-
time employee. The hire will
allow two accountants to take
on larger roles in Steele’s par-
tial absence.
Steele will receive the same
$97,810 salary as last fiscal
year. The budget allocates 60
percent of her salary toward
the budget and finance direc-
tor position and 40 percent for
the assistant county manager
position. But Steele is under no
illusions that her work hours
will not increase.
“There are a lot more
responsibilities stepping into a
role like that. There is big time
commitment,” Steele said. “I
feel like, at this point in my
career, that it’s something I
would be interested in pursu-
ing, to move up to that next
level.”
After initially receiving a
bachelor’s degree in exercise
science, Steele changed career
paths. She worked in a variety
of accounting positions in the
private sector and eventually
earned an accounting degree
as well.
She started working in the
Clatsop County Budget and
Finance Office in 2010 as the
assistant director before being
promoted to lead the depart-
ment in 2014. The office has
earned awards for its budget
presentation each year since.
“Monica was already per-
ceived by a lot of people as a
leader,” Moore said. “She had
already earned a broad level
of respect from county staff.
Whoever is in that senior finan-
cial position, they touch every
part of that organization. Peo-
ple in those positions often
start with a very good base of
knowledge about other parts of
county operations.”
So when Steele defini-
tively expressed her interest in
moving toward management,
Moore was pleased.
“That said something to me,
that she had a desire,” he said.
“I guarantee you there are peo-
ple here that would say, ‘No
way in hell would I take the
county manager job.’”
Though she didn’t start on a
path toward local government,
it has become an adopted pas-
sion for Steele.
“I just love county govern-
ment,” she said. “It can be a
really hard job from day to day
trying to make people happy,
not just the citizens, but the
staff and the commissioners.
We have a set of laws that we
have to follow.”
Early test
Steele may be tested early
on that front.
Some county elected offi-
cials have expressed concerns
both publicly and privately
about the process under which
Steele assumed the position, as
well as the perception that she
may be preparing to eventually
become the county manager.
The county charter grants
the Board of Commissioners
the sole power to hire a county
manager. Scott Lee, the board’s
chairman, said he has been
supportive of the move since
Steele was first approached
about the position. He noted
it re-establishes a position that
was forced to be cut, and that
Steele already assumes interim
county manager responsibili-
ties when Moore is away.
“She’s assumed that role
quite effectively,” Lee said.
“We feel that this is a logical
step. It’s a good general house-
keeping issue.”
Commissioner
Lianne
Thompson, however, said
that county staff heard about
the transition long before
she and other commissioners
did. Thompson, the sole “no”
vote when the county budget
was adopted last week, is dis-
pleased that commissioners did
not have more time to delib-
erate on Steele’s transition,
among other things.
“It’s about role and scope of
authority,” she said. “For Cam
to select the person who will
succeed him is inappropriate.
This is what the county’s gov-
erning body has devolved to.”
Thompson has repeatedly
questioned whether or not
commissioners have the proper
amount of sway in county
decision-making.
Lee seems to agree the
board has devolved, though not
in the same way. When asked
about recent dissatisfaction
expressed by commissioners,
he said the professionalism of
the board has been called into
question.
“I think the process has
been open and transparent.
We’re not grooming a future
county manager; we’re re-es-
tablishing a position.” Lee said.
“I think it’s irresponsible rheto-
ric, and I dismiss it.”
Both Steele and Moore
acknowledged the board will
have the final say in any future
hiring decision and that a num-
ber of applicants will likely be
considered.
“This isn’t hiring a county
manager, and this isn’t saying
that I would necessarily get
hired as a county manager,”
Steele said. “It’s just somebody
so, should something happen,
you have an interim, some-
body who’s in that place who is
familiar with all of the events
going on currently.”
Moore added that by the
time he eventually vacates the
county manager role, which
he has said will be his final
position before retirement, the
board will likely feature a new
assortment of commissioners.
“There are no guarantees
there,” he said. “I don’t think
anybody could presuppose
what that might look like.”
Transportation:
Plan will hike gas tax
by 10 cents gradually
Continued from Page 1A
The 10-year plan includes
hikes in the gas tax, registra-
tion and title fees and new
taxes on payroll, new vehi-
cle purchases and bicycles
priced more than $200.
The package also calls
for congestion-priced tolling
at some of Portland’s bottle-
necks. The Oregon Transpor-
tation Commission is respon-
sible for establishing the
program, which could toll
certain lanes on Interstate 5
and Interstate 205 to pay for
congestion-busting projects.
Among projects speci-
fied in the plan are conges-
tion relief on Highway 217,
widening northbound Inter-
state 205 from Powell Boule-
vard to Interstate 84 and ini-
tial investment in adding new
lanes to Interstate 5 through
Portland’s Rose Quarter.
Local impacts
The plan also includes
other projects around the
state. Senators each received
a summary of what projects
in their respective districts
are included.
The plan hikes the
state’s existing 30-cent gas
tax gradually over a sev-
en-year period to a total of
40 cents. Registration fees
would climb by $13 and title
fees by $16 in 2018. Begin-
ning in 2020, the state would
move toward a tiered sys-
tem of registration and title
fees based on a vehicle’s gas
mileage.
The plan also levies a 0.5
percent tax on the purchase
of new vehicles. About $12
million of the revenue from
the proceeds of the vehicle
excise tax would be used for
rebates on the purchase of
electric vehicles.
A $15 flat fee would be
charged on the purchase of
new adult bicycles with a
price tag of more than $200.
The proceeds would go
toward paying for commuter
bicycle and pedestrian paths.
Gearhart: Mayor Brown
supports the city’s rules
Continued from Page 1A
vacation rental ordinance is
far more beneficial to the city
and the residents of Gearhart
than the current ordinance.”
Some elements of the
original ballot initiative pre-
pared by the city are retained
in the rewritten summary,
including a vote on future
short-term rental zoning
amendments, safety inspec-
tions and permit fees.
allows an unlimited number
of commercial vacation rent-
als in residential zones.
According to Brown,
the proposal would elimi-
nate septic inspections for
high-occupancy rentals and
eliminate state certified fire
and life safety inspections. “I
believe it’s my sworn duty to
reject something that could
put lives in danger,” Brown
said.
Headed to vote
‘A responsible cap’
Mayor Matt Brown stood
by the city’s rules. “Our cur-
rent vacation rental laws are
working very well,” Brown
said. “We have a responsi-
ble cap while allowing all
current vacation rentals to
continue to rent. Substan-
dard septic and cesspools are
being repaired and replaced,
and bedrooms are being
updated with fire egresses to
protect children, families and
our property owners.”
Brown said that the ordi-
nance has stimulated more
available housing for full-
time residents, who choose
Gearhart for “its quiet resi-
dential nature.”
The city’s rules regulate
short-term rental occupancy
limits, parking and prop-
erty management contact
information, among other
provisions.
Permits are transferable
only by inheritance, not by
the sale of the property.
Brown said language in
the new proposal is “very dan-
gerous” to the quiet residential
nature of the community and
against the language in the
city’s comprehensive plan.
The revised ordinance
would eliminate the ability to
protect residents from neg-
ative impacts, he said, and
City Administrator Chad
Sweet said Thursday that 84
Gearhart property owners
had registered their homes as
short-term rentals.
Gearhart has about 1,400
voters on its rolls, Sweet
said. While the deadline has
passed for homeowners to
apply for short-term rental
permits, the city has extended
the period for property own-
ers to make improvements
required by the city’s current
ordinance. Window replace-
ment or installation for safety
egress, septic upgrades, cess-
pool replacement and other
fire and life safety issues
comprise the majority of
repairs or upgrades needed to
meet city standards.
Once the city delivers a
notice of election, the ini-
tiative will be placed on the
Nov. 7 ballot, County Clerk
Valerie Crafard said.
Brown said, “I am look-
ing forward to our citizens
getting the true facts on the
differences between our cur-
rent common-sense vaca-
tion rental rules and their
new repeal ordinance allow-
ing unlimited commercial
vacation rentals. I have the
utmost faith that our citizens
will decide what’s best for
the future of our quiet resi-
dential community.”
WORLD IN BRIEF
Trump’s predecessor, President Barack Obama, had notoriously
strained ties to Putin, and Trump has expressed an interest in a
better U.S.-Russia relationship.
Associated Press
Trump meets Putin: Talk of
positive results, not of election
HAMBURG, Germany — At long last face to face, Presi-
dent Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced
confidence today that their historic first meeting would pave the
way for a positive trajectory for their two countries. If thornier
issues like election meddling came up, they discussed them only
in private.
In characteristically confident fashion, Trump said he and the
Russian leader were holding “very, very good talks” as journalists
were briefly allowed in to witness part of their meeting in Ger-
many. Seated with an American flag behind him, Trump appeared
informal and relaxed and said it was “an honor” to be with Putin.
“We look forward to a lot of very positive things happening
for Russia, for the United States and for everybody concerned,”
Trump said.
Trump offered no details about what issues he and the Russian
leader had discussed, describing them only as “various things.”
Putin was similarly vague, telling reporters through a transla-
tor that they were discussing international problems and bilat-
eral issues.
Still, Putin described the fact that they were meeting as a pos-
itive sign in itself, and he said he hoped the meeting would “yield
positive results.”
“Phone conversations are never enough definitely,” Putin
said. “If you want to have a positive outcome in bilaterals and be
able to resolve most international policy issues, that will really
G-20 summit in Germany to
discuss terror, trade, climate
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
President Donald Trump meets with Russian President
Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit today in Hamburg.
need personal meetings.”
Then the leaders shook hands firmly but briefly before report-
ers were escorted out of the room. Trump did not respond to
shouted questions about whether they would discuss Russia’s
meddling in the U.S. election — a topic lawmakers in Washing-
ton have been demanding that Trump raise directly.
The heavily anticipated meeting is being closely scrutinized
for signs of how friendly a rapport Trump and Putin will have.
HAMBURG, Germany — The Group of 20 leaders’ summit
opened in Hamburg today amid ongoing protests in the German
port city, with terrorism, global trade and climate change high on
the agenda.
The host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, says she hopes
to find “compromises and answers” on a range of issues at the
two-day meeting of leading industrial and developing nations.
While there’s little disagreement on fighting terrorism, the first
item on the agenda, prospects of finding common ground on cli-
mate change and trade look uncertain.
The gathering, at which President Donald Trump will hold his
first meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, fol-
lows skirmishes Thursday evening between police and protesters
at a demonstration in Germany’s biggest city that was expected
to be the biggest flashpoint around the summit.
Police said that at least 111 officers were hurt during the
clashes, one of whom had to be taken to a hospital with an eye
injury after a firework exploded in front of him. Twenty-nine
people were arrested and another 15 temporarily detained. Win-
dows at the Mongolian consulate were also broken.
The city has boosted its police with reinforcements from
around the country and has 20,000 officers on hand to patrol
Hamburg’s streets, skies and waterways.