7A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018
Tax: Second hearing will Drones: Right now, it is up to park managers
be held later this month
developing.”
Continued from Page 1A
Continued from Page 1A
Lodging Association, asked
commissioners to delay a
decision to give county offi-
cials time to consult the
association, chambers of
commerce and other tour-
ism-based businesses.
“If an industry tax
increase is of interest to
lodging operators, the meet-
ings could help serve as a
helpful catalyst in identify-
ing strategic tourism invest-
ments that could result in
more tourism tax revenue
and thus more unrestricted
dollars for investments in jail
operations,” Brandt wrote.
The local business owners
mirrored that request. A num-
ber of them also lamented
what they described as a ten-
dency for local governments
to use the 30 percent of rev-
enue from lodging taxes for
projects at the expense of the
tourism industry.
“I’m opposed to the tax
because taxing authorities
seem to come to the hotels
for money because they see
it as an easy way. The people
who are taxed don’t really
have a say,” said Don West,
general manager of the Can-
nery Pier Hotel and owner of
the Astoria Crest Motel.
Bergin said the lodg-
ing tax would add $1 to a
$100 room rental. “If we
were at 3 or 4 percent ask-
ing, I could understand that,
but that’s why we said 1 per-
cent, you know, is more than
fair,” Bergin said. “It’s kind
of this, you know, this hyper-
sensitivity to additional tax.”
While some conceded the
proposed tax was not large,
lodging operators said other
tax hikes — including one
passed by the Astoria City
Council last year to help
fund city parks — are add-
ing up.
“That extra 1 percent isn’t
going to make much of a
difference for us, but it’s just
sad that this is pretty much
the only place you guys
always turn to,” said Robert
Jacob, owner of the Cannery
Pier Hotel.
Joshua Bessex/
The Daily Astorian
The county wants to relo-
cate the county jail from
Astoria to the former North
Coast Youth Correctional
Facility in Warrenton.
Business owners were
skeptical about precisely
how the 70 percent of rev-
enue would be used for
tourism promotion, a dis-
trust that has caused ten-
sion throughout the state.
The lodging association, for
example, won a Deschutes
County lawsuit in May in
which it claimed Bend used
money for road repairs rather
than tourism. The city is
appealing.
Commissioners will hold
a second hearing — during
which they may debate and
vote on the new tax — later
this month. The tax would
take effect in January if
passed.
Commissioners would
have the option of with-
drawing the tax if voters
do not approve the Novem-
ber bond. While Bergin said
he would prefer to keep the
tax in place even if the bond
doesn’t pass, business own-
ers asked that it be repealed.
Looking out at the audi-
ence at one point in the
meeting, the sheriff jok-
ingly offered one conces-
sion to those unhappy about
the potential tax: “Just so
you know, I’ll be in the dunk
tank Friday at the (Clatsop
County) Fair.”
“Whenever we approach
someone who has violated a
rule, it’s not like they’re a crim-
inal,” she said. “It’s really just a
lack of knowledge. We totally
understand this technology has
grown so rapidly but the educa-
tion hasn’t kept up.”
New signs on the beach
explain that drones must stay
2,000 feet from Haystack Rock.
The awareness program has
also provided guidance to staff
on how to handle drone encoun-
ters, and has taken to social
media and newsletters to remind
people of proper drone use.
Still, the effort doesn’t
seem to be enough. Apps for
drones don’t list Haystack
Rock as a national wildlife ref-
uge, although they do mark
other no-fly zones like airports.
Awareness program staff only
work at the rock during low tide,
leaving much of the day without
anyone to manage drones.
Keyser hopes drone apps
will eventually include wild-
life refuges. Greater knowl-
edge of the possibility of fines
Hannah Sievert/The Daily Astorian
Signs posted at Haystack Rock indicate the drone policy.
could help prevent wildlife
disturbances.
“(The fines) would deter a lot
of people, but they don’t even
have that knowledge,” Key-
ser said. “It’s still totally insuf-
ficient even with the people we
talk to and the messages we put
out. It’s still not enough.”
The state Parks and Recre-
ation Department has also had
to develop new policies. Drones
are generally legal to use in
most state parks, except in areas
where flights could endanger
wildlife or pose risks to people
or property.
A drone policy development
group is working on an umbrella
policy for all recreational drone
use that will be easy for park
visitors to understand.
Katie Gauthier, the legisla-
tive and policy coordinator for
state parks, who serves on the
drone policy group, said the
policy will be flexible enough to
meet the unique needs of each
park.
“We wouldn’t have drones
in every park for sure based
on the park’s conditions,” she
said. “But it’s those condi-
tions that we’re still looking at
A draft policy should be
completed this fall, with the
goal of having the policy in
place by 2019.
Right now, it is up to park
managers to decide whether
drones are allowed.
Nehalem Bay State Park
was ruled a drone no-fly zone
because of the nearby airport
and the nesting birds in the area.
Ben Cox, park manager
for the Nehalem Bay Manage-
ment Unit, may rule Short Sand
Beach in Oswald West State
Park a no-fly zone because of
the high concentration of people
who visit.
Still, Cox tries to make
drone use happen safely when
possible.
“I try to figure out how to
make this happen for the per-
son so they can have an expe-
rience and not be bound up in
regulations,” he said. “Often-
times there’s a misconception
that the government looks to
limit or hinder. I look to allow
unless I can’t. I want to make
sure I’m not saying ‘no’ for no
good reason.”
Library: A move to closed stacks concerns some
Continued from Page 1A
In the medium scenario, the
basement is for staff use only.
In the second design scenario
— the “large” scenario — many
of the improvements to the first
floor proposed in the medium
scenario remain, but major
changes occur in the basement
that raise the cost by about $1.6
million.
The large scenario would
involve a hole cut in the first
floor with a staircase leading
into the basement. The base-
ment would contain, in addi-
tion to staff areas, storage and
the closed stacks, more meeting
and study areas, multipurpose
rooms, the Flag Room, seat-
ing, artwork and a supplemen-
tal kitchen that could be used for
classes.
Under both scenarios, a mez-
zanine above the library’s cur-
rent reading area will go away
and the library will address
Hennebery Eddy Architects
A conceptual rendering shows a renovated Astoria Library.
long-deferred
maintenance
issues such as aging plumbing
and electrical systems, a roof in
need of repair and lighting.
The city doesn’t have to
charge headlong into the large
scenario, Wark noted. The
medium scenario is set up so the
changes presented in the large
scenario can be added later.
People who attended the
work session Wednesday were,
overall, enthusiastic about the
renovation options, but were
concerned about how the move
to closed stacks might limit
browsing, a concern also raised
by Jones and other city leaders.
“I think people need to be
able to walk into the library and
discover things,” Jones said.
Closed stacks, where mate-
rials are searchable in a library’s
catalog and can be retrieved for
people to use and check out, are
both a throwback to how librar-
ies operated in years past but
also the way many plan to oper-
ate in the future, said Wark and
Astoria Library Director Jimmy
Pearson. Ruth Metz, who led a
2013 study of the library and is
a consultant on the renovation
project, said there are ways to
allow people to browse closed
stacks.
“Books are not going away,
books will never go away,” Pear-
son assured. He noted that much
of the collection, which totals
around 52,000 items, is already
in the basement. He says the first
floor of the library would display
mostly new and popular items
after the renovation, while the
young adult and children’s col-
lections would remain entirely
available on the first floor.
Overall, City Councilor
Zetty Nemlowill said, the design
options seem “like a great
balance of preservation and
progress.”
“I wish we had the money to
just implement this whole plan
right now,” she said.
Newfoundlands: Event celebrates Newfoundland who accompanied Lewis and Clark
Continued from Page 1A
Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
A Newfoundland named Happy enjoys the attention
during the day’s festivities.
Owners acknowledge some
drawbacks, like cleaning hair
and drool and training the gen-
tle giants not to pull on leashes
or playfully jump on people
and knock them over. Some
hotels don’t allow dogs that
size to stay in hotel rooms with
owners. And normal dog waste
bags available in parks usually
aren’t big enough.
Ed Simstone, from Den-
ver, has leaned into the histor-
ical component of the breed.
In 2011, Simstone hiked up to
Lewis and Clark Pass in Mon-
tana wearing elk skin mocca-
sins with his Newfoundland,
Seaman. On his way back this
year, Simstone plans on hiking
the trail with Seaman again,
bringing his two other New-
foundlands along this time, too.
Even with all the mainte-
nance, many Newfoundland
owners can’t imagine them-
selves with another breed.
“If you want a dog that’s
loyal and loving and friendly,
you can’t go wrong,” said Jack
Chapman, from Warrenton. “If
you value a clean and immac-
ulate house, wrong animal for
you.”
Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
Seaman’s Day celebrates the Newfoundland who accompa-
nied Lewis and Clark on their journey through the region.
CL ASSIF IE D M ARK ETPL A CE
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107 Public Notices
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BILL BAILEY
WON’T YOU
Go.
Do.
coastweekend.com
634 Wanted to Rent
PLEASE
Bryan (503)407-9035
Retired senior woman seeks
rental housing in non-smoking
non-pet environment.
204 Automobiles
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE
2002 Pontiac Grand Am Runs
great, looks great. Well main-
tained $2,500 Seaside, OR.
503-440-8638
Non-smoker/drugs
Good housekeeper.
Phone numbers corrected 7/9
Iris - 541-272-9089
or 503-755-2014
435 W Marine Drive
Astoria
Beautiful View
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$180,000
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Classified Ads work hard for you!
504 Homes for Sale
House For Sale By Owner
Beautiful house with a million
dollar view. Equipped with
solar panels.
Price Reduced: $475,000
Call
(503)440-8918
Check today’s classified
ads for excellent buys on
the items you need!
1910 Historic
Commercial/Residential
Property
651 Help Wanted
Farm hand Wanted
COME HOME
2bd/1ba w/basement
Looking for a new place to
live? The classified ads offer
a complete section of homes,
apartments, and mobile
homes to fit your needs.
Check daily for new listings!
504 Homes for Sale
Tagg Ranch
Pioneer Farm Road
Warrenton, OR
360-747-4748
I am looking for room to
rent in nice home
$300-$400/month
Glad to do chores for discount.
Solid income, references,
former firefighter.
Small, quiet, well-behaved dog.
(me too!)
643 Business Sales
Opportunities
Coastal Hybrid Real Estate
Investor is looking for local
contractor or experienced
flipper to form a capital part-
nership, LLP. Real estate
attorney to verify funds.
Chanterelle2017@gmail.com
www.hybridcapitalassets.
com
Part-Time Employment
Rare opportunity. Weekend
retail position. Will train. Sub-
mit resumé to 240 14th St.
Astoria, OR. 503-338-6721
petworksastoria@gmail.com
Have an item that you would
like to sell for under $1,000?
List it in our Budget Ads! $9
for 3 days in print and online.
Call 503-325-3211
Full or part-time
Driver needed.
Wages DOE, CDL required,
North West Ready Mix.
950 Olney Avenue
nwready@pacifier.com
503-325-3562
Peter Pan market has an
opening for a permanent
full-time Deli/Cashier position.
Schedule includes evenings
and weekends.
Food handling, customer skills,
and multi-tasking experience a
must. Starting wage $12/hour.
Apply in person.
651 Help Wanted
The City of Cannon Beach
is seeking qualified
applicants for the Planning
Administrative Assistant
position.
Full details at
ci.cannon-beach.or.us/jobs
Part-Time Employment
Part time customer service
position in fast paced tourist
frequented store in downtown
Astoria.
Please send resumes to:
175 14th St #110
Astoria, OR 97103
WORD PROCESSOR/
PERSONAL ASST, PT.
Excellent Grammar/
Writing Skills/Computer/Legal
Experience Beneficial and/or
interested in
the enirvonment.
Pay based on
Demonstrated Ability
360-244-1865
Clatsop CASA Program
is seeking a new
Executive Director.
For qualifications, a complete
job description and details
about how to apply, contact
WorkSource Oregon,
Employment Division,
503-325-4821.
First review of applications
July 31.