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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2018)
146TH YEAR, NO. 115 WEEKEND EDITION // FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2018 ONE DOLLAR Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian People walk near the surf at Cannon Beach. An informed decision STUDY EXPLORES THE IMPACTS OF COASTAL EROSION AND INCREASED STORMS IN TILLAMOOK COUNTY By BRENNA VISSER The Daily Astorian C oastal erosion and more intense winter storms may require policy- makers to take another look at how they plan for future development. A new Oregon State University study, based in Tillamook County, examined how beach access and property would be impacted by sea level rise and coastal ero- sion if planning policies stayed the same. Researchers then looked at the costs, impacts and implications if the region changed policies, such as providing incen- tives to move houses out of vulnerable areas or loosening regulation on breakwa- ter infrastructure. One approach may protect more homes from danger, but comes with a hefty price tag. Another may be the best at prevent- ing erosion, but impacts beach access. The point of the study is not to tell lawmakers what to do, said Patrick Corcoran, a coastal hazards specialist with Oregon State Uni- versity’s Sea Grant program and co-author of the paper, but to give informed direction about the consequences of their choices. “We can’t control climate change, at least not directly,” Corcoran said. “The one thing we can control is management. We need to align our behavior with what we see happening.” A young common murre prepares for incoming waves near Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach. A new study based in Tillamook County has implications across the North Coast. ‘THE ONE THING WE CAN CONTROL IS MANAGEMENT. WE NEED TO ALIGN OUR BEHAVIOR WITH WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING.’ Patrick Corcoran | a coastal hazards specialist Roughly a quarter of Tillamook Coun- ty’s population lives within a half mile from the Pacific Ocean, with 40 percent of the coastline eroding at rates of more than 3 feet a year. According to the study, coastal hazards are growing, and can be attributed to three main drivers: sea level rise, increases in wave heights from winter storms and the frequency of El Nino weather patterns. Researchers designed five different policy scenarios to address what people in Tillamook County consider priorities: the ability to use the beach and property protection. They predicted what would happen if policies stayed the same, as well as what would happen with certain changes, such as constructing new buildings on lots that allowed protective measures like riprap, removing buildings repetitively impacted by coastal hazards and having no develop- ment restrictions at all through 99 different climate scenarios over the course of 30 to 90 years. Overall, the study shows that if policies in Tillamook County don’t change, more than 2,000 buildings will remain in the haz- ard zone, and that damages associated with coastal flooding will cost more than $150 million over the next century. See STUDY, Page 7A Warrenton superintendent set to retire Jeffery will leave at end of school year By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — Mark Jeffery, the super- intendent of the Warrenton-Hammond School District since 2011, will retire at the end of the school year. The school board is expected to accept his resignation, effective June 30, at its next meet- ing Wednesday. a closer look first. Jeffery has recommended the school “Mark has done very, very well district hire in-house among either recruiting and hiring administrators,” Warrenton High School Principal Rod she said. “And quite frankly, I think Heyen, Warrenton Grade School Prin- we have one of the strongest group of cipal Tom Rogozinski or grade school administrators.” Vice Principal Robbie Porter. He would Jeffery, 63, has overseen a school Mark like to have a replacement by sometime district that went from facing a $1 mil- Jeffery lion budget shortfall and a lackluster in March to allow a smooth transition. reputation to one of the fastest-grow- Debbie Morrow, the chairwoman of the school board, said the school district ing and academically successful in the county. will likely look at internal and external candi- He partially retired in 2014, collecting benefits dates for superintendents, giving its employees from the Public Employees Retirement System while agreeing to work part time to save the dis- trict money. Jeffery had planned on Warrenton being his last stop in a 30-year career as an administrator and educator, and has been thinking of his exit strategy since going part time. The performance of his principals was the deciding factor, he said. “I felt good I could leave the district in good hands (with) the administrative team,” he said. “All of the programs and initiatives we’re work- ing on, they’re all building-generated. Rod and See JEFFERY, Page 7A Astoria looks to ease fines on homeless New program would provide a ‘clean slate’ By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian Homeless people often struggle to pay fines. Astoria’s homelessness solutions task force is considering a “clean slate” program for home- less people cited for breaking city rules who are not able to pay court fines and fees. Other cities have experimented with allow- ing homeless people to pay off their fines through community service or by taking steps toward self-sufficiency. Astoria Police Chief Geoff Spalding told the task force this week it is clear court fines are a major barrier to people who are already strug- gling and have little or no income. Four members of the task force will meet to flesh out a proposal, but no details are available yet about what a clean slate program would look like. Advocates for the homeless argue that the homeless should not be cited for things like sleeping under bridges or sidewalks given the limited shelter options available. The base fee for violating the city’s “no camping” ordinance is $500. But they do agree that the homeless should have other options when it comes to dealing with court fines and fees. Often, when homeless people receive a cita- tion, they will not show up in court, knowing they can’t pay the fine. This practice only compounds their problems. When they don’t show up, the court does not know their situation and can only note that they failed to appear. Fines continue to accumulate. See HOMELESS, Page 7A