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