Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2020)
A6 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2020 Dispatch: ‘It’s a steep learning curve’ Continued from Page A1 They said it could take at least six months until the dis- patch center has some lon- ger-term relief, which is about how long it takes to hire and train a dispatcher. The process is somewhat similar to hiring a police offi cer and includes a writ- ten test, oral interview, psy- chological, medical, full background check and drug screen. Once they hire some- one and begin the training phase, there is a steep learn- ing curve, and some people don’t move forward. “That’s why we spend a little more time on the front end trying as hard as we can to make sure we get the right person that’s going to be successful in there. A lot of things come into play, it’s not a simple fi x,” Spalding said. “So, we lose a fair amount of people in the process. So getting someone through the process is a challenge,” he said. Spalding said they have recently given two condi- tional offers of employment and he feels encouraged. “Fortunately, the dispatch- ers we have in there now are excellent dispatchers, they’re doing a great job. B ut, again, they are working more than they really should,” he said. While the long-term chal- lenge is getting the dispatch center fully staffed, they are looking at ways to address the short-term challenge, which Lawmakers expect to cooperate across party lines in the Democrat-controlled Legislature to progress on run-of-the-mill issues and budget fi xes. But the greenhouse gas proposal poses the risk of a political blowout. Last year, state Senate Republicans fl ed the state to avoid taking a vote on a similar proposal. They have said such an act remains an option for them in February. Other controversial issues coming back to life include campaign fi nance reform and fi rearm regulation. Here’s a guide to what to watch once legislators convene in the Capitol on Monday : HOMELESSNESS The issue: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development esti- mates that about 15,800 Oregonians are homeless. About 64% are “unshel- tered,” meaning they live in public or private places not meant for human habitation, such as cars or public parks. House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, wants lawmak- ers to declare a state of emer- gency and to provide roughly $120 million in funding to help create more shelters, build affordable housing and preserve existing affordable housing stock. What’s at stake: The liv- ing arrangements for thou- sands of Oregonians who are confronted by rising rents and a thin supply of housing they can afford. Moving peo- ple off the streets and out of cars makes it easier to pro- vide social services to home- less people who have mental health, addiction and other challenges. Key players: Kotek, state Rep. Alissa Keny- Guyer, chairwoman of the House Human Services and Housing Committee, and state Sen. Shemia Fagan, chairwoman of the Senate Housing and Development Committee. MENTAL HEALTH The issue: The Oregon State Hospital is struggling to accommodate an infl ux tamping down on walkouts. Senate Bill 1524 would 160 days. The resolution’s set some of the state’s fi rst other 10 sponsors are all campaign contribution limits. Republicans. Senate Bill 1559 would Johnson said the Leg- islature, which created ban the distribution and the short session in 2010 sale of fl avored vaping to deal with emergencies, products. Rep. Brad Witt, pass-down changes from D-Clatskanie, is the chief federal legislation and other sponsor behind House Bill minor issues, has broken 4075, which would ban faith with voters by intro- coyote-hunting contests. ducing so many major pol- House Bill 4145 would create the crime of threat- icy discussions . “It was never intended ening a school or place of to be a second bite at the worship. Rep. Tiffi ny Mitchell, apple for failed bills in the long session,” the senator D-Astoria, who avoided a recall election over her sup- said. Johnson said she port last year of the cap- remains opposed to a and-trade legislation, enters revamped climate change her second legislative ses- bill until the managers at sion uncertain whether her colleagues will the Georgia-Pa- come to work. cifi c Wauna Mill, a “It’s frankly major employer in been a concern of Clatsop County, tell mine that they will her the legislation is walk out again,” OK with them. she said of Sen- Johnson is one ate Republicans. of three co-chairs of the Joint Com- Tiffi ny Mitchell “I hope they will approach this as mittee on Ways and Means responsible for writ- adults.” Mitchell is sponsoring a ing the state’s budget, along with Sen. Elizabeth Steiner bill to create a commission Hayward, D-Portland, and she said is necessary for the Rep. Dan Rayfi eld, D-Cor- state to establish a roadmap vallis. Without enough pro- for its efforts around men- jected revenue to cover all tal and behavioral health, the asks from the Legis- and another to create a task lature, they are taking a force looking at the M edi- conservative approach on care and M edicaid bene- fi ts for people who work spending, Johnson said. Johnson told Astoria in publicly funded care radio personality Michael centers for the elderly and Desmond there is more those with disabilities. “We need to take care uncertainty in the upcom- ing session than she’s ever of the people who are tak- witnessed. That includes ing care of people who are uncertainty over whether really important to us,” she Republicans will walk out said. The bill is also meant again and over the health of Senate President Peter to address the uninten- Courtney, D-Salem, who tional hypocrisy of gov- has been in the hospital ernment prevailing wage with a staph infection in his standards based around the replaced hip and could miss male-dominated construc- tion projects, while wages the start of the session . “We are jamming in the health care industry through too many bills — dominated by women too fast without adequate — are neglected, she said. Mitchell is chief debate, without adequate opportunity for amend- co-sponsor of a bill with ment, without adequate Sen. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos minority and majority Bay, and Rep. David Smith, investment and additional R-Port Orford, to appropri- correction or subtraction ate nearly $2.5 million from to the bills,” she told Des- the general fund for more mond. “And it results in us research into ocean acidifi - having to go back in and fi x cation, aquatic vegetation, estuaries, shellfi sh, along stuff.” Besides cap and trade, with educational programs the Legislature is taking on to promote the work. The several controversial pieces state, with so many seafood of legislation, includ- and other industries tied up ing two gun control bills. in the health of the ocean, One, Senate Bill 1538, needs to have good infor- would allow local govern- mation, she said. Mitchell said she proba- ments to decide whether guns are allowed on their bly wouldn’t support John- property. Another, House son’s resolution to elimi- Bill 4005, would require nate the Legislature’s short guns not being carried be session. “Having gone through locked up or equipped with a trigger lock. Johnson one long session, there are said her record in support so many things we didn’t of the Second Amendment get done in that last long session,” she said. “I think remains clear. Senate Joint Resolution that second session is help- 201 would allow voters to ful. I think if anything, we decide whether the Legis- need to focus on making lature needs a two-thirds that session run more effi - or one-half quorum to con- ciently. I would like it to be duct business, potentially longer than one month.” Continued from Page A1 Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian Eric Halverson is the deputy police chief for Astoria. is relieving dispatchers. They have been looking at ways to improve retention by ensuring they are pay- ing competitively and focus- ing on creating a good work environment. Astoria also has an arrangement with the Sea- side Police Department’s dis- patch to help fi ll shifts. Seaside’s dispatch center is fully staffed at eight full- time dispatchers that handle calls for seven agencies in Seaside, Gearhart, Cannon Beach and Hamlet. Mitch Brown, the com- munications manager for the Seaside Police Department, said it is rare they are fully staffed and when they are it doesn’t last long. “It’s always hard to fi nd people to come to a career like this when the stress is so high and the burnout is so high. And there’s manda- tory overtime that takes away from family time,” Brown said. Brown and Spalding said staffi ng shortages are not unique to Astoria. Dispatch centers in Tillamook, Colum- bia and Washington coun- ties are experiencing similar staffi ng shortages. “Attracting good people to the coast, especially lat- erals, is diffi cult,” Spalding said. “So we have to look for talent that’s already here and then train them, so it’s a steep learning curve.” Spalding believes having a consolidated, county wide dispatch center would proba- bly help with staffi ng. Brown doesn’t think it would neces- sarily help. The idea has been dis- cussed for years, but Asto- ria and Seaside continue to invest in technology to support their own dispatch centers. “I will say that we are frus- trated because it’s a tough sit- uation,” Spalding said. “And I have a lot of respect for the dispatchers that do the job. Sometimes I think they think it’s a thankless job, but we recognize it’s a diffi cult job and they do it well.” State: Cap and trade poses risk of a political blowout Continued from Page A1 Local: Mitchell avoided recall election over her support for cap and trade of patients from counties. Judges send defendants for treatment so they can partici- pate in their own defense. In December, the hospital for three weeks stopped admit- ting other people needing treatment to make room for defendants. The Oregon Health Authority wants $20 million to add 50 beds to the hos- pital’s Junction City cam- pus. The move would add 94 workers and shift some patients to the new beds, freeing up space in Salem. Lawmakers may consider providing more money for mental health services in communities across the state. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Lake Oswego, is proposing the state evaluate the need for more behavioral health professionals. What’s at stake: The National Alliance on Mental Illness ranks Oregon as one of the states with a high prev- alence of mental illness, and the state hospital has strug- gled to keep up with demand for its specialized services. Without more money, the state hospital could fall out of compliance with a court order and then face new law- suits or penalties over inad- equate care. Meanwhile, judges struggle to fi nd places for those not requiring hos- pital-level care within their own communities, resulting in the release of people who need treatment. Key players: Oregon Health Authority Direc- tor Patrick Allen; Oregon State Hospital Superinten- dent Dolly Matteucci; OHA Behavioral Health Direc- tor Steve Allen; Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland; Sen. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay; Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Lake Oswego. WILDFIRES modernize the state Depart- ment of Forestry and expand its ability to use aircraft on wildfi res. What’s at stake: Despite an average fi re season last year, where about 16,867 acres burned, the growing threat of climate change has lawmakers and forestry offi - cials feeling like they got lucky. Wildfi re costs in 2017 and 2018 set new records. Such costs are expected to grow if the state does not spend more to prevent and mitigate fi res, placing con- tinuing strains on state budgets. Key players: Jason Miner, the governor’s nat- ural resources policy advi- sor; Matt Donegan, chair of the state Council on Wild- fi re Response; Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr., R-Grants Pass; Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland; the state Depart- ment of Forestry . GUNS The issue: Democratic lawmakers are making another attempt at a safe stor- age gun control bill. Another bill would allow local gov- ernments to ban fi rearms from public buildings. What’s at stake: Advo- cates say their proposal is intended to reduce deaths and injuries in Oregon caused by guns. The legisla- tion could also broaden the public buildings where guns could be banned. Key players: Rep . Rachel Prusak, D-West Linn; Rep. Janeen Sollman, D-Hill- sboro; Oregon Firearms Federation; the National Rifl e Association ; Orego- nians for Safe Gun Storage and Reporting Lost/Stolen Firearms; Moms Demand Action. ENVIRONMENT The issue: Democrats The issue: Oregon could change the way it prevents and suppresses wildfi re. The governor’s Council on Wild- fi re Response is proposing better ways to plan fi re sup- pression, assess risk and pre- vent fi res. Gov. Kate Brown intends to ask for up to $200 million over two years for the work. Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr., R-Grants Pass, wants to Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 CAMPAIGN FINANCE The issue: Oregon is one of a handful of states that don’t limit donations to polit- ical campaigns. Supporters say major donors have an outsized infl uence on Ore- gon politics while opponents say campaign donations are a form of free speech that shouldn’t be restricted. New limits could change Oregon campaigns because candi- dates would have less money to market themselves. What’s at stake: Voters will consider a constitutional amendment in November that would free the Legis- lature to regulate campaign fi nance. Legislation could be considered that would script new campaign limits if that ballot measure passes. Key leaders, including the gover- nor, have backed away from pushing such legislation for now. Key players: Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland; Honest Elections Oregon. The Oregon Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group, Pamplin Media Group and Salem Reporter. Volunteer Pick of the Week Magical things happen when you maximize by two, especially these two sweet sisters. Read more on Petfinder.com C LATSOP C OUNTY A NIMAL S HELTER 1315 SE 19 th Street, Warrenton • 861 - PETS www.dogsncats.org Public Notice Location: 9-10 month old bonded females Sponsored By facebook.com/dailyastorian Clatsop County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Local Work Group and Public Input Meeting Frida & Piper WANTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA are pursuing limits on green- house emissions by indus- try in their latest version of a cap-and-trade program. What’s at stake: Scien- tists say the impact of cli- mate change grows more distinct each year and envi- ronmentalists contend Ore- gon needs to be a leader at taming damaging emissions. But opponents in industry and agriculture say new costs would harm employers and consumers. Key players: Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Port- land; Sen. Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay; Senate Presi- dent Peter Courtney, D-Sa- lem; Sen. Herman Baertsch- iger, Jr., R-Grants Pass. Noon to 4pm, Tues-Sat Clatsop County Extension Office 2001 Marine Drive, Rm 231 Astoria, OR 97103 When: February 11, 2020 Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 PM The purpose of the meeting is to receive agency and public input in agricultural interests and natural resources issues to help guide the conservation efforts of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Clatsop County. Topics we will be focusing on are: • Small Acreage Livestock Producers • Forest Health and Forest Management (Non-industrial, private land) • Wetland Restoration/Off Channel Fish & Wildlife Habitat • Seasonal High Tunnel • Organic Initiative To request accommodations for persons with a disability, please contact Thomas Gehrkens with the USDA NRCS at (503) 867-1944 or by email at Thomas.gehrkens@or.usda.gov by February 6, 2020. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
