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A6 THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022 Parklet: ‘We might have to develop a code with some teeth in it’ Continued from Page A1 Lydia Ely/The Astorian One city councilor wants to see tougher restrictions on parklets. from also having a parklet. He felt like he’d wasted months of time, eff ort and money trying to go through the city. He decided to go ahead with his plan. “I felt like all I could have done at that point, as a matter of courtesy, was tell the city that I’m going to proceed with the parklet anyway — but, you know, why?” Lattek said. “Because they’re going to have to deal with it like any other violation at this point and I know it’s a big one and it’s pretty prominent and probably because I went through offi cial channels fi rst they’re going to — you know, instead of enforcing other issues in town that aren’t up to code or go without a permit — they’re going to come after me fi rst.” Lattek regrets going to the city. “I wish I had just done it at this point with- out ever involving the city in the fi rst place,” he said . City offi cials said Lattek and his con- tractors received warnings on Saturday from a city councilor passing by, the city’s community development director and fi nally the police chief that the par- klet was not permitted. But Lattek con- tinued anyway. Gun measure: ‘Process is as important as the result’ Continued from Page A1 The gun measure would limit ammunition magazines to 10 rounds each. In addi- tion to the limit, the mea- sure would require peo- ple to undergo classroom and live-fi re training before they obtain a fi rearms permit and complete background checks. Current law allows a purchaser to obtain a gun even if the check is incom- plete after three days; the measure would compel the check to be completed. Lift Every Voice Oregon, the movement that sponsored the measure , was way behind at the end of May when an initial round of 2,500 signa- tures was submitted. But two mass shootings outside Oregon resulted in a surge of petition volunteers and signatures before the July 8 deadline. Ten Black people were shot dead May 14 in a super- market in Buff alo, and 19 children and two teachers were killed 10 days later at Robb Elementary School in Charles Krupa/AP Photo A ballot measure would ban high-capacity ammunition magazines in Oregon. Uvalde, Texas. The Rev. W.J. Mark Knut- son, the pastor of Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland, said those events helped pro- duce more than 1,000 new volunteers and 150,000 more signatures. “People were saying they could not sit anymore, so we had 1,000 new volun- teers come forward to join the 500,” Knutson said . “A lot were parents with chil- dren — it was pretty amaz- ing. They are learning about democracy. “The process is as import- ant as the result — demo- cratic action by the people. In this nation right now, we need to see democracy at work.” Movement leaders shelved a second ballot mea- sure that would have banned some assault weapons. Knut- son said leaders hope to pres- ent it as a bill to the 2023 Legislature, which opens in January . The measure joins three others on the ballot. The other initiative would bar lawmakers from seeking re election if they have 10 or more absences not excused by the state House speaker or Senate president. That initia- tive was put forth by public employee unions and others in response to walkouts by Republicans in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The measure would change the Oregon Consti- tution, which requires two- thirds of lawmakers — 40 of 60 in the House, 20 of 30 in the Senate — to be pres- ent for the chambers to con- duct business. Most legisla- tive chambers, and Congress, require a simple majority of members. Oregon’s 2020 walk- outs forced majority Dem- ocrats to scuttle proposed cap-and-trade legislation to combat climate change and shut down the short session. Republican senators walked out for one day in 2021; Republicans in the House were deterred from doing so by a 2021 rule that set a maxi- mum daily fi ne of $500 for an unexcused absence. The other measures, both constitutional amend- ments, were referred by the 2021 Legislature. One would defi ne health care as a right; the other would remove slavery as a punishment for crime. State elections offi cials will assign numbers to all four measures. They will be accomplished by explanatory statements and fi scal analy- ses — those are done by pan- els — plus advocacy state- ments submitted and paid for by supporters and opponents. The Legislature writes state- ments for its own referrals. The Oregon Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Under the city’s rules, parklets can no longer have covers, they must be located at least 20 feet from a cross- walk or street corner and they must be a moveable structure. Street 14’s par- klet is both covered and just one wide- legged step away from a crosswalk. It is also, city councilors noted, bolted to the road. “It’s a nice looking, stout structure but it was done completely in violation of city code and really in defi ance of the City Council where he made the request and was denied,” said Paul Benoit, the interim city manager. Benoit sees Lattek’s action as a one- off moment and not necessarily a rea- son to overhaul the entire parklet pilot program. But City Councilor Tom Hilton thinks otherwise. He noticed the work happening on Saturday and alerted other offi cials. He said Lattek’s actions were a “blatant display and disregard of the city and citizens of the community.” He wants to revisit the parklet program. “We might have to develop a code with some teeth in it,” he said. 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The City Council reviewed a draft detailing places peo- ple can and cannot sleep on Monday night, along with a map identifying the areas. Interim City Manager Paul Benoit said city staff ’s focus has been to strike a balance between the varying interests and issues related to homelessness and liva- bility in the city while also responding to the mandates. “As we work through this challenge, it is clear that whether you are a person experiencing homelessness, an advocate of the homeless or concerned Astoria resi- dent, there’s no perfect solu- tion that satisfi es all parties,” he said. “And whatever we do now will likely need to be refi ned and adjusted as we move forward in the future.” ‘The goal is not enforcement’ Former Police Chief Geoff Spalding, who moved into a temporary, part-time role since retiring, noted the ordinance must be objec- tively reasonable and take into account details such as proximity for a person to get to and from services and other necessities. Spalding presented a draft outlining two com- ponents: camping on pub- lic property and camping on private property. The draft lists public places people cannot sleep, which include parks, city owned and maintained park- ing lots, public restrooms, residential zones, areas underneath roads or bridges that are not open to the pub- lic and sidewalks where 6 feet of space cannot be maintained. People would also have Lydia Ely/The Astorian The city is evaluating potential locations for homeless camping. to maintain at least 10 feet of distance from building entrances and stairwells. The exclusions make up the vast majority of the city, leaving public rights of way in commercial areas as options. Spalding said places could be added or removed from the exclusion list, but it would require approval by the City Council. He said changes after adoption of the ordinance would be done through a more nimble pro- cess that could be approved by the council through a resolution. The second component deals with camping on pri- vate property. The City Council has an option to include a regulated camping program that could allow camping in parking lots of churches, nonprofi ts and businesses, and potentially in vacant or abandoned com- mercial or industrial proper- ties with owner permission. An earlier draft would have allowed homeowners to take part in the program, but that has been taken off the table. Up to six people in three vehicles or tents in any com- bination could sleep on the property. The property owner would have to pro- vide sanitary facilities, gar- bage services and storage areas. They would not be allowed to collect payment. The draft includes a num- ber of safeguards, includ- ing an appeal process and the ability for the property owner and city manager to revoke permissions. Spalding said commu- nication with the homeless population has started and will continue after the ordi- nance is adopted. “My experience has been — and I know will con- tinue to be — we always will use the most lenient, compassionate and humane approach to addressing these issues,” he said. “There will always be a grace period, there will be an opportu- nity to educate the individu- als most likely impacted by this ordinance and with the goal of getting people into services. “The goal is not enforce- ment,” he said. “The goal is to reduce the calls for ser- vice, make the community feel safe and get individuals the assistance they need.” ‘This isn’t a solution’ During public comment, business owners asked ques- tions and raised concerns about camping on sidewalks downtown in front of busi- nesses. Some said it would put a burden on business owners. Lisa Morley, a resident, argued that it is not safe for people to sleep outside and on sidewalks along rights of way. She said the compo- nent detailing private camp- ing puts property owners at risk. She called for the city to create a gated campsite within city limits. Teresa Barnes, the exec- utive director of the Asto- ria Warming Center, echoed Morley’s comments. She argued that the city has shuffl ed the problem and that instead of spending money on creating the ordi- nance, the resources should be devoted to developing housing. “This isn’t a solution. T his is a lack of a solution,” she said. “And there are solutions out there.” Others argued that hous- ing is the solution and that the community cannot con- tinue to turn down lower-in- come housing projects like the workforce housing pro- posal at Heritage Square earlier this year. 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