Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2018)
BULLDOGS HOST MCC GRAPPLERS CONGRESS OK S SEA LION KILLINGS SPORTS, B1 NORTHWEST, A2 E O AST 143rd year, No. 41 REGONIAN Thursday, december 13, 2018 One dollar WINNER OF THE 2018 ONPA GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD PENDLETON Council explores collecting tax money on vacation rentals By ANTONIO SIERRA East Oregonian according to Pendleton convention center manager Pat beard, the local tour- ism industry generates $100 million in direct spending every year. and he wants to make sure the city collects “every penny” of the lodging tax revenue it’s due. “It’s a huge economic boon that we are now growing,” he told the Pendleton city council at a workshop Tuesday. “This is the fruit that we harvest.” The city’s lodging room tax and tour- ism promotion assessment charge have grown in recent years, with the city pro- jecting $1.1 million and $105,750 from the taxes, respectively, for the current fis- cal year, which ends June 30, 2019. The pair of taxes go toward the con- vention center and tourism promo- tion through the Pendleton chamber of commerce. While beard commended the city for collecting from previously non-compli- ant lodging providers, like the tempo- rary recreational vehicle parks that pop up during round-up, he directed the council’s attention toward the “growing phenomenon” of vacation rental proper- ties that are rented through websites like airbnb. While the chamber of commerce has long acted as a clearinghouse for rental properties during round-up, these other websites offer their services year-round. as of late Wednesday afternoon, there were 24 Pendleton area properties listed on airbnb. beard anticipates that number will surpass 100 within a couple of years. councilor Neil brown, who rents out properties through airbnb, said local resi- dents need to be trained in the city’s lodg- ing tax laws. The taxes only apply to peo- ple who stay in a room 30 days or less, but brown said many of his tenants stay at his properties for months at a time. councilor dale Primmer said city manager robb corbett should talk with city officials form coastal communities to figure out how they deal with the issue. It’s an issue that rosemary Johnson has been dealing with for years, first as the astoria city planner then as a planning Staff photo by E.J. Harris Pendleton Police officer Cass Clark takes a statement from Gloria Huber, center, about a hit-and-run on her son Brandan Josleyn’s vehicle recently in Pendleton. Cops and data chiefs have concerns as state mandates expanded collection By PHIL WRIGHT East Oregonian T he state mandate for police to collect race and gender data could lead to a downturn in some officer activity. Local police leaders expressed that and other concerns about house bill 2355, which requires police to doc- ument race and gender during traf- fic stops “to identify patterns or prac- tices of profiling.” The law kicked into effect this summer but the state is giv- ing more time for smaller departments to sort out how to gather, store and submit data. hermiston Police chief Jason edmiston said his department has to start by July 1, but will roll out the program in April so officers have time to learn the system. he said he antici- pates at least one side effect. “I think we’re going to see a very slight dip in officer initiated activ- ity and a slight dip in traffic stops,” edmiston said. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Pendleton Police officer Cass Clark enters case notes into a mobile workstation in his patrol cruiser recently in Pendleton. That could lead to police missing bigger crimes. Police catching unlaw- ful activity during stops “happens all the time,” edmiston said, but bogging down a cop in the field with extra work is likely to lead to backlash to avoid that work. The chief said that’s just part of human nature. The bigger problem, police said, stems from gathering the data. Offi- cers have to provide the reason for the stop and their perceptions at the moment. “Just because you perceive some- See Cops, Page A10 See Vacation, Page A10 HERMISTON cOmmuNIcaTION Is The Key Grants fund tech upgrades in Life skills classes By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN East Oregonian Whether letting their voices soar out over the audience during a perfor- mance, or simply being able to spell out a word in class, all students have reasons to communicate. Two teach- ers at the hermiston school district had polar opposite projects when applying for grants from the hermiston education Foundation, but both had the basic goal of helping their students com- municate more easily. Karly carlson, a special education teacher in high- land hills’ Life skills pro- gram, received a grant to purchase an app that will help her students with ver- bal communication issues be able to interact with others. The app is called “Pecs,” or Picture exchange com- munication system. stu- dents can customize it as needed, to speak words or phrases that they want to say. many of the already downloaded words come with pictures, or students can make their own to go along with the words they add. “most of my students are nonverbal,” carlson said. “but as we know, just because we can’t speak doesn’t mean we don’t have things to say.” highland hills will use the grant money from heF, about $230, to purchase the See Communication, Page A10 CHI St. Anthony Hospital Family Clinic is recognized as a Patient -Centered Primary Care Home. What does that mean for you? • Better-coordinated care. • Healthcare providers who will help connect you • Listening to your concerns and answering with the care you need in a safe and timely way. questions. • Healthcare providers who play an active role in your health. • After-hours nurse consultation. 844.724.8632 3001 St. Anthony Way, Pendleton WWW.SAHPENDLETON.ORG Mon through Thurs, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. • Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat and Sun, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred.