6A | SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS
FIRES from page 1A
“We are still responding to
multiple calls each day for in-
dividuals using chain saws or
with small fires in their yard.
Anything that can produce a
spark is not allowed during
these extreme fire condi-
tions,” warned Schick. “This
is only a very small percent-
age of our citizens acting dan-
gerously. For the most part,
our neighbors act responsibly
but it only takes one fire asso-
ciated with strong, hot winds
to start a conflagration.”
Some of the other causes
of fires in the area are related
to the high winds and unsea-
sonably warm temperatures
the Siuslaw region — and the
Pacific Northwest in general
— are currently undergoing.
“Recently we have seen
many power lines arcing in
the trees when the wind is
MEETINGS from page 1A
This meeting was the op-
portunity for the applicant to
provide answers or respons-
es to those concerns.
The issues addressed in
a memo from Planning Di-
rector Wendy-Farley Camp-
bell to the applicant cited
a number of elements re-
garding the expected traffic
increases related to the de-
velopment that needed to be
addressed. These included
traffic volume, seasonal and
COVID-19-related traffic
adjustments, left turn assess-
ment from Rhododendron
Ave., sight distance require-
ments and the crash history
of the area.
The updated information
was presented to the city by
Kittelson and Associates,
hired as a consultant by the
petitioner.
One of the conditions for
approval, as determined by
the city, was a requirement
that more information be
collected and presented to
the commission on these
topics. 3J provided responses
to the traffic concerns, then
requested the city’s condition
be removed, expressing that
they believe requirements
had been met for providing
data.
“Updated turning move-
ment counts were conducted
during the weekday morning
(7 to 9 a.m.) and weekday
evening (4 to 6 p.m.) com-
muter peak hours, consistent
with the time periods scoped
for the analysis,” FarleyCa-
mpbell stated in her memo
to the commission. “Turning
movement counts were con-
ducted on a mid-week day in
August 2020, and the unad-
justed (raw) traffic volumes
are provided in Attachment
A.”
FarleyCampbell explained
that the August 2020 raw
traffic volumes were adjusted
to compensate for the impact
of the COVID-19 pandemic,
with the adjustment based
on data provided by ODOT
for the Florence automatic
traffic recorder.
“The 2020 traffic volumes
were found to be 1.6 percent
lower in August 2020 than
in August 2019 and the Au-
gust 2020 raw volumes were
increased accordingly,” said
FarleyCampbell.
She also told commis-
blowing. So far, there haven’t
been any large fires result-
ing from these arcing power
lines — but we have had a
few smaller fires which only
require a change in our cur-
rent weather conditions to
become a very large fire,”
Schick said. “We experienced
an atypical weather pattern
on Monday evening with
strong, dry, hot winds which
is the one thing that con-
cerns us the most. Those are
the types of conditions that
encourage rapid fire growth
and that is why we have been
seeing these fires around Or-
egon grow very rapidly.”
Schick also reported strong
east winds were lined up with
multiple major fires to the
east, bringing smoke and ash
into the area. Along with the
sudden influx of smoke and
ash, Florence’s 911 dispatch
center began to receive mul-
tiple calls from citizens who
smelled and saw the smoke
and reported fires in Flor-
ence.
Schick said SVFR takes all
of these calls seriously and
sent resources to check on
each reported fire.
Fortunately, all of those
reports turned out to be un-
founded.
Schick also clarified the
situation surrounding the
recent Sweet Creek fire.
“We were fortunate not
to have these kinds of tem-
peratures and winds during
the Sweet Creek fire. With
that fire, it was the terrain
that made firefighting ex-
ceptionally difficult and
dangerous,” Schick said.
“Having multiple aircraft
available to place fire retar-
dant and water around the
perimeter really slowed fire
spread down so that hand
crews could safely work on
the fire line.”
He added that with the
current strain on firefighting
resources around Oregon
and the rest of the Western
U.S., the Siuslaw region may
not be able to receive the
same kind of air support that
it did two weeks ago should
another large fire break out in
our area.
“If we did have a fire, our
very well-trained local fire-
fighters, including personnel
from the Oregon Depart-
ment of Forestry who are
stationed in this area, would
initiate a fire attack while re-
questing additional resourc-
es from around the state,”
Schick explained. “We saw a
great example of that with the
Sweet Creek fire. Units from
SVFR joined with firefight-
ers from the Mapleton and
Swisshome/ Deadwood fire
departments along with ODF
firefighters to begin fire sup-
pression efforts.”
This week’s extreme smoke
conditions raised the very
real possibility that residents
might wish to — or be re-
quired to — evacuate the
area.
Schick clarified the process
that would be involved in
that type of decision.
“We received many calls
this week concerning where
people would evacuate to
if requested, and how they
would be notified. That
would be a situation in which
we would be working very
closely with Lane County
Emergency
Management
and the City of Florence in
determining where the saf-
est place would be for people
to evacuate to,” Schick said.
“Notification would be done
by reverse 911 calls in which
all land lines in a specific area
would receive a message with
evacuation instructions.”
Additionally, text mes-
sages and emails from Lane
County would also be sent to
those who have signed up for
emergency alerts.
Residents are encouraged
to go to the Lane County
Emergency
Management
web page to sign up for no-
tifications and further infor-
mation.
Schick also added anoth-
er reason to be aware of and
prepared in the event of an
evacuation order.
“Law enforcement and fire
personnel would go door
to door making sure every-
one has left the area,” said
Schick. “If we can be certain
that people have evacuated,
then firefighters can concen-
trate on the main concern —
fighting the fire.”
sioners the available crash
data at the Rhododendron
Drive/35th Street intersec-
tion was revisited and re-
viewed for a variety of factors
including type, severity, gen-
eral conditions and location
in order to identify potential
crash patterns or anomalies.
No documented crash
history had been reported
in the most recent five years
per ODOT records, added
FarleyCampbell, who said
no crash patterns were iden-
tified that warrant mitigation
as a result of the proposed
development.
Additional details and the
raw crash data sheets were
included in the August 2020
traffic impact analysis doc-
ument. She also stated the
available stopping sight dis-
tance (SSD) was reviewed
along Rhododendron Drive
for vehicles approaching
35th Street in the south-
bound direction and, based
on a 40 MPH posted speed,
the desired design SSD is
305 feet. The available SSD is
over 450 feet, well in excess
of the 305-foot minimum
desired value — leading to
the conclusion that stopping
sight distance is sufficient.
The second major re-
sponse presented to the
commissioners on behalf of
the applicants was related to
the stormwater issue. Public
Works Director Mike Miller
has made extensive presen-
tations to the commissioners
on the inability of the city’s
wastewater infrastructure to
handle the expected storm-
water runoff that would ac-
company the PUD.
3J cited both the city re-
quired conditions, and the
action being taken in re-
sponse to those conditions,
in materials provided to
commissioners during the
meeting.
Included in the city’s con-
ditions was that, prior to
receiving approvals for final
PUD, the developer need-
ed to obtain the services of
a qualified hydrogeologist
(not only a geologist) and
perhaps someone that is a
coastal geomorphologist to
supplement the proposed
stormwater plan and assist
in preparation of the Phase 1
Site Investigation Report.
“A hydrogeologist is en-
gaged on this project and
will provide a solution in
conjunction with the project
water resources engineer to
meet the existing condition,”
Serra wrote in response. “A
Phase 1 Site Investigation
Report and a supplemental
memo from the consultant
engineering team will be
provided at the final PUD
stage. We accept the condi-
tion as written.”
These were just the most
significant of the issues dis-
cussed by the commission
and the information was re-
ceived with questions from
some commissioners. How-
ever, the discussion was left
unfinished as Commissioner
Sandy Young had additional
questions following the pre-
sentation by Johnston, Miller
and FarleyCampbell.
“I’m concerned they will
have moved far enough into
their development activity
that we will not necessarily
get a stormwater plan that
really does what it needs to
do, which is to detain and
meter out at the same rate as
the stormwater is leaving the
site now,” Young said.
There was then a gener-
al agreement that the issues
raised by Young were valid
and the commissioners de-
cided to revisit the stormwa-
ter issue at their next meet-
ing scheduled for Sept. 22.
consisting of updating the
committee on the status of
the city-related transporta-
tion services and measures
being taken in regard to the
pandemic.
Senior City Planner John-
ston was again on hand for
the city and walked council
members through the pro-
cess used by the local opera-
tor of the city transit system,
River City Taxis, in response
to the dangers presented by
the virus.
Johnston recapped the
city policies which have
incorporated the Oregon
Health Authority guidelines
for all city services including
transportation. Johnston re-
ported the buses are cleaned
before, during and after the
routes.
She then introduced John
Ahlen, Accessible Services
Program Manager for Lane
County Transit District,
who spoke regarding the
protocols in place for the
Florence-to-Eugene
con-
nector service.
Ahlen said one of the
most important ways LTD
was mitigating the exposure
was simple.
“We have asked the
members of the public not
to travel whenever possi-
ble, unless it is an essential
need. We just ask people to
be reasonable in the ways
they schedule and plan their
travel,” Ahlen said.
Josh Haring, owner of
River City and a member
of the TAC, reviewed the
procedures in place and
how the pandemic in some
instances cut ridership. But
in the case of the Florence
Municipal Airport, pick-ups
have increased.
Committee Vice Presi-
dent Terry Tomeny echoed
Haring’s observations, add-
ing the airport had been an
integral part of the response
to recent wildfires in the
area.
“The airport has been
pretty busy even though
the office is closed due to
COVID, but we have more
planes coming in than we
are used to,” Tomeny said.
“There were helicopters
staged out of the airport and
they had refueling crews on
the ground and everything
went well as far as we know.”
Other items discussed
during the meeting includ-
ed the need to update the
committee workplan and
the goals of the TAC in the
future.
The next TAC meeting is
scheduled for Oct. 8, begin-
ning at 2:30 p.m.
For more information on
City of Florence committees,
visit www.ci.florence.or.us/
boardsandcommissions.
TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE
The Transportation Advi-
sory Committee (TAC) also
met this week after a long hi-
atus due to COVID-19, with
a limited agenda primarily
NOTICE
We’re buying used cars,
trucks and SUV’s.
Any make or model,
paid for or not.
Please call today for quote.
All quotes by appointment only.
Johnston Motor Company
Since 1939
Phone (541) 997-9497
1234 Rhododendron Dr / Florence
We buy, sell and consign quality
estate/heirloom jewelry & furniture.
Gold, silver, platinum jewelry with
precious & semi precious stones.
Call 541-997-8104,
Florence Antiques
&
Coast Jewelers
Since 1983
CALL ME TO BUY, SELL OR TRADE!
I’M LOCATED HERE IN FLORENCE.
541-255-9822 - Larry
landl316@live.com
Your goals are my
top priority.
Let’s get together!
Call, Text or Email
Cell: 541-505-1180
Insect & Pest Removal
541-997-7178
(541) 997-4027
1234 Rhododendron Drive #7 | Florence, Oregon 97439
541-991-0777 | www.photobyrodger.com
Do you part and volunteer today to help support
these organizations in our community.
Volunteers Needed!
Looking for Cashiers and Donation
Ambassadors @ Florence Habitat ReStore
Call Floyd @ 541-997-5834
Assisting those in need in our Community.
Free Hot Meals Mon-Wed-Fri
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
New Location:Community Baptist Church
4590 Hwy. 101, Florence (Across from Fred Meyer)
Call 541-997-5057 to Volunteer
relies heavily
on volunteers.
Over
ars
50 Ye ce!
rien
Expe
Alva Bracey
LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTERS
Tires • Brakes • Shocks
Alignments
Trapping • Mole/Gopher
Dead Animal Removal • Honey Bee Removal
Crawl Space Cleaning • Exclusion Work
Fumigation of Antiques and Commodities.
RODGER BENNETT
PHOTOGRAPHY
MODEL TRAIN
ENTHUSIASTS
Broker
4325 Highway 101
Florence, OR 97439
Portraits that will show
your innermost self.
HELPING HANDS COALITION
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
ESTATE JEWELRY AND
ANTIQUE FURNITURE!!!
Auto, Home, Life, Business
Flood, Antique Auto, RV’s
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Supplements
Health Insurance
LEGACY
PORTRAITURE
Alva@CBCoast.com
541-997-7777
100 Hwy. 101,
Florence, OR
COAST REAL ESTATE
Us TOO Florence
Prostate Cancer Education
Support on the Oregon Coast
www.ustooflorence.org
• Tuesday Evening Group (2nd Tuesday)
5-7 p.m. - Ichiban Chinese/Japanese Restaurant
• Urologist Dr. Bryan Mehlhaff attends.
• Tuesday Lunch Group (3rd Tuesday)
12 noon – 1:00 p.m. – Ichiban Chinese/Japanese
Restaurant
• Urologist Dr. Roger McKimmy attends.
Contact Bob for more information:
(H) 541-997-6626 • (C) 541-999-4239
maribob@oregonfast.net
Th ere are many opportunities to
volunteer and a variety of skills
and talents are always in need.
Volunteer interest forms may be
found online, at the shelter and
at our Th rift Shop on Bay Street.
www.oregoncoasthumanesociety.org/volunteer/
Saving men one
PSA test at a time.
541-997-6626
maribob@oregonfast.net
Someone to talk to...
who understands!
To include your organization
in this directory, please call us
@ 541-997-3441