6A | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS
CEDC from page 1A
the project. The growing
popularity of disc golf is
behind the effort to pro-
vide a professional-lev-
el course, which will be
open to the public and
would eventually host na-
tionally sanctioned tour-
naments.
The estimated comple-
tion date for the Munsel
Greenway Disc Golf Park
is summer 2021.
Miller also provided
updates on the renova-
tions at the Singing Pines
Dog Park and Rolling
Dunes Park, located on
the corner of Siano Loop
and 35th Street.
The city’s newest park,
The Exploding Whale
Park, which opened in
May 2019, was built using
funds from the Land and
Water Conservation Fund
and a Local Government
Grant totaling $87,525.
Miller reported the use of
the park is growing and
attracting visitors from
out of town.
FarleyCampbell next
provided a housing up-
date to the committee.
While housing projects
are continuing to in-
crease, the need for addi-
tional residential housing
remains a high priority
for the city. She provided
materials showing that
there were 58 housing
unit permits issued in
2019. That has equaled
a slight decline so far in
2020, with a drop to 45
issued permits so far.
In addition, FarleyCa-
mpbell noted that there
were a number of addi-
tional permit applications
pending, most notably
the multi-unit parcel on
the corner of 35th Street
and Rhododendron Drive
with a potential for 380
units.
Later, Weese, the staff
facilitator for the meet-
ing, reviewed the need for
the committee to deter-
mine the priorities which
they collectively felt
needed to be addressed.
Committee members Bill
Prosser and Dan Lofy of-
fered brief suggestions of
items they would like to
see discussed at a future
work session.
Lofy wanted to for-
mulate a plan which in-
cluded providing work
training to local homeless
individuals. Prosser sug-
gested a new approach to
real-world skill training
was needed.
“My kind of focus is
really the area of ‘what
can we do to improve
the educational resourc-
es available to the people
that live here,’” Prosser
said. “How can we really
take kids from the high
school here and transi-
tion them to living wage
kind of job situations?
And then, how can we act
as partner with the busi-
ness community to facil-
itate the infrastructure to
allow that kind of growth
to happen?”
As the meeting closed,
Weese pointed towards
the Nov. 16 work session,
scheduled with the Flor-
ence City Council, as an
opportunity to discuss
their thoughts with coun-
cilors.
The work session will
begin the process of cre-
ating a detailed city work
plan for the next bienni-
um.
The next CEDC meet-
ing is scheduled for Oct.
15, beginning at 3:45 p.m.
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softball, but now are ade-
quately equipped to han-
dle a more diverse group
attending sporting events.
“There are actually
three restrooms in this
facility, along with stor-
age, so there is a place to
properly store a barbecue
grill and cooktop,” said
Miller. “It can provide a
true concession facility.
But really, we wanted to
offer something that was
more robust and could be
utilized by anybody in the
community.”
The Miller Park Con-
cession Stand upgrade
cost a total of $360,000
with grant funds con-
tributing
$216,000
and matching funds of
$144,000.
Later in the meeting,
Mayor Joe Henry shared a
little of the recent history
of the council’s decision a
few years ago to improve
Florence’s city park sys-
tem.
“I would invite you to
look back five years and
the amount of money we
had in our budget — we
had less than $10,000 in
our budget, total — and
no personnel dedicated
to parks at that point,”
said Henry. “So, we have
made tremendous strides
with our parks and it just
made me feel good look-
ing at all of those parks
and how much they have
improved in the last few
years.”
The review of the park
upgrades also focused on
a new park activity that
will add to the list of rec-
reational activities avail-
able to residents and vis-
itors — disc golf.
The Munsel Greenway
Disc Golf Course will
become a reality, with
funding now secured for
F LO E N C
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Getting rid of 'Huh?'
for over 20 years
Call today to schedule
an appointment.
541.991.4475
HEARING
Scott C. Anderson, Au.D.
Steven G. Anderson, Au.D.
ASSOCIATES
of Florence
Act by Congress.
“This would be for
anybody that has been
impacted by COVID-19,
such as a job loss, reduced
work hours, illness in the
family, where they have to
stay quarantined or have
to stay home with kids if
they are not in school,”
Baker said. “You must be
a resident and participate
in government programs
or your household aver-
age median income is at
80 percent or less for the
last 30 days.”
Baker also stated that,
due to restrictions placed
by Congress on how the
monies allocated would
be spent, a third party —
in this instance Siuslaw
Outreach Services — will
administer the program.
People can go to flor-
encesos.org for more in-
formation on COVID-19
assistance.
Additionally,
Baker
provided the council with
other COVID-19 relat-
ed information which
shows the city was award-
ed $316,000 in funding
through the CARES Act
and has received 100 per-
cent reimbursement on
COVID-related expenses
so far. The city expects to
receive 100 percent reim-
bursement on expenses
through Dec. 31.
Resolution No. 24,
2020, a utility relief pro-
gram, was soon passed
unanimously as was Res-
olution No. 25, Series
2020, submitted and pre-
sented by Public Works
Director Mike Miller, for
authorization to purchase
an Aerzen Delta Hybrid
Screw Blower Package.
After a detailed presenta-
tion thoroughly explain-
ing the process used by
the Hybrid Screw Blower
in moving and processing
sewage waste, the expen-
diture was approved.
Consent agenda items
included an authorization
of the city manager to
enter into an agreement
with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation
(ODOT) for the Highway
101 to Munsel Lake Road
curb project.
Committee
reports
were entered into the re-
cord and councilor re-
ports were minimal, but
councilor Greene wanted
to discuss the next step
in communicating with
committees and com-
missions, saying he felt
overall guidance from the
council was lacking. He
also once again voiced his
frustration with the coun-
cil’s decision in 2019 to
cut funding for public art
through Florence Urban
renewal Agency.
In his remarks, Henry
recapped the successful
effort’s made by Shan-
non Graham to collect
funds for a book giveaway
at Siuslaw Elementary
School, which distributed
nearly 300 bags of books
to area students.
The next Florence City
Council meeting is sched-
uled for Oct. 5, in a virtu-
al meeting beginning at
5:30 p.m. For more infor-
mation, visit ci.florence.
or.us.
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FLORENCE from page mate activist who contin-
ues to urge the council to
1A
acknowledge and act on
According to the char- some type of official cli-
ter, there is no mecha- mate change position.
Allen repeated a request
nism to fill a “vacancy”
with an election, unless a he made Sept. 15 to the
seated city councilor re- Environmental Manage-
signs to run for the posi- ment Advisory Commit-
tion of Mayor, as outlined tee (EMAC), forwarding a
request from Lane Coun-
in Section 14.4.
In this case, the vacancy ty to participate in an on-
would be filled using the line climate survey. The
provisions in City Charter results of the survey will
28, which does not require contribute to the county’s
the council to present the overall strategy to address
vacancy as a question to climate issues.
The EMAC response
the voters.
As per the charter, the to Allen was mixed, with
council could choose to his request openly reject-
leave the seat vacant until ed by some members of
December 2022, eventu- the committee while em-
ally being filled by a suc- braced by others.
Following public com-
cessful candidate in the
November 2022 election. ment, the first action item
Or, the council could of Monday night’s council
fill the vacancy under meeting was the request-
Section 28 of the City ed approval of Resolution
Charter for the remainder No. 13, Series 2020, by
City Manager Erin Reyn-
of the term.
In either case, the posi- olds, who has recently
tion will return to a vote returned from maternity
on the November 2022 leave.
The resolution, which
ballot.
unanimous-
Following a relative- passed
ly brief discussion, the ly, renewed the State of
three councilors decid- Emergency Declaration
ed to postpone any final currently in place in Flor-
decision on the specific ence, implemented at the
details of the application order of Oregon Gov.
and interview process un- Kate Brown in response to
til after this November’s the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second action
election.
Preisler, who initially item was also related to
suggested the idea, was COVID, but dealt with
quickly joined by Wood- the employment and fi-
bury and Henry, with the nancial ramifications of
trio agreeing to postpone the pandemic. The resolu-
a decision on selecting a tion provides for $40,000
replacement for Prociw in funding to be distribut-
until January, when as ed to residents who have
many as three new mem- been negatively impacted
bers of the city council by the pandemic.
Administrative
Ser-
could be seated.
The regularly scheduled vices Director Anne Bak-
city council meeting held er walked the council
later that evening began through the specifics of
with a public comment the proposal and high-
provided by resident lighted the requirements
Mike Allen, a local cli- attached to the CARES
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