6A | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS
CITY from page 1A
• Identify and create vegeta-
tion preservation opportunities
such as greenbelts and setbacks
• Perform an Old Town
Parking Assessment
• Identify locations for, de-
sign and install Wayfinding
Signage in Old Town
• Review commercial district
use codes for opportunities to
improve readability and use
such as reducing use lists, ad-
dressing on-site outdoor cafes,
and neighborhood commercial
use
• Consider reintroducing
compact standards and create
consistency in ADA dimen-
sions
• Update the Stormwater
Design Manual by evaluating
Portland’s (the basis for Flor-
ence’) and applying as reason-
able their recent changes such
as reduced planting density and
setbacks clarity.
• Identify and implement
affordable housing incentives
such as density bonuses, tax ex-
emptions, parking reductions,
and CET
• Encourage rehabilitation of
housing stock through incen-
tives and code updates
• Prioritize capital improve-
ments for affordable housing
projects
• Create pathways for sus-
tainable local food production
and security
• Look at opportunities for
Old Town Fire Station reloca-
tion and adding amenities such
as parking and restrooms
• Monitor city population
and state ORS for needed ac-
tions to comply with new rules
related to housing and other
land use related statutes.
• Partner with CLPUD to ex-
plore opportunity to add LED
street lighting
• Revisit Phase 1-Residential
housing code update to address
inconsistencies and go-backs
• Add Planning Commission
members as ex-officio on oth-
er committees and include on
land use related sub-commit-
tees and ad-hoc committees.
The CEDC has been tasked
by the city council to make rec-
ommendations and implement
the provisions of the goals and
workplan mainly related to the
areas of Business and Economic
Development, Housing, Parks
and Recreation, and Commu-
nity Development.
In his presentation to the
council, Chairperson Robbie
Wright included the following
comments in his committee’s
presentation.
“The Community and Eco-
nomic Development Commit-
tee understands the large scope
of work that they have been
tasked with by the city council
and has many different ideas on
how to focus on the commit-
tee’s strengths and interests,”
Wright said. “The Committee
has identified several projects
for inclusion in the upcoming
City of Florence Workplan.”
There were also number of
suggestions from committee
members as to ways to increase
development, improve local
parks and improve housing op-
tions for residents. All will be
discussed at a future meeting
of the committee and council.
Wright made it clear that the
housing issue is at the center
of plans for future economic
growth and there were a num-
ber of related ideas forward-
ed in a packet provided to the
council and public, including
to develop marketing programs
that promote the SDC program
and ADU program in order to
support more “missing middle”
housing being built in the city.
Suggestions included:
• Builder’s Forums — Sup-
port staff in developing events
and literature that would al-
low builders and developers in
Florence to ask questions and
learn more about the newly de-
veloped residential code chang-
es.
• Florence Rental Housing
Market Study — Collect infor-
mation from local rental prop-
erties about the rental market
in Florence to provide infor-
mation for future builders and
grant opportunities
• Facade Improvement Pro-
gram — continue to support
facade improvement programs
inside Florence Urban Renewal
Agency’s boundaries and be-
yond
• Promote the building of
more affordable and workforce
housing within City limits
Once again, discussion fol-
lowing EMAC’s presentation
turned tense due to a lingering
divide among members re-
garding the subject of climate
change and disagreement on
what role — if any — the com-
mittee should play at the local
level.
After a brief presentation by
committee chair Katie Prosser,
who provided a modest agen-
da that touched on expand-
ing the bio-solid composting
facility, improving recycling
options and maintaining Flor-
ence’s “Tree City Designation,”
Greene addressed the commit-
tee and the council.
“The 500-pound gorilla in
the room is acknowledging
climate change, and there are
many things we can do that at
the local level in terms of edu-
cation and changing habits and
teaching people to begin to be
responsible,” said Greene, who
then discussed his opinion that
Prosser and Vice Chairper-
son Michael Titmus appeared
fundamentally opposed to the
inclusion of language acknowl-
edging climate change as part
of EMAC’s agenda — and was
the reason the issue was not be-
ing taken up by the committee.
Prosser responded that she
was not responsible for the
EMAC decision not to include
the issue as a city goal, and that
it was a committee decision.
“I am a little confused. I am
only the chair of the committee,
I am not the committee,” Pross-
er said. “The committee votes
how the committee votes. It is
the committee that is making
decisions about the workplan.”
Henry reminded Greene the
issue of climate change had
been discussed and voted down
three times, by the full commit-
tee.
“I believe that our city and
this community have much
concern about the environ-
ment and are doing things to
take care of the environment,
but what we are not doing is
signing a climate change proc-
lamation just to make someone
feel better,” Henry said.
The lingering disagreement
over the acknowledgment of
climate change and how it
could impact other discussions
regarding city policy will likely
continue after the new council
members have been sworn in
this January. In the meantime,
there was no attempt to add or
modify the EMAC suggestions
given to the council for the
city’s overall workplan.
The Public Art Committee
next made a presentation re-
capping the accomplishments
of the previous two years, with
chairperson Harlen Springer
touching on the Art Exposed
program as a cornerstone of
future plans, as well as the eco-
nomic potential attached to the
increased opportunities to view
art locally.
Springer stated the commit-
tee will continue its pursuit of
artists, funding and display
locations, as well as grants for
future exhibits.
PAC’s proposed projects are:
• Central Lincoln PUD Mu-
ral — Install LED lighting
• Art Exposed Rotating Gal-
lery — continue marketing of
program and current pieces,
and research locations to ex-
pand the program
• Public/Private Partnership
Program — Determine via-
bility of the development of a
private property art program/
match program
• Master Plan — Prepare
comprehensive, long-term plan
for the city’s Public Art pro-
gram and sustainable funding
avenues for council consider-
ation.
• Installation of Jesse Swick-
ard’s pieces — Purchased at a
low price during the previous
group of Art Exposed artists.
Next steps are to finalize loca-
tions and install the pieces
• Art Quest — Prepare and
market a quest (scavenger
hunt) for the Oregon Sea Quest
program through Oregon State
University
• Art Inventory and Mainte-
nance Planning
• Featured Pieces — De-
termine funding strategy,
timeline, and installation of
sculptures within the ReVision
Florence streetscape project
and larger
• Mural Code Updates —
Work with city council and le-
gal counsel to make the mural
code easier, cheaper and more
accessible to the community
• Grants/Funding Sources
Development and Management
• Marketing/Public Out-
reach projects
• Education System Partner-
ships/Projects — Work with
school system and home school
programs to support and pro-
mote the program
• Indoor Public Spaces Pro-
gram — research and create
program to install art inside
local public buildings
•
Support
community
events, including outdoor arts
opportunities, specifically for
performing arts groups
• Support other local Flor-
ence arts organizations, like
the FEC Gallery Committee,
CROW, FRAA and others
updating councilors inspired
by the need for COVID-19
models for sheltering the un-
housed this winter. (See full
story on A1).
FECWS is coordinated and
managed locally. The group re-
quested the council authorize a
temporary series of small, cab-
in-like residences be placed at
an undeveloped parcel of land
owned by local non-profit First
Step at 5300 Highway 101. Lane
County, through the “Winter
Strategies for People Who Are
Unsheltered” initiative, has or-
dered about 120 Pallet Shelters
to be distributed throughout
the county. The overarching
goal is to stand up 500-1,000
beds county-wide so there isn’t
an over-reliance on warming
centers around the county.
The cost per shelter is ap-
proximately $4,800, which
would be covered by Lane
County. The FECWS has re-
quested 20 of those shelters for
the Florence area. Lane County
is also willing to cover other
associated costs for this type of
sheltering plan in partnership
with the FECWS.
City Manager Erin Reynolds
presented the application for
the temporary approval to the
council, which included en-
Next, the Transportation
Committee made its presenta-
tion to council, touching on the
following committee goals:
• Updating the Florence
Transportation System Plan
• Increasing ridership on the
Rhody Express
• Continue to promote busi-
ness opportunities for the air-
port
• Research opportunities for
grants to develop General Ben
King Memorial Airport Gate-
way
• Continue to implement air-
port improvements according
to Airport Master Plan.
Later that evening, the reg-
ular session of the city council
took place with a short agenda
dedicated in large part to a pre-
sentation from representatives
from the Florence Emergency
Cold Weather Shelter (FECWS)
tering into a limited duration
intergovernmental agreement
with Lane County.
There were numerous objec-
tions to the placement of this
sheltering facility submitted
to the city, as well as letters of
support. Issues raised were re-
lated to trash concerns and the
oversight which would be nec-
essary to ensure a safe situation
for residents and short-term
tenants.
The request for temporary
approval of the shelters was
passed unanimously by the
council.
Though the cold weather
proposal was a large part of the
evening’s discussion, there was
another discussion during the
public comments section of the
meeting initiated by resident
Michael Allen, which centered
on his continued urging of the
city to adopt some form of offi-
cial climate position.
Allen referred to the day’s
earlier work session, directly
calling out Henry as the indi-
vidual responsible for the city’s
position of not proclaiming a
“Climate Crisis” and asking the
mayor to change his position
on the matter.
See PLAN page 9A
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Local Eats
Your guide to great
locally owned restaurants.
Surfside Restaurant
at Drift wood Shores Resort
Small Load Specialist of Concrete Delivery
Open for take-out only.
“Serving the Central Oregon Coast”
We are doing everything
we can to safely
serve our community.
CALL FOR PRICING & SCHEDULING
OR.JustEnough@yahoo.com
Frank Romero
Deacon Matthews
Se Habla Español
VOTED
F
BEST O
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541.991.3999
9
201
F LO E N C
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We are open:
11-7 daily
1285 Bay Street, Old Town Florence
(541) 902-8338
www.1285Restobar.com
is off ering a breakfast and dinner menu to go with
curbside pick up, Th ursday thru Sunday. We accept
credit and debit cards for advanced purchase.
We will be open Th anksgiving eve
for dinner and
closed on Th anksgiving day.
Call
541-902-6447
Drift wood Shores Resort
88416 1st Avenue, Florence
and listen for
the Surfside
Restaurant prompt.
