SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 | 7A
ANNEX from page 1A
Neighbors of the prop-
erty are not only opposed
to the annexation itself but
have taken the position
that the request has been
designed to circumvent
county land use rulings
made in the past.
Over the past year, there
have been many issues
raised by those against
annexation, ranging from
environmental to safety
concerns. However, many
of the concerns exceeded
the scope of the city coun-
cil’s decision criteria at this
particular stage in the de-
velopment process.
From the initial intro-
duction of the Benedick
annexation request, the
decision point for the
council has been to deter-
mine if the request meets
city guidelines for pro-
viding services and infra-
structure support to the
property if the annexation
was approved.
There has been consid-
erable public confusion
surrounding this topic,
with many arguments
against the annexation
citing concerns related to
stormwater drainage, sew-
er systems, property loss
and other issues — none of
which factor into the pro-
cess at this point.
In the future, any devel-
opment and construction
of actual residences will
require navigating through
the City of Florence’s ap-
plicable construction and
permitting
processes,
which have a multi-phased
public feedback compo-
nent.
It would be at that point
in the process that many of
the concerns raised by op-
ponents would factor into
any decisions made by the
planning commission and
— ultimately ¬ — the city
council.
On Monday, FarleyCa-
mpbell reviewed the time-
line of the application,
recapping the numerous
reports and statements
from city entities in the
meeting
informational
pack.
The council was pre-
sented with the text of
Ordinance No. 1, Series
2021, an ordinance ap-
proving the annexation of
48.82 acres of property and
right-of-way,
including
Assessor’s Map 18-21-10-
40 Tax Lots 400 & 401, 18-
12-10-34 Tax Lot 801, as
well as Oceana Drive, from
the City Limits in Rhodo-
dendron Drive East to Tax
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Tuesday - Saturday
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We are open for dine in, take-out,
sidewalk & patio seating
Lot 400.
Councilors were also
asked to approve Ordi-
nance No. 2, Series 2021,
an ordinance establishing
Low Density Residen-
tial with a Prime Wildlife
Shorelands Management
Unit Overlay zoning dis-
trict to the properties
applied for by Benedick
Holdings as part of the
proposed annexation.
The applications for
both were applied for by
Michael Farthing, on be-
half of Benedick Holdings.
FarleyCampbell
then
walked
the
council
through a very detailed let-
ter from Farthing, which
addressed point-by-point
many of the complaints
and concerns forwarded to
the city by those opposed
to the annexation.
There were few questions
after FarleyCampbell’s re-
view, which was followed
by a brief clarification re-
garding the irrelevance of
covenants, conditions and
restrictions,
commonly
called “CC&Rs,” in rela-
tion to the city’s actions, as
provided by City Attorney
Ross Williamson.
Both ordinances were
then approved, with Coun-
cilor Margaret Wisniewski
answering as “decline” and
later clarified by City Re-
corder Kelli Weese as an
official “no” vote.
Ultimately, the Florence
City Council passed both
ordinances, 4-1.
The issue of extending
the COVID-19 State of
Emergency was next dis-
cussed, with Wisniewski
questioning the need to
extend the declaration.
Her comments prompted
Henry to move the item
from the consent agenda
to a discussion point.
City Manager Erin
Reynolds joined the dis-
cussion and reviewed the
necessary time periods re-
quired for vaccinations to
become effective.
Reynolds also men-
tioned that the Siuslaw
School District schedule
would not be impacted by
the extension — a concern
Wisniewski raised in re-
gard to the extension im-
pacting the ability of stu-
dents to return full time to
the classroom.
As she continued, the
city manager touched on
the need to adhere to Lane
County Public Health
guidance in order to main-
tain countywide standards
of vaccination and reopen-
ing of schools.
Following
Reynolds’
clarifications, the council
voted unanimously to ex-
tend the declaration.
Next, the councilors’
report and comments in-
cluded discussion about
the scheduled — but can-
celled — March 30 special
meeting of the Environ-
mental Management Advi-
sory Committee (EMAC).
The committee had been
Food boxes
still available
Saturdays
Knights of Columbus Council
15773 is continuing its Free Food
Box Program through the month
of April. The food giveaway takes
place every Saturday in April from
10 to 11 a.m. at St. Mary Our Lady
of the Dunes Catholic Church,
85060 Highway 101, south of the
Siuslaw River Bridge.
The event is first come, first
served as long as the baskets last
and usually includes produce,
milk, fruit and a main course.
People are encouraged to come
out.
If anyone has any questions,
contact Knights of Columbus
representative Pat Beckham at
541-590-5501.
ness can take place.
“If you don’t like the
topic on the agenda at
least show up, express your
views, hear the other side
and vote.”
Wantz then mentioned
the ongoing controversy
over climate change recog-
nition and possible action
resulting from that dis-
cussion. Her observations
included the lack of desire
on the council to address
the issue of climate change
and she suggested the topic
should still be addressed,
perhaps at a later work ses-
sion.
Henry responded brief-
ly, mentioning the past de-
liberations of EMAC and
suggested the lack of inter-
est and attendance reflect-
ed the earlier deliberations
of the committee — which
had rejected the idea of
both a special meeting
and creation of a climate
change subcommittee.
The meeting ended with
Reynolds’ report, which
updated the council on
the county vaccine status
and her hope that an addi-
tional vaccine distribution
event could be scheduled
for Florence residents in
the future.
The next meeting of the
Florence City Council will
take place Monday, April
19, at 5:30 p.m. A work
session is scheduled earlier
that day at 10:30 a.m.
For more information,
visit ci.florence.or.us.
Yachats Arts Guild turns ‘A New
Leaf’ with month-long show
The Yachats Arts
photographer; Sherry
Guild is having a
Secreast, jewelry; Carol
Spring Online Show
Summers, watercolor;
this year from now un-
Lugene Whitley, pen
til April 18. The theme
and ink; Kathy Whit-
is “A New Leaf.”
son, oil, acrylic and
View the gallery on-
watercolor; and Doug
line and shop for local
Yunker, watercolors.
art at shop.yachatsarts-
The Yachats Arts
guild.org. People will
Guild first started
have plenty of time to
in 2007 and still has
shop from their very
some of the original
own home.
artist members. It has
The
participating
now grown to 33 local
artists are: Donna
artists and consists of
Bader, photographer;
painters in different
Nancy Bolton-Rawles,
media, stained glass,
mixed media
mixed media and jew-
Carol Cassidy, watercolors; Melin- elry.
da Fellini, oil; Sandra Gangle, acryl-
This guild is a nonprofit and is
ics and watercolors; Beth Kattleman, sponsored by Polly Plumb Produc-
mixed media; Jeanette K. Hodges, tions.
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scheduled to meet in order
to discuss the potential ad-
dition of a climate change
subcommittee to the city
workplan recommenda-
tions being submitted to
the Florence City Council.
But the meeting was never
gaveled to order due to the
lack of a quorum.
Local environmental ac-
tivist Mike Allen spoke to
this issue during the pub-
lic comments portion of
Monday’s council meeting,
leveling criticism against
the five EMAC members
who were not in atten-
dance for the March 30
special session.
Councilor Sally Wantz,
who serves as the council
ex-officio representative to
EMAC, said she also was
concerned with the way
the committee process had
played out.
“I want to share a few
concerns I have, starting
with the fact we have not
received a monthly sum-
mary, so I am going to do
my best to give you that,”
said Wantz. “A special
meeting was called for on
March 30. However, the
co-chair and others decid-
ed to remove themselves
from that meeting, thus
preventing the committee
from having a quorum in
order to function. This is
concerning to me in that
our volunteers are finding
it necessary to take ex-
treme measures to boycott
a meeting so that no busi-
sophomore
Volleyball
HIGHLIGHT:
The Sports Club, the Siuslaw News and Coast
Radio Sports congratulate Siuslaw Viking
Volleyball stand-out sophomore Desiree Tupua.
Desiree had two great back to back matches
leading to Siuslaw victories with 21 kills and 5
blocks against Marshfield and 24 kills and 4
blocks against Cottage Grove.
Honorable Mention:
Chad Hughes - Siuslaw Cross Country
Highlight:

Honorable mention goes to Viking junior Chad Hughes. Chad
led the Viking Cross Country team to a Sky-EM Championship
and was the boys individual Champion
with a time of 17:10.60
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