LOCAL & STATE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
Critics urge legislators to reject handgun limits
By Kevin Harden
Oregon Capital Bureau
A Senate hearing on legislation to
alter state gun laws drew a cavalcade
of passionate opposition.
Members of the Senate Committee
on Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110
Implementation heard four hours of
virtual testimony Monday on Senate
Bill 554, which allows local jurisdic-
tions to prohibit people with concealed
handgun permits from carrying
firearms into public buildings. Anyone
caught with a firearm in a public
building could face Class C felony
charges.
COUNCIL
The bill is necessary, advocates say,
because state law allows people with
concealed handgun permits to carry
Alderson is the city’s
representative on the county’s
seven-member transient lodg-
ing tax committee.
Waggoner said,“I think
what it is is we’ve all got a
stake in it. Baker City, Baker
County, and all
of our outlying
cities. I do have
concerns with
the oversight is-
sues but I think
if Baker County Waggoner
commissioners
will work with us and get
these issues fi xed and maybe
get us more representation
on this board, anything is
possible.”
2006 agreement
Since July 1, 2006, Baker
County has administered
the lodging tax program both
inside the city and elsewhere
in the county.
Guests at motels, bed and
breakfasts, RV parks, vacation
rental homes and camp-
grounds pay the tax, which
is 7% of the rental rate. The
county then collects the tax
from each of the establish-
ments on a quarterly basis.
In the 2018-19 fi scal year,
guests at Baker City lodging
businesses paid about 71.6%
of the taxes — $244,000 of
$341,000.
A county ordinance pre-
scribes in general how the
money is spent — 70% for
tourism promotion, 25% for
economic development, and
5% for the county’s expenses
to administer the tax.
The basic idea with lodging
taxes is to use the money to
bring more visitors to the area,
who will themselves pay the
tax.
The county commissioners,
in determining how the tour-
ism promotion and economic
development money is spent,
are advised by the transient
lodging tax committee and by
the Economic Development
Council.
If the city ended the 2006
agreement with the county,
then the city would be re-
sponsible for collecting the tax
within the city limits, but also
have the authority to decide
how the money is spent.
committee’s witness registration list
was 27 pages long. More than 630
people submitted written testimony.
Sen. Kim Thatcher, a Keizer Repub-
lican and committee vice chairwoman,
said after the hearing that gun issues
always draw a big response. “Gun
legislation, especially legislation that
targets members of the public who
don’t commit crimes (concealed hand-
gun license holders), will always be
controversial,” she said. “It deals with
constitutional rights.”
Public offi cials ‘vulnerable’
A handful of city and county officials
who testified told the committee the
legislation was necessary to protect
public buildings. Some also warned
against adopting the bill, claiming it
would criminalize otherwise lawful
behavior.
Yamhill County Commissioner
Lindsay Berschauer told the commit-
tee that as a sexual assault survivor
and single mother, she obtained a
concealed handgun permit for protec-
tion. She said SB 554 would create a
“minefield of gun-free zones” across
the state.
See Gun Bill/Page 5A
mittee, also addressed the
“This came too quickly,”
“I think we’re alienating
Council.
Calder
said. “15 years ago the
businesses if we do this.”
“This discussion of pulling
council spent months talking
— Jason Spriet, Baker City
— Lynette Perry, Baker City
out of the interagency agree-
about how they were going
Council member
Council member
ment has, in the past, been
to make a better use of those
debated and debated,” Savage
dollars.”
the county and let them work
said. “We have too few re-
“We made the recommen-
Calder said 50% of her
on that.”
sources in the county to dilute dation to go to a county-wide
business comes from tourism
McQuisten also cited poten-
the longstanding working of so transient lodging tax to in-
revenues.
tial ethics issues related to the
many to promote this county. clude everybody,” Brown said.
Brian Vegter, co-owner of
lodging tax committee.
The layer of bureaucracy you “I think it’s been effective.”
the Churchill School, encour-
Drew Martin, the county’s
would have to add takes away
Travis Cook, a member of
aged councilors to maintain
attorney, addressed those is-
from the possibilities of what the Baker County Chamber of the agreement with the
sues in a Sept. 24, 2020, letter
we could do.”
Commerce and owner of Cop- county.
responding to questions posed
Tom Hughes of Baker City per Belt Wines, told councilors
“As somebody who spent
by county commissioners.
told councilors he has heard
that approximately 65% of his my entire time here in Baker
Those questions stemmed
from motel owners, whom he revenue comes from tourists. working on things that are
in part from the county’s
didn’t name, that they’re not
“While many of my winery related to tourism, arts,
consideration of awarding
seeing a benefi t from the way counterparts in the Willamette culture and recreation and as
a contract for operating a
the county is spending lodging Valley have annual marketing a lodging partner, I think this
visitors center, using the share
taxes.
budgets well in excess of my
would be a very bad thing for
of the lodging tax money al-
“I give my recommenda-
annual sales, I have to rely on all involved,” Vegter said.
located for tourism promotion.
tion the city take it back over,” the joint advertising effort to
County Commission
The current contract, for about
Hughes said.
the area spearheaded by the
$77,000 per year, is with the
Mike Downing, a former
current TLT agreement,” Cook chairman responds
Bill Harvey, chairman of the
Baker County Chamber of
City Councilor, said he works said.
Baker County Board of Com-
Commerce.
with the Sumpter Valley Rail-
Cook asked the councilors
missioners, asked councilors
In late 2019, responding
road and has seen a benefi t
why they are opposed to the
to the county’s request for
from lodging taxes.
current TLT agreement, how to work with commissioners
rather than sever ties.
proposals to operate a visitors
“The TLT tax has helped
is creating a second govern-
“Let’s work together, let’s
center, both the Chamber and
market our railroad, we are
ing body a more effi cient way
make a better program,”
Anthony Lakes Mountain
501(c)(3),” Downing said. “It
of managing these resources
Harvey said.
Resort submitted proposals.
has helped market our rail-
than what is currently in
County commissioners are
County commissioners have Citizen testimony
road to a great extent.”
place, and how could the new
Councilors heard from
slated to discuss the lodg-
yet to award a new contract.
Although the historic
agreement or arrangement
ing tax during their March
Both the lodging tax commit- several business owners and railroad had fewer passengers be of greater benefi t to his
3 meeting. Harvey said the
tee and the county’s Economic others about the lodging tax.
from outside the U.S. in 2020
business.
Carrie Folkman, owner of
current strategy is intended
Development Commission
due to the pandemic, Downing
Ryan Chaves, who owns
recommended county commis- Mt. View RV Park, which col- said riders continue to arrive
Glacier 45 distillery in Baker to benefi t businesses in Baker
City and elsewhere in the
sioners award the contract to lects the lodging tax from its
from across the country, some- City, urged councilors to con-
guests, asked in an email that thing he attributes to market- tinue the agreement with the county.
Anthony Lakes.
councilors avoid taking any ac- ing paid for with lodging taxes. county.
“When somebody comes
One of the potential con-
to Baker County, if they’re
fl icts that Martin addresses in tion on withdrawing from the
“If this was severed I am
“Now is not the time to
going to go out to Richland, or
his letter is that Chelsea Judy, agreement with the county.
very concerned that it could
change the process,” Chaves
“My concern tonight is that cause other ramifi cations to
if they’re going to Haines, or
an Anthony Lakes employee,
said. “This is not the time to
this item has
also is a member of the lodg-
multiple Baker City busi-
make changes that will affect they’re going to go to Anthony
been brought to
Lakes, or something, they stop
ing tax committee.
nesses that our ridership stays businesses. I heard from 20
the council as an
But other members of the
with when they are here but
businesses in a day and a half, in Baker fi rst,” Harvey said.
committee said Judy recused action item and
also county services that are
saying ‘why is this happening?’ “They buy groceries, they buy
gas, they buy a meal, stay in
herself from discussions about not a discussion
provided to county residents as
“In the last fi ve years TLT
a hotel. Then they go to the
the committee’s recommenda- item,” Folkman
well as city residents,” Down- has done more for this com-
Folkman ing said.
said. “This is
excursion that they planned
tion for awarding the visitor
munity than in the 15 years
a very serious
on but then they come back
services contract.
Tyler Brown, the current
since I’ve been back in this
discussion that I think needs chairman of the county’s
to Baker City and they spend
During Tuesday’s Council
community doing business,”
to be had.”
money again on their way
meeting, Alderson said he
lodging tax committee, talked Chaves said.
Folkman said she was
doesn’t believe the city can af-
about the history leading to
Bev Calder, owner of BEL- home.”
Bryan Tweit, the county’s
ford to administer the lodging surprised to hear that the
the 2006 agreement, includ-
LA Main Street Market, said
idea of the city canceling the
tax, which it would have to
ing many meetings involving she was a city councilor when contract economic developer,
said he believes having Baker
do if it severed the agreement 2006 agreement hadn’t been
mayors from cities across the the city made the agreement
brought to lodging establish-
with the county.
county.
with the county to administer City and Baker County have
separate lodging tax admin-
Alderson also said that the ments and other stakeholders.
The goal, Brown said, was to the lodging tax.
Folkman said in her letter
city would have to update “a
promote the entire county as a
She urged councilors not to istrative systems “makes zero
that she had been involved
sense.”
whole list of ordinances that
tourist destination.
make an abrupt decision.
with both the Chamber of
are out of date” since the city
Commerce and lodging tax
has relied on the county to
committees at both the city
administer the lodging tax
and county over the years.
since 2006.
Folkman said she was a
McQuisten disagreed. She
contended the city would need member of the committee
that approved the agreement
only to notify the
between the city and county,
county that it
and that the group decided it
intends to cancel
was better to “pool our dollars”
the agreement
rather than have the county
— it requires a
and city pursue separate
60-day notice —
then update city McQuisten strategies in spending the
lodging taxes.
ordinances to
“We worked very hard,
refl ect the city taking over the
responsibility for collecting the decided to pool those funds
together, take all of the outly-
tax inside the city limits.
ing communities and work to
“It’s not complicated,” Mc-
do what was best for Baker
Quisten said.
County because whatever is
She said that without an
estimate of how much it would best for Baker City is best for
cost the city to administer the Baker County,” Folkman said.
tax, she can’t conclude that the “For my business, I need the
rest of this county to do well
city couldn’t afford to do so.
Try the SHIP TO STORE feature at
The county spent $20,729 to in order for my business in
administer the lodging tax in Baker City to do well.”
millershomecenter.com
Ginger Savage, executive di-
2018-19.
rector of Crossroads Carnegie
Spriet said he supports
BRINGING QUALITY PRODUCTS 3815 Pocahontas Road, Baker City • 541-523-6404
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keeping the city’s agreement
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AT AFFORDABLE PRICING TO
the Baker County Transient
with the county in place
EASTERN OREGON
because he believes the over- Lodging Tax Marketing Com-
“I think the way it is set
up is working very well.”
Continued from Page 1A
Councilors’ views
Perry, who said she spoke
with the Oregon Government
Ethics Commission to ensure
she didn’t have a confl ict of
interest due to her involve-
ment with Baker City Events,
said she has had wonderful
partnerships with the lodging
tax committee, the Chamber
of Commerce, and Travel
Baker.
“I think the way it is set up
is working very well,” Perry
said. “There are some over-
sight issues that maybe the
county could work through,
the issues I’ve heard from
people; they’re not happy
about some of the possible
confl icts of interest. I think
that it’s best to bring those
things that we’re hearing to
Oregon Capital Insider/ File
A bill in the Oregon Legislature
would affected people with con-
cealed handgun permits.
firearms into some public buildings.
It was the first time this session
that the committee heard testimony
on gun-related legislation. Committee
members were slated to discuss SB
554 again during an online work ses-
sion today, Feb. 25.
Most of the more than 200 people
who testified online told the commit-
tee that the legislation seemed like a
“mean-spirited” slam at law-abiding
people who went through a legal
process to get a concealed handgun
permit. A total of 330 people wanted
to speak in person, but the committee
ran out of time to hear them all. The
whelming majority of Baker
City business owners want
to do so, based on testimony
councilors heard Tuesday and
from emails and phone calls
from residents to councilors.
“I have heard
very, very little
with regard to
anybody agree-
ing with the
separation,” Spri-
Spriet
et said. “I think
we’re alienating
businesses if we do this.”
McQuisten said the central
issue is making sure the tax
money is spent to the great-
est benefi t of local businesses.
She pointed out that most
of the lodging taxes are paid
by guests at establishments
inside the Baker City limits.
“It’s our responsibility to
make sure that that’s man-
aged as well as it could pos-
sibly be managed,” McQuisten
said. “Over the last year, I
know there have been great
things that have happened
and there have been con-
cerns.”
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