6A • May 20, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com
Water rates could
see big increase
Increase is ‘just
the beginning’
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
Cannon Beach residents
may pay more for their water
next year.
City staff suggested water,
wastewater and storm drain
rate increases at the May bud-
get committee meetings. They
also suggested a study to bring
the city’s rates “up to market
rate.” Without the hike, money
would need to be transferred
from the city’s general fund, as
it has in years past.
Staff has proposed a 7 per-
cent increase in monthly water
charges, which would go from
$795,000 to $845,000 in next
year’s budget.
The 7 percent increase is
“just the beginning,” Public
Works Director Dan Grassick
said.
The amount is a conserva-
tive estimate, Gassick said, be-
cause the city will not get the
entire 7 percent.
“When
you
raise
your prices,
people tend
to conserve,”
he said. Rate-
payers may
see an esti-
mated $1.40
Dan
increase
a
Grassick
month per av-
erage household.
City Manager Brant Kucera
compared Cannon Beach’s
water rates to those of Astoria,
Warrenton and Seaside.
“We are from 60 percent
to 30 percent where everyone
else is,” Kucera said. “Our
rates have not been adjusted
enough in recent times.”
Homeowners could see a 5
percent increase in wastewater
fees and 3 percent increase in
storm drain rates.
The budget for monthly
wastewater charges in the up-
coming year is $1.1 million,
compared to $1 million in the
current year. Storm drain rates
could go up from $138,000
this year to $142,000 proposed
for next year. The city’s gener-
‘When you raise
your prices,
people tend to
conserve.’
Public Works Director
Dan Grassick
al fund has been subsidizing
enterprise activities — among
them water and sewer costs —
for 10 to 15 years, according to
budget committee members.
The rate increases would
not solve the problem of the
general fund subsidizing en-
terprise activities, Kucera said
earlier this month.
“We are going to do a rate
study to set them where they
need to be, so our business ac-
tivities start to become sustain-
able,” Kucera said. “We’ve got
to get our rates up to market
rate to support the functions
we’re doing.”
Grassick said the city needs
a “defensible” rate study, based
on customer classiication and
capital project needs, because
the state and ratepayers can
challenge rates.
City may acquire school property
Budget from Page 1A
Staff proposed a 7 percent
water rate increase, 5 percent
wastewater increase and 3
percent storm drain increase.
Staff also budgeted funds
for a salary survey, computer
upgrades, hiring a building
oficial and purchasing a new
police four-wheel drive vehi-
cle.
The community programs
department had a $63,000
decrease in expenses due to
the Cannon Beach Children’s
Center closing in April.
Buying a school
The city considered ac-
quiring the elementary school
property from the Seaside
School District in 2013, when
the school closed. Howev-
er, the city and the Seaside
school board did not reach an
agreement on the cost until
recently, Kucera said after the
meeting.
“The site is one of the main
entrances of the city and the
city wants to improve it,” he
said. “When you enter town,
we want something we can be
very proud of.”
Although the acquisition
has been a “long-term plan
for the city,” Kucera said the
budget committee and City
Council can decide whether
CANNON BEACH GAZETTE/FILE PHOTO
Cannon Beach Elementary School was closed to students in
2013. It is being slated for purchase by the city.
or not to move forward with
the purchase.
“We have not purchased
anything,” Kucera said to the
committee. “I have not signed
a sales agreement.”
If the committee and coun-
cil decide to acquire the site,
potential uses for the elemen-
tary school property would
be discussed during the city’s
strategic planning, Kucera
said.
The lack of “timely evac-
uation facilities” downtown
would prevent a large meeting
area from being built at the site.
However, if the city re-
ceives a state grant in fall to
build the Fir Street pedestrian
bridge, more options could be
considered.
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M U N I C I PA L M E M O
May 2016
Is published monthly by the City of Cannon Beach
163 E. Gower Street • P.O. Box 368 • Cannon Beach, OR 97110
(503) 436-1581 • Fax: (503) 436-2050 • TTY (503) 436-8097
MEETINGS
2016 CITY COUNCIL ELECTION
JUNE 2016
7
14
16
23
City Council Regular Meeting
City Council Work Session
Design Review Board
Planning Commission
7:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR
MEETING, May 5, 2016
• Police Chief
Schemerhorn presented
a plaque to former
Cannon Beach Fire
Department Captain Matt
Gardner on behalf of
the City recognizing his
service to the citizens and
City of Cannon Beach;
• Approved Proclamation
16-03, EMERGENCY
SERVICES WEEK May 15-
21, 2016;
• Approved Proclamation
16-04, declaring April 29,
2016 as ARBOR DAY;
• Approved Resolution
16-04, for the purpose of
adopting a supplemental
budget for the Fir Street
Bridge Rehabilitation
Project;
• Appointed Steven Sinkler
to serve on the Tourism
and Arts Commission.
CITY COUNCIL WORK
SESSION, May 10, 2016
• Haystack Rock Awareness
Coordinator Melissa
Keyser introduced new
HRAP staff to the Council;
• Finance Director Laurie
Sawrey presented the
third quarter (Jan-Mar 2016) inancial
report;
• Council listened to a presentation
regarding the Oregon State
Parks’ interest in purchasing the
Weyerhaeuser property north of the
City.
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD - Scheduled
to meet May 19, 2016 at 6:00pm
PLANNING COMMISSION - At their
April 28, 2016 meeting the Planning
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
MAYOR: Sam Steidel
COUNCILORS: Wendy Higgins,
Melissa Cadwallader, Mike
Beneield & George Vetter
CITY MANAGER: Brant Kucera
At the 2016 General Election on November 8th, two City Councilor positions will appear on the ballot. The
iling period for interested candidates begins on June 1, 2016 and all iling requirements must be completed by
5:00 p.m. on August 30, 2016.
• All positions are non-partisan.
• Council positions are elected at large – meaning candidates may reside in any area of the community.
• All positions are volunteer/non-paid.
• All terms will begin at the irst City Council meeting January 3, 2017.
QUALIFICATIONS AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
A qualiied elector who shall have resided in the city during the 12 months immediately preceding the election
may be nominated for an elective city position. Nomination shall be by petition specifying the position sought in a
form prescribed by the council. Such petition shall be signed by not fewer than 50 electors.
Please contact Assistant City Manager Colleen Riggs at (503) 436-8052 or via email at riggs@ci.cannon-beach.
or.us for additional information or for an election information packet.
CITY OF CANNON BEACH POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
ROCKY SHORE INTERPRETER & LEAD ROCKY SHORE INTERPRETER
HAYSTACK ROCK AWARENESS PROGRAM (HRAP)
The City of Cannon Beach is seeking qualiied applicants for Rocky Shore Interpreters and Lead Rocky Shore
Interpreters for the Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP). These seasonal, part-time positions run February
through October under the supervision of the HRAP Coordinator.
Description: HRAP is a stewardship and environmental educational program whose mission is to protect,
through education, the intertidal and seabird ecology of the Marine Garden and Oregon Islands National Wildlife
Refuge at Haystack Rock.
Duties: Rocky Shore Interpreters educate the public about intertidal and seabird ecology, support school ield
trip programs, promote stewardship, redirect visitors engaging in prohibited activities, set-up and break down
HRAP’s mobile education unit, collect accurate data, and maintain equipment off the beach. Beach program
schedule varies daily around low tide, therefore applicants must be willing to work early mornings, mid-days,
evenings and weekends. Work schedules are coordinated one month in advance. HRAP’s team includes 1 full-
time Program Coordinator, 1 part-time Volunteer Coordinator, 1 part-time Education Coordinator, 8-10 part-time
seasonal staff, and 80-100 community volunteers.
Requirements: High School graduate, degree and/or coursework in Environmental ield preferred, valid driver’s
license, strong work-ethic, good communication skills, exercise of judgment, initiative, and teamwork. Training will
be provided in the areas of intertidal and seabird identiication and ecology, program set-up and break-down,
data collection, temporary species collection, general communication skills, beach driving, and basic equipment
maintenance. Relevant experience preferred.
Salary: $10-13/hour; depending upon experience. Position is part-time (10-25 hrs/ week), seasonal, temporary
and not eligible for beneits.
Start Dates: Interviews will begin in May and will continue until all positions are illed.
To apply: Send a completed City application (available at www.ci.cannon-beach.or.us) along with your cover
letter or CV, resume and at least three references to: Melissa Keyser, HRAP Coordinator, City of Cannon Beach, PO
Box 368, Cannon Beach, OR 97110 or email: hrap@ci.cannon-beach.or.us. The City of Cannon Beach is an equal
opportunity employer. Position is open until illed.
NOTICE OF VACANCIES
CITY COMMISSIONS, BOARDS & COMMITTEES
The City of Cannon Beach is seeking applications for the following vacancies:
Commission discussed:
V 16-02, Variance request on behalf
of property owners Nathan and
Sarah Austria for a variance to the
maximum loor area ratio, and for a
variance to the maximum building
height, to remodel their existing
residence at 172 W Harrison Street.
Denied
16-03, Variance request on behalf of
property owners Filene and Holly
Alleva for a variance to the minimum
front-yard setback for construction
of a new single-family residence at
1680 Forest Lawn Road. Approved
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE: Two (2) vacancies.
The EPREP Committee meets regularly for the purpose of providing evacuation planning and public education
regarding emergency preparedness. The committee is comprised of six at-large community members, who each
serve a four-year term, and a representative of the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District. The Emergency
Preparedness Committee holds its regular meetings on the last Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. and may
schedule work sessions as needed.
To be eligible to serve on a City committee, applicants must have resided within the city or its urban growth
boundary during the one year immediately preceding appointment; or at the time of appointment, shall have
owned real property located within the city or its urban growth boundary for at least one year immediately
preceding appointment. Applications are available at City Hall, 163 E. Gower Street, Cannon Beach, by email
addressed to riggs@ci.cannon-beach.or.us, or on-line at www.ci.cannon-beach.or.us. For consideration at the June
7, 2016 City Council meeting, applications must be returned to Colleen Riggs, Assistant City Manager, Cannon
Beach City Hall, at P.O. Box 368, Cannon Beach, OR 97110 by 4:00 p.m., Monday May 30, 2016. Late applications
will not be accepted. For more information, please contact Colleen Riggs by email or phone at (503) 436-8052.
