JUNE 3, 2016 • VOL. 40, ISSUE 12
CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
MEMORIAL DAY
COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Survey results
provide insight
for city goals
Council, staf to focus on
housing, safety needs
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
LYRA FONTAINE/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
he Color Guard carried lags across the Fir Street Bridge in remembrance of veterans at the American Legion’s Memo-
rial Day ceremony.
‘LIBERTY
IS NOT FREE’
In Cannon Beach, a day of gratitude and remembrance
Afordable housing
The city will aim to add 25 units of af-
fordable housing for various household siz-
es by 2018, and 25 more units by 2020.
See Survey, Page 6A
Cannon Beach
budget approved
by committee
Capital projects, utility
increases and potential
school purchase passed
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
F
lowers in hand, families and veterans gathered on
Fir Street Bridge Monday to remember those who
lost their lives serving the country.
The American Legion Post 168 has organized a
Memorial Day ceremony in Cannon Beach since the
1970s. “Today is a time to pause and relect on just
how much we owe others,” Post Commander Dan
O’Reilly told the crowd. “Liberty is not free. Our sons and daugh-
ters have answered the call again and again. They have done this
without regard for sex, race or religion. We are the melting pot.
This is what makes us strong. Many have given their all ... for the
freedoms we enjoy.”
This price, he added, has been paid in all corners of the world.
“We must be watchful that our leaders never commit our
valuable resources to a cause that’s not necessary, because again,
freedom is not free,” O’Reilly said. “The playing of taps tells
those who have preceded us to rest, for their day is done. Rest
in peace, my brothers and sisters. We have the watch. We have
your legacy.”
He ended his oration with the U.S. Marine Corps motto
“Semper idelis,” or “Always faithful.”
Cannon Beach Community Church pastor David Robinson
led a prayer honoring fallen veterans. “May they rest in peace
and may your perpetual light shine upon them,” Robinson said.
Robinson issued a plea for justice for the oppressed and peace
for all peoples so military sacriice will not have been in vain.
During two full days of strategic plan-
ning sessions, 15 Cannon Beach city coun-
cilors and staff considered major commu-
nity issues, from parking to short-term
rentals, before coming to a consensus on
city priorities for the next ive years.
Results from the recent citizen survey,
which received a 40 percent response from
residents, guided the May 25 and 26 discus-
sions. Of those respondents, 4 percent were
second homeowners.
After analyzing survey results and the
consultant’s past interviews with councilors
and staff, the group identiied ive priorities:
affordable housing, infrastructure planning,
emergency management, relationship with
the community and effective government.
“This allows me to focus on speciic
goals and allows us to be held accountable
for achieving these results,” City Manager
Brant Kucera said. Consultant Marv Weid-
ner said a strategic plan is “a contract with
the community” and told the room to set
“measurable, achievable” goals for each
priority.
The public could attend but not partic-
ipate. The plan will be adopted at the July
council meeting.
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
Cannon Beach residents and visitors remember loved ones
who served in the U.S. armed forces by dropping lowers
into Ecola Creek.
“And may we never fail to remember the awesome cost of
the freedom, which we enjoy here on this bridge and in this ine
city,” Robinson said.
While taps were played, O’Reilly and those who served the
country, whether retired or on active duty, raised their hands in
salute. Others in the crowd placed their hands over their hearts.
Following the bugle call, families stepped forward to toss
lowers into Ecola Creek from the Fir Street Bridge to remember
loved ones who died in service.
The city plans to rehabilitate the Fir
Street Bridge this year but, without receiv-
ing a state grant, will not budget money to
build a tsunami-proof pedestrian bridge.
This was one of several changes the Can-
non Beach Budget Committee initiated as
they approved the 2016-17 budget May 23.
The City Council will conduct public hear-
ings on the approved budget June 14.
At $16.18 million, the budget is about
$3.6 million less than what was proposed.
The budget relects costs of projects pri-
oritized by the council as well as deferred
maintenance and planning, City Manager
Brant Kucera wrote in a May 18 budget
committee message.
In approving the modiied budget, com-
mittee members said they were concerned
about the originally proposed 31 percent
increase from the budget of $14.6 million
this iscal year.
PAID
PERMIT NO. 97
ASTORIA, OR
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
See Budget, Page 6A
Environmental advocate steps up at the Rock
New volunteer
coordinator
protects whales
By Lyra Fontaine
Cannon Beach Gazette
In 2015, Frances Holtman was
among crew members detained for in-
tervening during the slaughter of pilot
whales in the Faroe Islands.
That incident is behind her, but
Holtman’s dedication to environmen-
tal conservation continues in Cannon
Beach as the Haystack Rock Aware-
ness Program’s new volunteer coor-
dinator. She began working with the
program as a staff interpreter in Feb-
ruary.
On a bright May morning, Holt-
man, 25, awaited a group of local el-
ementary school students to arrive for
a ield trip.
Holtman said ocean ecosystems
provide air for every second breath we
take.
“The oceans are an intricate eco-
system that we rely upon to survive,”
she said. “It’s really fulilling to be
able to address that.”
Holtman noted that the Haystack
Rock Awareness Program has an edu-
cational program open to students of
all ages that regularly sees students
from across the state.
“I think this is an important part of
making a positive impact,” she said.
“A lot of adults have been telling me
that one of the things they remember
the most from when they were a kid is
coming out on ield trips to Haystack
Rock. And I know myself, when I was
a kid, going on ield trips really stand
out for me.”
Holtman emphasized the impor-
tance of both year-round and one-time
See Coordinator, Page 7A
LYRA FONTAINE/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
Frances Holtman is the new volunteer coordinator for the Haystack Rock
Awareness Program.