6A • February 23, 2018 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com
Food pantry: ‘too important to slow down’
New fire
personnel
delayed
Food from Page 1A
Levy from Page 1A
is to continue with paying for a fire chief
with this levy,” board member Garry Smith
said.
If residents do not vote to renew the levy,
the fire chief would be paid out of reserves
for a year before the board either proposed
another ballot measure to fund his position
or found alternate funding.
Overall, Benedict said considering rate
increases for the levy is just putting a ban-
dage on a larger, long-term funding issue
with the fire district.
Benedict is suggesting the board consol-
idate with other nearby fire districts to be
more cost-efficient. If done correctly, he
argues, reforming
the district will
make the depart-
‘We need to
less reliant
sit down and ment
on bonds and lev-
talk about
ies. Cannon Beach
has already started
what we
with near-
need to do in working
by Hamlet Fire
the long run, District by doing
combined training.
otherwise,
“There’s more
what kind of efficiency. Bet-
future do we ter emergency
response, better
have here?’
training, more effi-
cient operations,”
Fire board member
Benedict said. “It’s
Mark Mekenas
a better bang for
your buck. When
you join together,
it will decrease response times and consoli-
date training. Instead of paying for two fire
chiefs, you have one. You don’t need two
fire marshals.”
But reforming a fire district is a lengthy
and complicated process that would not
come to fruition until the distant future,
Benedict said. Until then, board members
held a workshop this week to discuss other
long-term funding options to address issues
like volunteer firefighter shortages and lim-
ited funds for aging equipment.
“All of the other districts I talk to face
the same issues. They need money, and
people don’t want to pay more taxes,” said
board member Mark Mekenas. “We need to
sit down and talk about what we need to do
in the long run, otherwise, what kind of fu-
ture do we have here? Small increases can
help with some additional funds, but down
the road? My God, we really have got to do
something.”
“We’ve been riding a high
wave. We’ve continued to in-
crease. We think we are finally
reaching everyone that kind of
needs help on a regular basis. We
are hoping someday it starts going
down,” Martin said. “In the food
banking business, saying business
is up is not always a good thing.”
While use has been steadily
going up for years all over the
county, the sharp increase at a
pantry as small as Cannon Beach’s
is unusual, Martin said.
Littell and Wood said they
don’t have a particular explana-
tion for the influx, but in general
surmise the tourism-based econo-
my contributes to a growing need.
Much of the work in Cannon
Beach is seasonal, and when tour-
ism dips, so do work hours and
paychecks, Littell said.
“I also think part of the reason
for the uptick is people are still
finding out we’re here,” Littell
said. “We’re trying to raise our
visibility.”
Martin also said the increase
could be a reflection of the same
families picking up supplies more
frequently.
“We used to be third tier. When
family income disappears, you
rely more on SNAP (Supplemen-
tal Nutrition Assistance Program),
and that is only designed for a cer-
tain amount of food. So you be-
come more reliant on emergency
food services,” Martin said. “So
people aren’t able to work, or are
on fixed incomes, but the cost of
living is still going up. You start
falling deeper into poverty, so you
seek more noncost services like
the food bank.”
COLIN MURPHEY/EO MEDIA GROUP
Rock Wickham sets out produce at the Cannon Beach Food Pantry.
‘I REMEMBER WHEN
26 HOUSEHOLDS
SEEMED LIKE A BIG
NUMBER. WE REALLY
THOUGHT WE WERE
HUSTLING THEN. I
GUESS WE WERE JUST
GETTING STARTED.’
Nancy Littell
Keeping up with demand
With an increase in demand
comes a need for more resourc-
es, which, for an entirely volun-
teer organization of about 20, can
be tricky. More demand for food
meant the need for more trucks for
hauling, more organizing, and of
course, more supplies to give out.
“Some days it really feels like
we’re hustling, but I wouldn’t say
we’ve ever felt overwhelmed,”
Wood said. “It’s too important to
slow down.”
Luckily, Wood said, there
has been an upswell in financial
and food donations, keeping the
amount of food they must pur-
chase steady. Almost 70 percent
of the 70,000 pounds of the food
served last year was donated.
Donations from second home-
owners who have leftover food
from their vacations have been
on the rise, as well as from local
restaurants and grocery stores.
Sometimes people will drive by
and hand Littell a check when
they see her. Some individuals in
town take it upon themselves to
consistently supply one particular
item each week. She attributes the
increase to getting the word out
about a growing need.
“We have one person who pro-
COLIN MURPHEY/EO MEDIA GROUP
David Kinhan, Charles Bennett and Rock Wickham line the tables
with produce at the food pantry in Cannon Beach.
vides us laundry soap every week.
One lady decided she couldn’t
stand the idea of people not hav-
ing toothbrushes,” Littell said.
“So she’s donated toothbrushes
for two years now.”
While the pantry is keeping up
for now, the board has organized
its first fundraiser after 10 years:
a soup cook-off and silent auction
M U N I C I PA L M E M O
FEBRUARY 2018
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
City Council Regular Meeting
City Council Work Session
Design Review Board
Planning Commission
CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION,
February 6, 2018
• Met pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(e);
to conduct deliberations with persons
designated by the governing body to
negotiate real property transactions.
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING,
February 6, 2018
• Municipal Court Judge Ron Woltjer
swore in new Police Officer Cody
Dietel;
• HRAP Coordinator Melissa Keyser
introduced the 2018 HRAP staff;
• Jenee Pearce-Mushen was presented
with the SOLVE 2017 Leader of the
Year Award for her outstanding service
to the community;
• Nancy Little, Co-Chair of the Cannon
Beach Food Bank presented their
2017 annual report;
• Police Chief Jason Schermerhorn pre-
sented the 2017 Cannon Beach Police
Department annual report;
• Adopted Resolution 18-01 adopting
the Water and Wastewater Master
Plans;
• Held a public hearing and then ad-
opted Resolution 18-02 – establishing
water, wastewater and storm sewer
utility rates effective March 20, 2018;
• Upheld the Public Works Committee’s
denial of a disputed utility billing fee
waiver request;
• Appointed Jim Azumano to serve
on the Budget Committee and Greg
Swedenborg to serve on the Tourism
and Arts Commission.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION, Febru-
ary 13, 2018
• Met with members of the Public Works
Committee to discuss committee
direction;
• Met with members of the Chamber of
Commerce to discuss the Promotions
Program; more direction will come
closer to the budget meetings;
• Directed staff to make changes to
Ordinance 16-05 regulating cannabis
related businesses within Cannon
Beach. These changes include all busi-
nesses having to meet DRB standards
regarding outer windows and allowing
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
MAYOR: Sam Steidel
COUNCILORS: Mike Benefield,
Nancy McCarthy, Brandon
Ogilvie and George Vetter
CITY MANAGER: Bruce St. Denis
Of Interest…
MARCH 2018
6
14
15
22
from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 14
at the American Legion. Whatever
is raised will go toward growing
food reserves.
“Gosh. I remember when 26
households seemed like a big
number. We really thought we
were hustling then,” Littell said.
“I guess we were just getting start-
ed.”
7:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
mixed use (commercial and residential
occupancy) of the buildings where
they are located;
• Directed staff to investigate software
options to assist with identifying who
is renting via intermediaries such as
AirBnB and not complying with the city
ordinances for business licenses, pay-
ing TRT taxes and safety inspections;
• Approved the Cannon Beach Medical
Reserve Corps (CBMRC) request to ap-
ply for a non-matching grant to allow
the purchase of medical supplies for
infants and toddlers. These supplies
will be kept at the cache sites.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION, Febru-
ary 20, 2018
• Discussed high dollar projects and
initiatives: Old CBES site, South Wind,
Mass Care, Affordable Housing and
City Hall.
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION, Febru-
ary 21, 2018
• Council and members of the Budget
Committee meet for preliminary bud-
get discussion.
DESIGN REVIEW BOARD – The Design
Review Board met February 15, 2018 and
discussed:
DRB 17-10, David Vonada, construction
of an 8-unit multi-family dwelling. Ap-
proved with Conditions.
PLANNING COMMISSION - The Plan-
ning Commission met January 25, 2018,
and discussed:
ZO 18-01 and CP 18-01, City of Cannon
Beach request for Zoning Ordinance
and Comprehensive Plan text amend-
ments updating the City’s foredune
management plan. Continued to the
2/22/18 meeting.
ZO 18-02, City of Cannon Beach request
for Zoning Ordinance text amend-
ments regarding workforce housing.
Continued to the 2/12/18 meeting.
ZO 18-03, City of Cannon Beach request
for Zoning Ordinance text amend-
ments to Chapter 17.70 Tree Removal.
Recommended Approval.
TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS CHAT
Tuesday, February 27, 2018 10:30 am – 11:30
am, City Hall Council Chambers, Free and Open to
the Public, Learn how to PREPARE our community
for earthquakes & tsunamis. Learn how to protect
your family or business. Dr. Althea Rizzo, Geologic
Hazards Program Coordinator at Oregon Emergency
Management and others will be here to answer your
questions. For more information please visit the city
website www.ci.cannon-beach.or.us OR http://www.
oregon.gov/OEM/hazardsprep/Pages/Tsunami.aspx
BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND EMER-
GENCY PREPAREDNESS FORUMS
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 1:30 pm – 4:00pm,
City Hall Council Chambers. No business is immune
to the effects of an emergency situation and every
business should have a plan of action that is com-
mensurate with their needs. This forum will focus
on the importance of preparing your business, your
employees, and protecting your assets in the event
of a disaster. Instructor: Stacy M. Burr, Cannon Beach
Emergency Management Consultant. Please RSVP to:
email@stacyburrconsulting.com
UPCOMING PLANNING COMMISSION
PUBLIC HEARING
The Planning Commission will be holding a public
hearing on March 22, 2018 to consider the adoption
of revised flood hazard determinations (FHDs) by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A
public hearing notice will be published prior to the
hearing.
HAYSTACK ROCK AWARENESS PRO-
GRAM
Why does HRAP need volunteers?
Thousands of people visit Cannon Beach every
summer, and many are drawn to our local monolith,
Haystack Rock. With a small seasonal staff team and
limited funds, HRAP depends on volunteers to ac-
complish its goals. Volunteers play a crucial role in
educating the public and visiting school groups while
promoting stewardship of our natural treasure.
What do volunteers do? 
Volunteers do all sorts of things. Most visible are
the beach interpreters who educate visitors about
the amazing marine and bird life at Haystack Rock.
Some on the beach duties include: setting up the
trailer display, manning bird scopes, guiding tide-
pool tours, and reminding people about the rules of
the rock. Volunteers also help organize potlucks, up-
date educational materials and many other activities.
Why volunteer? 
HRAP volunteers are part of an exciting outdoor
education program! Our staff and volunteers have
diverse backgrounds and talents making our team
dynamic and interesting. Volunteering is a great
way to meet people from all over and to learn more
about this special part of the world. Our program
began with volunteers in 1985 and will only persist in
the future with the help of volunteers.
I know nothing about tidepool life or birds. Can I
still help? 
Of course! The only requirements are interest and
enthusiasm! Staff is always present on the beach to
help answer questions. Many of our volunteers start
with little knowledge, but gain a lot quickly by simply
volunteering. HRAP also hosts three trainings each
year to help both volunteers and staff gain the knowl-
edge needed to be a successful interpreter.
Until the next training, check out our links page
to find websites that provide basic marine biology,
fun tidepool tidbits, photos and seabird information.
Also check out our HRAP resource links below.
I’m not sure about being on the beach. How else
can I help?
We can use you! Serving on a committee, donat-
ing equipment and services, assisting with mailing
--again, interest and enthusiasm are the only require-
ments.
Okay, you convinced me. How do I sign up?
Simply contact HRAP’s volunteer coordinator at
(503) 436-8064 or Habecker@ci.cannon-beach.or.us.
NOTICE OF VACANCIES
CITY COMMISSIONS, BOARDS
& COMMITTEES
The City of Cannon Beach is seeking applications
for the following vacancies:
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (EPREP) COMMIT-
TEE: TWO (2) vacancies to fill four-year terms. The
EPREP Committee meets regularly for the purpose of
providing evacuation planning and public education
regarding emergency preparedness. The Emergency
Preparedness Committee normally holds its regular
meetings on the last Friday of each month at 9:00
a.m. and may schedule work sessions as needed.
To be eligible to serve on a City committee, ap-
plicants must have resided within the city or its urban
growth boundary during the one year immediately
preceding appointment; or at the time of appoint-
ment, shall have owned real property located within
the city or its urban growth boundary for at least
one year immediately preceding appointment. Ap-
plications with questionnaires 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 more information,
please contact Colleen Riggs by email or phone at
(503) 436-8052.