6A • July 10, 2015 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
Transportation district
seeks to increase presence
SETD from Page 1A
the Columbia County Rider
either in Westport or Clats-
looking for easier transi- kanie, and riders can contin-
tions and connections be- ue on to Portland with bus
tween the Cannon Beach changes along the way.
bus and the Highway 101
Sunset Empire Transpor-
bus, which currently con- tation District and the Colum-
nect behind the Seaside bia County Rider are working
Cinema on 12th Avenue. toward a new intercity route
Something on the highway that would connect in Raini-
might provide better ac- er, where riders could choose
cess, he said.
between going to Portland or
Having that presence Longview, Wash. The route
would be good for South would run twice per day, sev-
County, Hazen said. “It en days per week.
would be good for the district,
“We felt it would be a lot
because we want to be rel- less confusing,” Hazen said.
evant throughout the whole
The agencies are hoping to
county,” he said.
start that service by Aug. 1. At
Seaside is the source of its July 23 meeting, the dis-
many visitors each year. Its trict’s Board of Commission-
location on U.S. Highway ers will hold a public hearing
101 also makes it suscepti- on the matter.
ble to congestion, a source of
“It’s really important we
frustration for those who live engage the public in those de-
and work in the city. Public cisions,” Hazen said.
transportation can help miti-
The district also plans to
gate congestion and increase add more frequent rides be-
accessibility for Seaside rid- tween Astoria and Seaside
ers, Hazen said.
on Highway 101 starting in
“We can be part of that August. There used to be
solution,” he said. “If some of hourly service, but when the
those people weren’t driving GLVWULFW IDFHG ¿QDQFLDO GLI¿
those cars and were riding the culties that changed, Hazen
bus, that’s less vehicles on the said. The goal is to bring back
highway.”
hourly service during peak
A Seaside transit facility times, such as morning and
DOVR ZRXOG ¿W ZHOO LQWR WKH late afternoon.
Northwest Oregon’s region-
Another priority for the
al transit system, North by district this year is increasing
Northwest CONNECTOR. transportation for veterans.
The alliance consists of Sun-
“There are a lot of gaps
set Empire Transportation there,” Hazen said.
District, the Columbia Coun-
The Veterans Adminis-
ty Rider, the Tillamook Coun- tration runs a bus from As-
ty Transportation District, toria to the Veterans Affairs
Lincoln County Transit and Medical Center in Portland.
Benton County Rural Transit. The problem is many local
“We’re all in this togeth- veterans don’t have a way to
er,” Hazen said. “We’re not get to that van, Hazen said.
competing against each other. The district and other part-
We’re all providing a service ners are considering solu-
in rural America. The more tions, including a volunteer
we can connect, the better off group that could provide a
we’re all going to be.”
sort of dial-a-ride service for
Elsewhere throughout the veterans. Since the district
district, the agency is moving doesn’t have “an endless
forward with some chang- supply of money,” volun-
es. For instance, the district teers and other partners are
is considering the addition important to help the agen-
of a new service to get rid- cy overcome challenges and
ers to Portland. The district’s provide better service, Ha-
bus currently connects with zen said.
City revisits itinerant merchant regs
rewrote it to be permissive,”
“It’s one of the things that caues sometimes entertain-
Winstanley said.
has changed,” Winstanley ment can cause a disturbance
7KH GH¿QLWLRQ RI DQ LWLQ said, adding it has put police between nighttime hours.
The penalty for violating
erant merchant in the code RI¿FHUVLQDGLI¿FXOWSRVLWLRQ
currently applies to “a person when it comes to enforcement. the ordinance is $500, but the
RFFXS\LQJDWHPSRUDU\¿[HG With the amendment, he said, amendment seeks to increase
location, who promotes, so- “We’re telling them that that the penalty to $700.
Finally, the amendment
By Katherine Lacaze
licits or sells from stock or would be okay, but you just
Seaside Signal
adds a new exception: “The
inventory on hand or displays have to follow the rules.”
samples and solicits orders
3ROLFH RI¿FHUV RQO\ ZLOO city reserves the right to limit
The city of Seaside is ex- for merchandise in stock.” have to make sure panhan- licensing in heavily congest-
ploring a new method for The amendment seeks to ex- dlers or other itinerant mer- ed areas during periods of
making Seaside less appeal- SDQGWKHGH¿QLWLRQWRLQFOXGH chants have a permit, and if extreme crowding to protect
ing to panhandlers: requiring any person or persons who they don’t, advise them it is a the safety and security of both
merchants and customers.”
them to apply for a $50 per provide “a service (enter- requirement by law.
There are certain times
day itinerant merchant permit tainment, etc.) or solicits for
The amendment also would
in order to solicit in public.
any form of compensation or FKDQJHWKHGH¿QLWLRQRIWHPSR during the year — such as
More than 30 years since remuneration.” This addition UDU\ ¿[HG ORFDWLRQ IURP ³DQ\ Fourth of July or during the
the adoption of an ordinance would encompass any person business location or private Hood 2 Coast Relays — that
regarding itinerant merchants, offering a service, entertain- property” that is not enclosed are not appropriate for people
the city is en route to updating ment or nothing in return for ZLWKLQWKHFRQ¿QHVRIRUXVHG to be selling or soliciting as
the ordinance to make it more compensation.
as accessory to a permanent itinerant merchants because
“permissive,” which means
As opposed to how pan- commercial structure to “any of congestion and other safe-
the city would allow certain handling is addressed in the business location, public or pri- ty concerns, Winstanley said.
“There’s just too much ac-
activities as long they conform city’s general offenses ordi- vate.”
to regulations, City Manager nance, which is restrictive in
The amendment also tivity in the downtown core
Mark Winstanley said.
that it entirely bans begging states “all services must be area, which is where we see
At its meeting June 22, Sea- or soliciting on the streets discontinued during these the majority of itinerant mer-
side City Council discussed an or in any public place, the hours,” referring to from 10 chants,” he added.
The ordinance does not
ordinance amending Chapter amendment to the itinerant p.m. to 8 a.m., when all mer-
114 of the Code of Seaside merchant regulation would chandise and ancillary equip- apply to garage sales or
that regulates the buying and allow that activity — as ment must be enclosed with- farmers markets, which are
selling of merchandise “by long as the individual has in a permanent commercial licensed under a different or-
individuals that do not have obtained a permit. The fees structure or removed from dinance.
After a public comment
D ¿[HG ORFDWLRQ´:LQVWDQOH\ remain unchanged: $50 per WKHWHPSRUDU\¿[HGORFDWLRQ
said. The ordinance went into day or a maximum of $1,000
“We also wanted to make section, during which no one
effect in 1984 and has not un- in a calendar year.
sure there was an understand- spoke, the council approved
GHUJRQH VLJQL¿FDQW FKDQJHV
Many
municipalities’ ing that itinerant merchants PRWLRQVIRUD¿UVWUHDGLQJDQG
since then, so the city believes laws restricting or disallow- could only work during second reading of the ordi-
it should be updated.
ing panhandling or begging what’s basically the daytime nance by title only. The ordi-
nance is slated for a third read-
In 1984, Winstanley said, have come under scrutiny hours,” Winstanley said.
“We could say, ‘no, you don’t as being unconstitutional in
Councilor Tita Montero ing and possible adoption at
get to do certain activities,’” the past few years.
said she liked the change be- the council’s July 13 meeting.
EXWWRGD\LWLVPRUHGLI¿FXOW
for municipalities to ban peo-
ple from doing things that are
not illegal or unconstitution-
The ordinance ‘was a concern for us, because it was a
al. The itinerant merchants
restrictive ordinance, so we rewrote it to be permissive.’
license ordinance “was a
concern for us, because it was
City Manager Mark Winstanley
a restrictive ordinance, so we
Proposed amendment
would expand defi nition
to apply to panhandlers,
street performers
Sunset recreation district approves
$2.68M budget for upcoming year
revenue total is $2,684,236.
Expenditures are budgeted to
increase about 3 percent in
2015-16 over last year’s ex-
penditures, but revenue also is
expected to increase.
By Katherine Lacaze
More than half the dis-
Seaside Signal
trict’s revenue comes from
property taxes. The district
The Sunset Empire Park & has a total assessed value of
Recreation District board of more than $1.5 billion for
Award-winning Oregon blood-thirsty monsters in a directors approved a budget ¿VFDO \HDU DQG WKH
coast author Melissa Eskue race to claim his birthright. RI IRU ¿VFDO \HDU permanent tax rate is nearly
2XVOH\ ZLOO ODXQFK WKH ¿QDO The story concludes in “The 2015-16.
$0.93 per $1,000 of assessed
book in her young adult se- Sower Comes” as the new
At its meeting June 17, the value. About $1,435,287 in
ries, “The Solas Beir Trilo- king realizes how heavy a board made a few last min- taxes should be generated, but
gy,” this July, kicking off a crown can be. David had no ute changes amounting to since some taxes go uncollect-
regional book tour. She will FOXH DERXW WKH VDFUL¿FHV KH $60,000 before unanimously ed in a given year, the district
be reading from “The Sower would be forced to make. approving the budget, which budgets a collection rate of 93
Comes” Saturday, July 11, at Now, battling a tyrant intent was previously approved by percent, or $1,334,816.
1 p.m., at a book launch party on stealing his throne, and the district’s Budget Commit-
In addition to property
at Beach Books, 616 Broad- facing a new evil threatening tee in May.
taxes, the district is expecting
way, in Seaside. For every to rip the realm apart, saving
The budget encapsulates approximately $1,349,420 in
ERRN VROG GXULQJ WKH ¿UVW his world may cost David ev- the General Fund and three timber taxes, donations, carry-
week of its release, July 11- erything.
special revenue funds, in- over from 2014-15 and other
18, the author will donate $1
The ancient forests and cluding the Park Fund, Build- miscellaneous sources, such
to Clatsop Community Col- rocky coasts of Cai Teren- ing Replacement Fund and as service and rental fees.
lege for student scholarships mare were inspired by the Or- Broadway Field Fund. The
The amendments the
up to $500 to assist students egon coast, a tribute to Eskue General Fund is the largest board made to what was ap-
ZLWK¿QDQFLDOQHHG
Ousley’s beloved Oregon. of the four and covers six de- proved by the budget com-
The fantasy adventure Eskue Ousley’s debut novel, partments — administration, mittee and advertised ahead
began with “Sign of the “Sign of the Throne,” was aquatics, the Bob Chisholm of the June 17 meeting were
Throne,” released in 2013. an Amazon Best Seller and Community Center, recre- to allot $50,000 rather than
Haunted by dreams that come won a 2014 Eric Hoffer Book ation, special events and the $30,000 for contract services
true, Abby’s world was turned Award and a 2014 Readers’ Youth Center.
in the administration depart-
upside-down when she met Favorite International Book
As of the June 17 meet- ment; allot $64,310 rather
David, the doppelgänger of Award. Her second book in ing, the district is projecting than $44,310 in capital outlay
the mysterious young man in the series, “The Rabbit and $2,317,483 in expenditures for the aquatics apartment;
her dreams. After discovering the Raven,” released in 2014, IRU¿VFDO\HDUZKLFK and allot $119,210 rather than
that he was the lost heir to received strong praise from would leave an estimated $99,210 for Youth Center
the throne of Cai Terenmare, reviewers and has also been $366,753 in unappropriat- leaders. The changes, pro-
Abby and David battled nominated for several awards. ed funds, since the expected posed by interim Executive
Broadway Field
continues to put stress
on district fi nances
Fantasy series draws its
inspiration from the coast
Director Mary Blake, will
go toward covering contract-
ing services, renovation to
the women’s locker rooms
at the pool and changing
the pay range for the Youth
Center’s recreational leaders
from $9.25 to $11 or $10 to
$14. The board supported the
changes.
The board also scheduled
a special board meeting for
June 24 with the intention
of re-adopting the resolu-
tion with an amendment that
would increase expenditures
in the Community Center
department, under personnel
services, by about $35,000,
according to Finance Direc-
tor Jennifer Stephens. The
amendment also would de-
crease the district’s unappro-
priated funds, but the overall
budget amount for 2015-16
would remain the same if the
new resolution was adopted.
The district is currently in
D ¿QDQFLDOO\ VWDEOH SRVLWLRQ
Blake said.
“This is going to be a real
fun time of bringing people
on and getting them excited
about the district and the pro-
gramming,” she added.
One of the few bleak spots
is Broadway Field, which the
Sunset Empire Park & Rec-
reation District maintains as
part of an intergovernmental
agreement with the city of
Seaside and Seaside School
District 10. With more than 90
SHUFHQWRI¿VFDO\HDU
accounted for as of May 31,
the district had spent about
93.6 percent of funds bud-
JHWHG IRU WKH ¿HOG RU DERXW
$65,000, but had only brought
in 52.3 percent of projected
revenue, or nearly $36,400.
Additionally, the 2015-16
budget includes another trans-
fer from the General Fund to
offset the projected operation-
DOGH¿FLWQH[W\HDU
“This is a result of sever-
al factors, including lack of
rentals, and under-perform-
ing concessions, as a result of
the open nature of the park,”
Blake wrote in her budget
message.
Now that the district has
completed two full seasons,
staff is working with the city
and school district to review
and possibly update the IGA
or create a new one. As the
agreement stands, it is not sus-
tainable for the district, Blake
said, and “everyone is on the
alert that it’s not sustainable.
It is urgent to have a deep
discussion on what’s happen-
ing.”
Already this year the dis-
WULFW KDV VHHQ LQFUHDVHG ¿
nancial participation from its
partners, as the city purchased
UXEEHU IRU WKH ¿HOG DQG WKH
school district purchased
gravel to stabilize the bleach-
ers for baseball, Blake wrote.
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