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6A • May 27, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com Gearhart’s vacation rental plan gets scrutiny State examines plan to show tax returns any kind of enforcement mech- anism for us because we don’t have a role with local lodging taxes or permitting. By R.J. Marx A recommendation Seaside Signal Gearhart is ready to enact regulations on vacation rentals, but a key aspect of the proposal may undergo further review. A plan to require short-term property owners to show proof of iling a 2015 state lodging tax return with the state De- partment of Revenue is still uncertain. “We still need to have conversations with them how about how exactly we would be able to partner to make this happen,” Bob Estabrook, pub- lic information oficer with the Department of Revenue, said May 20. Gearhart already charges a 7 percent lodging tax and Ore- gon requires a state lodging tax of 1 percent be paid on a quar- terly basis. After July 1, that tax will in- crease to 1.8 percent, with the additional funds to pay for state tourism promotion and the Eu- gene Civic Stadium. Planning Commissioner Ter- ry Graf at the May hearing on short-term rentals. According to the Gearhart Planning Commission propos- al, property owners who can show they paid their state lodg- ing tax in 2015 will be eligible to apply for a vacation rental permit, as long as they meet city standards for off-site park- ing, septic systems and other health and safety codes. Conidentiality “The thing that makes this tricky is that our lodging tax information about taxpayers is kept at the same level of coni- dentiality that it is for personal PHOTOS BY R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL Planning Commissioner Richard Owsley and City Administra- tor Chad Sweet at the Planning Commission’s May meeting. income taxes,” Estabrook said. “So we don’t have a way we can share with the city, ‘These people are compliant, these people are not.’ The system would have to be set up in a way where taxpayers get some kind of certiication from us and then they could provide that to the city.” Short-term rentals require the iling of a quarterly return for the period in which the house is rented as an income property, Estabrook said. If the property is only rent- ed during certain months, a return would be required for those months only. “If you’re a hotel and open 365 days a year, you’re iling returns for every single quar- ter,” Estabrook said. “People with one home or two homes may not always have a reason to ile.” What kind of system Gear- hart oficials set up is “up to them,” Estabrook said. “We want to have some kind of conversation about what kind of information they’re going to get in what we’re able to certify. There’s not going to be Commission presents rules for short-term rentals Rental from Page 1A A proposed cap of 35 tran- sient rental units was eliminat- ed. A requirement to limit the number of rentals allowed within a seven-day block was also voted down by commis- sioners, as it was considered too dificult to administer. Permits would not be trans- ferable, except through inher- itance. Expired permits would not be replaced and new permits would not be granted, although commissioners discussed op- tions for a variance or review process. “After they’re lost by sale, they will be taken through at- trition,” Sweet said. “We can’t do anything to tie up future planning commissions or city councils, so they can make an adjustment as they see it.” Exempted from the pro- posed rules are areas with- in Gearhart’s urban growth boundary but outside city lim- its, including the Palisades, Highlands and East Pine Lane, which do not pay taxes to the city of Gearhart. Condominium units with 24-hour on-site management would also be exempt. Violations for noise, gar- bage or other nuisances could bring a $500 ine from the city. The public will also have a role in enforcement. “If there are local com- plaints from the general pub- lic, those will be reviewed by the Planning Commission, with possible ramiications,” Sweet said. A second complaint will get a warning and a third com- plaint may lead to revocation of the permit, Sweet said. Incoming revenue from 7 percent lodging tax from the amount of revenue should be enough the transient lodging tax should be enough to cover “expenses plus,” he said. Sweet said he would rec- ommend all revenues be go toward code enforcement and toward managing the bud- get. The city has identiied 96 transient rental properties. Ap- plication fees are expected to exceed $500. “In a couple of years, we can review that,” Sweet said. “But for the irst couple of years, I’m going to recom- mend they not touch it. We want to make sure we do it right.” He added: “Now we’ll see if all of this survives City Council.” Vacasa takes the stage The recommendations came before a nearly full ire- house. Speakers in favor and against the transient rental or- dinance pleaded their case in a continuation of an April public hearing. Bryan Geon of Vacasa said he was not opposed to the “intent” of the proposed reg- ulations, but warned of “unin- tended consequences.” “Vacasa came to Gearhart about a year ago and ruined everything,” Kathy Graff re- sponded. “It’s all about greed. G-r-e-e-d, and it’s in Gearhart right now.” “The Planning Commission has gone through their paces and made a recommendation to the City Council, but it’s just that — a recommenda- tion,” City Administrator Chad Sweet said. “They did a lot of heavy lifting and went through a lot of these regulations, and really honed them down. Now it’s up to the City Council to go along with the regulations, change the recommendations, or to come up with something completely different. That’s their prerogative.” The regulations “look sol- id,” Sweet said. “Common sense regula- tions, the safety rules, limiting the 30- or 60-day sign-up pe- riod, setting the limit at what DINING on the NORTH COAST Great Restaurants in: GEARHART SEASIDE CANNON BEACH Excellence in family dining found from a family that has been serving the North Coast for the past 52 years Miss Clatsop County titleholders give back to community Sash from Page 1A “These girls are amazing,” Sollars said. “All of these girls have earned scholarships. We’ve got eighth-graders sit- ting with money in scholarship accounts waiting for when they’re ready.” This weekend they attend- ed the program’s Spring Con- ference — formerly known as Pageant Camp — at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center. “They get to make lifelong friends with amazing people from all over,” Sollars said. About 120 participants at- tended the conference, she said. Miss North Coast Teen Tess Rund, 21, studies women’s and gender studies at the Universi- ty of Oregon. “I had never been in the pageant world before,” Rund said. “I learned so much about interview schools —it’s not just the onstage stuff. It’s the be- hind-the-scenes, meeting peo- ple, service, networking. That’s deinitely been eye-opening.” Nikkole Sasso, Miss North Coast’s Outstanding Teen 2016, is a 14-year-old fresh- man at Astoria High School. Sasso became involved with the program at age 5 as a Miss Clatsop County princess, and said she loves volunteering in the community, a passion she learned from her mother. Eighth-grader Kaitlin Hill- man, Miss Clatsop County’s Outstanding Teen 2016, attends Broadway Middle School in Seaside. “Dance is really my pas- sion,” Hillman said. “I want to share my love of dance throughout the community, and show how it has many health beneits, not just a regular sport, but many health aspects different from other sports in our community.” “I don’t think we realized how much we impact other people,” Buys said. “Every time I’m in my crown and sash little girls come up to me with their faces lit up and say, ‘Ohmygosh, you’re a princess! You’re what I strive to be.’ I didn’t know that would hap- pen. Every time I go out some- one notices me.” Seaside Improvement Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Gearhart City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 698 Paciic Way. THURSDAY, June 2 Seaside Parks Advisory Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. TUESDAY, June 7 Seaside Community Center Commission, 10 a.m., 1225 Avenue A. mission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. and Rec District, 5 p.m., 1225 Ave. A, Seaside. THURSDAY, June 9 THURSDAY, June 16 Seaside Convention Center Commission, 5 p.m., 1225 Avenue A. Seaside Transportation Advisory Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Gearhart Planning Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 698 Paciic Way. WEDNESDAY, June 15 Seaside Library Board, 4:30 p.m., City Hall, 1131 Broadway. Seaside Tourism Advi- sory Committee, 3 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside Planning Com- Sunset Empire Parks on the Beautiful Necanicum River BREAKFAST & LUNCH MONDAY thru FRIDAY 6AM to 2PM 600 Broadway Suite 7 & 8 • 503.717.1272 Seaside Convention Center Commission, 5 p.m., 1225 Avenue A. WANNA KNOW WHERE THE LOCALS GO? Seaside Planning Com- mission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Gearhart Planning Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 698 Paciic Way. • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner WEDNESDAY, July 6 WEDNESDAY, July 20 Seaside Improvement Commission, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Sunset Empire Parks and Rec District, 5 p.m., 1225 Ave. A, Seaside. BEST BREAKFAST IN TOWN! Seaside Planning Com- mission, work session, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Gearhart City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 698 Paciic Way. THURSDAY, July 21 MONDAY, June 27 MONDAY, July 11 Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. STRAWBERRIES Available Now 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patty’s Wicker Cafe Seaside Community Center Commission, 10 a.m., 1225 Avenue A. Fresh Oregon Hood Monday - Saturday Discover THURSDAY, July 14 Seaside School District, 6 p.m., 1801 S. Franklin St. Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside • 323 Broadway • 738-7234 (Open 7 Days) Cannon Beach • 223 S. Hemlock 436-2851 (7am-3pm Daily) Astoria • 146 W. Bond • 325-3144 TUESDAY, July 5 TUESDAY, June 21 MONDAY, June 13 Great Great Great Homemade Breakfast, lunch and pasta, Clam but that’s dinner steaks & Chowder, not all... menu,too! seafood! Salads! Great Atmosphere • Great Food • Great Prices PUBLIC MEETINGS WEDNESDAY, June 1 that comes to, are all probably going to do well,” Sweet said. “The attrition factor will also do well to bring it to the num- ber the community sees it over time.” The plan does not allow homeowners to transfer their short-term rental permit after a property is sold. “I think we’re very prelim- inary in talking with them,” Estabrook said. “This is a new path they’re trying to blaze in terms of getting a connection between local governments and the state tax. It’ll take some thinking and talking to igure out how we might be able to do that. We don’t have a, ‘We think that’s a good idea or a bad idea’ opinion. It’s some- thing from an administrative perspective we need to work out with them.” The City Council plans to discuss the proposed short- term rental rules in July. PICKED D AI L Y! Watch for us at the corner of Marlin & 101 in Warrenton at the Putman Pro-Lube Center Call 503-359-5204 for more info. Fo r m o re in fo rm a tio n , ca ll 503-359-5204 Seaside Tree Board, 4 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. Seaside Transportation Advisory Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway. ROBERT CAIN LD, • Lighter appetite menu • Junior Something for Everyone menu Fish ‘n Chips • Burgers • Seafood & Steak Friday & Saturday - Prime Rib Lounge Open Daily 9-Midnight All Oregon Lottery products available 1104 S Holladay • 503-738-9701 • Open Daily at 8am MAZATLAN M E X I C A N R E S TA U R A N T 45 Years of Experience Phone 503-738-9678 TWO LOCATIONS SEASIDE & HILLSBORO 1445 S. Roosevelt Drive • Seaside 740 Ave H • Ste 2 • Seaside 232 NE Lincoln • Ste B • Hillsboro NATIONALLY FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER • FRESH OREGON SEAFOOD FREE CONSULTATION • Dentures for all ages, New, Partials and Custom Dentures • Dentures for implants • Relines & Repairs • Denture repairs done same day! • Personal service and attention to detail Open Wednesday and Friday • 9-4:30 • 503-738-7710 R E STAU R A N T S CANNON BEACH 503-436-1111 Ocean Front at Tolovana Park www.moschowder.com