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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2016)
SEASIDESIGNAL.COM • COMPLIMENTARY COPY OUR 110th YEAR • July 8, 2016 Rental owners ready to battle MEET MISS OREGON Vote, legal action could result from Gearhart decision ASTORIA NATIVE ADVANCED TO PAGEANT AFTER EARNING TITLE OF MISS PORTLAND EARLIER THIS YEAR MATHER WILL NOW TRAVEL TO NEW JERSEY TO COMPETE FOR THE TITLE OF MISS AMERICA By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal GEARHART — As a result of this week’s City Council deci- sion, new short-term rental rules could be coming to Gearhart, res- idents are likely to challenge it at the polls or in the courts, or both. “I implore you to sit back, re- fl ect and engage forward thinking and clear vision to avoid a pro- longed battle which could drain resources and further divide this community,” Jim Whittemore said in opposing proposed rules regu- lating short-term rentals. “Work- ing together to resolve this issue will be far more productive than a prolonged civic and possibly legal battle that could have lasting ef- fects on the future of this city.” The council convened at the fi rehouse Tuesday night to hear public comment on short-term regulation in Gearhart, a process initiated by the Planning Com- mission. The zone code amend- ments address transient proper- ties renting for 30 days or less in Gearhart, requiring property own- ers to license their properties and observe health, safety and parking regulations, 24-hour contact in- formation and neighbor notifi ca- tion, among other conditions. Two of the most contentious items debated at length were a proposal to limit one permit per resident and the length of time to apply. Councilors altered the lan- guage to allow multiple licenses for an owner of multiple proper- ties ; they also requested an exten- sion of the 30-day application pe- riod to 60 days, with an additional 180-day period to allow short- term property owners to bring their properties into compliance. Councilors also revised a Planning Commission proposal to limit the number of guests in a short-term property to 10. If oth- er conditions are met, that num- ber could be higher. JEFF TER HAR/FOR SEASIDE SIGNAL Miss Oregon 2016 Alexis Mather By Eli Stillman EO Media Group I n its 70 years of existence, the Miss Oregon competition has brought bright gowns, fl ashing smiles and, for one young woman, the most coveted headwear in the state. At the end of Saturday evening, a packed Seaside Civic and Convention Center saw Alexis Ma- ther join the “Miss O Sisterhood.” The Astoria native advanced to the pageant after earning the title of Miss Portland earlier this year. For Mather, the moment of being crowned came after years of preparation, as she has been competing in pageants since 2009. She was fourth runner-up last year as Miss Clatsop County. “The credit goes to the volunteers of the organi- zation,” Mather said after claiming the crown. “I’ve always looked up to Miss Oregon and looked up to all the volunteers for what they do.” See Miss O, Page 7A See Gearhart, Page 7A Budget unanimously approved as city looks ahead By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal PAID PERMIT NO. 97 ASTORIA, OR PRSRT STD US POSTAGE Teamwork, strong reve- nues and a road construction project nearing completion led to unanimous approval of the Seaside budget at Sea- side’s City Council meeting Monday, June 27. The budget calls for expen- ditures of about $18.7 million, an almost 20 percent reduction from this fi scal year’s budget of almost $23 million. The decrease comes from the near completion of a North Holladay Drive reconstruction process as crews fi nish curbs and paving before power crews install underground utilities. Construction crews will vacate some areas by the July 4 hol- iday to accommodate parade visitors, Public Works Director Dale McDowell said, although the parade route has been al- tered because of the construc- tion. With North Holladay Drive renovations complete, the city could address other building needs, City Manager Mark Winstanley said after the meet- ing. These include construction of the Avenue U bridge and a proposed renovation of Holla- day between First Avenue and Avenue A. The city is in the design phase to replace the Av- enue U Bridge, at an anticipat- ed cost of about $3.5 million. Mark “We’d love to get some Winstanley money from the Oregon Department of Trans- portation to help us with that bridge,” Winstanley said. The next phase of the Holl- aday Drive renovation has yet to be scoped, but it is a much smaller area. “We expect that will be much more afford- able,” he said. “The North Holladay project was a huge project and we’re not going to be doing anything like that for a few years.” If a proposed $15 million Seaside Civic and Conven- tion Center renovation is ap- proved, the budget could be adjusted to get the project up and running before the end of this fi scal year, Winstanley said. The city could also play a role in the development of a new Seaside High School campus, he added. If district voters approve a bond to re- locate geographically at-risk See Budget, Page 6A A star-spangled Fourth in downtown Seaside Parade kicks off day of festivities By Katherine Lacaze For Seaside Signal The downtown streets of Seaside came alive with rousing music, fl amboyant colors and human activity Monday morning as Seaside’s annual Fourth of July Parade wound through the city’s core. Hundreds of spectators lined the sidewalks from Holladay Drive, down Broadway, to Columbia Street and across First Avenue to watch the parade, formed from several dozen North Coast businesses, families and organizations. Four drum and bugles corps — the Santa Clara Vanguard, Oregon Crusad- ers, Spokane Thunder and the Battalion from Salt Lake City — were spaced among other fl oats and vehicles to contribute a high-caliber musical performance to the traditional event. Parades are a highlight of Fourth of July festivities, not only in Seaside but in towns across America. “It’s just an American thing,” said Julie, a visitor from Kel- so, Washington, describing Seaside’s Fourth of July experience. See Parade, Page 7A KATHERINE LACAZE/FOR SEASIDE SIGNAL Seaside’s annual Fourth of July Parade brought out a sense of patriotism in participants and spectators. KATHERINE LACAZE/FOR SEASIDE SIGNAL Sasquatch made an appearance at Seaside’s Fourth of July Parade.