Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current, October 27, 2017, Image 6

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Seaside signal., October 27, 2017, Page 6A, Image 6

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Newspaper Page Text6A • October 27, 2017 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com Ballot measure marked by vigorous campaigning Ballots from Page 1A Another challenge for the city was the absence of an or- dinance requiring inspections or spelling out occupancy lim- its for vacation rentals . An acute countywide hous- ing shortage also drove the conversation. Increased online rental activity and reports of loud parties, overcrowding and blocked roadways drew great- er calls for action. By 2015, an increase in online bookings led to more than a doubling of book- ings in Gearhart, through companies like Vacasa, HomeA way and Airbnb. Complaints that out-of-town management was unable to promptly reply to public safe- ty concerns led to an increased call for regulation, particularly a provision requiring 24-hour owner contact information. After a series of hearings, including standing-room-only public workshops in the Gear- hart Fire Hall, the Planning Commission crafted rules in May 2016 detailing occupan- cy limits, parking rules and property management contact information. According to rules, rent- al properties must maintain a “residential appearance,” and provide weekly garbage ser- vice. Homes are required to conduct ﬁ re and safety inspec- tions, and post a tsunami evac- uation map in the dwelling. The proposed regulation capped registration to existing short-term rental properties and established a $600 permit fee. Provisions included permit transfer only by inheritance, not sale. Applicants had to show proof of having paid the lodging tax in 2016. In early September 2016, after what City Planner Carole Connell said were “30 meet- ings and eight draft reports,” the City Council passed Ordi- nance 901 unanimously with- out discussion. Property owners who met the conditions faced a Dec. 16 permit application deadline. As of Oct. 1, 81 vacation rental dwelling permits have been issued, 57 of which are complete and processed, six pending parking plans, 15 working on upgrades after inspection and three awaiting initial inspection, according to the city administrator. Measure 4-188 QUESTION SHALL GEARHART’S VACATION RENTAL DWELLINGS ORDINANCE BE REPEALED AND REPLACED? SUMMARY IF APPROVED, THE ORDINANCE WOULD: • Require $600 annual permit fees dedicat- ed to police and ﬁ re departments; • Permit transfers to new dwelling unit owners; • Change maximum occupancy from two persons over 2 years old per bedroom to two persons over 12 years old per bed- room, plus three additional people over 12 per dwelling unit, no limit on children under 12; • Repeal ordinances imposing special regu- lations on vacation rental dwellings related to oﬀ street parking, residential appear- ance, garbage service, septic sewer capacity inspections and cesspool prohibitions. • Require compliance with Gearhart city Appeals, petition After the new regulations were adopted , two separate groups sought to overturn the rules in the state’s Land Use Board of Appeals. They said they were not against some aspects of the rules, but opposed what they said were plans to eliminate short-term rentals altogether. They cited inconsistencies in how the city deﬁ ned “residential character,” among other issues. Before a decision was ren- dered, property owners David Townsend, Joy Sigler, Bri- an Sigler and Sarah Nebeker in March ﬁ led a challenge seeking a ballot initiative that would repeal and replace the ordinance. Nebeker serves on the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners. Their proposed 15-point or- ordinances that apply generally to all resi- dential dwelling units; • Eliminate requirement that a 24-hour rep- resentative be able to physically respond to the site within 30 minutes; • Allow safety inspections to be conducted by any licensed home inspector; • Make dwelling unit owners responsible for self-reporting inspection issues, and provide a six month cure period, for any deﬁ ciencies; • Remove current limitation on the number of vacation rentals; • Require public vote for amendment of the vacation rental ordinance or any subsequent ordinance relating to vacation rentals. dinance sought to “assure that the interests of vacation home- owners and permanent residents remain in a sustainable balance that is good for the communi- ty, that every property owner’s rights are fairly protected and that no property owner is eco- nomically harmed by excessive rules and regulations.” A city summary of the bal- lot initiative was changed as a result of a decision issued by Circuit Court Judge Dawn McIntosh in May. Their ballot petition received more than 200 signatures, bring- ing the matter to voters. On May 30, the Land Use Board of Appeals upheld provi- sions of the ordinance . Vigorous campaigning, in- cluding lawn signs, newspaper and radio debates and door-to- door outreach, have marked the election so far. Food bank scheduled to reopen Nov. 7 Food Bank from Page 1A Gooch said the closure provides an opportunity to fo- cus on “future sustainability.” The food bank, located at 2041 N. Roosevelt Drive , is a private nonproﬁ t serving the hungry in Seaside. It survives on contributions from indi- viduals, organizations, foun- dations, businesses and cities. Board member Alan Evans said the food bank will work to guarantee no break in ser- vices. There will be changes to some management and vol- unteers, as well as paperwork and internal policies . “We have realized that the need for our services becomes more important daily as more people ﬁ nd themselves in need,” Evans said. “With that increase in need becomes a bigger responsibility for us to be sustainable. We realize that stronger policies are needed to be enforced to our man- agement, volunteers and the foundation of our services to our partnering agencies and the people we serve.” Board members said any delivery changes would be for the purpose of better service. Regional food banks will supplement private food do- nations, Evans said. Food donations will be accepted during the restructuring. Board members will also take the time during the clo- sure to clean, organize and deal with inventory. ‘Totally devastated’ The South County Food Bank was launched with do- nations from a Seaside gro- cery in 1981 and incorporated as a nonproﬁ t in 1986. It is associated with Clatsop Com- munity Action and an afﬁ liate of the Oregon Food Bank Net- work. It was housed in a loca- SUBMITTED PHOTO Gearhart Fire after a shift in California. Gearhart and Seaside ﬁ reﬁ ghters return from Santa Rosa Fire from Page 1A COLIN MURPHEY/EO MEDIA GROUP The South County Food Bank is closed until Nov. 7 tion in a building provided by the Moose Club for 28 years, until the Moose Club disband- ed in 2013. Gann, who is unsalaried, took over as the food pantry’s managing director in 2013, re- placing Norm McLaren. From 390 to 470 families use the food bank each month . Gann said changes in the board, including departures of key members, changed its composition. “It’s all a big clique of friends now,” she said. Gann, who said she’d worked 70 to 80 hours a week at the food bank, clashed over a request by board members to provide personal informa- tion on food bank patrons. The board cut Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner box- es because of the belief that patrons were “double-dipping and getting stuff everywhere,” Gann said. “We’ve got a room in the back of my ofﬁ ce of Christ- COLIN MURPHEY/EO MEDIA GROUP South Clatsop County Food Bank Regional Manager Karla Gann at the food bank in August. mas presents for kids people already sent in, and they’re going to get rid of it all,” she said. An aisle offering patrons free shoes, clothing, blankets and cookware was also an is- sue . “They’re getting rid of all that stuff,” she said. ‘Rotting in the fridges’ Of the 240 people to lose service at the food bank this month, about 100 who need to walk for their food “are going to suffer” because they can’t get to food banks in Gearhart or Cannon Beach, Gann said. “Food is rotting in the fridges because they did this,” she said. Regular donation pickups from North Coast Family Fel- lowship in Seaside — yield- ing 1,000 pounds of food a month — will be interrupted, she said. Gann does not expect most of the 60 volunteers to return after the food bank’s reopen- ing, she said. “My people are up in arms and 90 percent of my volun- teers are not coming back,” she said. “I’m totally devas- tated. This is the busiest time of the month and there will be a week-and-a-half people will go hungry. I am so sorry for these people. I am so upset.” The food bank is sched- uled to reopen Nov. 7. Crews cleared brush ﬁ res and put out hot spots in an effort to contain blazes driv- en by the wind, reaching speeds of 60 mph at times. “Until the wind dies down you are just trying to keep it at bay, or to redirect it so it does not take out more,” Daniels said. “They just had an awful wind.” Turning the tide It wasn’t until rain fell overnight, Thursday into Friday, that crews could be- gin cleaning up the last hot spots. “They were glad to see it,” Daniels said. “And boy, they got some rain.” With help from precipita- tion, Oregon ﬁ reﬁ ghters de- mobilized and returned after 11 days in California. Eddy and Daniels re- turned Saturday. As of Tuesday, the Tubbs ﬁ re in and around Santa Rosa was 94 percent con- tained, Cal Fire reported, but not before growing to more than 36,000 acres. The ﬁ re killed 22 people, destroyed 7,000 homes and buildings and damaged an- other 500. Five percent of homes were destroyed and damage reached more than $1 billion in Santa Rosa alone. This summer, California sent resources to Oregon to ﬁ ght blazes in the Chet- co Bar Fire in Brookings and the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia Gorge. They joined teams from as far away as Victoria, a state in Australia. “Everybody helps sup- port everybody else,” Eddy said. “Fireﬁ ghters are ﬁ re- ﬁ ghters,” Daniels added. “We all do the same job.” WE’LL SAVE YOU A BUNDLE AND QUITE A FEW LAYERS. Rotary gala fundraiser is the ‘bee’s knees’ The Roaring 20s this year’s theme By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal Flappers, gangsters and their molls came to Seaside’s convention center Saturday night to celebrate the Rotary Club of Seaside’s annual fund- raiser dinner and auction, the Roaring 20s Gala. The special appeal raised $12,450 for holiday programs including Shop with a Cop, Rotary President Raven Brown said, with about 280 people in attendance. Final tallies will be available next week. Guests wore period cos- tumes and bid on auction items in a night geared to local char- ities, including the Shop With a Cop program. This year, the program expands to 20 students and the law enforcement part- ners will include Clatsop Coun- ty Sheriff’s Ofﬁ ce deputies and an Oregon State Police ofﬁ cer who serves the local area, in ad- dition to ofﬁ cers from the local police departments. Funds raised also support community projects including the Rotary Youth Exchange, academic scholarships and the Christmas Wishing Tree pro- gram. Internationally, Rotary Foundation supports clean wa- ter throughout the world and eradication of polio. The gala, Seaside Rotary’s main fundraising event, is put on each fall featuring a differ- ent theme. This year’s event committee was chaired by Ro- tary members Al Peinhardt and Greg Sawyer. Additional gala funds will go toward creating a new scholarship to help a local student acquire vocational training or attend trade school. Rotary gifts about $20,000 in scholarships to Seaside High School graduates pursuing ed- ucation. 94.9 THE BRIDGE - MUSIC FIRST presents LIVE IN CONCERT Another way we make you feel better. — RECEIVE UP TO — 1,600 $ IN REBATES* WITH THE PURCHASE OF A QUALIFYING LENNOX ® HOME COMFORT SYSTEM. BLITZEN TRAPPER T V B B • R S ED AUGHN LUES AND EDWOOD ON TH O CTOBER 28 AT 8 PM D OORS O PEN AT 5 PM T ICKETS $ 10 Arrive in costume and bring two cans of food for the Seaside Pantry and get in for $5! Listen to the Bridge and Win VIP tickets www.949thebridge.com Diamond Heating, Inc. 1425 N. Roosevelt Dr., Seaside, OR 97138 503-717-1667 www.DiamondHeating.net “Professional Performance with Lasting Value” Offer expires 11/17/2017. *On a qualifying system purchase. Lennox system rebate offers range from $200 to $1,600. Some restrictions apply. One offer available per qualifying purchase. See your local Lennox Dealer or www.lennox.com for details. ©2017 Lennox Industries Inc. Lennox Dealers are independently owned and operated businesses.