A2 • Friday, July 19, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com Seaside defers to state law on plastic bag ban By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal The city of Seaside had the opportunity to get the jump on the state in enacting a single-use plastic bag ban. Ultimately, councilors decided the “environmen- tal mantle” they might have received for its passage was outweighed by complications of an ordinance that could compete or diverge from state law, which bans the sin- gle-use bags as of Jan. 1. Seaside ordinance 2019- 02 would have been read for a third and fi nal reading prior to adoption. But other things happened “above us,” Mayor Jay Barber said at the July 8 City Council public hearing. At the meeting, Laura Allen of Seaside called the discussion “a really positive thing for Seaside.” Allen, among longtime local advocates for the ban, said she hoped the city would pass the ordinance as a state- ment from the city. “We never know what’s going to go on at the state level.” Passage of the ban by the city could prove a “tes- tament” to the city’s leader- ship, she added. Seaside’s Russ Mead also urged passage of the city ban. He said the city could “take the environmental mantle by passing the bill: ‘We passed this bill before the state did.’” He recommended going ahead with passage of the ordinance. “This is our law and we ought to pass it, and we ought to be proud of it.” After discussion, council- ors decided the distinction was not persuasive enough to move forward. “From my perspective the state law does cover what we worked hard to cover in the community,” Barber said. “For that reason, I truly believe the state is right with the January 2020 issue,” Montero said. “I personally ‘I PERSONALLY AM OF THE OPINION, THE STATE HAS DONE THEIR JOB, WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB, AND WE SHOULD LET THE STATE LAW PREVAIL.’ Tita Montero Councilor Tita Mon- tero said a local ban enacted earlier than the state ban could prove a hardship to local merchants, who have already purchased supplies for the year. am of the opinion, the state has done their job, we have done our job, and we should let the state law prevail.” Other councilors echoed these comments. “Why have an ordinance if we have to completely rewrite it?” Randy Frank said. “The state’s will completely supersede this. That creates a lot of extra work for city staff.” This spring, dozens of ban supporters crowded city meetings, who described a threat to ocean wildlife and habitat. They included busi- ness owners, environmental advocates and citizens who sought to mitigate the threat to what they described as a dire situation on a global level. Correspondence to the city in favor of the ban included the state Depart- ment of Environmental Quality, which supports bans on single-use plastic bags and a fee on single-use paper bags. Gov. Kate Brown signed House Bill 2905 in June, banning single-use plastic grocery bags from stores and restaurants starting in 2020. The bill also requires stores to charge at least 5 cents per bag for alterna- tives, such as paper and reusable bags. Oregon’s plastic bag ban is also joined by a bill requiring restaurants to only give plastic straws to cus- tomer who specifi cally ask for them. A third bill, which would have banned styro- foam take-out containers, did not pass. If the state law is ever weakened, Barber said, “We’ll come back to the table and make sure it addresses at a stringent level whatever is required.” Without a motion for a third and fi nal reading of the city’s ordinance, the state law will go into effect Jan. 1. Thai Me Up, Hop and Vine win liquor licenses sales license, with coun- cilors Tom Horning, Steve Wright, Seth Morrisey and Mayor Jay Barber voting to approve the license. Coun- cilor Tita Montero voted against. By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal Thai Me Up, a Thai Restaurant at 1575 South Roosevelt, and Hop and Vine, a bottle shop and tap room at 220 South Colum- bia, each went before the City Council Monday, July 8, seeking liquor licenses. Hop and Vine owner-op- erator Tim Welsh, one of the owners of Fresh Foods in Manzanita, said he antic- ipates selling about 1,000 different wines and 500 or 600 different beers for off-premise consumption, and about 20 tap handles and wines for consumption on premises. The establishment will serve specialty cheese, crackers and charcuterie, he added. Welsh will manage the establishment himself. RESPONDER REPORTS PUBLIC SAFETY LOGS Seaside Police July 5 23 reports of illegal fi reworks were reported. 1:34 a.m., Broadway and Colum- bia: A minor in possession of al- cohol is apprehended. 12:09 p.m., Broadway: Another minor in possession of alcohol is apprehended. Thai Me Up R.J. Marx Tim Welsh, owner-operator of Hop and Vine. Hours will be seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Welsh said. The establishment opens Friday. With “no disqualifi ca- tions” from Seaside Police, Hop and Vine received approval for a limited on-premises sales liquor license and an off-premises Caller reports male on foot be- having in a suspicious manner. July 5 July 8 12:29 a.m., Broadway: Emer- gency medical response. 9:52 a.m., Holladay and Avenue G: A person is arrested on a war- rant. 12:35 p.m., Avenue G Beach: Fire investigation. 10:24 a.m., 300 block S. Colum- bia: A missing person is report- ed. 12:15 p.m., Convention Center: A minor in possession of alcohol is apprehended. July 6 July 9 7:26 a.m., 1600 block S. Colum- bia: A deceased person is re- ported. 3:42 p.m., 1100 block N. Roos- evelt: Police respond to a report of a bloody individual sleeping on a bench. Property owner wants subject trespassed. Sub- ject was not bloody. 10:07 a.m., The Cove: Police re- ceive a report of someone tak- ing marine life from tide pools. The call is referred to OSP Fish and Game. 12:00 noon, Police headquar- ters: A person is arrested on a warrant. July 7 12:59 a.m., 1000 block 24th Av- enue: A disturbance is reported. 1:42 a.m., 2500 block Queen Street: Unwanted phone con- tact is reported. 9:18 a.m., 400 block N. Downing: 10:41: 4200 block Highway 101: Police assist another agency with an arrest. 12:41 p.m., Avenue S and Prom: Caller reports tent on the beach; offi cer made contact with per- son inside the tent and advised them to take it down. 9:59 p.m., End of World: Police respond to a report of a large party on the beach; offi cers lo- cated abandoned campfi re but no persons. 7:45 a.m., OceanWay restrooms: Persons are warned of unlawful lodging. Proprietor Pattaporn Lorwatcharasophon of Thai Me Up came before the council seeking a full on-premises sales license, allowing the sale of dis- tilled spirits, malt bever- ages, and wine and cider. The license also allows pri- vate catering if the appli- cant gets pre-approval from the Oregon Liquor Control Authority. Thai Me Up Seaside is the second restaurant for Lorwatcharasophon, with the original Thai Me Up in Lincoln City. She plans on serving beer, wine and specialty July 10 Seaside Fire and 5:36 p.m., Roosevelt: Emergen- cy medical response. 7:52 p.m., The Cove: Fire investi- gation. 6:00 p.m., Semaphore N: Water rescue. 8:28 p.m., Avenue U and Beach: Fire investigation. July 6 1:38 p.m., Beach and 16th: Fire investigation. 2:13 p.m., Semaphore 3: Water rescue. 2:56 p.m., Beach and Second: Water rescue. 12:23 a.m. 800 block S. Roos- evelt: Police respond to a report of a disturbance. The involved parties were separated prior to police arrival and agreed to part ways. July 7 11:59 p.m. The Prom: Police re- spond to a request for a welfare check of subjects in the ocean. Offi cer made contact with the subjects and deemed all were fi ne. 11:10 p.m., 1900 block Spruce Drive: Emergency medical re- sponse. 4:12 a.m., 500 block N. Holladay: Emergency medical response. 5:12 p.m., 2400 block Pine: Emergency medical response. July 8 July 11 2:36 a.m., 700 block Avenue B: Emergency medical response. 2:15 a.m., 400 block S. Holla- day: A disturbance is reported. 7:58 a.m., 1100 block Avenue B: Emergency medical response. Want a fresh new look for summer? Call your local, neighborhood experts! We’re Budget Blinds, and we’re North America’s #1 provider of custom window coverings. We do it all for you; design, measure and install — because we think everyone, at every budget, deserves style, service, and the peace-of-mind of the best warranty in the business. Call now for your free in-home consultation! 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Brush fi re in Seaside brought under control Seaside Signal Seaside Fire Depart- ment, police and lifeguards responded mid-Saturday afternoon to a brush fi re in Seaside, in grass near Ave- nue K and the Prom. By about 3:30 p.m., the fi re was pronounced under control. No one was injured. “It started in the beach 9:26 a.m., N. Wahanna: Emer- gency medical response. Terrace: Emergency medical re- sponse. July 9 July 10 7:51 a.m., 2000 block Spruce Drive: Police and fi re respond to a motor vehicle accident where a car caught on fi re. 4:22 a.m., 2500 block Mill Creek Lane: Emergency medical re- sponse. 12:33 p.m., Broadway: Fire in- vestigation. 6:27 p.m. 1300 block N. Holl- aday: Emergency medical re- sponse. 7:24 p.m., 1800 block Lewis and Clark: Emergency medical re- sponse. 8:26 p.m., 600 block Village July 11 4:53 p.m. Chapman Point: Water rescue. 8:16 p.m., 1100 block S. Jackson: Emergency medical response. Oregon State Police On July 15 at 8:27 p.m., on Highway 101 and Highway grass west of the dunes,” Fire Chief Joey Daniels said at the scene. “The wind came pretty quick and with the trees as fuel, the depart- ment went to a second alarm.” The cause of the fi re is under investigation. “At this time, it’s under control,” Daniels said. “We have it isolated. We’re just doing some mop up.” 26, Brent Maguire, 56, was in- volved in a crash after attempt- ing to negotiate a curved portion of the highway while intoxicated. Police say his ve- hicle left the highway and crashed into the embankment. It was determined Maguire had a BAC of .16%. His vehicle was towed from the scene by Triangle Towing. The Seaside Fire Department and the Can- non Beach police department assisted Oregon State police at the crash scene, and Maguire was issued criminal citations for DUII, reckless driving, and DWS-misdemeanor. He was booked into the Clatsop Coun- ty Jail.