A6 • Friday, January 21, 2022 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com City manager: Consultants will help with negotiations Continued from Page A1 includes professional leadership, recommendations of solutions to community problems for coun- cil consideration, budgeting and goals, among other duties Over the years Winstanley’s job has encompassed the role of bud- get offi cer, human resources man- ager and staff liaison to the City Council. His salary is $130,620. In announcing his retirement last year, Winstanley suggested Assistant City Manager Jon Rahl as a potential candidate. At December’s meeting, the council launched the search pro- cess by inviting any internal can- didates to show their interest in the position. The council left the option of closing or expanding the search to a larger pool. “We know Oregon recruit- ment, public meetings, and pub- lic records law to help our clients avoid un necessary hiring process liabilities,” Erik Jensen, princi- pal and founder of Jensen Strat- egies, said in a proposal detailing the scope of the hiring process. “We commit to working closely with the city and are more than willing to adjust our process as needed to meet the specifi c needs of Seaside.” First steps will include devel- oping a candidate profi le, inter- views with staff and city coun- cilors and a Zoom meeting to receive public input. After the profi le is developed, Jensen advertises the position on high-profi le managerial and specialization specifi c websites, within professional publications and periodicals, with venues that reach out to diverse candidate populations, and in other forums as appropriate. Jensen Strategies vets all sub- mitted applications, conducts in-depth interview processes and provides the city with information necessary to make the best choice for fi nalists and the successful candidate. Up to four fi nalists will be interviewed at a council execu- tive session before coming to a consensus. The consultants will assist the city in contract negotiations with the selected candidate. “The big question was, can they do it competently within the timeframe that we have to be done by the end of June?” Barber said. “And he (Jensen) assured me that he can within 18 weeks. So that would be well within the time frame.” Barber made a motion to sign the contract with Jensen Strategies, at a cost of $25,000. Councilors Tom Horning, Dana Phillips, Steve Wright, Tita Mon- tero and Randy Frank voted to approve the contract. Councilor David Posalski was absent. Parks: Planners reject landscaping policy Continued from Page A1 He said proposed restrictions on parks and dunes are unnec- essary. “Until I hear some pro- fessional that tells me that that’s necessary, I’m not willing to sup- port it.” The policy, developed by Commissioner Sharon Kloepfer with City Planner Carole Con- nell, was designed to protect vegetation and wildlife habitat in Gearhart’s city parks. Connell said the policy arose from a joint work session with the City Council and Planning Commission with the goal of an “overall arching environmental policy.” The rules would have applied for pesticide or other chem- icals used in city parks, and any treated area would have been fl agged. Trees would have been maintained where possi- ble, and no trees over 6-inches diameter measured at the base removed unless posing an immi- nent threat. Decisions regarding tree removal would be made by city staff as advised by an arbor- ist who has no fi nancial gain in the matter. Trimming and prun- ing would be limited to hazard- ous and obstructive limbs, such as for sightlines. Mowing of dune areas would have been prohibited from Sept. 1 through March 31 to allow nesting birds to be undisturbed. The policy sought to require native plantings and tree plant- ings with new landscaping. As much as possible, surface and groundwater runoff will be mini- mized to prevent erosion. The policy introduces con- fl icts with existing language, Graff said. Graff suggested the policy be separated from the parks plan. “If somebody wants to bring it up at a later date, they certainly can do that. At that time, the Plan- ning Commission can consider the issue, have a public hearing and decide if changes need to be made.” The parks plan, designed to look 20 years into the future, was developed after the state awarded the city $15,000 grant funds for the project, part of the 2019 local government grant program from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The Parks Master Plan Advi- sory Committee approved the plan in late August and sent it to the Planning Commission for review and approval, before heading to the City Council and added to the master plan. Commissioners Graff , Aus- tin Tomlinson, David Smith, Don Frank, Russ Taggard and Virginia Dideum voted 6-1 to update the parks master plan with changes discussed at the meeting, including elimina- tion of the environmental integ- rity provision. Kloepfer voted to retain the policy. An updated draft will be pre- sented at the next meeting. To place a classified ad call 800-781-3214 or go to SeasideSignal.com DEADLINE IS MONDAY AT NOON R.J. Marx Plots are available through the city for Evergreen Cemetery. Cemetery: ‘We are behind the curve’ Continued from Page A1 reviewed surrounding cemetery plot pricing for Clatsop County, and the Seaside Evergreen Cem- etery continues to be signifi cantly less expensive per plot. “We take care of our cemetery like it’s a park,” he said. “The crew does a great job up there, and our families spend more time up there and like it.” With 14 additional acres avail- able on Beerman Creek Road, McDowell said he has a draft plan to show potential expansion. Councilor Tita Montero sug- gested raising the plot price an additional $250, to $1,000. “We are behind the curve,” City Manager Mark Winstanley said. “But we are gradually increasing.” He suggested a more frequent look at the cemetery pricing, espe- cially as the city considers the expansion. “You don’t have to be a former resident of Seaside to get one,” Montero said. “We’re the deal of the state.” Offi cials appoint Johnson’s replacement By ERICK BENGEL The Astorian Rachel Armitage, a Warren res- ident who chairs the Democratic Party of Oregon’s Womxn’s Cau- cus, is the new state senator for Sen- ate District 16. County commissioners from within the district appointed Armit- age last Friday from a group of three fi nalists during a virtual meet- ing held at the Columbia County Courthouse. Armitage will fi nish the term of former state Sen. Betsy Johnson, the prominent and infl uential Scap- poose Democrat who announced her independent gubernatorial run in October and resigned from the Senate in December to focus on her campaign. The term runs through 2022. The district covers all of Clatsop and Columbia counties and parts of Tillamook, Washington, Mult- nomah and Yamhill counties. In an interview, Armitage — who received 87.6% of the weighted vote — said she felt “very excited, deeply honored.” Melissa Busch, another Warren resident and a home health nurse with Providence Health & Services, and Nadia Gardner, an environmen- tal consultant from Arch Cape, were also vying for the appointment. The three candidates were selected last week by Democrats Rachel Armitage from among a slate of eight contend- ers at the Seaside Civic and Conven- tion Center. In the fi rst round of bal- loting, Busch, who is running in the Democratic primary for Senate in May, had walked away with 73% of the weighted vote. “I’d like to thank the (Democrats) who voted for me and the commis- sioners who appointed me,” Armit- age said in an interview. “I would like to thank the two women — Melissa Busch and Nadia Gardner — who ran this race alongside me. “And I especially want to thank Sen. Betsy Johnson for setting such a strong example of what good pub- lic service looks like in this district.” Unlike Busch, Armitage said she will not run in the Democratic pri- mary for Senate. State Rep. Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook, is giving up her House District 32 seat to cam- paign in the Republican primary for Senate. “I am defi nitely not running for any offi ce in 2022,” Armitage said. Armitage emphasized her expe- rience serving as a legislative aide during the 2016 and 2017 sessions. She is an alum of Emerge Oregon, a program that trains Democratic women to run for offi ce. She will represent Senate District 16 when the Legislature convenes for a short session in February. Several county commissioners — including Clatsop County com- missioners Mark Kujala and Lianne Thompson — pointed to Armitage’s experience in Salem. Commissioners Courtney Bangs and John Toyooka also voted for Armitage. Commissioner Pamela Wev cast the sole vote for Gardner. Lindsay Berschauer, the chair- woman of the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners, said of Johnson: “One of her biggest strengths was her communication style and her ability to reach out across the aisle and talk to anybody.” “And in the spirit of that, I was very impressed with Rachel. She did reach out to me almost immedi- ately to have a conversation, and we had a lovely conversation,” she said. “We likely don’t agree on much and we would probably vote oppo- site of each other. But we had a lot of things that we did talk about and saw in common.” MARKETPLACE Gearhart LIZ DAVIS SALE 1285 Chinook Road, Gearhart Friday, Saturday & Sunday January 21st, 22nd & 23rd 10am-3pm daily From heirloom dining table (seats 10 plus) to baccarat figurines this sale is an eclectic combination of practical and “you got to have it fun stuff”. 5550 watt Briggs and Stratton generator, hand tools, garden tools, weed eater, pressure washer, shop vac, and ladders. Lenox china, Havilland, Rosenthal, and Deruta. Sterling napkin rings and costume jewelry. Potted plants galore. Pots and pans. Comfy king bed and three Serta twin beds barely used. Nightstand, chairs and lamps. Refrigerator with ice maker. Nice and warm outerwear, think Cabella’s. Extraordinary pillows, made of silk ties. Rie Munoz prints. Flannel king sheets. Glassware. Oriental stands and easels. Tasteful decor that will catch your eye. Sit back and relax-we have books! As always we look forward to seeing you. See estatesale-finder.com for pictures and more info. 484 Budget Ads 55 gallon steel drums with removable lids, $25 each. 971-704-1727 651 Help Wanted Part-Time Employment Hiring Special Ed Paras to serve Ocean Beach and Naselle School Districts. Positions vary 20 - 35 hrs/ wk, and work a school year schedule. Health Benefits and Retirement. $16.19/hr. www.esd112.org/takeroot 651 Help Wanted Rod’s Auto and Marine Electric is looking for a FT Auto Mechanic, experienced in foreign and domestic. Must be able to perform all aspects of repair. Prefer diesel experience. Excellent pay and benefits. ASE certification a plus. Please email resume to rodautomarine@yahoo.com or stop by and fill out an application 230 SE Marlin Ave. Warrenton, OR. 97146 Call with questions (503) 861-2655 SHOP LOCAL! Check the Business Directory daily to utilize the local professionals advertising in The Seaside Signal. To place an ad in our Business Directory, call 503-325-3211. 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