CLATSOP CTY BRD OF COMMISSIONERS HIGHLIGHTS

New oath administered
The oath of office was administered to new commissioners Debra Birkby, Peter Huhtala and Scott Lee for a second time prior to the beginning of the meeting. The three were originally sworn in at the board’s Jan. 12 meeting, after which an error was discovered in the script used to administer the oath of office to the three. The original script referred to “the office ? to which I have been appointed” rather than “the office ? to which I have been elected.” Circuit Court Judge Phil Nelson, who administered the oath on Jan. 12, also conducted the second swearing-in.

County counsel determined that the oath of office administered at the Jan. 12 meeting is valid and any actions the board made at that meeting remain in effect.

Arch Cape zoning ordinance adopted
The board approved an ordinance establishing the Arch Cape Rural Community Overlay. The new land-use designation adds and modifies land-use definitions, makes changes to the Arch Cape Rural Community Residential zoning designation. The ordinance also cleans up language for the entire Rural Community land-use designation, which was created in 2003 and applied to a number of other unincorporated communities in the county.

The proposed ordinance originally contained new regulations on short-term rentals, but was removed by the Clatsop County Planning Commission during its review, Planner Jennifer Bunch told the board.

Budget policies adopted
The board approved its Fiscal Year 2011-12 Budget Policies and Strategic Plan/Resource Reduction Strategy. The policies, which guide the budget-formulation process, maintain previous policies that, among other things, require: seeking savings wherever possible; adding no new staff or programs without specific board approval; no “back-filling” cuts in state or federal funding with county revenue; not spending money saved during the fiscal year.

The resource reduction strategy prioritizes programs for funding in the event of the need to cut spending. The board retained the list with no changes: Public Safety and Justice-1, Health and Human Services-2, General Government Direct Services-3, Community Development, Land Use, Transportation and Housing-4, Culture and Recreation-5.

Arch Cape panel member removed
The board voted to remove Stephen Malkowski from the Southwest Coastal Citizen Advisory Committee. The panel, also known as the Design Review Committee, serves as a local planning review body for the unincorporated community of Arch Cape.

The action came in response to a request made to the board of commissioners last month by committee Chairman George Cerelli, who asked that Malkowski be removed for missing multiple meetings of the panel. Malkowski responded that the committee’s other four current members should themselves be removed, because all have exceeded the four-year term limit mandated under the panel’s bylaws.

Business park plan reviewed
The board held a work session discussion with consultants Cardno WRG on the updated master plan for the county’s North Coast Business Park in Warrenton.

The update details proposed development for the remaining 195 acres of the park, as well as street and utility improvements and wetlands protection. The plan identifies potential locations for manufacturing, office and other uses, while maintaining flexibility to aggregate smaller parcels for larger development.

The county plans to host an open house at a future date to gather public input before sending the plan to board for approval.

Other business
-Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Astoria School District to collect a construction excise tax levied by the district. The tax will be collected as an additional fee on building permits issued for non-exempt structures at a rate of $.25 per square foot for residential improvements and $.53 per square foot for commercial improvements. Under Oregon law the county is required to collect the fee.

-Approved a letter to the Oregon Department of State Lands on proposed changes to DSL rules governing dikes, levees and other in-water structures. The letter expresses approval for revisions the department made following heavy opposition that met the original plan changes last spring, but states that the county remains opposed to increasing fees on residents and diking districts.

-Presented the Katherine Hellberg Distinguished Service Award to former County Surveyor Steve Thornton, who retired in December after more than 33 years of service with Clatsop County. The Hellberg Award was established in 1997 to recognize county employees whose careers demonstrate a commitment to public service.

Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator