City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, call this work session to order. Our first uh point of business is to talk with Karen Miller. Karen, please come have a seat over here. Hi, Karen. How are you? It's fine. How are you? love. Thank you.

Thanks for joining us tonight. Thank you for your interest in joining a community center commission. Um just give us a little rundown on who you are, how long you've been in Seaside, and like why would you want to join uh the Community Center Commission? Not sure. Uh oh. I didn't mean that. I didn't mean that in a bad way.

Um, I think I've lived here now for about 12 or 13 years when I live off each drive and I haven't been involved in any community activities or anything. I'm retired. Have you uh been involved with the community center at all? Done things there? Been to events? No, I just bring my yard with me. Not at all. How did I know that you were included, I say, by Kevin

Haidider. How How did that conversation go? This has to do with it. Correct. One of the functions of the of the community center. Yes. Is there anything? Anything you want to tell us about yourself? Yes.

I was at St. Mary

Clackamus Community College. I um specialized in graphics, mechanical graphics, and then it transferred into electronic graphics and I really excelled in that 3D modeling and whatnot for both um tectonics for 34 years. And then um I went to work for Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics

and did Explode a few drawings for them. When I was in high school, we didn't have a bus, so I went to the um community center behind this Mville Nursing Home so I could have my father take me home when he got off work. And I got very involved in that. And that might be a connection that is of interest to you. And my husband, he passed away 23 years ago this year and I moved here 13 years ago. Bought a house on Beach Drive. Now I'm on my second house. Is there anything you think of um that as a resident here for 13 years that we could use or you'd be interested in or any ideas you have of services?

I hadn't until Kevin talked to me about it. I really didn't know what was available or what the city needed. I just know what skills I might have that you could use. And I do like working I did like working very much in the senior center behind my high school. You stayed at uh you Tektronics for a long time. 34 years. Yeah. What was it about Tektronics that you liked? What was that environment like?

Oh, that was a wonderful place to work back in my day. I think I started working there in 65 and I worked there 34 years. And it was a place where they encouraged you to continue education and they paid for it. It was a wonderful place back then. So that was 34 years and the division I worked for then was sold. And so I looked for a job elsewhere and found a position at U flight dynamics and they do the head-up displays for aircraft. illustrations for their plans and stuff.

In fact, one of my friends that I worked with at Rockwood Collins, she's staying at the house for a few days, beach trip. She just retired and uh she was a technical writer and I was an illustrator. We worked pretty much hand in hand and more with engineering too. Very detail detail oriented work. Did they have uh like organizations at Tektronics or the other groups u that you were part of? For example, uh when I worked at Intel, we had a group, Toast Masters group

and then uh they had a variety of other groups where people could get together and share similar interests. Um outside of some I think uh we belong to a bowling team. There was a group that had lunch together all the time. It was very close-knit uh family back in the 60s. It was a wonderful place to work.

So when you think of a community center, what kind of visions come to mind for you? The experience I had was spending time with um people who had had to be in a facility where they could get care and I seem to thrive at enjoying being around u seniors. I couldn't wait to be one and now I am one. Watch what you ask for. I guess so. The community center commission needs a am on the first Wednesday of every month. Is that going to be that time of issue for you or you will

I'll have to check with my dog groomer, but I'm sure.

So, is it Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. on how often? Once a month. The first Wednesday of every month. Okay, I can do that. Anything you'd like to ask us? It's all new to me. Kevin talked to me about it and I didn't really ask him any questions. He just said you'd be good at this. So, I wish I did have some. Okay.

And Karen, that's all right because that's the way I feel right now on city council. And to let you know, I did I was on the um the uh community center commission for probably two months right before uh I uh came to this position here. So I had a lot of questions

uh at that time too. And uh there's the best way to find out more about it is to see what their schedule is, what they have to offer, what are the events that are going on there. So that's how I kind of spun up on my very short tenure there. Uh they have a lot of things to offer. I I showed up for a couple of Tai Chi classes that were really fun. And then um so that's what I would look at. just see what they have going on on their event schedule and there might be some things that you might find enjoyable.

Take the opportunity to go in and meet um uh every day there's senior lunches there put on by uh well Northwest Senior and Disability Services and um if you like bingo I can tell you I'm the bingo host once a month. you might be. And I used to do flowers at Our Lady of Victory with Kaylor Bears and helped with cooking for Sunday suppers. Or is it Saturday suppers?

I haven't done that for a few years now. But those are all things I'm capable of offering to to all of you or to whatever you choose. Well, we definitely need some members in the community center. Looks like we're three vacancies right now. Is that right? Yeah. We don't have a quorum. Okay. Okay. Well, thank you very much. You're welcome. Be on our agenda later tonight, so we'll see what happens. Okay. Thanks for coming in here. You're not that far. I could walk too late.

Thank you all very much. I wish I had some better questions or answers for you, but just great. Willingness to volunteer is the number one prerequisite. Thank you. Okay. This is a work session to discuss our proposed fireworks ordinance that came out uh and was revised about an hour ago. Will be revised again probably. Probably. No. Um, remember did that get revised in our packet or

I sent you an email. Sorry. And there is a quick bullet point of the changes with the actual um track changes track changes from from the original ordinance. I've already got it. Okay. Um, we just need to remember that ordinance is just one part of what the plan uh going forward is and it's uh just one tool and it's going to take time. Okay. Um, for any of you in the audience

read it, sir. Yeah. The changes from today.

I read it. Yeah, forget he probably hasn't seen it. So, we have uh representative from the police department, fire department, and then Satie Merker's here who was also on the fireworks committee. Um so, uh at a previous meeting, we discussed the feedback from the fireworks committee. Direction was to draft an ordinance, come back to discuss. And so, um drafted this ordinance um and it's uh obviously here for the work session discussion and then it's uh on for a possible first and second reading on the agenda. That is not the necessarily the expectation. That's up to you. It's on there on the agenda in that way to preserve all options for you. So tonight you can take no action, do a first reading and if you're so inclined, you can do a second reading. So all possibilities are on the table. So, I'll walk through a little bit of the changes since the packet, but then also really most importantly the changes um from what's currently um in our ordinance, but also understanding there'll be other people watching kind of a a why are we trying to do this. So, purpose of tonight's meeting is to um review the draft ordinance and to get your feedback and and for you to have discussion. kind of as a reminder, this came out of the fireworks committee, but a committee recommendation is not anything that you need to be beholden to if it doesn't align with what you as a council wants to do. Um, and so it's ultimately just that recommendation, go through the key changes from the current city code. Um, highlight some of the changes provided from police and fire and then for you to provide further direction. So, as I mentioned, we received uh input

from police and fire. Normally, we would get that prior for it going out in the packet. I think trying to keep the quick turnaround time since the last meeting. Um, we put it out there knowing that we would need changes, but uh getting it out there before the public, having them discuss it, and uh um and if you saw, we did a Q&A on the city's website, shared that on social media to get the word out and people discussing it. Hopefully that uh returns with some good public uh public comment and public input. Um and one of the reasons we're pushing forward is with any ordinance um by state law, it takes 30 days uh for it to go into effect unless there's an emergency, which isn't an emergency. And so if we walk backwards, we need to have it adopted by the end of May if you want it effective by July. We don't have a second meeting in May. So we have a meet one meeting in May and two in April. So um we have tonight's meeting and three additional meetings to do three readings. So um you can factor that in and as a reminder we can do more than one reading in any one meeting. So that's just kind of uh how we where we need to get to to have this in place by July. Oh uh let's see. Yeah. Okay. that didn't miss anything here. Why are we talking about this now? So, for many years, um, we continue to get complaints about illegal fireworks. Um, we have done enforcement that hasn't changed anyone's behavior. People still come to seaside with their illegal fireworks. And so, we want to establish clear expectations before this upcoming season. Um, and then we're trying to balance the urgency on that with your input. Um I think we've talked mostly about

this. Uh there have been revisions. Um this has not gone to the city attorney for review. The expectation is after tonight. I prefer to pay for their review once and so let's get it as closest to what you want it and get their feedback just in case you plan to make drastic changes to it. We talked a little bit about the timing already. So um today the fireworks are regulated under section 131.11 which is a criminal code. Um there is no civil penalty which is what we're uh recommending. Um it's been a very limited deterrent effect if we think it is a deterrent effect and there's enforcement challenges in practice. So what's being proposed is that we maintain the criminal enforcement authority. It is common with codes to have both options depending on the circumstances for a civil and a criminal. Um we're going to add a new civil enforcement under section 96 which is our nuisance section of the code. We would have a structured penalty system, provide clear enforcement tools, and our focus will be on improving compliance. Um so a couple of policy um things need to be discussed. So education alone has not changed behavior. Now, can we do more for education, public outreach? Absolutely. I'll just tell you from my experience, you will not move the needle on enforcement just by education. the people who are coming with illegal fireworks know that they are illegal fireworks and just uh educating them that they're illegal or that there may be penalties doesn't do enough. You need actual behavior. You need a kind of hit them where it'll change your behavior and that's in their

pocketbooks.

So, this is not a uh an attempt to uh increase revenues through the court system at the city. Ideally, we wouldn't have to issue any citations. It is really just to have a a real deterrent that that goes hand inand with the education and public outreach component. So again, the the goal is long-term behavior change. We should expect push back. If we don't get push back, that means we're not going far enough. I'll just I'll give you an example from a prior life where we had issues with people overusing their water for irrigation. We did educational campaigns for 10 years, but we ran out of irrigation water every night. We put a an escalating tiered uh payment structure in there and almost overnight people's behavior changed and there was a very vocal push back from a minority of the residents. And the same thing's going to happen here. So we have to expect that there are going to be people who become very upset at uh us wanting to do more enforcement or at a fine amount. Um if you we don't have some of that that means um people are not expecting any change to happen. Um but we want to establish clear expectations for our visitors and our residents. Okay. So now kind of organize this. What does our current code say? What's proposed? And why are we proposing this? And again, this is for everyone here and everyone who will be um watching it later. So as I said, uh the current code is criminal only. There's not a whole lot of flexibility in that what's proposed. We add a civil enforcement option. Uh can be lo used alongside criminal options. And I think it allows for more consistent and timely enforcement, which I'll talk a little

bit about. Actually, it's the next one. Why? So, it allows for a simpler process, faster resolution, and a lower burden of proof compared to criminal enforcement. So, criminal enforcement is uh what what's what's our what's our level of uh in what's our burden of proof for criminal? Trying to think what's the phrase reasonable doubt. beyond a reasonable doubt for a civil it's preponderance of evidence. So is it 50% 51% or more in favor of uh the city in this case? So easier to force, less likely to be dragged through the court system and usually has a faster uh turnaround. Um so it reduces our reliance on uh the criminal process alone. So, our current code, we have a fine of $700. And as we've discussed, that is uh routinely lowered to $300 by our judge. And that is within her discretion. There have never been any discussions between the city and the judge. And so, I'm not calling the judge out or anything. I think as part of this, it would be a good idea to bring everyone involved into the conversation so there's an understanding of why we're making this change um and uh what we're trying trying to or hoping to accomplish and then um kind of let the judicial side um do its thing without us interfering with that. Um, so while I don't think the the reduction in the current fine helps our goal, that's not a discussion, you know, we've had with our with our judge. So, under this proposal, a first violation would be $1,000. A second violation would be $3,000 and a third or an egregious violation would be

$5,000 with that $5,000 being the maximum. So clear predictable consequences and obviously does designed to influence behavior. We want to stop and have a that's this is the first big thing I kind of I'll turn it to you maybe have this discussion are are we going in the right direction here? This was the direction from the committee but this is where um we are looking for council debate discussion and everything. I think this is good place to take a little break. Go ahead. Let's just go around the table.

I like the summary uh of the proposed ordinance. Uh you broke it down um to bite-sized chunks. I like the proposed uh first violation, second, third. I I think that's the way to go. The the more you can make it clear and concise without any uh uh without a lot of wiggle room, it it makes it more pointed. Uh right, you got it right there. Creates clear and predictable consequences. That's, you know, when I was reading this, I was looking at those particular things and I think that's I like it so far. I like it.

You know, you I think this is what we're looking for is uh the fine amounts. What are your what are your thoughts on that?

That's fine. I mean, you talked about hitting them in their pocketbook. I mean, if it's $700 and it gets lowered to $300, that's, you know, that's not as big a bite as a,000, $3,000, and 5,000. I mean, $5,000, you know, that's going to get somebody's attention. You know, $1,000 gets my attention right there. My thoughts on the the fine amounts are I guess when we have an ad hoc committee and they go through this process and it includes the police department, the fire department and you know all the experts and they come up with the numbers you know I want to take those seriously because they've been put together by the council to actually do research this and come up with these numbers. So I don't want to really comment on the numbers yet as this early but I do have a question as far as Oregon law and how it connects to what we do locally. So, under Oregon law, for my research, it says 2,500 per violation and a civil pen leave of up to 500. So, it' be basically 3,000 per violation. So, how does that work?

That is on the not I'm not reading exactly what's in front of you, but I think you're reading the criminal law. So, this is a civil penalty that is outside of any criminal, right? And so nothing but you did say the 2500 that's the class B and then you said 500 civil penalty.

So one thing that we could do that we haven't proposed here and didn't come out of committee would be to amend the fine amount for the criminal activity along the the guidance that that provides. This is uh if you look there's the criminal avenue, the civil avenue and this is while we are making changes, small changes to the criminal, we're not changing the fine amount. We can this is just a civil which is separate. So bottom line is you're not going to get a a criminal record. You're just going to be paying a fine for this. And that's the biggest distinction between the two. And I think that's what allows us to have um a lower burden of proof and things like that is you're not giving them a record of all.

What would cause the criminal penalty or the criminal violation as opposed to the civil? Maybe that's a better question for our police because we have other codes that probably have dual options, right? And what's typically your your decision- making in that?

In this particular case, you got OS is what you're reading for the state code. We also have obviously our own for ordinance. Typically that's what we work off of. In the past the cities come through and said we're going to create the same law that Oregon has but have it under our umbrella and maybe make it their own. Oftent times it's worded very similar or the same. Most of the time or a lot of the time on the lower level things that this would be one of them will write under the city ordinance. unclassified misdemeanor. However, most of the time through the years, we've just written it as a violation versus the crime with the ability to Are you not hearing me?

I was standing in front of the camera. Well, I didn't care. Probably a better view. But anyway, um so we write them typically as a violation anyway. Um what's going to kick it up to the crime is probably causing injury. there's some recklessness and in that particular case we may very well go with you start a fire you may get a fireworks violation but a reckless burning as well and actually be arrested probably for that charge versus the actual fireworks use so they kind of cooperatively work together in a certain sense but again that's going to be the more egregious types of behaviors or what's happening because of that does that answer the question

a little bit yeah so what is our legal requirement as far as interfacing with Oregon law I was under the impression that we could be more severe, but we at least had to be as severe. But in this case, it seems like we're under or lesser. Yeah. Yeah. So, do we have the flexibility to do that or

I think my and this is me thinking on the spot without doing research, which is dangerous. I think my understanding is that um we I don't think we can typically on the criminal side, we can't typically go stricter than the state law, but our own could be less than and then they're choosing to site under the city's ordinance or under state law, but typically we can't go stricter. Now, with on the civil side, we don't have those same restrictions. I was always under the impression that organ law superseded us and we can go above that but we have to be at least at that level.

I I I I would interpret it the same way except the opposite. So I think it does supersede us but what that means is we can't have a criminal um rule that is more that is more severe than what the state allows. So if the state says there's a maximum penalty for a crime of this, we couldn't adapt adopt our own criminal law that was had a harsher penalty than that. That's me off the off the cuff. On the civil side, we can have a harsher penalty. There isn't a civil side for state law. I think that's well up to 500. that they saved them.

That's kind of like restitution though as opposed to a a separate fine. It's it's a component of that charge, not of the criminal charge, whereas this is a completely civil. But I think those are good questions that I can make sure we have some clear responses from our city attorney on. I agree on uh the fine amounts. I look to the committee to have um spent a bit of time um talking those over. What I'm not clear on um is kind of the sequence of events and the maximum amount. So I think and I think I have some other slides that will go into details on that if you want.

Okay. Do you not want me to ask? No, you can feel free. But I think Okay. I'll ask so I don't forget and then you you just say we'll talk about it later. So, if you um can can your first violation be egregious enough that it becomes a $5,000? Yes. Yeah. Okay. It's in there. And then maximum penalty capped at 5,000. Is that over one violation? Maximum is 5,000. Can you be cited more than once in a day? Like early in the day you get your first violation and later that night now you're now it's egregious. and and how does that often invest?

Well, the original uh drafted ordinance that you got in the packet talked about a per firework and I think some of that came out of the committee. Um however, as I started to kind of put it together, um realizing, okay, someone shows up at the beach with uh 20 mortars that are all illegal. Let's say they do it in the beach grass around people. So, for whatever reason, it's determined it's a maximum penalty of $5,000. They are now um up to what it would be 20 $100,000

a fines. And I was like, okay, I'm not sure that's going to pass the the test when it goes through the courts. And so, uh, it was while the option was always in there to treat it as one occurrence, uh, for this draft, I took that out and just said, um, if someone's caught with illegal fireworks, it's based on that possession, that occurrence, not the number of fireworks they have. Now, if someone's caught with a wagon full of fireworks at 10 in the morning and they're caught later in the day elsewhere with fireworks, I don't I think that would be a separate uh occurrence, but I would kind of leave that up to the police and courts to decide how they would want to handle that. But the main point is um what we're shooting for is the worst offenders. It's a $5,000 fine. We're not trying to um yeah get $100,000 or whatever the amount is from an individual. That would just present more problems for us. on on the other side.

I think Christine's question about the timing is well put in that um the maximum individual penalty would be capped at 5,000. But according to this, if you have another um uh occurrence within 12 months, then you're going to be going up a little bit. So I wondered what would happen if you had a fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh violation within those same 12 months. Would we never charge more than $5,000 for uh for violations which where it is has become obvious that people are just um they they don't care. So,

so under this, to answer that question, under this, they wouldn't be fined more than 5,000. However, that's possible where the criminal charges could be used. Got it. Uh, also, um, if we get to the point that someone sees a $5,000 fine as just a cost of doing business, we can also address the ordinance. I think um while people spend way more money on fireworks than I ever would, I don't think they're looking to spend this amount, especially where you know the reality is they'll just go elsewhere.

So, um in the ordinance you do talk about presumptive penalty. Now, you say here the proposed penalty first violation is $1,000. The ordinance does say the presumptive penalty for violations would be imposed. Hold on. Hold on. And so I want to link that with um then uh as we could expect that the penalty might be reduced when they go to court. So can you talk to us about what you mean by presumptive penalty and um and the reduction at the other end?

Sure. I think I have some slides on that. So, let me circle back so we can talk about that. I'm I'm in full uh agreement with these are appropriate amounts. Um the only way you can buy illegal fireworks is to either go onto a reservation or to go to Washington State or to another state. So, it's very obvious that people are bringing that the what they're bringing is illegal because you cannot buy illegal fireworks. Can you buy them on a reservation in Oregon? I was under pressure with only Washington.

Maybe. Yeah. But but I know you you can't buy them in Oregon. So it's obvious that anybody bringing illegal fireworks to our town knows that they're doing that. And if you know that you're doing that and you know what our penalties are, then that's on your head. I think my questions revolve mostly around the enforcement end of it and the specifically the willingness of our police department to enforce. Um in in years past we've seen plenty of times where communication issues would pop up uh primarily from I believe the sheriff's department putting out statements said things like don't bother calling these in we're not going to respond. uh which would be followed up by response times sometimes going into in excess of an hour. Um so my curiosity is with this are we looking to see sort of a prompter response if we get one. I don't know that I don't think this is going to change any kind of response time. As you know, there's and we've had these conversations as far as I'm concerned over and over and over again that there's more going on in the city than fireworks.

Absolutely. Uh I don't believe we pushed anything out that says don't bother calling us. But I think that came from primarily from the sheriff's office. Yeah. Yeah. Um I'm just thinking or something or a personal thing that people know who we are obviously but um no so I I I it's it's not that we're not responding to it. It's just obviously the amount that are down there with the amount of people that we have available to go down there. Um your area, somebody else's area and response just the 4th of July because this is an ordinance that I seem to recall would be applicable. Yeah. Yeah.

Um which I know was a question that has been raised in the community as well. um outside of that Fourth of July weekend when you know our population you know when doubles or whatever um and and y'all are slammed can we expect more I'm going to phrase it as we don't necessarily a better willingness to actually deal with this again based on my own personal experience to any call in a timely manner. And I don't know that personally calls taken more than an hour to get a response.

And again, I don't know on those exact situations what was going on at that particular time. Um, you know, a firework going off when they're in the middle of a custody or they're in the middle of even maybe a report. They might be deep into a report and going to finish that up and then they'll head that way. Obviously, if we didn't see it happen, we're not going to be able to write the word or anything like that anyway. So, The answer I guess is I don't see there to be any change in how we're going to respond to that, but our folks know that we pretty much are writing tickets for this kind of stuff when we have the ability and we have the evidence and what not to do it. So, you mentioned something that that I hear a lot and that is if you don't if a policeman a public safety officer doesn't see it happen, you can't write the citation. Um, so, uh, yeah. So, I'm taking this outside the Fourth of July and I'm taking this off off the beach because those are the two places where we concentrate and those are the two places where we have the most challenges both from a a having enough people to do it, etc. But on New Year's Eve or on Mother's Day, in the middle of the day or whatever, and I know there's individual times that I may hear fireworks going off now, I may not know where they are. I may call the police department and say, "There's fireworks going off." You're going to have just as much trouble figuring out where that firework was set that as I am. So, I can understand that. But if you don't see the actual lighting of the firework, I believe that this ordinance allows you

if you see them in the possession of that firework to still sight them. That changes Yeah, that that there's no change to that. I mean, somebody could just be walking down the street and there's been times where somebody's walking by and they've got fireworks and we make contact with them and sees sight, whatever. But the the flip side of what I said in regard to whether we saw it or not, is also on

whoever's calling it in. If if you're calling it in and you did see that person, and I think we've talked about that before, you can sign the citation. is basically a citizen's arrest, let's say, because you're going to be the witness called the court to say, "I saw that person light the firework that went off that caused the explosion. We come in and basically do the paperwork. Here's their ticket. We write the report. If this goes to a hearing, then you're going to be called in and you're going to be saying that's the person." The problem with that scenario is one, a lot of people didn't see it happen. It's just happening in the neighborhood. I don't want to get involved. I'm willing to call you, but I'm not willing to say that's the person who did it and sign the complaint. And so some of that onus goes on to whoever's complaining about it if they have that much information. So

or the house for sure, but I we you know with a fence or whatever, we don't know who where it's going. The difference there is is under just your normal noise complaint or noise ordinance, it would be the same thing. Are you willing to citation for at least a noise nuisance might not necessarily be specifically fireworks, but it's causing a disturbance in the neighborhood. It's bugging us. We could go that route, but again, that requires and there's just a lot of people out there that aren't willing to go that far.

We discussed this before, but how does video evidence come into play here? So, what if someone is just recording the neighbor, you know, shooting off mortars in the street? Is that sufficient evidence? As far as I'm concerned, we use the cases with the people's ring cameras. See, does that include people recording themselves doing it? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Posting to social media. The one thing I was going to add is um uh this doesn't change our ability to respond, but I uh this is the this is the enforcement penalties and structure behind it. However, the goal of this is to reduce the number of things going off that they need to respond to. So,

yes, if you're thinking it's g it cost me $300 if I get caught or it can cost me up to $5,000 if I'm caught, that's a thing that I think will change the need to go around kind of chasing our tails a little bit looking for something going off in the neighborhood. So this is more I think the more proactive approach for people to regulate themselves and I'll talk a little bit later but I think there's some expectations that we have around that and we need to get moving here. I just had I you kind of touched on it but I noticed that we're kind of leaving the criminal at 700 and the civil at up to 5,000 just

and we we we can change that. That just wasn't something that came. Yeah. I don't think the C I would say I don't think the committee addressed it. No. Um and you know the idea that there's a difference between what you need for criminal and civil. That's really important to remember. The thing you got to remember overall is this is just the first step. Okay. We're we're not going to solve it this year. You know, I think that's a very good point though that if we keep the criminal at 700 and we say the first offense for civil is a thousand, people are going to want you to write them a criminal citation. Uh I don't know. I hope not.

You want you want something on the record, a checkbook. Can you do it? Okay. Okay. Let's go on. Let's see what uh you can answer these other questions. Okay. Uh tiered enforcement. So, uh, clearly we have Reed Tears wasn't there before. And I think if I remember correctly, the $5,000 idea really originate from that's what Canon Beach does. They're different. They ban all fireworks. We're not doing that, but that's where the 5,000 came from. Is that their maximum 5,000 or is that just their That's their standard amount. I think they do. They had a lower I believe it was $1,000 for a sparkler. A sparkler.

Wow. But uh but they don't they don't have the different differentiation the way we do and I think that was something the committee discussed which is e first offense maybe that's going too far let's do the step thing. So that was a the committee taking what can beach does and modifying to what they thought was reasonable. Um so egregious conduct this would be the the step three.

So we've uh made some changes in what you see here. So, if it's near an occupied structure, if it's directed into a crowd or if there's a clear fire risk or injury risk, that could be used. Uh, and the same with the criminal versus civil, there will be some discretion there for the officers depending on the circumstances. While we want to make it as easy for them, kind of make it black and white, we also I think it will hold up in court better if it's not uh, you know, bringing down the hammer for every for every offense or whatnot.

So, this is the answer. Your first offense could potentially be egregious enough that it's a $5,000 offense. Got it. Thank you. The one other thing to remember is that the police already have discretion as it is. And if somebody's come along and you know they're pulling a wagon full of fireworks and a policeman stand there, he has the option to just say, you know, that's that's wrong. We have law against that and they have the discretion to simply confiscate him and not issue a citation and that's currently proposed here that doesn't already exist. Yeah.

Uh incident based uh enforcement. Um, so the current law uh prohibits fireworks activity. Um, doesn't define how they're counted. And this kind of goes to some of the changes from the original draft. So we're saying that the violations are treated as single incident based on the occurrence or the course of conduct rather than the specific number or anything like that. Uh, warnings there doesn't talk about that. I think we know our police officer have the ability to give warnings. Um I clarified some of the language again based on the police feedback that to be very clear a warning is not required. We can go straight to penalty. Um but if you do get a warning and our warnings get they're put in the system. uh and you do get a citation later, it's escalated directly to a level two and you know even more. Uh we have some cost recovery in in there. And so that would be if someone sets them off on the beach, sets fire to the dune grass and things like that. And there are costs to um fight that that we can go after their insurance or through the court system to to be reimbursed for any of those expenses or costs. Not penalty. This is just cost recovery. Okay. So here's the judicial discretion. So the current code there isn't any specific direction how they should be applied to reduce. So they're routinely reduced from $700 to $300. And as I said, we haven't had that discussion with with the judge or we you since you're the supervisor haven't either by um and so I want to put that out there because that's something that we can have a discussion with.

Do we have any kind of data on what historically the numbers are on uh reductions? Yeah. Well, no. Just on how many people are fined for using illegal fireworks on a given year. Last year we wrote around 25 or 26 and probably about the same the year before. That was just on the 4th of July. Correct. And it would be interesting to know how many of those 25 or 26 were paid at $700 versus reduced. Zero paid at seven. They were all reduced. The judge has told the court clerks in the past even if someone calls in say I just want to pay my fine to reduce it to 300.

Um so uh the penalties are presumptive meaning this is the presumed amount not a maximum. Um so any reduction coming from the court requires written findings on the record as to why they are being reduced. And it says in there that it's not meant to be routinely reduced. So, um there will need to be why this specific case should be reduced, especially where there's a presumed amount. Um that's where I want to get some further feedback from our attorneys. Is is that the strongest language to align uh the judicial enforcement with the administrative enforcement that we are we are trying to do. But it puts a higher burden of proof than um a personal preference or disagreement on on how it happens. Um fully gives the judge discretion to do that if there's a reason in each case. Um but there's a higher burden in order to do that.

That wording is pretty strong in the You want to read it? It says that uh court may impose a lesser amount only under findings of good cause on record which must be specific to the circumstances of violation and really strong language and shall not be routinely saying the the track record of you know every time a buying is challenged is automatically reduced as a practice that would specifically be prohibited by that word.

And is there does this at all say what the lowest reduction could be? No. Can we say that or not? Um I think we in my research we probably can say it but it doesn't remove their discretion to go lower so it may not be helpful. That's where I want to get some further advice from our city attorney.

Yes, I see. Um, okay. What this ordinance does not do, does not ban legal fireworks, does not change any state law definitions. We still refer to the state uh for any definitions of legal and illegal fireworks, does not remove our criminal enforcement and again focuses only on illegal fireworks. So there remains to be uh obviously some coordination and feedback from fire police. This is not the last we've heard from them. They will have as this moves along. We will continue to have them involved. Um the way I look at this, there's three components. There is the enforcement plan which is what we're working on. There is a communications and public outreach plan to make sure people aware of it and that's something we're also working on. And then third is there's taking both of those and putting an operations plan. now uh for you know the worst of the year which is around you know the week of the 4th of July. So um we wouldn't put an operational plan on what we want to do this year how we're going to staff how we're going to try to enforce it here there or whatnot um into this. This is just what the enforcement mechanism is how that gets applied on the ground is something of an operations plan that we would put together between now and the 4th of July. Um again initial public reaction um negative reaction I'll say is expected now maybe there's just a mean to say hallelujah about time or whatever it is. Um and I think we should expect this to evolve over time. Um maybe this is maybe we take our foot off the gas if we're getting the compliance we want. Maybe we leave it on. I think the great thing about an ordinance is um it takes three meetings for the council to change it. So there is flexibility in there for

what's working well and what's uh not working. Next step uh again purpose of tonight to get your feedback, refine the draft, submit it for the attorney re review and then the formal consideration. So tonight as I said it's on for a first and possible second reading. Just a reminder, going back to our council guidelines, you can make substantial changes after the first, but not after the second without bringing it back. Now, you don't have to. You could wait until in the future meeting to do a first. You can do a first now and wait till the next meeting or meeting after that for the second. I would encourage you since the notices have gone or not the notice, the the information has gone out that we hold a public hearing tonight in any case. Um then we'll continue to hold those with each each reading as we want to solicit as much feedback as possible. But uh you have several options uh available to you.

We'll go over those all again when this comes up on the agenda. So we need to close down now. Send your slides. You send those out to us as well.

Call the city council meeting for March 23rd to order. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for which it stands. One nation under God. Liberty and justice for all. Kim, please call the roll.

Uhoh. Thank you, Mayor. Councelor Hoffman here. Councelor Baker here. Council President Morsy here. Mayor Wright here. Councelor McVey here. Councelor Mon Mont Montero present. Councelor Ansboro here. Thank you. Okay. May I have a motion for approval of our agenda for today? So moved. Second. Council President Morsy, Councelor McY, all those in favor say I. I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. We have two proclamations tonight. First one up is sexual assault awareness and action month. We have Julia Aman from the harbor here to introduce it. Good evening everyone. It's so nice to see everyone. We have our proclamation um that I would love to to give to you. Is can I bring it up? Sure. Okay. Oh, no. You you keep it. He's got a copy. Yeah.

All right. Um I wanted to let everyone know that the harbor has been serving about 125 individuals at our seaside hospital here. Approximately about 125 each year. Um I'm so happy and delighted to be back in the area. I spent three years up in Alaska and came back to the harbor after a few years and I'm the director of the sexual violence programs. We just established the SART again um which is the sexual assault response team and I'm here with Joy. Thank you for having us. And Joy, you are I'm a direct service advocate. I also fill in and go on hospital calls during dayshift.

Yeah. who we just recently did a presentation on green dot bystander intervention for the community up at the high school. The high school is trying to adopt a bystander intervention violence prevention program. So we are excited to be partnering with them. And then we have our fries squishies. FRISE is an acronym freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic, and specific. All about consent. So, we'd love to pass out these to you all and also have uh some ribbons. And last but not least, we are doing a call to men. Um we're having a facial hair competition in April. You got a great one. Um, and it's going to be at Fort George. And this is our start to our campaign calling upon men to help us with our violence prevention in uh in our class of county. So, it's going to be on April 11th from 4 to 8 at Fort George. And I do have some flyers to give you.

Thank you. And you gave those to Kim? Yes, I to Kim. Thank you. Okay. You you can come up and get your basket. Thank you. I've asked um councelor Ansro to Yes. read the proclamation tonight. Would you like me to do that now? Go ahead and read it. Yeah.

Proclamation. Whereas 2026 marks the 25th year of Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a theme of 25 years strong, looking back, moving forward, celebrating the resilience of survivors and the communities that have worked for change. And whereas sexual assault affects Oregonians every day, whether as a victim or a survivor or as a family member, friend, partner, neighbor, employer, or coworker of a survivor. And whereas Oregonians of all gender identities experience sexual violence, including an estimated one in four adult women who have been the victim of rape and nearly one in five men who have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. And whereas one in 10 Clatsip County middle and high school students report inappropriate sexual contact by an adult before they turn 18. And whereas out of 1,000 sexual assaults, only 25 per perpetrators will face any legal repercussions for the assault. And whereas sexual violence is preventable and all communities are strengthened by encouraging healthy nonviolent interactions, relationships, and social norms. And whereas every community in Oregon has a role to play to help eliminate sexual violence by working together to promote social change. Now therefore, Steve Wright, mayor of city of Seaside, to hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Action Month in Clatsup County and call upon all

community members and local agencies to speak out against sexual violence, educate one another on sexual violence prevention, and support and believe survivors in witness thereof. of I have uh here unto set the mayor's hand and cause the seal of city of Seaside to be affixed this 23rd day of March 2026. Thank you, sir. Um and thank you for the little stress relievers. We appreciate that. Good.

Uh counselors, I don't think you need to report that on your ethics commission. It's uh the rate was actually raised to $100 after this last session. Now it's not 50 anymore. So um inflation. Yes. Inflation. And counselors, I might mention something, too. When you read the proclamations, you don't have to read that last line. It's okay. Thank you. That's good to know.

Okay. Uh the other proclamation I save for myself. Um it's volunteer recognition month next month. Uh it's something that uh we all greatly appreciate the volunteers. This one is going to um specifically reference, you know, kind of everybody, but really those that serve on our boards, committees, and commissions. Um but you know, we have firefighters that are volunteers. The police station has some volunteers. We have people that just go out and pick up stuff off the beach. They're volunteers. And uh we recognize all of you for all the work that you do for the city and I recognize our council as well because you're volunteers just like uh everybody else. So proclamation whereas this vision of the city of Seaside is to have families thrive, our businesses prosper, and generations of visitors create memories that last lifetimes, which expresses how we want to live and work together. And whereas many residents of this community contribute to the well-being of people in Seaside by giving generously of their time, resources, and energy. And whereas many volunteers assist the city of Seaside in performing a multitude of duties, creating and sustaining valuable services and making government by the people a reality. Members of the city council or boards, commissions, committees, task forces, volunteers with our fire and police departments are all community volunteers. Whereas seaside volunteers faithfully show up to help time after time, year after year, often working with our many service organizations to take care of neighbors in the community wherever there's a need. Whereas the city of Seaside values every one of our many seaside volunteers and wishes to extend our deepest appreciation to all. Now therefore I Steve Ry, mayor of city of

Seaside to here proclaim the month of April 2026 as volunteer recognition month and ask all the people of Seaside to express their thanks in joining with the many volunteers who continue to help and serve in our community. And I signed it. Uh we will uh we have a a special event that's on your calendars hopefully for April 21st and uh we'll be honoring uh in particular our boards, committees, and commissions at that event. Time for public comments. Members of the public may use this time to provide general comments on matters not scheduled elsewhere on the agenda for a public hearing or public comment. Individuals wishing to speak should complete a public comment registration card and submit it to the city recorder before being called. This time is intended for the council to listen to public comments rather engage in discussion. The council may consider whether issues raised during this time should be scheduled for discussion or action at a future meeting. Each speaker is limited to three minutes. Uh we had one written comment that um didn't make the last meeting from Randy Stemper regarding the homelessness and uh you should have seen that. You will see that in the minutes the council already has received it. So, um Rhonda Warick, come on up to the um microphone. Uh your city of residence is Seaside and you want to talk about current activities at city hall.

Yes. So, good evening. Thank you for allowing me to be here tonight and the opportunity to speak with you today. In response to recent activities, I want to highlight a powerful and recurring pattern we see in society. individuals who have experienced incarceration, institutional homelessness, or both, and who have gone on to transform these hardships into meaningful, sustained contributions to their communities. Their journeys demonstrate that adversity can spark not only personal transformation, but also a broader social impact. So, I'd like to just share a couple stories with you today. people you you may recognize each of whom have ex experienced incredible challenges um became successful and emerged as remarkable contribute contributors to society. The first one is Chris Gardner. He's a gentleman who inspired the movie Pursuit of Happiness. He slept in shelters, under desks, in subway bathrooms, all while caring for his young son. He also spent some time in jail. His riches story, he became a successful stock broker uh founding the Gardener Rich and Company, a large productive stock brokerage firm. And he also authored his best-selling memoir and the story that inspired the film Pursuit of Happiness. He not only became successful, but he also used his life lessons to give back. He promotes a back- to-school program focused on student motivation and support. And he established the Christopher P. Gardener Foundation supporting homelessness and affordable housing initiatives.

Uh, one a little closer to home is Dave Dah. Um, you probably have had Dave's Killer Bread or at least seen it on the shelves. Well, Dave spent over 15 years in prison. He co-founded once released uh co-founded and scaled Dave's Killer Bread into a major national brand. And much of Dave Doll's philanthropy is tied to second chance employment, allowing and encouraging people to be positive contributors to a to society after incarceration. He founds the Dave Killer Bread Foundation, which expands and supports fair chance hiring policies. and he supports re-entry focus. 30 seconds.

I'm sorry. 30 seconds. Okay. He's a good guy overall. Put it that way. And good bread. What unites these stories? Not just the adversity these individuals face, but how they use these experiences to build success and most importantly to give back. Their journeys have inspired books, movies, podcasts, all to share and motivate and inspire. These are famous examples, but they're wellknown. Um, and there's thousands more that not as well known. When someone in our own community climbs back up the ladder after incarceration or homelessness and then turns around to help others,

I say we celebrate, elevate, replicate, raise, and praise. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Rebecca Reid, sitting as a seaside resident. uh regarding street lighting. Thank you, city council and staff for this opportunity to speak with you. You can tilt that down just a little bit. There you go.

Okay. Uh last December, Pacific Power replaced our street light bulb at the end of our street on the corner of Seventh and Franklin. It is an extremely bright LED light bulb with no shielding to direct the light downward. I contacted Pacific Power and they directed me to our public works department stating the responsibility for street lighting is with the city. I spoke with public works director Paul Stole and I shared with them my concern uh about the bright unshielded light. Mr. Stole sent me back to Pacific Power saying they had some uh jurisdiction over the street lighting. I had a couple more contacts with Pacific Power and as they requested, I submitted a complaint on their website. Earlier this month, I received an email from Pacific Power stating that the city is responsible for installing shields on the lights. Uh I contacted Mr. Stole again and relayed Pacific Power's message. He agreed that the city could benefit from citizen feedback regarding lighting and shielding. I didn't get a sense of cost though. So whatever the cost um the value would be manyfold. In a in order to better understand where we currently stand regarding appropriate lighting, I looked at our lighting ordinance and checked out neighboring Canop Beach and Ghart's ordinances. There are already good policies on the books regarding nuisance lighting and proper shielding. Back to our current lighting status, I think seaside shouldn't assume that one B bulb fits all for all locations. Residential areas may have different lighting needs than commercial or highway lighting. In residential areas, lighting shouldn't be invasive and shine directly into people's homes. Another aspect of appropriate lighting is that light be directed downward where it's needed, not broadcast great distances or skyward. We need day night cycles for our health. Another perk for supporting smart lighting in Seaside is that travelers plan destinations to

communities that are dark sky friendly. Stargazers, astronomy fans, bird watchers, to name a few, are attracted to towns that have smart lighting, more to see at night, and healthy for migrating birds and other life forms. Our neighbors to the south in Lincoln City are developing a lighting plan with help from Dark Sky, Oregon, who has a lot of resources for communities. Lincoln City has a diverse set of partners involved in the initiative, including the city of Lincoln City, Shinook Wings Casino, Lincoln City Outlet Mall, and Explore Lincoln City, their tourism bureau, to name a few. I know that establishing a plan like this takes time, but we don't need to wait for a comprehensive plan to address our current need for a street lighting plan while replacing these bulbs. Please

time to wrap it up. Okay. Please gather input from different sectors of the city to help determine appropriate lighting. Better now than later. Thank you.

Thank you. We have um scheduled for a future meeting. Um BPNL will come talk to us. Um Spencer, you could u forward these concerns on to them and um involve public works, see what our options are. That was all I had signed up for public comment. move on to the rest of the agenda. Any councelor wish to declare a potential conflict of interest with anything on the agenda? Seeing none, may I have a motion for approval of the consent agenda? So moved. Second. Council President Morsey, Councelor Baker. All those in favor say I. I.

I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. We have two uh very informative uh presentations tonight. First one up is the Columbia Pacific Economic Development District. Much easier to say COPAC. Uh full disclosure, I'm a board member and vice president of this group. And I suggested um a couple of months ago that it was time because I don't know if any of you remember um hearing about COPAC before. So um Sarah Lou. Yeah, Sarah Lou is here to uh tell us all about COPAC.

Awesome. Uh well, thank you for having me, council. I'm the executive. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. How's that? It It's not for us. It's for recording. I'm happy to serve the matrix. Um Oh.

Uh so I'm Sarah Lou. My last name is Heath. I'm the director of COPAC. Um I'm here at uh the request of Mayor Wright and appreciate that. We uh are a small team uh that does a lot of work across the region and it's always good uh just to let folks know what we're up to and see if we can help people that we haven't reached yet. So um COPAC is an economic development district. That designation is given from the economic development administration at the federal level. We were founded in 1994 to assist in diversifying and strengthening the economy and livability in northwest Oregon. So we serve um all of Classip, Colombia and Tamut counties. And then we have western Washington County which includes Forest Grove, Cornelius, North Plains banks. generally refer to it as where the intel money runs out. Um we do a number of things in our region including grant writing and administration. Uh we have a small business revolving loan fund. Uh we have been working with our counties to institute a commercial property assessed clean energy finance program. Uh we also have a brownfield program. We administer the Northwest Oregon Transit Alliance. Um, and we develop and house the comprehensive economic development strategy for the region. I'm just going to go through these slides. If you've got any questions, feel free to just kind of stop me and and happy to take those as we go along. Um, with grant writing and administration, we do a lot of grant discovery for folks. Hey, uh, I' I've got this kind of problem. Is there maybe a federal program that can help us? Uh and then in particularly when it comes to administering programs, the community development block grant um comes from HUD through the state of Oregon and is given out competitively. Uh often in our region, uh our municipalities have really limited staff and administering this type of grant in particular, it's pretty arduous in the state of Oregon. Um there's a lot of

federal cross cutters, there's a lot of reporting, so we can take that on. uh in and the program does allow for administrative services to be procured through it. So um we've done water, wastewater, senior centers, uh food banks, uh programs like that. Um also one of the programs that we have had the longest is our small business revolving loan fund. Uh this is considered non-traditional financing. Uh we don't compete with our banks, we complement them. So, if one of our traditional lenders can't help a business, this is often if they are um a startup business, they don't have their two years of financial yet or we've even loaned municipalities uh when conditions make that right for the municipality. Uh for example, we've helped the port of Gabaldi. Um the city of St. Helens with a pool. So, on occasion, we can help out with small municipal projects. Uh this is funded through the EDA. It can be used for uh business acquisition or modernization, purchase of equipment is where we come into play quite frequently and working capital for those businesses that need something like that.

Can I ask you a question there, please? Do you work with Cedar on this? We do. Yes. Um our our closest partners are our county level economic development folks. Okay. Kevin's on the board.

Um and yes, Kevin is on the board. Um, CPACE is a new program that we have been starting. Uh, we actually just last year finished uh helping the county adopt the ordinances that allow this program to take place in the county. Um, it was adopted originally uh at the state of Oregon, I believe 2017, and is then adopted at the county levels. And so, this allows a property owner who is either doing new construction or significant rehabilitation to work with private investors to fund that. up to 30% of their project as long as what it is funding is um energy efficiency improvements, water conservation, renewable energy generation, and even seismic upgrades. Um so there are some benefits to how this works out. Some of those include um that in this program the note moves with the property as opposed to with the person. Uh, it's also also has longer terms than a traditional construction loan, kind of allowing people to pencil their projects differently. So, um, we're excited. I think our first C page project is going to move through Colombia County. Um, and we're really excited to see a deal close so we can kind of start working with financers more and bring those projects to fruition. Um, I mentioned the Northwest Oregon Transit Alliance. COPAC has been administering this group since its inception in 2011. It does include the Sunset Empire Transportation District. Uh, and so it's five uh, counties, the ones that I've mentioned, plus Lincoln and Benton. And, uh, this group is organized to be efficient and share resources. It's a very small rural transit districts. Um, funding is always really critical. So, they work together to uh, get grants together. Uh, work, you know, on the pandemic. We did uh, bulk sanitation buys. We are working on um doing bus stop constructions that have all been funded together. Uh this

year we're actually revamping our website completely. And um one of the driving factors of of the transit alliance is to provide coast to valley and north to south transportation both for visitors and residents. So you can get all the way to Tamok without having to uh you know pay a different fair, change a bus. You can do all of your trip planning in one place. And I personally believe transit directors are the unsung heroes. Um they uh have a lot to to manage. Um and then uh to complement that program uh one that we are launching right now is called transportation options. Uh this is funded through ODA and for a couple years had not been available in our region uh just to do with uh some staffing changes and turnover and uh the transit agencies kind of got together and thought with our geography and our regional work that this would be a good project for us. And so the mission of transportation options is to limit single passenger vehicle trips. Um a a easier way to say that is traffic. Um, so we promote uh commute options, van pooling. Uh, twice a year there's a statewide get there challenge to help employers uh encourage their workers to use transit. Um, we can also do construction mitigation outreach which can be really handy. uh you know, deploying extra communication and messaging around maybe a closed highway through a landslide or um should you change the signaling at Broadway, uh we can work with the city and kind of get people used to what's what's coming down the pipe and and really amplify messaging there. Uh and lastly, one that's closest to my heart is improve walkability and last mile transportation. Uh so that can be uh how lights are signaled, how crosswalks look, uh providing maps to people, car-free travel messaging for visitors. So we're just getting that underway and I'm I'm pretty excited about it.

Another thing uh that we do is our brownfield redevelopment program. We've been at this for about four years. Um I think across the region, I would add another half million dollars to this. So we're at 3.2 million invested in uh industrial and commercial land redevelopment. We've been working as the project manager for Clatip County's grant which we also secured for them. Uh that has assisted um 8 to 10 properties at this time including a couple here in Seaside and we are just launching additional assessment funding across the region. And so this brownfield is uh land that whose uh whose uh a land that's redevelopment is is held back either by real contamination or even the perception of contamination. You know, oh that used to be a gas station. That's why nobody wants to buy it. Uh we can come in and depending as long as the the owner is not the person that caused the contamination. So it's private funding. We're not going to uh kind of further that. But if you're if you're a non-lible party, um we can do those assessments, work with DEEQ, get to a point where we understand what what the facts are on the property and and what special considerations might need to be taken for redevelopment. If cleanup is needed, we do have another revolving loan fund just for that. Your traditional bank is not going to be super excited to fund that type of work until construction goes vertical so we can step in in that pre-development part and get the contamination taken care of. this

used this uh your help, right, to do the uh property up the north end of town. That's true. The Pacific Apartments. Yeah, the Pacific Apartments.

That's a great segue. I was just going to add that uh there's some really cool redevelopment planning that can happen under the assessment um umbrella. So, uh, if there's a critical site or intersection that's been affected, we can do as as Mayor Wright mentioned, um, yield studies, um, how how you can put buildings onto a brown field that, um, because all of that matters. If you have a cap in place, you're good. If you remove that cap, you have to do hazardous building materials standards. And so, it's all pretty complex, but this is really great, flexible funding. Uh so if you have a property in mind that's not living up to its highest and best use uh give us a call. And then uh kind of to wrap up I wanted to mention the regional uh comprehensive economic development strategy. We update this every five years. Uh we have in-person workshops in each county. We update all of our demographics. We look at our economic trends uh and develop this is what we call the SDS. Uh this is important for a lot of reasons but pragmatically oftentimes if you apply for federal funding there is a check mark on that application that says does your project align with the sets. Uh so it is a broad scope project and it also involves the work of many many of our partners and then I just wanted to uh kind of provide a five-year snapshot. It's been a really dynamic last five years. Um and this shows uh the direct funding that we have worked to bring into the region under our goals which are uh modern and adequate infrastructure, regional collaboration, uh business support and diversification, resiliency, workforce development and transportation. Um, so you can see a lot of these programs and just how much our small team is kind of doing behind the scenes because we don't do one-on-one business advising and we

don't put on a lot of like workshops and training. So that's why I come and share share what we do and get those referrals from folks like y'all. We will send these slides out to the council. Yeah, there's that that last one was kind of busy, but when you look at it, huge dollars there that uh CPAC was involved with in bringing money to uh our uh region. Where do you get your money?

All sorts of places. Um we uh from the Economic Development Agency, from the Environmental Protection Agency, from the USDA. Um let me just look through here. I saw one slide that said pro it was all private funding. Uh that's the commercial property assessed clean energy and so that funding um the vast majority of it goes to the project. Uh but we do cover our administration costs there. Okay. Yeah. So how would a land owner or a business owner that is interested in your services get a hold of you and reach out and and kind of go through that process?

Yeah, they they can contact me directly. We do have a website nworggon.org. org. And most often uh we're going to get our referrals like from Kevin Lehey if a business is interested, but feel free to make a direct recommendation and um I can leave a couple cards with you here. Mayor Wright certainly has my contact info which is also on the last slide right here. Yeah. And I've heard Kevin Ley from Cedar mention you a lot, but I never fully understood what you did. So I appreciated the presentation. Well, thank you so much for having me.

I have one more question. I noticed you also um had put that you work with the St. Helens food bank which is also closely aligned with the community action team. Do you work with the community action team at all? Um we what we did for that food bank was administer the the community development block grant that they received for their construction of their building. Yes. So we don't work directly in many social services but we do in the infrastructure side. Okay. Great. Thank you. But to answer your question, for community action teams, yes, we do depending on the project. Okay. Yeah. Culpac's the one you call when it's well beyond what you can do

and and I would the one that has the answers and they do it as a fee for service. That's how they stay in business as well as they get some money from, you know, all the entities. um we all pay a a dues type fee. And something I didn't mention, um when a big gnarly project does come our way, that's often when I'll take it to the regional solutions team, which is of course, uh a governor's task force that exists across the state. Uh we serve on our region's regional solutions team. So I I do my work with a number of partners. How big is your team? Uh we are two. Yes.

We are too with a couple consultants and contractors. Yeah. Well, thank you again. Okay. Thank you, Chief Mitch. I don't see Mitch in Mitch. Oh, no. Mitch. Okay. Seaside Police Department annual report. evening. Good evening.

Mitch had some uh I think softball tonight, so he wasn't going to make it. He thought he might, but then got a hold of me earlier and said he wouldn't. So, whatever questions you have for that, I'll make up some answers for you. So, next slide just showing our introduction to patrol and then next slide's talking a little bit about our uh calls for service in regards to mental health and homeless. Um we're showing uh a decline in the amount of calls which is great. Um although I think some of that is going to be related to the stepping stones opening up. Uh we do respond there still. So, it's not that we don't have calls with people who are using that service, but um dropping from mental health and homelessness, uh it really I the only thing I can contribute that to is that they're doing pretty well in there. Um but we're still dealing with it regularly. that 18% you know in my opinion and I think I've said this in the past might be a little bit low only because you know the way we code things when an officer clears um may forget to put it in there that this is a code 40 or 41 which homeless or mental health issue but it's

so you not only have a reduction in the homeless calls but in the mental health calls what would you attribute that to? I I don't have anything really off the top of my head or know unless you want to pipe in there, Lieutenant, but I know that just recently, I mean, I know that's into 2026, but you know, we've been busy with it lately. Um, crisis response team is just last week was out several times with us and had good response for us. So, um, helped us out with a couple of different things. one actually being at the stepping stones where somebody was we thought we were going to probably end up getting physical or what have you. Um the officers did a really good job of getting them on scene and and really not escalating the situation. They weren't at successful at first. took a little bit of time and with this crisis to um take a break even dealing with this person and then they came back around and so it was a really nice outcome to something that I really thought was not going to go very well.

Would you say that the presence of Hawkai has also improved the situation? Um you know it could be contributing to that with just having more places for them to to be. Um, I know that we've responded there several times over the years, so it's not that they don't still have some issues. So, there's definitely calls for service at that location, but um, I would think that that could be one of them, but I just don't have any real intel to tell you on that one. So, Chief, sorry, before you move on, that's still roughly four calls a day. It's Yeah. Are those that still seems like a lot. Are those calls to stepping stones in general or are those

not necessarily it's all over the city? you know, it's um whether it's a mental health at somebody's home, whether it's, you know, at just out on the street. Uh the homeless, you know, we still have issues around town. I don't think it's quite as bad, but we still have some who don't do well in stepping stones and either don't participate voluntarily or they're violating enough rules to where they're basically kicked out for a 30-day period or however long depending on what the nature of their uh behavior has been. And then we start playing kind of like the old whack-a-ole thing that we'll find them and tell them to move along and then we'll find them again somewhere else. And so, um, we get a lot of calls for for that. And, you know, granted, some of it's just maybe the way they look. I don't know. But we still respond to calls and see if there's anything that we can we can do for them. A lot of the folks are just not um willing or able or whatever for um accept and help. So,

Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir. Uh, you said that it maybe the way they look. Could you elaborate a little?

Yeah. I guess what I'm saying there is, you know, we we get calls not necessarily because of a behavior. It's just there's somebody here that um just I don't know how to describe it. Just doesn't look like the rest of us or something like that. And so we may get there and there's nothing going on and we make contact, have a conversation with them and move along and clear the case as there's nothing illegal going on or what have you. But that doesn't mean we're not getting calls by people who just don't think it's right or the way they look. So, I don't know if that answers your question, but it's more or less. Yeah, it's Yeah,

good enough. Thank you.

Um, traffic stats. Um, we did see an increase in stops and that can probably be attributed to getting another officer or two online this last year with uh officer Moore and um Balcom who are um working night shifts and just having kind of a little better compliment out on the road so there's more activity making more stops. um as you see um we've talked about this before that often times when you see an increase in traffic enforcement um you see a decline in your traffic crashes and so that's it's pretty much what we're wanting to see there. So, um good job to those officers who are staying active on making those stops and trying to keep everybody safe on the roadway. Uh use of force. Um last year and this year we saw a decrease in our use of force and we like to see that for the last several years. Before last year it seemed like we were kind of averaging around 70 80 uh uses of force with our arrests or what have you. And so to see it kind of decline is good. The rest of the numbers are pretty much in line with what we've seen in years past where um you know the time of day. Once upon a time it seemed like there was a few more uh percentages in the night hours versus the daytime hours, but as you can see it's pretty evenly split. Um the male female kind of about the same that we've been seeing uh between alcohol and drugs. It's again kind of right in line with what we typically see. um that pointed of a firearm is, you know, the type of force that was used or, you know, tracking how many times officers are actually pulling their gun out of their holster and pointing it at someone versus, you know, if we're doing a building clearing or something like that and don't actually engage with anybody, it's empty. We don't really track the fact that it was

out of their holster. It's just when we actually point it at somebody. Um, tasers, again, kind of the same. It's pretty normal for us to have our taser OC use where it's at. The wrap, if you're not familiar with that, is a device that if we've got somebody that's really combative and fighting and wrestling with us, it's a great tool to be able to uh get them down on the ground, wrap them up, and it just basically acts almost like a straight jacket almost. Yeah. So, it's a it's a great device that we bought one sort of a few years ago and I bought a second one or we bought a second one and uh every now and then you're hearing for an officer asking somebody to bring one over because there's not one in their car, so to speak. So, again, um were they armed at the time of that arrest for them during this use of force? And that's the numbers there. again fairly normal for us and uh between mental health contacts and substance on board you can see that a high number of our use of forces are including somebody that's got something else going on. So, uh, as we go into some of the, uh, fences, we're, as we've talked about in the past, moved from kind of a oners reporting system to this, uh, federal system. And as you see kind of up in that upper left, this is not including the November and December stats for 2025. Um, but as far as numbers go, we're we're pretty in line with what we normally do. Um, I went through and kind of made some notes on my sheet here that, um, our simple assault was down a little bit. Uh, all other offenses was up one from last year. Uh, down for intimidation. Aggravated assault was up a couple. Uh,

other sex offenses up about three. uh family offenses, nonviolent plus two. Um we were down in the lararseny and theft offenses and vandalism um fraud offenses from 22 to 21 or up to 22 from 21 I guess I should say. and then down in most of the categories um for this property section. Um disorderly conducts were down. All of their offenses were up and then driving under the influence of intoxicants was um down um quite substantially. It seemed like I think their numbers last year were 82 down to 33. drug offenses were minus a couple. That may have something to do with the deflection program where we're um working with u small possession amounts and deflection and actually he's our representative with the deflection team here in town and can talk a little bit more about that if you were interested in that. Um and so anyway, our numbers are are very similar to um years past. But one of the things when I was looking through different things is um I kind of did some comparison between two other coastal towns about our size and um our property crimes were a little bit more than theirs, but our person crimes for assaults and stuff were not quite as much as theirs. So, uh, Oregon tends to have a little bit more of a property crime, um, issue than maybe other states. And so, um, I think we're probably in line with where the trend is nationwide when you look at it like that, I guess. Uh, next slide kind of talks about Oregon reporting. You can go to either one of those websites and and

and get our current stats as current as they get uploaded to their sites. Anyway, uh that federal reporting on the bottom is the one where um that last slide came from. And so that's where we're putting it into. Um if my understanding is correctly, it was put into the Oregon neighbors and then it would also get pulled by the feds. Moving into dispatch, um non-emergency calls, we're down um 3% from last year. here. We've been in a trend going down the last few years. As you see, 2022, there was a or 2023 was a a big year or down from 2022, excuse me, because 2022 is when we merged with that story. And so, we had all their phone calls coming in as well for a period of time. So, that's kind of that anomaly there. But, um, 911 calls again, we were down 4% from last year. fire calls. I don't need to read it to you. You can probably see there, but um they're seeing some 3% increase from what we saw last year as far as those coming in for Seaside. Same thing with Gearhart. Canon Beach was up a little bit. Hamlet was up. Overall, fire calls are up. and our police calls. Seaside was up about 2% as far as uh um calls for service. Gearart it's up. Canon Beach looks like they're down. So the next uh section down below kind of is that police calls for service with additional traffic stats thrown into them as well. So officers are staying busy out there.

Central Square. It's our new uh computer AED dispatch and record system that went online in October. And uh it's a change and he would probably be Mitch being here to talk about it's probably a little bit better. I know we've all kind of talked about it a little bit. Uh these two pictures I just wanted to kind of bring up. Uh Mitch pulled those up for me. It's just kind of a heat graph, let's say, of uh where our traffic stops have been occurring. And I don't know the timeline off the top of my head, but um the one on the right is showing the entire city and getting all over the place with our traffic stops. And I wanted that left one there to kind of show a little bit closer in. Um, obviously the 101 and Wana and then that Broadway area is a a hot area for uh making traffic stops, but uh we are making them around some of the side streets as well. I know we oftent times get um some complaints or at least one person complaining about speed up off of Wana North side near Shore Terrace. And you know when you zoom in on this a little bit better, you can see that you know we are making stops over in that area. I know Broadway and um Wana is a area for you as well. And this is also showing that we we are making those stops. But this is just one of the features for reporting that I just thought we'd show you what that new RMS can do for us compared to the last one. And I'm sure there's tons of other areas of information that they could pull up if you'd like to see some of that.

Chief, change is hard, but you have the Cadillac of uh change is hard, but you have the Cadillac of CAD RMS system. It's a good one.

Yeah. Um, and as we've talked in the past a little bit more in regards to CAD, I know that we've talked a little bit about budget, but uh, you know, laptops in the cars, we do have some, but we're trying to get more for all of the cars and officers there. Um, not ready yet, but coming online soon. Um, is e ticketing. Um, this like that report there. Um, we do have some auto reporting in regards to whatever. Um, whether it's the traffic stats or what have monthly reports made up and emailed out um for for really anything. If there's anything specific you're all wanting to see regularly, let me know. Um, and then GPS and location in the cars. Again, it's not new technology, but it's new to us. And that's not quite online with everything yet. But again, once those laptops get on and they deal with uh what was it? The VPN's I think is one of the issues that was holding back. But that's going to be a great officer safety issue uh for our staff to have dispatch know exactly where these officers are if they for some reason didn't get a chance to radio out and something happened quickly. So, um, last year and then this year I was we're in March and so with the women's month, I I wanted to highlight the ladies. Um, as you can see, we've got some with quite a few years of experience. Um, with one there being just in nine months, but, uh, we're she's doing a great job. Um, then I decided might as well show you everybody else in their years of service. So, we've got quite a few officers who are been with us for quite a while and couple of gray hair that who knows how much longer they're going to be around, but um we have uh some Next slide. And uh Mitch right there has obviously been with us 19 years and um been doing a great job as a communications manager.

There's a couple of of reserve and volunteers there with Ken's been here for a long time and we've been enjoying having him around and uh we got that one down there with a big old red head there is at the academy right now and we're excited to have him on. So um is that the last of them? One more.

Yeah, go ahead. Printed that one out twice or something. Didn't flip it. And uh anyway, so it's kind of a quick introduction there that uh 9 months with no photo is uh one of our dispatchers, Jared, but he wouldn't let me take his picture, so I told him he was going to make it next year, so we better be ready for it. But uh his nine months with us really doesn't account for some of the other experience he does have. He's been at a couple different dispatch centers, and I'm not sure exactly how many years he has on, but um he's got several years on. He actually was hired as our records administrative person to help out with with that position and then decided to switch back over and do dispatch cuz we had an opening there. So, uh we have one opening in patrol and we are really getting close to offering a a date of hire for that person. So, we're excited about getting that person online and uh into the academy and trained up. So, you have any any questions?

I have a couple. Sure. Um I'm curious um if you could separate um crimes and traffic, what percentage would you say of the citations are nonresident versus resident?

I don't have that information. Um, you know, our sites generally have been about one in five. I think we dipped down last year, weren't quite that, but I think we were back up this year to where for every five stops, somebody's getting a citation. Um, and I I really don't have a a good number. I I know that there's a lot of it is local, but there's definitely some that are from out of the area. And um just kind of looking over this weekend stats for 4th of Fourth of July. Uh um spring break weekend um you know we had one DUI and I specifically looked at that and that was a Klatsup County local person that was arrested for that DUI uh a couple of disturbances with uh one resulted in an arrest that was not from Klatsup County.

So it it's hit and miss. I I I think it's interesting for us to know. So, the other question I have is um you've uh in some areas we've got decreases. Um do you have ideas or suggestions of um what the council or people in the community might be able to do to help continue the decrease in uh in the crimes in the situations in that kind of thing. It's good for us to see the reports, but I wonder what can we do to make it better,

right? And, you know, report what you see. um if you see something that's out of line or anything like that, um you know, get involved and give us a call in regards to whether it's, you know, a theft or somebody on somebody's property or anything like that so we can hopefully get in the area prior to, you know, needing to have the offense reported or um you know, the theft occur, let's say, if that's what the case is. So, um you know, keep keep vigilant and let us know. I mean, it's a partnership like anything else, right?

You know, we're generally speaking a reactionary, you know, profession where um a lot of the calls for service come from the public and you guys have a lot of eyes out there that can can help us. So, so I'll take that then one step further. if I call, if somebody calls, um what would you say an average response time might be that somebody could uh expect? It's different for different

It really is different. And again, it might be the nature of the call. Um obviously, if there's something that's happening in progress, then we're typically a little faster than than not. meaning and I I use kind of, you know, the report writing, you know, if it's something cold, meaning it's just not in progress, then, you know, it may very well be a phone call. If you don't like the phone call and want to see us, which some people prefer just to do a phone call reporting, um, then then it might be real quick in regards to just grabbing that phone and and following up with you. But generally speaking, I just 10 minutes would probably be um a normal. Well, I mean, they're the patrol officers are usually pretty good about responding to calls. So, if they're already out and about and not tied up with anything and they get a call, they'll typically drive right over. And as you know, it doesn't take that long to get across town even with some traffic or what have you. So, it just might be a couple of minutes or it could be 10 minutes. But,

is it kind of changeable due to the time of the day? It might be. Yeah. again, you know, I mean, if they're in writing a report in the middle of the night cuz they got into something and have a detailed report they're working on and there's something that isn't really immediate, then it may very well be a few more minutes before they kind of push away and and head that way and take the call. But again, if it's nighttime and it's somebody's prowling around or trespassing on somebody's property, they're going to be up and moving and just drive time. And I'd like to put a suggestion out. Sure. And that is, and I know this is not just for me, but what um other people have said to me. Sure.

And that is when a person calls dispatch, it would be really nice if when that's answered, they know who the dispatcher is they're talking to, that the name is supplied. It's um it's a customer service kind of thing. It's a familiarity kind of thing. It is even a trust kind of thing. Okay, thank you.

Very encouraging to see the decrease in calls, you know, dealing with the homeless community. I think we have to attribute at least that partially to stepping stones. I don't know what else we could attribute that to, at least partially. I'm really excited to see 2026 because I think if we see it come down again, then we definitely have a trend. It's probably too early to say we have a trend, but that looks really good and that frees you guys up to deal with a lot of more serious crimes. So, it's great to see,

right? I I think just from moving from Avenue S, getting in there, they're doing a good job of of managing it. They're there every day. Um have a rapport relationship with these uh folks who are living in there. And the ones we're chasing around still out in town or what have you is just I I think yeah, it's it's decreased. And that's really where my mind goes when it comes to that particular thing. So, if uh that continues on, then you know, maybe it's money well spent cutting down how many calls we're having to respond to it because that's one of the very frustrating things is just not much we can do once we get out there other than move them along and then we just move them along from the next place and that

Yeah, Chief, I think the department does an amazing job. Thank you. And every interaction I've had

that's been amazing. I would like to highlight uh I spent some time not last weekend but the weekend before in the dispatch center. I spent a few hours um and I just want to say thank you to uh everybody who I interacted with there especially Jared who didn't put his picture up and Joelle. Um they are incredibly experienced, passionate, dedicated, knowledgeable. I was so incredibly impressed with the work that they do and in addition to that with the relationships that they have with the officers in your department and um I had time uh some a chance to spend time with the officers as well and it's like a secret sauce. I mean it it it's very special. Yeah.

And so when we think about 911 consolidation and the ultimate goal of providing safety um to this community, like to me that piece of it is is really critical and paramount. And so I wanted to say thank you to everybody who um helped educate me a couple weekends ago and especially Jared and Joel. All right. Thank you for saying that. Sounds like I need to schedule some time to go sit in. I highly recommend it. I I want to piggy back on one of councelor Montto's questions and um in your map of arrests or where and where they're happening the most traffic stops. Um

I'm wondering if there's anything structural that could be done as far as signage or cameras or what have you that you believe would help reduce uh incidents even further? because I noticed there's there's a pretty strong, you know, up and down Broadway 101, like you said, uh, right around the area of Broadway and Wana is seems to be the heaviest concentrations. Yeah. Setting up any kind of cameras for that would be I mean, please don't limit it to just that one suggestion. If you have more,

that you're that intersection right there is a little bit weird for just monitoring. Um, you know, I've I've sat there, we've all sat there at some point, probably more onto that east side of Broadway to watch, you know, anybody rolling through there. Um, you know, the difference between somebody like me and an unmarked car versus a marked car, obviously. But I still, I'm sure, stick out like a sore thumb because there's really not a good spot to my parking lot to kind Yeah. to to hide. Um and then you know part of that Wayne of you know by being over there and whipping into traffic and and causing almost more of a um a hazard than maybe the infraction did. And so that one's just kind of a weird one. I know that up north we've had by shore terrace there with some speed complaints and there's a pretty good spot to kind of sit out off to the side of the road there. uh 12th in Wan or 12th in Wana. We've also had some complaints of kind of similar um California stops for lack of a better term of them rolling through and again sitting on the east side there. You know, you you can and I've sat there several times after those complaints and I know some of the other officers have too and on the south end of Wana there too. It's um it gets you know worked pretty good. Broadway obviously is a a spot that had a lot of heat on that one because we do get a lot of that 20 mph zone and then going through the Sunset Empire Parks and Recreation Area and you know kids coming and going and getting picked up there uh receives complaints quite a bit and uh 101 is just you know a lifeline north south vein for us. So excuse me um you know a lot of traffic there. I I understand why the why those areas are so concrete. I'm I guess what I'm wondering is

if if there are things that can be put in place structurally again as an example cameras or um speed bumps or you know is there some kind of physical thing that can be that could be implemented by the city that might help reduce the occurrences even further? Nothing's really coming to my mind. I mean, speed bumps are typically going to be further up in the middle of a road in my opinion versus what you're seeing is, you know, more of kind of rolling through the stop sign,

right? I'm not limiting it just to the intersection by where I live, but the the length of Broadway and the length of 101 are seeing the most concentration. And so, is there a way knowing that those that's where the concentration is? that can be done to again reduce incidents. Yeah, I'll have to think on that one a little bit more, but yeah, that may be something that the uh maybe there's something we can prevention that seems like thing to do. Yep. Anything else? Okay.

Uh just an idea there. I I know that we weren't all real happy thinking about all of the bumpouts going into Holiday between um Broadway and 12th, but we were told the purpose was to slow the traffic down. And given your experience over the last few years, I I think what I've seen when I drive down Holiday is slower traffic. So, um, even though I didn't like the thought of it, I think it was effective.

It very well could be. I don't believe and maybe you have some information. I'm not hearing a lot of complaints of speed on holiday and we pass. So, that that could very well be a part of that. And with uh any new construction going in, that'd be something to pay attention to because that's a very precipitous from 30 miles an hour to or 30 35 to 25 within the space of maybe 20 feet when you come off. Yeah. Okay. Heidi Chief, I asked you last year about um specifying domestic violence assaults and not just lumping them all in with simple assaults. I see we're still just doing

Yeah. you know, and I when I was going through my notes from last year when we were getting this presentation and then I just I didn't get that together and I wondered if that was going to come back up and uh I think that's something that we can pull forward because you recognize that those are a special kind of crime that can get volatile real quick and maybe having uh special training for some of your patrol response officers in that area if if you can afford that in your training budget. Um especially with uh the economy the way it is now when things get tight those kind of calls increase. Yep. So I would just suggest we track that separately. Okay. Thank you. Yep.

And we'll we'll get the copies of these slides. Right. I'd love to have them. Yes, please.

Thank you, Kim. I'm always u impressed, you know, and this year's another great example where, you know, particularly when things do trend down a bit, obviously you need to wait and see if they keep doing that. Um, numbers are notorious for it just depends on a lot of things. Um, particularly how you know, you've described before how an officer has decide, well, is it this one or is it this one? and you can't even split it between two things, right?

So, uh, but thank you very much for all you do and you do with kind of a limited amount of people for a particularly for a town that can be a much bigger town than what we are. Um, keep it up. All right. Thank you very much.

Moving on. Uh, we have vacancies still on the airport advisory committee. We have three vacancies on community center. We did interview somebody tonight, Karen Miller. Do I have um any action we want to take on that hearing? None. Um, we have two openings on planning commission, one opening on the transportation advisory commission, and we have three term expirations on the parks advisory. All three people have said they would like to apply. That's Mary Blake, William Montero, and Julia Weinberg. Their terms expire at the end of this month. I would um I would move that we reappoint Mary Blake, William Montero, and Julia Weinberg to the parks advisory committee.

I'll second. Council Monto, Council President Moresy. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. They're reappointed to terms ending March 31st of 2029. New business. We have a liquor license application for a full on premise from the Lion's Den. Come on up. Introduce your uh I think some of us know you, but introduce yourselves again. Tell us a little about the Lions Den and what you are changing.

Okay. Greg and Sharky Lions. Um, we're applying for a new full on premises liquor license and business has been really well with the limited liquor license. I've done all the things I've wanted to do with that and so now it's just time to evolve and go to the next step. And what is the Lion's Den? We are a live entertainment venue. Um, our even with our liquor license, our um, what do you call it? We're not uh primarily a bar. We are primarily an entertainment venue. Um a live entertainment lounge. Yes.

We're a lounge. We're a lounge. We're not a bar. We're a lounge. Um but anyway, we do have live shows at least three nights a week. Um our hours through the winter have been Thursday through Saturday uh from 5 to 11:00. That's not going to change. Um the only thing we're going to do in the summer is add Sundays. Um we reserve like Wednesdays for special events. We do rent the space out for private events. We've done birthday parties, showers, um after parties for like the jazz and blues festival, things like that we're going to do. So, um we are just really trying to cater to the neighborhood and give them some some good live music and and safe entertainment and provide a safe space for people that are not um don't like to frequent bars, you know, but they still want to socialize and have like a social club. So, we're trying to provide that. We are providing that.

Mhm. Counselors, any uh any trouble? Oh, actually, no. I do want to thank the police department though cuz we have had a handful of calls. Um the music's loud. It carries across the water. Um but when they have shown up, they've been very classy and very understanding. Um we've not had any issues per se, and I think that's because they have handled it really well. Also moved. Yeah, I think they moved.

I think moved. There are some people in an apartment right downtown across the water that would complain every Friday. Uh 10:01 on the dot, the sound ordinance. And our shows only go from 8 to 10. So at that point, we shut the door and we're soundproof. The hotel next door can't even hear us. So we've not had any complaints from neighboring businesses or anyone else for that matter. So we're pretty proud of that. Yeah, absolutely. Counselors, you have any questions? No, I've been in. I saw Win Alexander play there. Oh, yay. Thank you. It was quite nice. Good. I've been there, too. And I really enjoy that uh you put that venue out there for musicians. Thank you. I have a friend that sings there.

Okay. Oh, good. Wonderful. Who? Um Terry Byer. Oh, yeah. I love Terry. She comes for karaoke. Yeah, they're awesome. Yeah, definely have pop-up karaoke. It's not CSA definitely needs live music. It's great to have you in town. It looks like Seaside Police Department did their background check and didn't find anything disqualifying. So, I would move to recommend the approval of the liquor license application for the Lion's Den. Second that. Thank you, Council President Morrison. Councelor Hanssboro. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. There you go. Thanks for your support. Thanks for coming.

Thank you guys. Okay, continuing our work session discussion. Ordinance 2026-02, ordinance amending chapter 131.11 of the Seaside Municipal Code relating to fireworks. Spencer, would you like to u make a few comments?

I don't really have uh much more to add from the work session. I think some good questions were raised that either um we'll look for responses on or um we'll get some feedback from our city attorney. Um and so tonight uh the decision is yours to postpone any action or to do any uh number of readings tonight depending on the preference of the council and how um how close you are you think we are. as a reminder for you and for the public. Uh change significant changes can still be made after the first reading but not after the second. So that's kind of the framework with which you can work in and then we need to have a final third reading and adoption by the first meeting in May. Okay, I'll open the time for public comment. Uh, we note that we had one submitted comment from Denise Anderson and that'll go in the record. Anybody else? Um, nobody signed up. So, anybody else? Okay, we'll close public comment. Let's um just start with Council Annsboro and go down the line and see what you think. Um, I had one question with regards to um, possession versus uh, ignited or launched. If the fireworks are found in possession, if there's a difference between that and being actually uh, launched or ignited.

The current the current ordinance does not differentiate the two. Not sure we've thought about the differentiation. I would say certainly um it is a it would be a worse scenario for someone to shoot them than to just possess them. However, if someone possesses them, they likely have the intent to shoot them. Sure. And so from deterrent standpoint, I would not recommend differentiating in terms of the penalty.

It's a theme that came up in the course of the committee meetings. Um, and I believe uh, Chief told us that or or it may have been Lieutenant Knight um, that the the possession because they're already illegal, possession is still enough to to trigger it. Um, similarly to narcotics, just because you possess them but aren't actively using them, it doesn't change whether or not you're violating the law. Fair enough. So, that was my main question. Okay, I think it looks I think it looks good.

I've got some observations and some questions that um could be called splitting hairs, but I I am always looking for clarification. So, uh I would suggest that um hold on a minute. Where am I here? Okay, so I'm just going to start at the top. I got confused right off as I read it and it said the this is 131.11A. The following sections of the current Oregon fireworks law uh are adopted by reference and made a part of this title. But I didn't see the sections named and so I got confused. What do we if we're saying that the following sections are adopted? I can't find what those following sections are. So,

sorry, I'm I was pulling up to see exactly uh remind me again where exactly in the

It's right at the very beginning 131.11A because B isn't a section of the Oregon fireworks law. C isn't a section um C might be, but it doesn't give me a citation. So, I'm I'm not exactly sure. Um, and I'll just kind of keep going on down way down on C, like the one, two, three, the fourth paragraph. You You have to draw read all the way down there to even find out that we're saying fireworks are defined in OAR. I would say that that should be moved up and be the very first paragraph. That should be paragraph B or paragraph A even that fireworks shall have the meaning set forth in Oregon law because we're talking about fireworks. And is it fireworks or is it illegal fireworks?

For the definition, um we're just referring to fireworks and then later we talk about um unlawful use and and and whatnot. This is just for the definition. So, Oregon law defines fireworks. Yes. And we want And does it go on to define illegal fireworks? So, um we'll say so everything that's not in bold. So, in section 131.11 fireworks, that's all our existing code. where it's bolded is new language and you can see in the definition there's a strike through um where I think the actual OR code has changed and so obviously that needed to be updated and instead of

yeah I like the current one I just put it in there um so I didn't so part of it was looking to make minimum changes as possible I will say I had the same thought when I read through it saying it was weird that it ends on a colon as part of this title colon and um uh I thought okay someone knew what they were doing at some point and it means something to them. Uh, I am happy to modify that and get some feedback from our city attorneys because I was um, yeah,

I and maybe what it means is that everything from here through the rest of the section, but um, it wasn't I I'll admit that was not clear to me on on what it was trying to do. So, if you the first thing you should do is define fireworks. So, it shall have the meaning set forth in Oregon law. Now, does that Oregon law define fireworks and illegal fireworks? Because you go right into illegal fireworks prohibited. And if you don't tell me what they are, I won't know what Yeah. The state law clearly Okay.

It doesn't def well, it doesn't define them. It it will it will um I mean, it probably does, but it the state law clearly different. It indicates what illegal fire or which fireworks are illegal because that's that's consistent throughout the state. Okay. So that paragraph looks okay. Then you have the next paragraph. The following activities with fireworks are prohibited with any fireworks or with illegal fireworks.

I don't think which uh letter are you on? I'm on C the second paragraph where you say the following activities with fireworks are prohibited within the ocean shore recreation area. Well, some fireworks are fine on the ocean shore recreation area. Sparklers and that kind of stuff. So, I really think what you mean there is the following activities or activities with illegal fireworks are prohibited. I if I remember right actually all fireworks are legal in the beach. We just don't enforce it. Sorry, I'm looking at the paper copy and I'm not seeing what

I'm I'm looking at the paper. You can call on me if you want, but uh my understanding is with ORS especially prohibits all fireworks on the beach, even sparklers. Really? Yes. And so we're choosing not to enforce the sparkler part on the beach when we got stuff blowing up. I understand. I understand. Kind of the least of my worries. But the Yeah, technically we could be sighting for any firework on the beach. So you might want to just sit down here too. Yeah. Sorry. Yes, sir. So I would say that manager to ask you

where you say the following activities and you're not mentioning activities. You're just saying the following activities, but there's no activities there. Oh, yeah. So, it's it should say fireworks are prohibited per O RS O O A R whatever within the shore recreation area. I I think that just needs clarification on that. Okay. So, I I found where you're talking about. For some reason, my iPad won't pull up the whole thing. So, so, uh, you're talking about section B. The following activities are prohibited. Is that right? C, the second paragraph of C.

I don't have I don't see that. And my, for some reason, iPad only decided to open up the first page. Which ordinance are you in? I'm I'm looking at 31 or 96. I'm looking at what we were give we were sent today. Yeah, there's two different code sections. Is it the criminal code 131 or the administrative 96 under B?

I'm looking 131 131 C. Well, interesting. I downloaded what you sent us which does not Oh, okay. If you look at 131-11B, the following activities are prohibited within the Ocean Shore Recreation Area.

May I uh try and explain something on this one? Okay. At least how I understand it. Yeah. Um, basically it's saying the possession of discharging. It's talking about firecrackers and what we would know as illegal anywhere. And then it also includes just the term fireworks. So any fireworks on the beach are going to be um prohibited.

C goes into it being specifically illegal to possess, discharge, ignite, or cause charge the fireworks prohibited under Oregon law. So you've got the beach under B that prohibits any firework and C illegal fireworks which covers the rest of the city is my interpretation. Do you know chief since that's since B is existing code is that required from state parks or is that's just something the city has traditionally wanted? No, my understanding is it's following the Oregon administrative rules. I think so. Yeah. Have those always been the rules? Yes.

Wow. So, it just hasn't been enforced because I mean, Gearhart Beach, it's notorious for the same problem that we have. And again, when you have the other stuff going on, I'm not going to go pick on a sparkler when I've got bombs going off. It's hard enough to get rid of the illegal ones on the beach. Think if we said you can't have sparklers on the beach. Just just wait for Gearhart Beach when this ordinance is in force. So, Yep.

Yeah. Well, then I I guess I would boil this back to define fireworks at the the very beginning. Just move that definition of fireworks up. Um, and under D, violations. Is it D now? Uh, yes. D, violations. Can you tell me what a course of conduct is? will be based on the occurrence or course of conduct. I don't know what a course of conduct is.

That all a bit right there. That's something that could be refined and that's what probably a good question for our attorneys is to really this is an attempt to to say uh wrap the violation into uh one violation per it's not right to say incident. Um uh so I think the better part there is uh on the the the occurrence. So this was that's when you were trying to get rid of one

per firework. So if there's a better legal way to say that I think that's where our attorneys can help us. Okay. Okay, that makes sense. And that's also in the um the other one, the civil. Yeah. Or the which one? The civil. The civil one. So, trying to be consistent there that either way, it's

I just assumed that was a legal term. I hadn't heard it before, but in conjunction with the word, you know, single incidents, I kind of got the sense of what it was, but I didn't have time to look. So um 96.24 section C. I know I asked the question earlier in the workshop and I didn't feel like I got a definition. What is a presumptive penalty? That is as you did say that didn't mean maximum

means that is the I guess another way to say it would be that's the default or standard violation unless you come up with the exceptions which is the specific reasons entered into the record. So again that's a wording that maybe our attorneys can help. It's that's the only place it's used. every place else. Even when we say what the penalties are, we say this is the penalty. And that's just because that specific section is trying to uh assist the judiciary in getting us close to the intent of the

administration here. So everywhere else it's just here are the penalties. knowing that uh judges have discretion, that sentence is trying to put whatever parameters that we can put on there. Okay. And in item, oh gosh, I think it's item five now. Um it's you talk we talk about um the penalties per violation and then in no case shall a penalty exceed $5,000. Um, and we're looking at violations within 12 months of each other, that kind of thing.

Well, no, the the 12 months only applies to whether you get your it's increased to level two or not, that has no bearing on the the exceeding $5,000. So, if you get a ticket on Monday and it's $5,000 and you get a separate ticket for a different incident on Tuesday, it's still $5,000. So, if I get a ticket on Monday and it's my third violation, it's 5,000. Tuesday, I get the fourth vi the fifth violation, it's 5,000. Wednesday, I get the sixth violation, it's 5,000. Yeah. Okay. That's Yeah. the the the 12 months is only um if you've had a warning or a

well I guess not even take if you've had a warning in the last 12 months or is it go back maybe it is the if you've had a ticket in the last 12 months then you're immediately go to a second level yeah that's what otherwise the 12 months doesn't have any bearing on anything okay and I think that's So, I just wanted to thank the uh fireworks ad hoc committee for really diving into this issue because there's a lot more here than even I thought, especially fireworks being illegal on the beach altogether. I had never heard that, so I'm very surprised to hear that.

Um, it's just important to note for the public that we're only referring to illegal fireworks with this ordinance. Um, and for me personally, I don't like to vote on anything that has so much red lines because I don't even really know what we're voting on here. I know we're on a deadline, but I I would like to see a clean ordinance on both of these before we do any votes. And I would also like to encourage um more public feedback, not necessarily on, you know, whether fireworks are illegal or not. That's at the state level, but just on the fine amounts and kind of what we're trying to do here. Uh and then finally, I think it's important to acknowledge that while we're trying to curtail u some of the illegal firework activities, this is a very small step and it's it probably won't be very effective the first year. I hope it is, but it probably won't be. And so, we need to, you know, continue to kind of move this forward and not have too high of expectations on what this is going to do um this first year.

Can I comment on that? Because I I meant to comment on that in the um in the work session and I maybe I didn't. So, I'm glad you brought that up. So, uh, in terms of setting the expectations, um, the fines itself are and the and the spreading of the word of the fine actually being enforced and the amounts I think is going to be the biggest deterrent more than any communications, more than the police out on the beach and things like that. All you'll need is a handful of people with illegal fireworks with a big fine. were to get out, people will go elsewhere. And so, um, and it will take a couple of years for that for that to happen. And so, um, um, that's Anyways, I just bring that to I think you you you've, uh, honed in on that and I think that's that's helpful. Um, it'll it'll be an iterative process over a couple of years of growing, um, success, I think. Um, and and a lot of that will just be the the word of mouth. I think more than anything else we do.

And I think we have to remember that this is not just for the 4th of July. We expect this to be for the whole time. And so it has to be a consistent communication plan um and consistent enforcement throughout the year, not just on Fourth of July. But um and I don't I don't want to co go in with low expectations. Um so I because

my expectation is is that we can advertise and all we want, communicate all we want. I think the end of the day we will have the same number of people show up because again it's not like these people don't know they're illegal and what they may they may hear the rhetoric but until there's enforcement to go with it I wouldn't expect any change. So I think some people are going to have a rough Fourth of July and hopefully some of that um word of mouth spreads. And thank you, Spencer, because that's exactly what I've been saying for over a year. You start dropping criminal citations on people and the word will spread. These are civil.

Well, or civil. Yeah. Whichever. Yeah. Big dollar. Paper paper talks.

I too applaud the efforts of city staff and the uh committee for getting us this far. It's really a a big step forward. Um, I want to also just highlight that, you know, we're talking all about the illegal fireworks and violations and fines and all this. You know, our ability to communicate and strengthen our message around the most incredible legal fireworks display on the coast this year and continue to make this a tourist attraction and a really positive event. I don't want to lose sight of this. I know we won't but just want to mention that in terms of the ordinance itself I just have one question and it is in 96.24 um C number three where we're explaining the violation involving egregious conduct that creates a clear substantial and unreasonable risk to persons pets structures public property or emergency responders. I just want to double check that that those classification persons, pets, structures, P that that's standard language and that we're inclusive of what we're talking about or not too inclusive. So, for example, persons. Well, emergency responders are also persons. So, are we just singling out do you get my question here? Just from the attorney's perspective, is are those classifications standard language that we should be using to be

emergency responders are often considered to have a higher bar to be used as an implementive escalation in a charge. Yes. Which could be entirely appropriate. making sure we have

I think the intent here is not to have a standard language cuz I don't think you'll find the standard language in other places. I think it is meant to be um casting a wide net more than specific definitions. And so I think it's supposed to add clarity for an officer who's issuing a citation and reviewing this that they think this describes the situation I'm in or it doesn't describe the situation I'm in and how how uh to write it and then also when it comes to the court and the judge uh reviews this and someone says I really think this should have been a one or a two that it is painting the right story there. So, I think we're looking more for um a common definition than a specific legal definition, but I think that's also where um our city attorneys will will pipe in a little bit.

Okay, that's great. For me, it also reinforces the importance we place on emergency responders. Yeah. And I wasn't trying to insinuate that I don't have that priority. I didn't think you were. But I will say I think that there a special note here. This is maybe one of the uh events or conditions that makes our officers more nervous than others.

Um you have large crowds um drinking um and people engaging in illegal behavior. There's there's a lot of things going on that um we take our officer safety very seriously. This is not a one-on-one event. Um there will be push back. There will be things said. Um and so um I think putting something in here that provides one extra layer, maybe it's they just have sparklers, I don't know, and they start tossing them at our officers. I don't know. But I think whatever we can do to provide protection for those out doing the enforcement I think is um beneficial.

Jus, I am very appreciative of the product that uh came out of the committee with what staff has put together. Um as I've read through it a couple of times now, I find it to be pretty clear for the most part. Um and maybe a spent too much time reading ordinances, but uh uh I I think it looks clear. It's in line what I've seen in many many many other uh ordinances at various levels. Um well done.

I'd echo that. Um, we were both on that committee, so we read a lot of ordinances and this seems to fit right into that. I'm um I've mentioned before, I'll keep mentioning it probably into the future that this is just one step, the beginning step. Uh, if we need to change it, we can. um whichever way it needs to be changed, if that turns out, uh it will go through a good uh attorney review.

Uh Spencer's made it very clear this is is what he's worked on and he's got a good track record of writing our ordinances, saving us uh attorney time so that when it gets to the attorney, it's it's um ready for a good review. So, um I agree though that I think it's um good enough for me for a first reading tonight. Uh just to get the clock started and our first reading. Okay. First reading of ordinance 2026-02. Uh by title only. Do I have a second?

Second. That's councelor McVey and councelor Ansbro. Any further discussion? Yeah. So before the next reading, are we assured to have a a clean copy that we can review that's been reviewed by the attorney?

I can't guarantee their turnaround time. Uh but I can send you the clean copy tonight or I mean if you open the I guess you have the PDF. I'll I can send you the word version that's a clean copy. just that's a matter of just turning off the track changes. The only reason I left it in there was to so you could see the changes, but we have clean copies available now. However, um if I would be reluctant to do a second um reading on this without having had the attorney's review on hand because the only time we can make changes to it and proceed is between first and second readings.

You can make changes just not substantial changes. So if there was a you guys get to decide what a substantial change is, but if there was just a changing to the numbering but not the cont as an example, you could move on if you made that determination. But uh uh going back to what council Morsey has asked for the clean copy, I would expect that we have a clean copy that includes um comments and edits from our city attorney before a second reading. And we have that choice when we have our next meeting whether we want to or not. And we can always restart the the clock and do a different first reading.

I typically would like to see a clean copy as well before first reading, but in this case um I don't feel like we have really substantial things. It's more on the cleanup side. So I'm comfortable with the first reading tonight. Okay. Okay. All those in favor of first reading of ordinance 2026-02 say I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Spencer.

Sorry, I got to the right spot. There we go. Ordinance 2026-02, an ordinance amending section 131.11 of the Seaside Municipal Code relating to fireworks and establishing civil enforcement provisions for the possession and discharge of illegal fireworks. Thank you. Okay. Comments from city staff. He's just waiting. All right. I just we are on that volunteer month. I just want to thank our volunteers. We had our banquet Saturday night and we got to honor those volunteers. So for you were able to come, thank you. If you're not, hopefully you can come next year and it'll be in our annual report which I think's in June, right Kim? We're in June. We're in June. So thank you.

I should change this title. City staff and and

and Carrie other important people know. Um so Carrie Lambert Seaside Downtown Development Association and also the manager of the times. Um I am also a ward to resident and I just wanted to say um I have like a little bit of alternative look on calling dispatch. I probably unfortunately call in to dispatch more than a lot of people due to things that go on downtown. Several businesses will call me if they don't feel comfortable calling or asking what to do and then I'll end up calling. Um there are very few instances where I would be comfortable with dispatch taking the time to say their name and stuff. I just want to give you that feedback. Even when I'm not calling 911, it's generally more of an urgent situation. Maybe it's not an emergency where I'd want to possibly bump someone. I don't know how it actually works, but you know, maybe they need you to go chase someone down from the parking garage cuz they drop some stuff on tourists. That happens a lot, but I'm not going to call 911 for that necessarily. So, that's just my input on that, you know, downtown being being out there a lot. So, sorry. Um, the other thing is, uh, many of you have coffee with the counselors. Please let me know through the admin seasidetown.com uh website or excuse me email if that changes cuz we're trying to get the word out cuz people are constantly asking us and you do a good job of getting out there but people aren't picking up on it all the time. And then the other thing is there's flower baskets will be arriving May 20th. Uh donations are coming in. Several of you have donated. We really appreciate it. Um, just want to highlight that Mo Seaside Carousel Mall, Pig and Pancake, and Ken and Kathy Hyde, I don't know if you know them, but they don't have a business, but they all donated $1,000 each, and we just really appreciate it. Um, they've all continued to do that. So, and that's it. Thanks.

Thank you for all your group does to beautify seaside.

Okay, John. Thank you, mayor. Um, so just a few position openings that I few position openings that I wanted to note. Uh, first, we're nearing lifeguard season. So, beach and ocean lifeguards. Um, that position is open and accepting applications as is our seasonal summer help with the public works department. So, those are those are really important positions for the city. Um, if you know people, encourage them to to apply. And then the third one is our wastewater maintenance technician or mechanic is retiring at the end of May. So that position is open and we're attempting to fill that so we can transition pretty quickly with that process. And then the last thing I wanted to mention is um I participated at the the request of um Spencer and the mayor um a training today with Portland State University Center for Public Service. So they are they had a group of four uh that presented and talked about community engagement and and increasing community engagement things you can do things that have been done.

Uh there were I guess about 23 of us from across the state uh a mix of staff and elected officials um and about a three and a half hour conversation. And um I think can't say this for certain but I think that will be a future workshop you may see um but

but uh just just one one thought on the case for better engagement um in that it ultimately if done correctly and and regularly I think that's a big piece of it is that it can lead to better process better decisions better delivery and then better community outcomes. So just something to uh think about in the future. We'll have uh John whittle down those three hours into a work session or maybe two depending what it is. But um that is one of our strategic goals is to to figure out what to do to increase our engagement with the community and and this was just perfect for that. Kim. Okay, Spencer. Nothing else. Patrick. Well, um I just want to say a couple things. One, I am saddened by this recall of Sheamus. Uh Sheamus has been transparent with his background, and although it might not fit what is considered the norm, uh he brings with him experience and skills in areas most of us have zero personal experience with. I believe that in itself carries a lot of weight and value speaking both to his resilience as a human being and also his contributions to seaside community. Sheamus uh I'm going to miss the good work you've done on the council and I know that you will carry that same thoughtfulness, compassion, and forward thinking as you move into the roles of the community. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your time here at city council. blessings to you and may you walk in grace and power. Um, moving on to the banquet. Thank you very much for the invitation. That was a lot of fun seeing everybody dressed up as uh cowboys. Uh, got me an opportunity

to break out some of my boots and some of my own cowboy attire. Uh, it was great to see the camaraderie that you have uh with your department. It was really great. uh also had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with you today touring the uh fire department. That was awesome. Um it was uh a lot of uh information about operations, finances, human assets, and how the community has come together to support you. um to use um uh a pun. I'm not a pun guy, but it was definitely like drinking from the proverbial fire hose getting that information from you. It was great. So, thank you, Chief Daniels, and I appreciate your time. And uh I'll be coming back with more questions. Uh finally, uh coffee with the counselor. Uh, I'll be hosting my monthly coffee with the counselor Saturday, April 4th from 9:15 to 10:15 at Grace's Comfort Q on the corner of Avenue S and 101. Would love to see you all out there. Please bring any questions you have and if you have uh problems, pre please bring a solution, too. It'd be helpful in uh starting up the conversation. I look forward to chatting with you all and look forward to seeing you there. Councelor Hoffman.

Okay. Well, apparently I was the topic of conversation at the seaside coffee house today because I got several texts. Um, so the word's gone out. Yes, I'm resigning from the city council. I'm moving to the city of Atoria. Uh, expect to be in have the move complete by May 1st. So, I'll be leaving the council on April 15th. No, I am not resigning in protest of the recall vote, although I share Patrick's sentiments about that. Um, I think when a small group of people can target somebody, enough on that, Sheamus, you know how I feel.

I do.

So, as I leave, I had some options. I could have turned my home into a vacation rental. I did not do that. I could have charged $3,000 a month for rent. I did not do that either. Instead, I found some lovely renters. One who will be employ uh employed by Clatsup behavior clats behavioral health working with the high schools. and I'll be charging them about 65% of the going rate because I believe that people who work here should be able to afford to live here. And I call on other owners of houses in this city that are sitting empty nine months out of the year to perhaps consider renting your house out to somebody who actually lives here and wants to live and work here all the time. Um, the other thing I'll mention briefly because it chokes me up and y'all know that my only child moved to the United Kingdom last year and in September started having episodes of um seizures. and paralysis and loss of the ability to speak among other horrible symptoms. So, Atoria may not be my final move. I may be moving to the United Kingdom to take care of my child, as any mother would. I want to thank you all for the opportunity to serve on the council.

It wasn't always fun. I can admit that. But I did learn a lot. I'm proud of some of the things we did. And uh I know you'll all do do your best to carry on and do good things for good people. This is a this is a nice town, but there's always room for improvement. So, thank you. Da.

Um, I'd like to reference the um the presentation from uh Rebecca Reid earlier about the lighting and I know that we are going to be having a presentation with Pacific Power and Light. um when I I I knew about Rebecca's uh complaint um earlier than uh her sending it to us. So, because that's in my neighborhood, I started a little study of street lamps and um as it turns out, PPNL changed a couple street lamps on Nanakum, one right outside my house, that until I heard Rebecca's complaint, I didn't realize why it was so much brighter and why I had to close my blinds. Um but I have seen that there are three different kinds of street lights out there. So, um I think we definitely need to be aware of this and as we uh go into our discussions and review, we need to pull out the dark sky ordinance which was um passed and I don't remember if it was ordinance or policy, but it was um a I'm going to call it a pet project of Tom Horning and he made sure that we knew what was needed and that was passed. So I think um that needs to be brought out and um reviewed by us so that we can see some history of that um as we look at how do we preserve um the the uh intent of dark sky. Um, I think we did some good work tonight on

the illegal fireworks um, ordinance. I would like us to see very soon some sort of uh communications plan to include um uh some things that things like um signage that we have access to already on the highway and that we can control, press releases, etc. because the communicating to people before they ever get here is going to be key I believe in um first of all them knowing that we are now serious about enforcing and this is how it's going to be. So I would like to make sure that we uh we get into that as soon as possible. Um, April 18th, uh, should be Arbor Day, uh, sponsored by the tree board at the Seaside Arboritum located at the Seaside Museum. My coffee with a counselor is on April 8th at 10:00 a.m. at the Ocean Cafe at the Best Western on 4th and Prom. And I want to thank the chamber for doing some really nice graphics. Um, I saw on their um their Wednesday uh posting. I saw it today. So, they have an individual graphic for each of us in in terms of um coffee with the mayor and coffee with the counselor. But I didn't see one for you, Chris. So, they probably need to be more aware.

No, not not Carrie. To uh Satie to Satie. Yeah. Got it. But it's a a very nice graphic that they did and it was a nice surprise to see it.

Um to u mark a date on your calendar, hold a date on your calendar and that's going to be May 31st. Seaside Library is participating in one book, One Coast, uh featuring George Takai's latest book, They Called Us Enemy. The Seaside Library Friends and Foundation is purchasing 25 books for the library to distribute for free as well as sponsoring a special event to be held at the library on Sunday, May 31st, which is a live streaming of George Takai um discussing his book. And uh so hold that date on your calendar. It's going to be great. I started encouraging Sheamus some years ago to become active on our council because I knew that he could bring something to our council that nobody else could bring. and he has educated me and I think shared with us and educated us about issues that I would venture to say none of us have experienced and none of us know very much about. Um, the recall of Sheamus is a huge loss to this council and a huge loss to our community. However, I know that he will stay vocal. Thank you, Sheamus. Jamus,

it's been a year. It's it's been and I I don't know when the certification is going through. So, I don't know if this is premature and I I still have one more meeting yet or or if uh if this is my last one, but uh it has been the honor of my life to sit on this side of the dis and use this microphone to speak for my community, to speak on the things that I know so well, whether that's good or bad. Um it's unfortunate there there was so much misinformation put out. Um it's unfortunate that I wasn't able to reach people personally and that you know we we live in a state where information is only what you can find. If you don't look I guess it isn't there. Some of y'all have had the I'm going to say privilege um to know what it was like for me to be on that side of the dice and using that other microphone. And um I can guarantee you that uh unlike the other counselor who was recently recalled from this council, I won't be slinking off into obscurity and disappearing in silence. You can look forward to my fiery speeches from the other side of this this desk. Once again, I will be as passionate as I ever was, but now with a knowledge more intimately of how things work on this side, which can only serve to make me better at what I was already doing so well. Um, I campaigned on

three specific items when I ran. better conditions for our our houseless community and uh I dare say Stepping Stones has made things better. Um increased housing supply. We're getting there. And uh the other one Oh, what was it? Fireworks. You know, tonight I I feel accomplished and uh just because I may be losing this seat, I don't have to hang my head. I can go out proud that I've accomplished quite a bit that I didn't reduce myself to the mudslinging, name calling, slanderous behaviors of some members of our community and I rest assured chose that word specifically intentionally. Y'all, I I've been accused of a lot of things over this last year. I've been told I don't represent my community and I would hope that uh if somebody is feeling unrepresented whether they're in my ward or any other that they're taking the time to contact their council person so that they can represent this. It shouldn't come down to telling somebody that we up here can't represent you if you don't tell us what you want. But it is a basic truth. Um, I can't tell you the number of times

when I have brought up my past from that microphone right there in this very chamber. I can't tell you the number of times it's been featured in the Seaside Signal, The Daily Atorian. The Oregonian has had it on the front page at least three times. To say that I hid my past and use that as justification to take away the seat that I was elected to requires intentional blindness to the reality. There's really no way around that. But the people spoke and I will respect that. And I I hope that y'all are able to find somebody to fill this seat because after what I just went through, I wouldn't blame anybody for not submitting themselves to that, much less knowing who all was behind it, knowing the threats that I received. I'm surprised that Patrick volunteered. Honestly, I'm thankful for it. Y'all, we're volunteers at a city level. There's no reason we should be getting death threats for the work we're doing. We're all on the same side trying to improve this community. And we might come at it from different angles, but we all have the same goal to make this community better. I hope that one day we'll get there where we no longer feel the need to tear each other down with lies, with hatred, with deceit, with We can do better. We can do better, Chris.

I wanted to talk a little bit about the 911 consolidation initiative. Um, as I mentioned earlier, I did spend some time in the dispatch center. Um, and then I attended um the meeting out at the fairgrounds uh which was I I think about 10 days ago. So just to give you a little background, most of you know I came from 23 years at the city and county of Denver. I led the technology department there the last nine of those years and it was a little bit different in Denver where the 911 dispatch center actually rolled up and reported up through technology. So I had direct responsibility for the electronic engineering bureau in Denver which included our dispatch center, the facilities, the technology, the infrastructure, the radios, the communication. We also serviced the cop cars uh which was an odd component to that but um so I have experience in that area. I also the last project that I did before I left the city was a special project for the mayor where I consolidated technology across 53 departments. So my perspective comes at this from both uh knowledge of 911 dispatch as well as knowledge of big consolidation projects in local government. I wanted to just say a couple things that I've observed after uh the meetings and uh conversations that I've had. When you consolidate like this, there are really two things that you need to achieve. One is savings and savings can be both hard and cost soft costs. They can be people, time, um you know, finding efficiency in the way that you do something. um just money can be I'm going to we're going to save money. The second piece and I think the one that's

probably most important to this initiative is around service levels. So you have to be able to prove uh an increase in a service level in order to do a consolidation. So in this case it would be around uh greater uh faster average speed of answer. It would be decrease in hold times. it would be um serving more calls in a certain period of time. uh fewer dead spots uh in technology like I've heard some of these things that are challenges and reasons for efficiency but what I have not heard is really what the overall problem statement is and the why for doing this and so I think it is incumbent upon the committee and all those involved to continue to work on better defining what problem it is here that we have to solve Because when you go at solving the problem, it's people, process, and technology. And I'll tell you from a people perspective, our seaside dispatch center is absolutely topnotch. I recognize there are people um challenges that they are trying to work on in the Atoria dispatch center, but um I feel like uh the south dispatch center um really has an incredible um group of people. In terms of process, I heard a lot about in the meeting where there can be uh process improvements like I'm just going to throw out an example. I think I heard this right that um there are um ways in order to use certain channels for certain activities and that's a some people don't like that and so they just use one channel for all activities and I may have said that wrong. Apologies if I do but it's an example of a pro that's a process problem and that can be fixed without consolidation and the last one is technology which is the area that I know the most about and so uh technology

there are clearly opportunities for improvement radio communications being one um you know I chief mentioned the MDTs and the cars and um you know data transmission and access to um information I I think there's opportunity there. There's opportunity for res greater resiliency in radios in infrastructure. There's um integration and interoperability opportunities that exist. But none of those are dependent upon people sitting together in a call center. Those things in today's technology landscape, those things can all be solved without moving people to sitting next moving people and requiring them to sit next to each other. So, I'll stop by saying I really applaud the effort. I have heard that it's gone on for 30 years now. Um, I think it's time to either create a problem statement and a why. Um, and and make it very clear or to um I don't think it's something that will has a big benefit for Seaside in my estimation at this point. Um, I also want to um talk about the death of the Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tyler Jaggers. I know that has had a huge impact on um the North Coast and this community and many of our neighbors. I think um it just makes me realize how fortunate we are to have these kind of heroes that we have in this community that are dedicated to saving lives. And so I feel fairly confident uh that I can say on behalf of the city and and all of us that um we want to express our condolences to his family, friends, fellow crew members, and really all who are mourning his

loss. Um, my coffee with a counselor, which I'm going to get on the chamber website with a cool icon, is Saturday, April 4th at 9:00 at the Seaside Golf Course. I'd love to see you there. And um, lastly, Sheamus, I wish you the best of luck on whatever is next uh, the next step in your in your journey. Yeah, ditto. What Chris said, best of luck, Sheamus. I think we know what's next for Heidi. Best of luck. It was great to serve with you and wherever your next adventure takes you. Um, tourism advisory committee did meet. The main thing we discussed revolved around the north 101 welcome to seaside sign. So, this has always been a tourism attraction, but right now people basically pull over on the side of the road to get pictures in front of it. So, the plan of the committee is to make this more of a tourism attraction by potentially adding a concrete walkway to it and then even moving it, if we have the blessing of our public works director back there, but we'll see. The idea is to move it closer to the parking lot so we people actually know where to park and access it. So, this is something that they're working on. Uh, I think it'll be a good thing and it'll definitely be safer for folks. And then my coffee with the counselor is Tuesday, April 7th at 9:15 a.m. at Seaside Coffee House. uh all are invited and we've had a great turnout lately. So, let's keep it going. Thank you.

Very sorry to hear about your daughter and I I know um we have a family close by and I I can imagine that your heart is pulling you towards the United Kingdom. Thank you very much for your year and a quarter of service. We haven't always agreed, but uh I know you had the best for Seaside at Heart. Same for you, Sheamus. Again, we haven't always agreed, but you've done a great job. Um you know, like uh the fireworks thing, uh being part of that uh group was very helpful. And uh I know we'll be seeing you and you have my phone number, so Yep. Um I would I get to my list here. Uh good comments about 911 consolidation. I kind of felt the same way. Uh the basic deal is story and seaside are now going to get together and coming up with that problem statement would be a really good idea. Uh on the 14th I went down to Tieleook and crashed the uh Representative Bonamichi town hall. had a chat with her about just what's going on here in Seaside. And then in the afternoon, I went to uh Representative Javity's town hall and uh thanked uh him in particular for his good work along with Senator Weber for uh getting our flexibility on TLT. Um I appreciated the uh work we did here on the 18th. We had a couple of good hours going through all the nonprofit requests and coming up with some recommendations. Uh the fire and rescue banquet is always amazing every year. Um you guys miss out if you don't attend. I'm glad you were there, Patrick. It's

like that every year. And uh the kind of the best part. The video is really great at the end. Jen left, didn't he? Uh but uh um u the they have they give out what they're called gag gifts because they track what each one does all year long and if you mess up at all including the chief uh yeah he's got a good story. Um they they track it and save it and give you a special gag gift type award at the end of the the uh program. Uh it's just a lot of fun. But it does it shows that camaraderie that uh you mentioned that they're just a bunch of great people and have a lot of fun in doing a very important job for the city. Um coffee with a counselor. I will make a suggestion to all you. This is what I do. I actually have an email that's set up that I send as a reminder for me. I send it to the Atorian. I sent it to the chamber and I sent it to SDDDA and that way they're always getting the same thing. Maybe just because I they get it every uh month. They say, "Well, I might as well just set this up every month so he's he won't bother us anymore." Whatever. So, mine is is right before his right after his

automatic send. That's what I do. Uh I would try that except the date change. I got to make sure I get the dates right. Our first budget meeting is on the 8th and our uh board committee commission volunteer recognition gatherings on the 21st. And so finishing off with a quote about volunteers, of course, this is attributed to Charles Dickens. Do all the good you can and make as little fuss about it as possible. We're a jerk.