[0:05] Okay. The September 2nd, 2026 city council for the city of Ghart meeting is

[0:11] called to order. Is there any declaration?

[0:16] A conflict of interest from any of the council members?

[0:20] » No. >> No.

[0:23] This is a public hearing regarding a proposed transient lodging tax increase

[0:28] and related ordinance amendments. Does anyone object to the jurisdiction

[0:34] of the city council to hear this matter at this time?

[0:40] [clears throat] Does any city council member believe he

[0:43] or she has a conflict of interest? >> No. No.

[0:49] Is there any additional correspondence?

[0:55] » Okay, [clears throat]

[0:58] I'm going to call for public testimony. Are there any comments from proponents?

[1:10] Seeing none, are there any comments from opponents? Please raise your hand.

[1:18] Paul T. Paul Ty.

[1:25] Go ahead.

[1:29] » Thank you, Coun Council, for listening to me. I spoke the last uh meeting. Can

[1:32] you hear me? Okay, >> Paul. Yeah, we can hear you just fine.

[1:35] Crystal clear. Uh and your garage is looking good, too.

[1:41] Uh just state your name and your address, please, for the record.

[1:47] My name is Paul Ty. Um, I have a few addresses, but my home address is 33273

[1:53] Neoxy Lane in Warrant in Warrington, Oregon. I also have Gearhart property.

[2:00] I am the manager at Gearhart by the Sea. Um, I've been employed there Frank this

[2:04] my 38th summer. Um, I spoke at the LA and made it through another one almost.

[2:12] Um, made it through one. Um, I appreciate you listening to me. Again,

[2:16] some of my my conversation I'll try not to be too redundant. Um, I'm not opposed

[2:22] to having an increase in the lodging tax, which is currently

[2:28] 7% that the city receives. I know that the city I've looked at the

[2:34] financials and and obviously, you know, there needs to be some areas to generate

[2:39] income. Uh this the I don't know if the council is aware uh but the Classip

[2:46] County has increased their lodging tax last year from 1% to 3%. And the state

[2:53] of Oregon starting January 1st of this coming year is going to increase their

[2:57] lodging tax from 1.5 to 3%. So if we add 15% on top of that, that's

[3:05] going to be a 21% lodging tax. uh in the summertime maybe not the

[3:12] biggest deal but in the offseason which is I'd say mid-occtober through miday

[3:17] you know the travelers are looking for you know better [clears throat] deals

[3:21] and we don't on purpose don't have the lowest rates because that's not the

[3:26] clientele that we want um in gearart but um I think it's going to be painful uh

[3:32] we have a lot of employees that we try to uh give them work to do in the winter

[3:37] time to keep them employed lot of some of them live locally, some live in

[3:40] Gearhart, some shop locally at the restaurants as well as the stores. Um,

[3:45] and they're going to might be looking at some cut backs in hours as well. So, um,

[3:50] my my final point is again, I I I see I see a need for an increase. I think

[3:55] 15%'s a little steep. I'd like to maybe reconsider and go down a little bit from

[3:59] there. Uh it looks like the budget may allow that after looking at it again uh

[4:04] for this year and then reconsider next year if we have to increase it uh to the

[4:09] 15%. I appreciate you listening to me. Thank you.

[4:13] » Thank you.

[4:16] Anyone else electronically? Okay. No other hands. And there's a

[4:22] gentleman back here. Your names and your address, please.

[4:25] » Hi everybody. Uh thank you for the opportunity. My name is Gary Roth. Uh my

[4:30] address is 498 North Ocean, Gearhart, Oregon 97138.

[4:36] And I listened in um to the uh up to the hearing in August and um had it on my

[4:43] calendar to keep finding out what might be going on. Today I was at my desk. I

[4:47] thought, I wonder if anything's happening. And so there was a hearing.

[4:50] So here I am. Um just a couple of comments. um as I was listening in

[4:56] August uh would be just sort of the the time and uh declaration of intent of the

[5:04] public notice. The public noticed that it was a

[5:09] exact verbiage but a discussion to cons consider a proposed increase and during

[5:16] the August meeting I think I heard that the council has already assumed an

[5:22] increase of the 15% and that's baked into the existing budget. So I'm not

[5:28] really I guess I guess I'm a little unsure how much discussion and

[5:32] consideration there really is. Um, I think it might have been good if this

[5:36] had taken place before. So, uh, to be honest with you, I kind of feel like

[5:40] it's the the horse is out of the barn and now we're going to talk about how we

[5:44] might find a halter to catch it. Um, so anyway, just just that I'm sure your

[5:49] attorney says it's probably okay to do it in that order, so I won't go down

[5:53] that road. Um, I've been involved. We we do have our home as a short-term rental

[5:59] and uh we watched the proceedings um some years ago very closely and I

[6:06] believe at that time one of the intended purposes of the permit process for

[6:13] short-term rentals and the tax was that Gearhart uh frequently refers to itself

[6:20] as a residential community did not want to see any increase in uh in lodging or

[6:27] tourism wanting to keep Gator the way it was. And so I find it interesting that

[6:34] now we're talking about increasing attacks half of which needs to go for

[6:39] the very purpose of increasing tourism which a decade ago Dehart ostensively

[6:44] said it didn't want. So um it's just an observation of of I believe fact. And

[6:51] then um the final thing that I would like to comment on is the amount of the

[6:57] increase. Uh like Mr. Ty, uh my wife Christy and I, we are not against an

[7:02] increase. Uh we understand that there's inflation and things go up and you have

[7:07] budgetary concerns for this fine city and and community, but uh 15% is beyond

[7:15] huge. Um, I can't remember the exact numbers. If I looked it up on my

[7:20] calendar and prepared a day before instead of today, um, I'm not going to

[7:24] get it exactly right, but I believe Seaside and Canon Beach and a lot of

[7:29] other uh, municipalities, it's uh, I think the high is in the 9 or 10% range,

[7:34] and some of those are along the coast here. It's it's a competitive market.

[7:40] And um I think to be at the I think 15% would put Gearhart clearly at the

[7:46] highest rate in the state um the highest in competitive markets. And if uh uh I'm

[7:54] an A econ major by by training, but if if you did a a study, I I wonder if

[8:01] being that high when there's in a competitive market if renters might look

[8:06] and say, you know, I can get something um in a different location, not have to

[8:11] pay an additional 5%. And um could that by going to 15%

[8:17] actually be counterproductive? Just wondering if the council has

[8:22] considered that and that uh that's really all I have to say.

[8:27] » Well, thank you, Gary. Is there anyone else in the audience?

[8:37] Okay, Chad, are you going to uh want to read

[8:42] this summary, this analysis? >> If the council would like to, I would.

[8:46] Does anyone want to >> Excuse me, Commissioner.

[8:50] » Oh, >> I'm sorry.

[8:55] » I'm sorry, Jim. >> Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry.

[8:59] » I'm sorry for interrupting you. >> Uh, I'm sorry for interrupting you. I My

[9:04] mic wasn't on. I thought it was. Jim Whitmore, uh, 776 North Marian.

[9:10] [clears throat] I will do my best to be brief. Um, when

[9:14] this all started 9 10 years ago, there were somewhere between 120 and 130

[9:19] rental homes, short-term rental homes in Gearart. We're now down to 62 rental

[9:24] homes. However, uh 10, let's see, 5 years ago, 6 years ago,

[9:33] um short-term rentals for um motel, hotels, and for uh short um

[9:41] homes was $341,000.

[9:46] Uh in the fiscal year 2526, that's increased to $578,000.

[9:52] It's the second single largest source of revenue for the city outside of water.

[9:58] It's an important revenue source. I get that. Um

[10:02] I remember Commissioner Gould at last month's meeting saying uh to the effect

[10:07] that um they don't want to increase tourism and if we do this the right way

[10:12] or in a way that keeps people coming to Gearhart, we can't think of it as a

[10:17] quick fix. and she would not approve or vote for being the highest in the

[10:22] county. Uh Gary, you're right. Can Beach is 9 and a half%, Seaside is 10%, Atoria

[10:29] is 11%, uh Manzanita is at 9%. I'm not saying that we shouldn't contribute to

[10:38] helping the budget process, but a 100% increase to me, and

[10:45] pardon my use of the words, but it's it's usery. I'm sure there are ways that

[10:50] we can find additional sources of revenue for the

[10:55] city, whether it's u transaction permits, whether it's building permits,

[11:00] whether it is a sales tax. Um, if we spread this out and if we know

[11:07] where the city wants to go and what's it and what it needs, maybe we can get

[11:12] creative to find additional sources of revenue.

[11:17] um to take this to 15%

[11:22] is a clear message to Gearhard by the Sea to McMinimums

[11:29] to um I'm sorry I forget the name of the the um

[11:34] Motel Kitty Corner to uh the store um >> thank you. Uh it's it's it's a clear

[11:42] message. We don't want you we don't want you to be in Gearhart. We're trying to

[11:46] tax you out of existence. And I don't think that's what Gearhart

[11:50] wants. I think Gearhart's want wants to be a

[11:54] thriving community. Yes, you do want, let's not use the word tourism, but you

[11:59] like people to visit Gearhart. It's been a part of their lives for a long time,

[12:03] as it has been mine. I've been coming to Gearhart since I was seven years old and

[12:08] I'm now 74. So, you can do the math. It's been a very important part of my

[12:13] life. But if all of a sudden there isn't a place for people to go for a week or

[12:18] for a weekend because there's no room at the end and they can't find a home and

[12:24] on top of paying $400 a night, you got to pay another 20%. So your four 400

[12:29] goes to 440 and times 10 nights, that's another $400. You know, the math adds up

[12:35] pretty quickly. There ought to be ways that we can find additional sources of

[12:41] revenue to rebuild the reserves. And I don't want to get into the political

[12:45] discussion of why we don't have a reserve fund, but we all I think we all

[12:50] know why. The fact is let's move on from that and find additional ways instead of

[12:56] increasing the tax by 100%. [clears throat]

[13:03] Thank you very much. I appreciate you listening.

[13:06] Thank you, Jim.

[13:09] Okay. Is there anybody else on the video?

[13:16] Anybody else in the audience wishing to speak?

[13:23] Okay. Council,

[13:29] do you want the synopsis read? >> Yes, please. I think that there are a

[13:34] lot of people that may not may not have the information if we don't read it out.

[13:41] » All right. Mayor and council. So, the subject is new business discussion

[13:45] proposed uh TLT increase and related ordinance amendments. Uh the city is

[13:50] evaluating a potential transient lodgement tax increase as part of a

[13:53] broader effort to address the gap between rising service, facility,

[13:57] reserve, and operating costs and the revenue available to support those

[14:00] obligations. During the four-year 2627 budget process, staff recommended that

[14:06] the city pursue additional revenue through a potential increase in TLT rate

[14:10] from 7 to 15%. The budget committee approved the budget assumptions and

[14:15] supported the city council moving forward with implementation of that

[14:18] increase. The city council adopted the 4year 2627 budget in June and is now

[14:24] beginning the public process to consider the increase. City staff has been

[14:27] working with legal council on proposed amendments to the city's TLT collection

[14:31] ordinance and any related cleanup that may be needed in the short-term rental

[14:35] ordinance. The goal is to bring draft ordinance

[14:38] language back to the council later this fall. Tonight's discussion is intended

[14:42] to review the ex expected timeline, identify opportunities for public input,

[14:47] explain the changes created by House Bill 4148, and clarify how state tourism

[14:53] related terminology applies to Gearhart while staying consistent with Congress's

[14:57] plan. The proposed increase is related to tax collection. It's not a proposed

[15:02] increase on the number of short-term rentals, expand vacation rental permits,

[15:06] create new lodging capacity, or change Gearhart's existing rules for lodging

[15:11] and visitor related lane uses. The comprehensive plan supports limited

[15:15] tourism and preserving Gearhart's predominantly residential character

[15:18] while also recognizing the city's financial responsibility and importance

[15:23] of existing local businesses. The increase would apply to overnight

[15:27] visitors using lodging already allowed under Deerheart's existing rules. This

[15:32] discussion is not a final decision on the tax increase ordinance amendments.

[15:35] No ordinance adoption is proposed at this meeting. Staff's recommendation is

[15:40] that the discussion only this discussion only. Staff recommends council review

[15:44] the proposed timeline and provide direction on any additional information

[15:47] needed before the draft ordinance is brought back for consideration. My legal

[15:51] analysis on that is the current Oregon statutes in House Bill 4148

[15:56] require revenue from an increase in the TLT rate to be used according to state

[16:00] requirements and eligible tourism related uses.

[16:06] The current proposal would increase Deerheart's TLT from 7% to 15%.

[16:12] The existing 7% tax was established before the current state's TLT framework

[16:17] and is currently allocated to the city's general fund.

[16:20] The additional 8% increase would be subject to the state's distribution

[16:24] requirements. At least 50% of the revenue generated

[16:28] from the 8% increase must be used for eligible tourism related purposes. These

[16:34] may include tourism promotion, tourism related facilities or resiliency grants

[16:40] for small businesses in the restaurant lodging industry. Up to 50% of the

[16:44] revenue generated from the increase may be available for city services subject

[16:48] to applicable law. Council should keep these requirements in mind when

[16:52] discussing how an increased TLT revenue could support the city's budget,

[16:56] services, reserves, facilities, and visitor impact costs.

[17:00] Financial analysis. The adopted 4-year 2627 budget assumes additional revenue

[17:06] from an increase in the TLT rate because that revenue is built into the current

[17:10] budget. Timing is an important one. If that increase does not generate revenue

[17:14] during the fiscal year, council will need to identify replacement revenue or

[17:18] make corresponding budget adjustments. House Bill 4148 takes effect January 1,

[17:24] 2027, which makes ordinance timing especially important. Actual revenue

[17:29] received during the fiscal year will depend on the ordinance effective date,

[17:32] lodging activity, reankrates, and the timing of quarterly tax reporting and

[17:37] payments. Respectfully submitted. Thank you. Thank

[17:42] you, Chad. Are there any additional presentations?

[17:49] Seeing no one's hand raised. Anyone in the video audience?

[17:55] Okay, no hand raised. Are there any rebuttals?

[18:02] Okay. At this time, I'd like to make a motion to continue the hearing until the

[18:08] October city council meeting when we will deliberate and make a decision on a

[18:14] possible first draft of the ordinance. >> Second.

[18:20] Oh, did you make the motion? >> Yes, I did. Okay. [clears throat]

[18:23] » Thank you. >> Is there any discussion on the motion?

[18:30] Is that still that's still within our timeline?

[18:36] » Any other discussion? >> All those in favor of the motion say I.

[18:41] » I. >> I.

[18:44] Okay. It carries. >> Thank you.

[18:48] » Thank you very much. >> All right. Moving on to the regular

[18:54] meeting. We need to approve the minutes from the August 5th

[19:01] meeting. >> Uh

[19:05] motion to approve with just one typo defense.

[19:10] Um and that would be on page three under fire chief first bullet. Um third line

[19:20] uh just talking about a wildfire urban interface incident in Gearhart which was

[19:25] happening simultaneously as a motor vehicle accident. So I think

[19:31] it should be with simultaneously with

[19:37] second. >> Okay. Couple couple of things I noticed.

[19:42] Um Dana was not listed as being present.

[19:48] » [clears throat] >> Good catch.

[19:51] » Um, and then on page eight, uh, about midway down that large

[19:58] paragraph, a sentence that says he noted that the city cannot go into the red.

[20:06] I'm wondering if and that should be if the town is going to survive. That's the

[20:13] question.

[20:24] Well, it's more positive to say it is. >> I think you should go to the person that

[20:29] said it. his intent. [clears throat]

[20:42] » This next stimulus

[20:51] so what was the fix? >> It's the next line. He noted that the

[20:56] city cannot go into the red So it's if or and is what's there

[21:03] » and I was

[21:08] this car isn't this car that sent us >> okay I just found

[21:14] so you think it's more positive with if than

[21:18] » no and >> and

[21:21] » and with >> okay

[21:23] » it depends what your intention was >> it was to be positive so we'll go with

[21:32] » the positive.

[21:36] » Okay, [clears throat] we have a motion. But can we have a motion with

[21:40] corrections

[21:43] » or did we have a motion? >> It needs to be amended. I'll I'll draw

[21:49] my motion and I'm going to add another uh make a motion and add uh councelor

[21:57] Dana needs to be added to the roster in addition to one.

[22:01] » Okay. With corrections. >> Yes.

[22:06] » Second. >> Thank you.

[22:07] » Any discussion? >> Thank you.

[22:10] » Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. down here on motion by councelor

[22:14] Coffler, second by councelor Ghoul. >> No, but she's she's

[22:19] » I realize that that's why I have disappeared. [clears throat]

[22:22] » But obviously you were here. >> Well, she was here.

[22:29] » All right. All those in favor say I. >> I.

[22:34] » I can't vote because I was not here. >> I was part

[22:40] time.

[22:43] All right, everyone's got the planning commission

[22:47] report. Any questions for Chad to answer?

[22:51] » I have a question. >> Um, on page four,

[22:57] does Seaside and Canon Beach have different

[23:01] legal authority over beach regulation than Garavart? Okay. I didn't know that

[23:07] for the call and I wonder if you could elaborate a little. I can explain that.

[23:12] During the riots of 62, 63, 64, the state highway department and and the

[23:19] state parks department gave Seaside the ability to manage their own beach.

[23:27] 10% of the privately owned beach in the

[23:31] entire state of Oregon is in Canon Beach from Second Street all the way past

[23:37] Hack. So Canon Beach

[23:41] gives those residents and those property owners sale over that.

[23:48] Okay, that's a historic that's the reason why

[23:52] in ' 67 Tom came down and redeclared that the entire Oregon coast was public

[24:00] highway one just like all the West did. Okay.

[24:09] And I'm not sure what the exact way is, but it does give them the ability to

[24:14] differently manage their beach such as restrictions having to do with ASAP rock

[24:19] natural uh part of that. Uh sand management in seaside is part of that

[24:26] and um what they're able to do like such as writing tickets and things like that

[24:30] on their beach versus ours. So I don't know the details but those are some of

[24:34] the topics. So, is the reason that you can't drive south from 10th Street, is

[24:42] that statemandated like for a safety issue like not driving

[24:46] into the river >> or is it because somebody made some

[24:52] forart some point in time >> there's the snowy

[24:58] » well they're used >> well yeah but that's up in the dunes and

[25:00] you can't drive the dunes anyway but years ago the the main approach to to

[25:06] the Gearhart beach was up off sixth street to [clears throat] city way

[25:11] and then they moved it to the north entrance or the north city limits which

[25:16] is 10th street and they and the city of Ghart and the state parks department

[25:24] said we'll have an agreement that people can drive north of the 10th street

[25:28] approach but from the 10th street approach south that that's a public

[25:34] beach and we used to have lifeguards in this town

[25:38] and uh which they did regularly in the 70s. U but that was that was for the

[25:44] residents and and the visitors to Gearhart to make sure there wasn't any

[25:48] driving. So when people complain about what's going on north of 10th Street, if

[25:54] they don't want to put up with the traffic, they can always go down to the

[25:58] south end of 10th Street all the way around to the estuary and they they're

[26:02] guaranteed that there's not going to be any traffic.

[26:06] » So no governor was involved then? >> Huh?

[26:09] » No governor was involved? >> No governor. No, it was all long before

[26:16] I think long before Tom Paul. It was already

[26:21] uh you couldn't drive style pry that was for that was for recreation

[26:28] medical thing only [clears throat] interest

[26:41] » well I went and attended the mayor's conference at the beginning of the month

[26:46] in August and I learned several things there and

[26:52] I'll speak to that in just a minute. I also met with u the president and the

[26:59] city administrator discussing city business.

[27:05] So when I was at the conference, I was talking to several mayors and what they

[27:10] were talking about

[27:14] and I'd like to raise the idea for future discussion.

[27:20] We know there are several needed improvements at the fire station

[27:25] and the bond failed shamefully, miserably, it failed. And one option may

[27:34] be to address those projects one at a time through a temporary projectspecific

[27:40] fee on water meters. For example, a fee of perhaps $10 to $15

[27:47] every two months could be dedicated to specific projects such as replacing the

[27:54] front bay doors. And these doors are the ones that they use 2x4s to lift up all

[28:01] the way. 2x4s for emergency services

[28:08] and would and once that project is funded since this item is not on

[28:13] tonight's agenda, I am asking the council to make not to make any

[28:20] decision. I am s geez I'm simply like to know whether there is a general

[28:28] interest in having staff gather more information on the concept and bring it

[28:35] back on a future agenda potentially in October for full public discussion and

[28:42] council consideration. [clears throat]

[28:45] Now, I'm not asking for a $60 $70 search

[28:51] charge. I'm asking $10, $15.

[28:56] It's going to cost $120,000 for new doors at the fire station.

[29:02] These are electric. They go up and down on their own. They don't need 2x4s.

[29:10] It's a public safety issue. It's a personnel safety issue. And I would like

[29:15] to know if you other four would be willing to discuss this at the next city

[29:22] council meeting as an agenda item. >> Yes.

[29:26] » Yes. >> Um

[29:31] I'm going to say no at this time because

[29:38] uh okay, number one, I'm not going to be here. Number two, um

[29:45] we are in the planning stage of getting a citizens group together to give us

[29:51] recommendations on a

[29:55] large cadre of different types of fees and things we can do besides the TLT

[30:03] to get more revenue for the city. And I mean a couple other things were brought

[30:07] up, you know, like a sales tax. I heard earlier. Um, so I think it should be on

[30:15] that list that I think we're going to give the committee. Here are some

[30:20] suggestions. Please talk about these, but we don't know exactly how that's

[30:25] going to roll out yet because we're still in the planning phase, but I feel

[30:28] like it should for [clears throat] that to occur or be a part of that. But that

[30:34] said, I won't be here for the October meeting. So,

[30:42] I think Chad and I had this discussion today.

[30:48] If the doors don't go up, it has to do with the springs.

[30:54] And I think that what they need to do is to maintain, have maintenance look at

[30:58] them, have coastal garage door look at them, and have them

[31:04] see whether or not the springs are worn out.

[31:08] because replacing springs is a heck of a lot cheaper replacing the whole doors.

[31:13] » Okay, so let's just take this one step at a time.

[31:18] » I don't know. I don't know when the last time somebody went over there and

[31:22] tighten up the springs, but those doors there used to go up, come down really

[31:27] easy. There's no reason why that you have to push them up with a

[31:31] [clears throat] 2x4s.

[31:34] The springs have either worn out and let's have somebody a professional let

[31:40] us know what the options are or we make a decision as as to going on

[31:47] with this. That's that's fine. Okay. And you said

[31:53] yes. Well, I I would like to punt it to the committee because I think there's

[32:01] aspects that we may not be thinking about. We be the LLC toolkit

[32:07] regarding this that they can look take a closer look at. So, and then they'll

[32:13] bring it back to us. It sounds reasonable.

[32:21] » Okay. Well, having said [clears throat]

[32:26] or Paulina saying what she said, the third thing I was going to discuss on my

[32:32] mayor's report is we are going to be setting up a committee

[32:39] [clears throat] and we're going to have applications

[32:42] probably sometime next week, right? >> Sure.

[32:47] » Okay. And this committee is um

[32:57] I don't have my right on is to um help us find alternate forms of

[33:05] revenue for the city. I'm looking for people that are willing to meet

[33:12] two times a month and people that are serious about

[33:18] helping the city find alternate forms of revenue.

[33:24] And it's um

[33:27] we'll have applications out next week. It is um going to be between five and

[33:36] seven people and uh

[33:40] really appreciate anyone with a background

[33:45] in business or finance to apply and someone off of the budget committee

[33:53] would also be handy. So

[33:58] that's coming up. That'll be on the blog.

[34:02] And uh that's what I have. Is there anything

[34:07] else I missed, Chad?

[34:13] No, other than we're still in planning stages for that group. I'm working with

[34:17] multiple counselors on how that's going to be put together. They've discussed a

[34:20] little bit later as well that I touched upon and there's still some things to

[34:25] work out, but that's the direction we're headed.

[34:29] Certainly. Okay. Good. All right.

[34:37] Sure. I really don't have anything to report

[34:40] other than multiple meetings uh with Chad regarding

[34:47] um this committee that you just talked

[34:50] about.

[34:54] » Okay, that's it. Fine.

[34:59] Uh I attended the uh the uh small cities meeting down in

[35:04] Bay City uh several weeks ago. Uh the one of the things uh that was of

[35:12] interest to me was uh there was a presentation by a woman from the rural

[35:19] community assistance corporation which uh they primarily help small cities with

[35:28] um utility con consultation.

[35:32] Uh they also do some uh survey work particularly in the area uh area of uh

[35:42] it's come up a number of times uh with on the city council where we don't feel

[35:48] like we're getting our state revenue sharing because of the accuracy of the

[35:54] numbers of how many residents there are. They actually do surveying to get that

[36:03] number uh more accurate and help [snorts] with the uh Portland State

[36:10] University who [clears throat] puts that number out

[36:14] to the to the uh state. Um also they do uh consultation on water works and uh

[36:23] waste management um which isn't particularly a problem for us but

[36:29] it was it was very interesting presentation. I shared contact

[36:34] information with Chad. Uh I met several times with Chad on uh the work session.

[36:41] Um, I was net control for the women's ham operators. Uh, a week ago, Sunday is

[36:47] the first time I've done that. So, that's running the check in for all the

[36:52] women ham operators. We do that in case of emergency services are needed. Uh, if

[36:58] all other communication is down, ham radios will likely still work and so

[37:05] session for that. Uh, I met with Carrie once. um about the uh double accession

[37:15] prep and um I skipped the housing task force

[37:21] meeting. >> Okay. Dana

[37:25] » um this last month was a little bit slower for me. I had a um very close

[37:30] friend with a very serious um medical emergency out of state that I was

[37:35] attending to. But um I did manage to speak to several citizens about the um

[37:42] discussing a an increase in the TLT tax and and how that would impact our city

[37:49] and uh the businesses here. I also um spent quite a bit of time on the phone

[37:55] today and via email with a representative of Bonamichi's office uh

[38:00] speaking about the United States Post Office uh situation

[38:06] and uh they were very he he was very interested in what's going on here. Uh

[38:11] just so everybody knows, we're not the only city in this county that is having

[38:16] problems with the post office. And uh I will go more into it later when

[38:22] we talk about the post office.

[38:28] Um I had a number of discussions with local citizens also about the trans

[38:36] tax and um um I think that as we go further down

[38:42] the line like that

[38:48] work session or whatever I'll deal with.

[38:53] » Okay. And I've had meetings with Chad.

[38:58] » Thank you. Moving on to city officer reports.

[39:05] Chief of police. >> Good evening.

[39:11] » Uh so stats real quick. Had 158 calls for service in the month of August. Uh

[39:17] that totals up to be,77k calls for service through the year.

[39:22] Again, that's with three officers. Um, so we've been we've been busy. Uh,

[39:28] it's been a typical August. Uh, not as busy as July, but it's it's been pretty

[39:33] steady. We're getting the job done. Uh, to let you know, there'll be a mass

[39:38] casualty incident drill. It's going to be September 24th. This is going to be

[39:42] put on by Providence Seaside Hospital. Going be staging at the North Coast

[39:46] Family Fellowship. Uh so it's just a drill on a specific incident where mass

[39:52] casualties occur and how everybody can work together to kind of make sure that

[39:55] we operate in the best most effective manner. So uh if you see a bunch of cars

[40:01] staged over there that's probably what's going on. So just heads up should be fun

[40:05] good training. Um Barrett is going to go to Bend uh

[40:09] next or this month later in the month for some investigative training. It's

[40:13] going to be really good training for him. um he's looking forward to it and

[40:17] I'm glad to send him to it. Uh I'll be leaving for the National Academy on

[40:21] September 29th. So that's coming up and again everything has been taken uh care

[40:25] of for my absence and Sergeant Brown understands it role in this as well. So

[40:30] everything's been taken care of and I appreciate the explore exploring

[40:35] alternative resources uh for revenue. So, uh, happy to see council moving

[40:41] forward with that and, uh, can provide any input that you would like from my

[40:44] end any time. So, thank you. >> Thank you.

[40:49] » Oh, do you want to go first?

[40:53] » Uh, sure. I we're discussing doing potential quick meeting, special counsel

[41:01] if you will, on the 24th. It'll be the same day in the evening as the drill.

[41:07] Okay. So the the 24th during the day, uh,

[41:11] Chief Gregory wants to make a presentation uh in front of the council

[41:15] to some of the staff members for some good work being done and we were hoping

[41:20] that you might be available for that. So I would send you an email and uh we put

[41:26] that date together and if not we'll explore some other dates.

[41:29] » What's that for? >> Little award ceremony. just a short

[41:32] little presentation for >> um my question was last time you uh

[41:37] talked to us at the last council meeting you said that you're going to have I

[41:41] believe on 17th of August multi- agency meeting regarding the July 4th situation

[41:48] here just wonder if you want to update us

[41:51] » sure I'm sorry I forgot about that too so much going on it was actually a

[41:55] really good meeting we had representatives from the juvenile

[41:57] department the state park showed up um OSP and other agencies. Um it's kind of

[42:05] one of those almost felt like a meeting about a future meeting situation, but

[42:09] there were a lot of good ideas proposed. Um I'm very thankful that the juvenile

[42:14] department was there. they seem receptive to the idea of contributing

[42:17] some type of help um here on scene uh during the 4th of July to kind of give

[42:23] us a little bit of um time management where we can bring them the juveniles

[42:28] here and they can wait for a parent to come and pick them up.

[42:31] » Uh so they were receptive to that and we kind of have some creative ways to keep

[42:36] them here and have give them something to do while they're waiting on their

[42:38] parents to get here. Just little things that you know we have to we have to work

[42:41] through. Um, as far as as far as presence goes

[42:48] though, that's still going to be an issue. We're kind of trying to figure

[42:50] out who we can bring in from the outside to kind of assist us, whether that be

[42:55] law enforcement or other creative ways to man the beach, I guess, is the best

[43:00] way to put that, uh, for more presence. U, it's still a challenge. There's a lot

[43:06] of It's one of those situations I've found that where you you come up with

[43:09] and this is why it's good to have everybody in the room when you do these

[43:12] meetings. I may have a very good idea, but having another person from another

[43:16] department that goes, I like that idea, but right, but there's this. And

[43:21] hopefully if we keep having these meetings, we're going to get to the

[43:23] point where everybody at the table's going to go, that's brilliant. Uh, that

[43:27] could work. And so we don't get the yeah butts. And it'll happen eventually, but

[43:32] there's always going to be some hiccups. Was there any talk about or conversation

[43:37] about mitigating the situation? >> Do you mean

[43:42] » preventing >> preventing? Right. So, we know as we've

[43:45] tried in the past has been the the emails to this to the parents from the

[43:50] school with the school trying trying to work with the the parents and the kids

[43:53] and putting out messages of how dangerous, you know, it is out down

[43:57] there and just the blight it is on the community that they're really just

[44:01] coming to to trash and leave, right? Um, I don't think that did very very well

[44:07] for us. Uh, we've tried to get the SRS or the school resource officers

[44:11] involved. A matter of fact, they're one of the few groups that didn't chime in

[44:16] and we offered it on Zoom for them to attend the meeting. That may be a

[44:20] challenge. Uh, they're not in our county. They're busy. They're in the

[44:24] metro area. They're and and also that was before school took. Now they're in

[44:29] school again. They have a daytime schedule. it may be easier to get them

[44:32] to come to another meeting in the future.

[44:35] » I wonder if there's uh do you think there's liability issues as far as the

[44:40] school people chiming in? >> There could be as far as them assisting

[44:45] us, but I well physically, but I don't see an issue with putting out a message

[44:49] from them. I, you know, they're really just promoting safety, right? And I I

[44:53] think a lot of this is parents turn a blind eye to the fact that their

[44:58] kids are coming here on the 4th of July. And a lot of the parents we speak to

[45:02] are, "Oh, I did I've heard this many times." Well, I didn't know he was in

[45:04] Gart. I didn't know she was in Gurart. >> She was supposed to be at her friend's

[45:08] house. >> They're supposed to be down at the house

[45:10] of men's need. >> And hey, look, I was a teenager once,

[45:13] too. I get it. I we understand how these things work and parents, we know how

[45:16] these things work, but you know, there comes to a point where something's got

[45:19] to give. So, yeah. >> So, you all are going to have another

[45:24] meeting? Is that the next step? >> Yeah. the the ID actually the juvenile

[45:28] department uh individual asked me if I would be willing to participate maybe a

[45:32] council for the county commission meeting and it's not it's not the actual

[45:37] county commission meeting it's just a a secondary meeting to that where they all

[45:42] come to the table and kind of just discuss

[45:45] things that are happening in the county and it might be a good opportunity for

[45:49] us to chime in on that and say you know this is what we're dealing with on the

[45:52] 4th of July what can you do to help So

[45:56] » what's the state park stance on this? >> Well, they don't have any enforcement

[46:01] capabilities, right? And so for instance, things like the the guy that

[46:05] had the DJ booth going, uh, and I say booth, he had a table set up with a with

[46:10] a generator, an electric generator, so it's quiet and he can play music, right?

[46:14] Loud music. Well, that's that's an event. And so you need a a license or a

[46:20] permit to do such a thing. So, little things like that that they could

[46:24] probably assist with the paperwork portion, but at the end of the day, it's

[46:28] OSP's uh jurisdiction. And so, they're the

[46:33] ones that enforce the law on the beach. So, it's going to but that was brought

[46:37] up and so maybe next year we can say, "Hey, cut it off." You know, those

[46:42] people go out there say, "Turn it off. You can't do this. Do you have a

[46:44] permit?" "No." "Okay, you need to leave or turn this off." And we take their

[46:48] music away. We'll find something else. But

[46:51] » it's just little things like that. >> I'm sorry to ask you all this question.

[46:54] I was curious. Is OSP willing to actually put people on the beach?

[46:59] » Yes, they they want to. >> It's

[47:03] they don't have the the the means. I mean, they only have so many people. Was

[47:07] brought up that the MRT team, which is just a

[47:12] a larger group that go to special events from OSB of troopers. Uh they usually go

[47:18] to Seaside. Seaside's a mad house on the 4th of July. Uh I wouldn't say probably

[47:22] worse than we are on the beach. >> Um

[47:26] our our issue is unique because it's a lot of juveniles. That that's the

[47:30] problem that we face versus where there's just chaos, right? So but

[47:35] Seaside's getting a better handle on it. And so it was brought up with a

[47:39] lieutenant here from Seaside even was in in attendance that maybe we should start

[47:44] bringing those MRTs here next year. And so we may have a bicycle presence of

[47:48] state troopers that can ride up and down Maryland, right, and deal with the kids

[47:53] that are drinking in their cars and and uh try to stop from drinking period or

[48:00] or before they can drive because obviously we're not going to make them

[48:03] leave if they're impaired, right? If they can't drive a car. Uh but just

[48:08] maybe getting ahead of it before it starts. We try to do that, but again,

[48:12] we're three people and there it's just it's a it's a mad house and so

[48:17] we're going to call to call. We don't really have time to go car to car is the

[48:22] issue we ran into this year. So, with a larger OSP presence, it could be

[48:26] helpful. >> May I add a couple things to what you

[48:29] just said? >> Just real quick, we've got a lot of work

[48:32] to do yet. We've done some pile watches. He's brought some people together uh and

[48:37] we've got a team of people in place, but we're not done. We uh what we learned

[48:41] from last year, we know we need to increase some sort of parking

[48:44] enforcement, some better parking restrictions, the potential has been

[48:48] discussed with people calling, did we close down the 10th Street Beach

[48:52] approach? Do we uh get our who was I talking to today? Do we get our

[48:56] representatives involved to have them help us maybe get

[49:01] through some of these things? So, there is going to be future meetings. We don't

[49:04] have them scheduled yet. We need to do that in a timely enough fashion to be

[49:08] able to do the work for the next event. Uh it feels like it just ended, but time

[49:13] is ticking. So, we'll get more information. I'll work with Josh Gregory

[49:19] and Josh Como on that. And uh we'll have more to report and some other ideas as

[49:24] well. I think it's going to take the privilege to assist us.

[49:28] » And there may be some uh ask of the community to volunteer next year. You

[49:32] know, that's been thought of as well to volunteer to keep people from or go out

[49:36] instead of parking barriers along Marian on the northbound side of the roadway

[49:41] where you're not supposed to park there anyway, right? But you know the liming

[49:45] effect one does in 15 north follow. So that that's that's when they jump out of

[49:50] the car, they're gone. We can't find them. We don't know where they're at.

[49:52] No, a tow service. Maybe look at that. One would think they would say, "Oh man,

[49:56] this is how I go to start towing cars." Well, they don't have enough time to do

[50:01] that. I guess there's other crashes, there's other things. We only have so

[50:04] many wreckers in the or recovery vehicles in the in the county. And so,

[50:08] they may come get one or 10 even. But you saw last year just along the north

[50:13] northbound lane, I mean, there was 50 or 60. So, it's it's Yeah.

[50:20] Yeah. But we're we are working on it. Trust me, it's a lot of people observe

[50:25] what it could be this year and saw what is actually happening and I think it

[50:30] raised a lot of eyebrows. So, >> okay. Thank you. Appreciate it.

[50:33] » Oh, excuse me. Oh, go ahead. No.

[50:41] » You're leaving. You're going on a special little trip.

[50:44] » Yes. >> Do you mind if I say something about it

[50:46] or do you want to say something about it? Please. I Chief [clears throat]

[50:50] Gregory was chosen to go to the FBI and get training.

[50:54] I don't know if any in the U audience know this. He's one of just a few a

[51:00] handful. Right. >> Yeah. There's there's only four in this

[51:03] count over Yeah. >> over everything. Right. I just wanted

[51:09] you to be aware that the man is doing his job and doing so well that they're

[51:15] pointing the finger at you and say, "Come on out here and let's give you a

[51:19] little extra." >> Thank you, Mary. Appreciate that.

[51:22] » Well, thank you. >> Pleasure. You have some, sir.

[51:25] » Okay. Going back to the 4th of July. Okay.

[51:29] » This has been going on since I Yeah. >> Okay. We we had this culture war

[51:36] for over 20 years. We had the head of the parks department.

[51:42] We had the common of of the state police. We had the sheriff's I mean the

[51:48] sheriff cell. We had the represent the senator that

[51:54] represents Taso County and we had the representative

[51:59] represent county and everybody agreed in two different meetings that they were

[52:06] going to everybody was going to step up to the plate. What this council needs to

[52:11] understand is if you go down the 10th Street approach where the asphalt ends,

[52:17] that's the west limit of the city. Everything from there on

[52:23] is state parks. Okay.

[52:27] So to put our police force in jeopardy down there

[52:35] as far as I'm concerned, you know, I mean, the fire department's going to go

[52:39] down there if there's a if there's a medical emergency, but as far as the as

[52:44] far as the policing of the of the Vich, that's that's state parks and highway

[52:51] department.

[52:54] So that's that is that is what Chad and I talked about today and that's what

[52:59] we're going to be pushing for is to get everybody this and hold their feet to

[53:05] the fire and hopefully we get this done before

[53:09] spring break.

[53:14] That's that would be great, right? And and hold their feet in front. We lead by

[53:18] example, right? And so for your heart police department to go out there on the

[53:21] 4th of July on on the beach, which >> policing in Oregon, Oregon officers have

[53:27] jurisdiction statewide. So we're going to help each other and there's no way

[53:30] that I'm going to have just be like, "Oh, no. We're not going to go out

[53:33] there." Plus, it's a collaboration. >> They're parking here in town.

[53:37] » They're coming into town anyway. It's the same. What whatever line they cross,

[53:41] they're our problem just as much as they are theirs. It's just wherever they're

[53:44] at at that moment. I like that idea of saying, "Hey, we're we're showing we're

[53:49] doing we're helping and and they see that. I really do genuinely see uh

[53:54] Lieutenant Hazen with OSP seeing the problem who is a Gear Heart resident

[53:58] seeing the problem, recognizing it, and going, man, what can we do to help?"

[54:02] It's and and then he's getting help above him. I've I've observed his

[54:07] captain said, "We're going to send people here." And and it happened this

[54:10] year. Was it enough? Probably not. But it was more. It was more than I've seen

[54:15] since I've been here. And I think it'll continue to grow with the MRT and all

[54:19] that. So >> maybe maybe we should have a maybe what

[54:22] we should do is get a fund that the residents pay into that we can go and

[54:25] buy a bunch of boots to put on wheels for the people that park on the north on

[54:31] the northbound lane there so they can't move there.

[54:35] » I mean that and that could be a I mean that's a parking violation. I mean

[54:39] they're they're violating the parking ordinance. Hey, um I might just run a

[54:45] barrier. I know it wouldn't be pretty, but it'd be for one day, right? Just run

[54:49] some type of barrier that the most cost effective barrier that we can find that

[54:53] hugs the northbound lane and runs right along the side of the road and there's

[54:58] no way for them to park there. >> Yeah, but aren't they just going to go

[55:00] to the side streets? >> Sure. And that's another issue. What

[55:03] does that does that spill into cottage? Did they come down and we've had them in

[55:07] Betto? U Yeah. I mean, it's going to happen.

[55:10] » It's going to happen. Yeah. Yeah. The kids I talked to that was on Seventh

[55:13] Street. It was >> Yeah. They like to go down

[55:16] » to the creek. >> Yeah.

[55:18] » And that's where they were parking. Can I ask you a question?

[55:20] » Yes. >> What do you think would

[55:24] » Where did you spend the most of your time or what type of calls took up the

[55:28] most of your time? >> Drunk teenagers.

[55:32] » So drunk teenagers. >> Did [snorts] you have physical assaults?

[55:36] » Uh we had a >> Did you have speeding? Um, you know,

[55:40] there was supposed to be Yeah. >> Did you have trespassing?

[55:44] » I don't remember if trespassing was a specific calling.

[55:47] » Yeah, actually did. I know. Yeah, you were calling my brain. Trying to

[55:50] remember. Yeah, we had a couple 13. >> Did you have suspicious people? These

[55:54] people are on my street. Can you come talk to them?

[55:56] » Okay. So, all of those calls and you had three officers to handle the entire

[56:02] weekend. >> Yes.

[56:03] » Right. So, you have to spread them out over a 24-hour period, which means that

[56:08] in order to get as much coverage as possible, all three of you on on the

[56:12] night of July 4th, >> there's a lot of overtime.

[56:15] » Yeah. You were working way beyond what anybody should reasonably expect you to

[56:19] work. >> Yes.

[56:20] » Right. And safely work. >> Okay. I'm just So, if we were to create

[56:23] more rules, more laws, or say you need to do one thing more, is there a way

[56:28] that you could do one thing more? one more law that you could enforce.

[56:32] » Very taxing. >> Without us giving you the assistance

[56:35] that you need, and that would require some money.

[56:37] » Thank you. >> I can recall driving home on the morning

[56:40] of the 5th of July at about 700 a.m. thinking that I just get home now.

[56:45] » Or am I home yet? Like I was exhausted. >> And some of you worked 20our shifts with

[56:49] no showers, no locker room, no real state. Yeah.

[56:54] » Got it. Thank you. >> Thank you, team. Can I make a comment

[56:59] with him just as a private citizen?

[57:03] » Well, Chief, do you mind? I don't mind at all.

[57:06] » Please, please. >> I just want to say thank you to him. I

[57:08] mean, I'm hearing this big stuff, but he cares about just individual. He sat at

[57:15] our table. Um, we had a problem with our neighbor big time. He came and listened

[57:22] to us and he went over and talked to the neighbor and the neighbor isn't speaking

[57:30] words to us anymore. He's flipping us the bird whenever he can.

[57:34] » Gesturing call down below.

[57:39] » Absolutely. Okay. >> And thank you for

[57:42] appreciate it. Thank you. >> Appreciate you. Yeah. Okay. We're going

[57:47] to go to fire chief. Thank you, sir.

[57:54] So, August forest had a total of 81 calls. Um, inside the city was 28 and 41

[58:00] was inside the district for those. We sent out a 12 times for August. Five of

[58:07] them was to seaside. There was a technical rescue. We helped him with a

[58:10] wildland fire. Uh MVA involved in trauma and two times needed extra manpower.

[58:17] Went to Louis Clark once for a structure fire. Uh three times a warranton. One

[58:21] was a structure fire. One was a motor vehicle accident. One time was just

[58:25] coverage on a drill night. Uh they had drill outside of the district at Merk.

[58:29] So we covered it for that night. Um for that call went to LC once for a wildland

[58:34] fire out there. [clears throat] We received aid four times. Once was from

[58:38] the organ department of forry for a tip about a burning call we had. Uh once was

[58:42] a water rescue. Cases came and helped us with that. Another time medics was

[58:47] unavailable. So seasides ambulance came to our call and transported for us. And

[58:51] then we had a car fire loose and Clark road that was a remote location and we

[58:54] were also at the same time helping cover. I think that was a structure fire

[58:59] in Loose and Clark and so other ripple effect others come up and help us with

[59:03] that one. And then we had uh two WAN fire mobilizations last month that um uh

[59:10] they're sensible both at the same time with that. And because of the summer

[59:12] staffing grant, what we had, we were still able to staff the station and

[59:16] staff all of our calls. Everything was there. And then uh this year, like I

[59:22] said, was 81 calls. August last year was 69 calls.

[59:27] Right. I don't know if there's any questions. That's all I got. Anyone with

[59:31] questions? R2.

[59:34] » Yes. Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay, moving on. Master of money.

[59:42] » So, revenues to note were in 10 00221 and that was from Pacific Automation for

[59:50] a $5,000 incentive payment for updating and

[59:54] renewing our copy machine uh lease. So, they took our old copy machine away with

[1:00:00] our it was expiring and we renewed with a different type of structure for our

[1:00:06] payment and they um gave us a $5,000 incentive check back. So, we received

[1:00:14] that. Um and 450018

[1:00:20] uh for the city's procurement of state revenue chair. So, we received our first

[1:00:25] payment. It's I think about $800 less than last year. Um which we anticipated

[1:00:32] it being lower. So we'll just have to continue to watch that. Expenditures to

[1:00:38] note were in 10 1263 purchase services uh to Lexiple for police service

[1:00:44] support. 10372 purchase services to HR view for the

[1:00:50] fire department service support. 20 2014,

[1:00:56] which is for the 2021 refunding bond interest. And this is our um annual

[1:01:04] first installment interest payment that we have to pay every year um for our

[1:01:11] water geo bond. And then we have another payment in the spring with interest in

[1:01:17] our principal. and 30 3064 the water purchase to the

[1:01:22] city of Gearhart. Uh warranted water rates increased 4% for us this year and

[1:01:28] the city of Gearhart used an additional 160,000

[1:01:33] gallons or warranted uh over last July's bill. So we used more water this year.

[1:01:41] I also wanted to mention that I moved $5 just because I didn't want it to stand

[1:01:47] out and people would notice this one little $5 thing from 100038

[1:01:54] um on the first page for revenues on the technology fee. It's been moved to 40006

[1:02:00] technology fee. Uh, and moving forward, all the technology charges that are ran

[1:02:06] through Asella, so that's our building software. Um, all of our charges go

[1:02:12] through that program in the fund 40. So, we should keep them in 40.

[1:02:19] So, I just move that $5 over there. The revenue and expenditure budgeted versus

[1:02:25] actual report. So this first report uh is created each month for the city

[1:02:32] council packet. I deliberately uh didn't complete the end of the month

[1:02:38] transactions for our approved inner fund loan from the water reserve fund so that

[1:02:44] you can see that the general fund um was negative without the inner fund loan

[1:02:52] transfer. So, our revenues were less than our expenditures. So, if you look

[1:02:59] at um page one, the total line for the general fund under the revenues, it's

[1:03:06] about halfway down, it was uh about $516,000.

[1:03:11] And then if you look at page seven there up at the top, the general fund

[1:03:18] expenditures, it was $550,000. So we actually did not have enough

[1:03:25] revenue to pay our expenses um without the inter fund loan, which I made the

[1:03:31] transfer. I wanted you just to be able to see it um before I made the um a

[1:03:38] journal entry. So, I made the loan transfer on August

[1:03:43] 31st for 35,000 to bring the fund to a positive balance. This negative balance

[1:03:49] was anticipated and caused by the city's beginning fund balance um being low and

[1:03:55] not receiving the majority of our property tax revenue until November and

[1:04:00] also paying out um the con flag expenditures. We had a lot of them uh in

[1:04:06] the last two months and we don't receive that revenue right away. it does take a

[1:04:10] while. So, we have to pay that money up front and then we have to wait for those

[1:04:14] checks to come because it's a reimbursement model. So, those were the

[1:04:18] three reasons why uh the city anticipated the shortfall in the general

[1:04:23] fund and we have allowed up to 300,000 to be temporarily borrowed. I only

[1:04:29] transfer what we need. Um there's no need to transfer the whole 300,000.

[1:04:33] We'll just transfer it as we need it when it gets negative.

[1:04:38] in the check detail report each month uh confidential information is removed. So

[1:04:43] when you look through that document it does say for confidentiality

[1:04:48] um things have been removed. This uh the things that have been removed are uh

[1:04:54] employee specific personally identifiable payroll data. So the way

[1:05:00] that that report works is every check that is written um it has the vendor and

[1:05:07] then the information um regarding that deduction. So that it

[1:05:12] would have an individual employees name and data in there uh contains such

[1:05:18] things as garnishment uh personal tax withholdings uh voluntary deductions. So

[1:05:24] if you put money to certain things from a personal uh basis which would be

[1:05:30] totally identifiable because it's the employees name and then it has all of

[1:05:35] them listed. So we have just removed those out of there. We have put in the

[1:05:42] gross wages by department report the final report on the end and that is

[1:05:48] provided for what we take out. So that is all the wages in a way that is

[1:05:56] viewable to you so that you can see all the amounts that we've charged um just

[1:06:02] in a format where it isn't necessarily has the employees name and their

[1:06:08] personal voluntary deductions. And then the deductions that are important that

[1:06:13] are employee employer related like PERS and um insurance they are in our check

[1:06:22] detail because we actually write a check to them. So again it's not individual.

[1:06:26] It doesn't say Justine Hill we paid this much. It says this line item we paid

[1:06:31] this much money for CIS insurance. And that is in the check detail report. So

[1:06:36] all the information we take from that report is viewable. Um I just wanted to

[1:06:42] mention it again because it had come up and the intention is not to take

[1:06:46] anything out of there that is not viewable by all people. So it's just the

[1:06:53] way that that report works. Uh auditors were here and went over some new Gatsby

[1:07:00] requirements. Uh they also expressed a lot of gratitude for the city's advanced

[1:07:04] prep for their visit. Uh I always love talking to them. They're a a a great

[1:07:11] company [snorts] and they give a lot of support and guidance and are very

[1:07:16] professional. So I really enjoy them down here even though they were only

[1:07:20] here for a day. The financial stability of the city is essential and the budget

[1:07:26] document and process are fundamental. And at the last work session, it was

[1:07:32] suggested that I provide a five-year reside revised to three-year budget

[1:07:38] forecast. And I do feel that this is really important. I agree that it

[1:07:44] provides key opponents components when evaluating the city's financial status.

[1:07:50] And as I mentioned at the work set session, uh my current workload does not

[1:07:55] allow me the time to adequately work on the project. I have reached out to

[1:08:00] several companies. Um, I used LOC as a resource and another organization that I

[1:08:06] belong to for business uh, government officials and uh, reached out to several

[1:08:14] companies and the only one that's available and can meet our timeline is a

[1:08:20] company called Health Sustainable Communities uh, HSC

[1:08:27] and they are able to provide the service So unless there's an objection, I do

[1:08:35] plan to enter an an agreement with them and they will review the city's existing

[1:08:40] QuickBooks financial data and current Google Sheets budget document. They'll

[1:08:45] prepare a three-year budget projection for the city of Gearhart, organized by

[1:08:49] department and fund using the city's existing budget structure and formats.

[1:08:55] They'll incorporate anticipated future projects and known department needs into

[1:09:00] the projections. They'll facilitate three virtual

[1:09:04] meetings to review, refine, and present the projections.

[1:09:09] And they'll deliver a final three-year budget projections in Google Sheet

[1:09:14] format uh for ready for the city to use and present. So the first retainer is

[1:09:23] $5,000 with the caveat not to exceed$10,000.

[1:09:28] And although this project was not anticipated in the budgeting process, we

[1:09:34] were fortunate that our CIS liability insurance came in lower than we

[1:09:39] budgeted. So if you look at the line item in our expenditures. So if you look

[1:09:44] at

[1:09:50] page three um 10 1048 we budgeted 56,000 and it

[1:09:57] came in at 46,000. So we have in theory $9,000 that we anticipated to spend that

[1:10:04] we 96 that we aren't going to have to spend. and I would plan to use that as

[1:10:16] compensation to finish the project and they will have it to us at the beginning

[1:10:20] of November. So if we have a committee start in October

[1:10:26] um having meetings understanding where our situation and

[1:10:31] then they will present um to the committee and to the council uh what

[1:10:38] they find and where the trends they were an amazing company to talk to. They do

[1:10:42] amazing things. Of course it's it's expensive. like they would completely

[1:10:48] take us from start to finish, but it would be like $25,000.

[1:10:52] Um they do application, you know, they help with applications for these types

[1:10:56] of committees. They'll give you um suggestions and I I mean they they were

[1:11:01] really amazing to talk with, but maybe a little bit more than we can afford at

[1:11:06] this point. So that's my request. >> Thank you.

[1:11:12] And Justine, I happened to have a chance to talk to the auditors and they had

[1:11:18] nothing but praise for your preparation for them and they say it's always a

[1:11:23] pleasure being here because you've got everything set up for them. It's almost

[1:11:28] like a walk in the park. So, thank you so much for your professional.

[1:11:35] All right, Chad, you're up.

[1:11:40] Uh, thank you, Mayor C. Oh, >> we uh we don't have a a lawyer on

[1:11:44] screen, so I'm just going to you. >> Yeah. Okay.

[1:11:48] Uh, you have my city administrator report. I'm going to keep mine very

[1:11:51] short. I really don't have anything to report. You've been looking at a lot of

[1:11:55] things. City administrator report, you'll notice over the last couple

[1:11:57] months it's been expanded. You know, I took some questions from people that

[1:12:01] were saying, "Well, what is it that you do here every day, Chad?" So, I'm trying

[1:12:04] to answer that as best that I can. So, if you have any questions, I'll answer

[1:12:09] them. Otherwise, all >> we're gonna talk about postal service

[1:12:14] separate. So, >> y

[1:12:19] um on the page three under the of category,

[1:12:24] uh it says staff is evaluating a regional building official coordination

[1:12:30] and resource sharing opportunity. I didn't understand what you're talking

[1:12:35] about. >> Uh there's other towns that are having a

[1:12:37] lot of uh issues. keeping a building code enforcement officer. So, we're

[1:12:41] entering into conversations with them about what's going on in the communities

[1:12:45] and how the potential for sharing could be. Uh, in particular, Canon Beach is

[1:12:49] looking at going with a new model. So, we're just going to participate and see

[1:12:54] if there's anything to be learned in that. And if there's any efficiencies,

[1:12:57] then we can do that. But, um, Dear's in really good shape.

[1:13:02] » So, we don't have a a major need at this point. So that's just a discussion where

[1:13:08] you're sharing stuff and it's we're not going to share Leonard. [clears throat]

[1:13:14] » We shared him with Manzanita. We shared them with Canon Beachside.

[1:13:18] » I don't know Warrington this time lately story. He's worked for them all but not

[1:13:24] through us but through us at least three different towns where we help and and

[1:13:27] they take it's no cost to the city of Gearart. Uh they just pay him uh an

[1:13:32] agreement between them and him. Yeah, we're lucky to have him.

[1:13:36] » Same as we do. >> Exactly. We pay as needed. He is a

[1:13:40] contract employee. He is not a full-time employee with Sydney yard and we pay him

[1:13:45] a percentage of the building permits and or law is that all building permit funds

[1:13:52] have to be spent in building permit things. Well, I better attorney. So,

[1:13:58] just heads up. That's how it works. It's not as though we can start charging

[1:14:02] people a whole lot of money for building permits and then start spending it in

[1:14:05] many other categories. That's having to do with state law. So, that's one of the

[1:14:11] things that we're going to be going over with the financial committee as well.

[1:14:15] The items that we have to educate. >> Okay. One other question. Sorry. Uh

[1:14:20] Thompson Creek land transfer. >> Yeah, there's people that are talking

[1:14:24] about Thompson Creek. There's other entities. uh the uh uh con tribe uh are

[1:14:32] is interested in talking about that piece of property. The reason we're

[1:14:36] talking about it is because we had that cold failure up there and so they're

[1:14:40] interested in um talking with the city about what our long-term plans are for

[1:14:45] that piece of property. We've had all the cursory discussions. This is the I

[1:14:51] think we have 120 acres up there total uh at Tan Tubs and Falls and um they're

[1:14:58] going to come back at the city with more questions but nothing we're going to

[1:15:02] report at this point. We're not asking for a donation of the land. They're

[1:15:06] curious about what the city's plan is for that land and they want to have more

[1:15:10] discussions with us about it. Haven't we gotten yet?

[1:15:13] » Okay. So, we're not transferring any land at this

[1:15:16] » No, ma'am. I uh would not advocate for that uh in any way at this point. And if

[1:15:21] we did and uh it would definitely be a council decision uh not administrative.

[1:15:26] » Did you say we own 120 acres? >> I think it's about there. Yeah, it's a

[1:15:32] the old wershed. Uh it's where Gearhart used to get its water up above Thompson

[1:15:37] Falls by the Thompson Falls neighborhood at the top of the falls. the city of

[1:15:41] Gearhart many moons ago and I'll have to defer our resident historian here maybe

[1:15:49] the there was a dam built up top and that dam then provided pressurized water

[1:15:55] because of its location to the city of Gearhar when Kirhar was much much

[1:16:00] smaller was also not treated and it was not uh it was surface water coming down

[1:16:06] that particular area most of that area is watershed

[1:16:10] The only time that the city of Pearart received any revenue from that was after

[1:16:15] the 2007 storm when we did some salvage logging, this is before Chad, uh, and

[1:16:20] that salvage logging came to about $20,000 worth of revenue to the city of

[1:16:24] Gearhart. That was a onetime thing, but otherwise there's no management plan on

[1:16:29] that property. So, >> so is there any value

[1:16:33] to the city of that land? That question could be answered after

[1:16:38] there was uh some assistance from um some other organizations that could help

[1:16:45] us with timber cruisers to determine whether or not there's any marketable uh

[1:16:51] lumber uh or if there is uh there is some value to the city of Gart because

[1:16:57] we use some of that property as a saging area for debris storage

[1:17:03] uh and handling way back in the I think it was also

[1:17:06] where the dog uh what's that called?

[1:17:13] » Haven. >> Yeah. Yeah. It used to be called the

[1:17:16] animal haven where all the lost dogs would go was up into that area and there

[1:17:20] was a building up there that was torn down. Ghart was in charge of it. So

[1:17:23] there's some history to that property. >> There's also range

[1:17:28] » police shooting. >> Yeah. And we have a shooting range up

[1:17:30] there >> still.

[1:17:32] » Yes. And when he says debris storage, he

[1:17:37] means vegetation. We don't have like trucks or anything up

[1:17:40] there. >> It's just debris that and we burn it

[1:17:43] once a year when it's safe. But it's just lens and we don't the yard debris.

[1:17:50] [clears throat] >> All right.

[1:17:54] Are we good? >> You can ask a question. Chad, um, to the

[1:18:00] best of your knowledge, does the city of Seaside have So Leonard

[1:18:07] just does building code enforcement? Correct.

[1:18:11] » Correct. >> Okay.

[1:18:12] » Uh, and he does short-term vacation rental inspections.

[1:18:16] » Okay. >> That is around the building.

[1:18:19] » Right. Right. But if there's other when somebody

[1:18:22] um does seaside have a code enforcement person that handles things other than

[1:18:28] building like there's a car parked on my you know on the neighbor's lot that

[1:18:33] shouldn't be there or those bushes need to be cut back.

[1:18:35] » They have a code enforcement officer and they also have a police officer that is

[1:18:40] a community policing officer that deals a lot with some of the homeless some of

[1:18:45] those parking issues and those sorts of things as well. How many police officers

[1:18:48] does Seaside have? >> 20.

[1:18:51] » 20. >> 20.

[1:18:52] » Does Does Beach have a code enforcement officer that that handles that kind of

[1:18:57] stuff? >> Yes, they do.

[1:18:58] » Does Warranton have a code enforcement officer that handles that kind of stuff?

[1:19:02] » Uh, I believe so. >> I think they might have had an opening.

[1:19:06] » Yeah, I think they have a position for that.

[1:19:09] » They have a position for it. >> What about Atoria?

[1:19:11] » Yes. >> Okay. So, Gearhart is one of the few

[1:19:14] around that does not have a code enforcement officer. The citizens here

[1:19:18] um do not pay for a code enforcement officer other than a building. I know.

[1:19:23] Well, >> yes.

[1:19:24] » You are our city administrator. Is that correct?

[1:19:26] » Yes, ma'am. >> He's also

[1:19:31] » That was my point. That was my point. >> Okay.

[1:19:36] » Any other questions, comments?

[1:19:40] There are no visitors.

[1:19:46] Is that correct? >> Correct.

[1:19:47] » Okay. We're going to move on to oral public comment. Anyone wishing to

[1:19:53] address the city council concerning items of interest not on the agenda may

[1:19:59] do so at this time. All remarks will be limited to five minutes per person.

[1:20:04] Requests to comment electronically must be submitted by email to the city

[1:20:10] recorder at info@c cityofgeearart.com no later than 400 pm the day of the

[1:20:18] meeting. Inerson attendees wishing to speak are required to sign in prior to

[1:20:25] the meeting. I'm going to

[1:20:29] go to my signin board. Deanna Manel, please state your name and

[1:20:35] your address. >> Hi, uh Deanna Nel, 2945 Highway 101

[1:20:41] North Airport. Um I submitted a letter in your packet concerning 13th Street

[1:20:49] and the issue down there is there's a couple parcels of land that don't have

[1:20:59] clear ownership. Uh, Adam Niles and I had, you know, both reviewed, you know,

[1:21:08] a lot of the legal descriptions, tax accounts, and everything.

[1:21:14] And he found that there was um, a parcel of land that had originally been owned

[1:21:21] by Barney Lucas back in 1939, and he died in 1985.

[1:21:31] And the county has no record of who got titled to that 86

[1:21:40] by 90 foot strip of land down there. He also found that there's a 15t strip of

[1:21:50] land um that is a pedestrian path. We also

[1:21:58] can't find any deed to that land. So, Adam and I thought that perhaps we could

[1:22:10] ask the council to do um a full title search to determine the ownership on

[1:22:21] those two parcels. It's pretty important because um

[1:22:28] um kid wants to use the property down there

[1:22:35] at the end to extend 13th Street, you know, [clears throat] so he can build

[1:22:41] out there in the dunes. So he had originally got Pacific Palisades

[1:22:47] to sign an access easement, but we had found that they don't own that land. And

[1:22:55] so what I would suggest

[1:23:00] if if it sounds reasonable for the council to hire a title

[1:23:07] insurance company and do a deep search to find the ownership and that would

[1:23:15] clear up everything. Right now uh nobody can do anything with that land

[1:23:22] you know. So, um,

[1:23:26] just as a suggestion, I I've only ran into that issue one

[1:23:32] other time in all the years I've surveyed, and that was over on Hagar

[1:23:38] Street between um, Weager Horn's Land and Palace Land. That's the only time in

[1:23:45] all these years that

[1:23:51] we cannot search the uh card file at the courthouse and figure out who who owned

[1:23:58] you know that strip of land. So in that case you go to a title insurance

[1:24:03] company. So I'm just, you know, suggesting that perhaps you might be

[1:24:09] interested in pursuing this route. But thank you

[1:24:14] very much. >> You're welcome. Thank you.

[1:24:21] Okay.

[1:24:29] We were also received a letter from

[1:24:35] St. Paul St. Vincent Deal thanking us for their donation they received.

[1:24:45] And then there's a letter from I want to say Kai Fullerton, but

[1:24:52] » is that Kai? >> Yes.

[1:24:54] » Thank you. on transient mar room tax

[1:25:00] and he's um

[1:25:06] asking for a refund. I don't we'll have to talk about that chat. I'm not sure if

[1:25:11] that's something we can bring up right now and do anything with.

[1:25:18] and you uh made a notice of election for Gearhart city council

[1:25:25] is another letter that we got and that means that

[1:25:30] the three people running Joseph Clark and Virginia Dennium are all valid

[1:25:39] candidates. Is that correct? Correct. have a sense

[1:25:42] of the council's far county.

[1:25:46] » Right. Okay. Is there anyone in the video audience

[1:25:53] that needs to talk at this time on a subject that is not on the agenda?

[1:26:00] I see no hands. [clears throat]

[1:26:03] Excuse me. All right.

[1:26:08] Correspondence we went through. We have no late correspondence, I take it.

[1:26:16] Okay, we have old business, the United States Postal Service.

[1:26:21] Is anyone in the audience want to speak? You have three minutes to speak to this

[1:26:26] if you do seeing no hands. Anyone on the audio

[1:26:33] video want to speak about the USPS?

[1:26:40] I see no raised hands. Okay, let's talk about this.

[1:26:48] Chad, read us our synopsis, please. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor and council. Uh following

[1:26:54] the closure of the Gearhart contract postal unit on February 27, 2026, the

[1:27:00] city has continued working with USPS to identify a workable long-term mail

[1:27:05] delivery solution. USPS has indicated a willingness to provide cluster mailbox

[1:27:10] units and installation if the city can identify an appropriate location. The

[1:27:16] primary challenge is finding suitable property for a centralized facility.

[1:27:19] city owns very little property and that could accommodate the mailbox units,

[1:27:25] customer access, parking, circulation, ADA accessibility, and safety USPS

[1:27:30] servicing. Earlier discussions contemplated approximately 300 mailbox

[1:27:36] component uh compartments. More recent information from the USPS uh just last

[1:27:41] month indicates the potential need for closer to 900 to 950

[1:27:47] compartments substantially increasing the amount of land and infrastructure

[1:27:51] required. City staff is evaluating whether any properties could reasonably

[1:27:55] accommodate facility at this size. If a centralized location cannot be

[1:27:59] identified, another option may be to distribute smaller groups of cluster

[1:28:05] mailbox units throughout different neighborhoods. The city is also asking

[1:28:10] USPS whether any grant facility or other funding programs may be available to

[1:28:16] assist with property acquisition or site development. Residents who previously

[1:28:21] received free post office boxes are not necessarily limited to continuing post

[1:28:25] office box service in seaside. If a resident is located along an existing

[1:28:30] USPS carrier route, the resident may be eligible to request residential mail

[1:28:36] delivery directly from USPS. Staff will continue working with USPS to

[1:28:40] confirm the number of configuration of mailbox units needed and evaluate

[1:28:45] potential locations and explore neighborhood cluster mailbox options and

[1:28:50] determine whether funding assistance is available. To date, I have not heard

[1:28:55] back from USPS from the email I sent about two weeks ago.

[1:29:02] » Go ahead. Did you send it to >> I sent it to Ryan Chest Dane uh the USPS

[1:29:09] uh director in this area for this area?

[1:29:17] » Do you do you think that that 900 to 950 is

[1:29:23] » correct? Seems like a lot. It seems like Gearheart would be a part

[1:29:30] of offering boxes to people that are not necessarily living in Gearhart with that

[1:29:35] calculation but are close enough to previously have been using the post

[1:29:40] office as well. So, I'm not sure exactly how the calculation has since I received

[1:29:45] that information. And then sent a email to Brian Chesty

[1:29:50] and I haven't heard back from him. >> And we I don't know too cuz we thought

[1:29:56] about it is is that if that includes like every single homeowner at the condo

[1:30:02] units because this point they don't necessarily have delivery

[1:30:07] there. So they have to provide a box, an account or a box even if they've never

[1:30:15] had a PO box before because the residents could change. So they have to

[1:30:21] provide a mailbox for every home. So we were thinking maybe that includes some

[1:30:28] of the areas. >> So potentially we've got a lot of empty

[1:30:32] boxes that are >> That would be my guess. That would be my

[1:30:36] assumption just based on the 900.

[1:30:42] » Did you have a question? >> So basically

[1:30:46] everything in the southside is eligible for home delivery. I'm going to

[1:30:54] defer to Miss Justine. She has the map. >> Yes. So we were given the map and the

[1:31:00] map was the official delivery zone and non-dely zone for the city of Gearhart

[1:31:05] by the local postmap you know worker. It was not an official USPS document. It

[1:31:13] was just a document she had prepared for us. So the post office and seaside

[1:31:19] confirmed that any delivery that they had done before they you would be

[1:31:25] allowed. So we like to say from Pacific Way south, but Hersel Circle,

[1:31:32] Shinook, um, Ridge, those are are >> in fact north, but they've had delivery

[1:31:40] before. Now, why? We don't know the answer to that. So, they still continue

[1:31:46] to have delivery, and we have had quite a few of those residents put up

[1:31:50] mailboxes there. So >> the general rule is if you live Pacific

[1:31:56] Way or South, it's likely you can have a mailbox, but you need to go to the USPS

[1:32:04] in Seaside to confirm that because a lot of the delivery they did not deliver. So

[1:32:10] Marian, they didn't deliver. um maybe Nidita uh some of those areas and they

[1:32:18] have allowed and incorporated those in because they were on that side. So

[1:32:24] » So my question is the reserve is part of your art

[1:32:29] » and they have a box system at the reserve.

[1:32:32] » They have a box system at the reserve. >> They have a little house.

[1:32:35] » Okay. The Highlands. >> No.

[1:32:37] » Okay. Palisades. >> No.

[1:32:40] » Pine Ridge. Nothing anything north of gun clever.

[1:32:47] » No, >> except

[1:32:53] » not us. >> Okay, I know.

[1:32:55] » There were people there were sur >> there were people in Surf Pines that

[1:33:00] used to have post office boxes here. Half of half of Surf Pines is seaside

[1:33:06] gearart side. Half of it is the Lawren side. I have it in the war side and I

[1:33:10] get it delivered. >> Yeah.

[1:33:13] » So the 900 950 is what they're anticipating if they have to service

[1:33:20] everybody in the condos and everything else

[1:33:23] » in the Gearart city limits. They will not ever allow anybody that has the

[1:33:28] option of delivery to have the system. The only people who will be eligible for

[1:33:34] these cluster boxes are people who have a physical address in the non-dely area.

[1:33:39] That's it. >> No one else.

[1:33:41] » I don't see where where the postal service is going to get enough land or

[1:33:47] whether we're going to get enough land to put 900 or 950 cluster boxes in.

[1:33:52] » Well, they're 24 per box. So 24 divided by 9 900 divided by 24. It just seems to

[1:33:59] me that it'd be a lot easier for the rural delivery guy.

[1:34:05] » 300. >> Don't disagree. Don't disagree.

[1:34:08] » To drive down the drive down cottage or drive down Maryland.

[1:34:16] » Yeah. uh in 2016, I think it was 2016, for

[1:34:20] some reason 2014 is in the back of my head, but in 2016, United States Post

[1:34:24] Office Service changed their policy for the entire United States of America that

[1:34:30] all new neighborhoods were not going to get

[1:34:34] street delivery, that they would only have cluster box delivery.

[1:34:39] So, Richie Development would get cluster box delivery

[1:34:44] that was developed prior to >> is it a non

[1:34:48] » that is a non-d delivery >> non delivery area

[1:34:52] » they're not letting them do that >> I think we need to get a hold of our

[1:34:56] representatives and senators and start pushing back against the joy and his

[1:34:59] group >> well I had [laughter]

[1:35:05] I' I've spoken with Javad with Javity I've spoken with the secretary of state

[1:35:11] um especially when we all didn't get our village pamphlets uh distributed the way

[1:35:15] that we were supposed to if you had a PO box. Uh I have spoken with uh both our

[1:35:20] senator's offices and today I spoke with Bonamichi and I have spoken repeatedly

[1:35:27] with Ryan Chastine and I even had a few conversations with um that nice guy Ryan

[1:35:33] Sherman down in um Seaside >> [clears throat]

[1:35:37] » um who was not my friend before. Anyway, um

[1:35:46] the problem is one of the delays is that um I'm getting the impression that there

[1:35:54] are some things that they have not considered um that this may be something

[1:35:59] I don't know if they've dealt with this or not, but they did not consider the

[1:36:03] fact that we do have a bunch of homeowners down here in this area that

[1:36:07] could get delivery that have not been getting delivery. And so we have asked

[1:36:11] them, what are you going to do with those folks? Are they included in your

[1:36:14] 900 or are you going to tell them we don't have we're going to create a PO

[1:36:18] box for you? If you want mail delivery, you have to set up a something right

[1:36:23] next to your driveway because they are entitled to do that. In any other city

[1:36:26] I've ever lived in, um that is the way they've done it. They don't give you a

[1:36:31] box when you have the ability to put one right next to your driveway. Um they

[1:36:36] have not gotten back to us. The other problem that I have is that we ask them

[1:36:41] repeatedly, how are you going to communicate this to the citizens because

[1:36:46] they seem to think that we could tell them which people in Gearhart they're

[1:36:51] not delivering to? >> Well, we don't deliver to them to. So,

[1:36:54] we don't know who you're not delivering to. And and she'll tell you that the map

[1:36:58] that she got is I mean, it's not written in crayon, but it might as well be,

[1:37:02] right? It's not an official map. Correct. So, I would never want to rely

[1:37:06] on that. and as a as a government entity give information to people and tell them

[1:37:10] rely on this information and we've been bitten by trying to help people in our

[1:37:16] community by giving them information and then the US post office will turn around

[1:37:21] and and flip their decision on it and then we it's it's breeding distrust. So

[1:37:27] I've been very we should be very careful on what we give out. But I am pushing

[1:37:31] back on him and I hope the city is continuing to push back on him saying

[1:37:34] how are you going to communicate this to people and why aren't you? And that was

[1:37:38] one of my key discussion points with Bonamichi's office today is they are

[1:37:44] serving the community here and they are not treating their customers well.

[1:37:48] They're not giving them the information that they need. The only letter, the

[1:37:52] only official communication we ever received from them was back in January

[1:37:57] or February when they said, "You need to start going to the seaside post office."

[1:38:00] And even that information turned out to be wrong because they told us we could

[1:38:03] pick it up pick up our mail from 8 to 5 and 8 to 10:30 on Saturdays. And then

[1:38:10] the next day, they put a notice on the post office door saying, "Oh, you can't

[1:38:14] pick up your mail until after 10:30." Well, which means you can't pick up your

[1:38:18] mail at all on Saturday because they closed at 10:30. So, I went down there

[1:38:22] and that's the first discussion Ryan Sherman and I had. Um, so they

[1:38:28] that's part of the discussion that we've been having. I hope that they understand

[1:38:32] now that this is a far more complicated um process than they thought it was. And

[1:38:38] yeah, um 9 and what would we say? 900 boxes divided by 24 is about 38

[1:38:46] locations throughout our community. There's no way we're going to be able to

[1:38:49] location. They only had about 700 over there. And yes, we do have to have a box

[1:38:55] or at least the ability, the option for a box because if somebody sells their

[1:38:59] house and somebody moves in or somebody becomes a full-timer and they want to

[1:39:02] pick up their mail, they have to have a spot. So, we have to we have to pre-plan

[1:39:07] for all of that and it will not we UPS United States Post Office needs to

[1:39:12] figure this out because this affects so many things.

[1:39:17] » Ben Franklin's rolling in his grave >> and they [clears throat] are letting

[1:39:20] people put individual mailboxes in front of their house

[1:39:25] that not cluster boxes.

[1:39:28] » Right. >> I see Larry and and his next door

[1:39:30] neighbor down here put them on the north side.

[1:39:33] » Okay. Well, that's a whole thing. >> Go to the post office. It makes no

[1:39:37] sense. And I warn everybody, do not do anything without talking to them face to

[1:39:42] face because >> there are so many stories about people

[1:39:45] putting mailboxes and then being told they can't they will not deliver them.

[1:39:50] » He comes up south and then he goes down. Soon as you do, park and run across the

[1:39:54] street. We don't know. It's not the city. We're not taking that part out. We

[1:40:00] mentioned that it may be a possibility. And we have a process to where people

[1:40:04] actually have to come in the city and we have to approve where they're going to

[1:40:07] put the box because of utilities and underground and that sort of thing. So

[1:40:11] that is something that permit needs to be paid for and then we go through a

[1:40:14] little process but you're not handling the individual yes you can no you cannot

[1:40:20] that was not our decision. So, so if somebody wants thinks that they might be

[1:40:24] entitled to put a post a post box right next to their driveway or on their

[1:40:28] property, they should first go to the post office and confirm that. And if I

[1:40:33] was that person, I would take a witness with me,

[1:40:35] » take a picture, >> um, and take a picture or something. Uh,

[1:40:38] if you can get it in writing, uh, good luck. Try. Um, and then after that, come

[1:40:43] and talk to the city and find out if there's anything you need to do to meet

[1:40:47] our requirements as far as city ordinances or placements or whatever.

[1:40:50] Because what we would want not want people doing is putting it right next to

[1:40:54] the asphalt because um, our city is uniquely designed and where we have a

[1:40:59] lot of roads that are paved and then gravel also. And that gravel area is

[1:41:04] city property. So, you wouldn't necessarily be able to put a a post

[1:41:08] office box right next to the the paved area. You would have to put it on on the

[1:41:13] edge of your property. >> Well, because there's underground

[1:41:16] utilities, >> right?

[1:41:17] » So, you need to have a bouquet. >> Right. Right. So, post office and then

[1:41:22] us and and then you should be covered. And I would strongly recommend to take a

[1:41:28] picture or a hard copy of where you're putting that mailbox when you go down to

[1:41:32] the USPS and you make them show approve it right there. They like Dana said, you

[1:41:38] can get them to initial it or somehow, but you make sure that you have

[1:41:43] something that says yes, it's okay because we have some

[1:41:47] issues. You know, we hear about it here because people are very frustrated.

[1:41:53] » Yeah. Well, so anyway, that's the only update that we can give you is that they

[1:41:57] now think they know the number, but they have not since last week, they haven't

[1:42:02] replied on whether that number includes the people that were living south of

[1:42:06] Pacific Point that had post that had PO boxes, if those folks are going to be

[1:42:11] asked to get their own or they're going to be included. So, we're waiting to

[1:42:15] hear back on that. And then Yeah. And then we have to figure out where we're

[1:42:19] going to put these um because if people want to get their

[1:42:23] mail, it's not ideal, but uh we're going to put these mailboxes someplace.

[1:42:27] » We are not. >> Okay.

[1:42:31] » We're not we're >> No. Well, as a community, we're going to

[1:42:34] have to we're going to have to allow them in our community someplace.

[1:42:38] » Okay. So, can we move on to uh the work session followup?

[1:42:45] Is there anything else for the post office?

[1:42:48] » Okay, Chad, will you read the synopsis on our

[1:42:52] old business? Oh, sorry. Is there anyone wishing to make a comment

[1:42:59] about our old business strategic direction work session followup?

[1:43:06] Nobody in the audience? Is there anyone on screen that wishes to do this?

[1:43:12] Okay, I see nobody anywhere. Chad, please read the synopsis. Uh,

[1:43:18] » the purpose of this agenda item is to summarize the August 27th work session.

[1:43:23] Uh, confirm the next steps for the city strategic direction process.

[1:43:27] At the August 27th work session, council discussed Gearhart's long-term

[1:43:31] direction, financial sustainability, service expectations,

[1:43:36] infrastructure needs, and future community involvement.

[1:43:41] Council generally supported preserving Gearhart's primarily residential

[1:43:45] character and livability while maintaining core services, public safety

[1:43:50] readiness, infrastructure, financial stability, affordability, and

[1:43:56] community trust. Based on the discussion, the strategic

[1:44:00] priority areas may be organized into the following five buckets.

[1:44:04] One was financial stability, reserves, and infrastructure maintenance.

[1:44:10] Number two was public safety readiness. Number three was water infrastructure

[1:44:16] and water rights. Number four was community understanding,

[1:44:21] involvement, and livability. Number five is business support.

[1:44:28] These priority areas are intended to guide the next phase of staff work and

[1:44:32] council discussion. for the next steps staff per direction

[1:44:37] that begin working on following brief summary

[1:44:43] working on that now and that's what this is part of a highle financial outlook

[1:44:51] which we will be providing information for and you heard Justine's update on

[1:44:56] what she's working on known service infrastructure reserve and

[1:45:02] capital needs which we're working with staff currently

[1:45:06] on that continued review of PLT and other

[1:45:10] funding options draft charter for temporary advisory

[1:45:15] group discussed a little bit public

[1:45:20] communication community involvement staff will keep this work at a high

[1:45:25] level at this stage will return to council with draft materials for review

[1:45:30] staff recommends that council confirm the general prior priority areas and

[1:45:33] direct staff to continue preparing the next phase of work including a draft

[1:45:38] advisory group charter and high level work plan.

[1:45:42] No legal or financial analysis on this particular synopsis. That's the general

[1:45:48] direction that we're headed. Uh that's involving all the conversations that we

[1:45:53] had in the work sessions. It's also been working with the city councilors on an

[1:45:56] individual basis on the next steps and I think we've got a pretty good

[1:46:01] heading on this situation. I know that uh councelor Sharon,

[1:46:05] councelor point have also been working very closely with me on some of the

[1:46:09] ideas on working through these issues. They have something uh for us to report

[1:46:14] tonight. But that is the uh synopsis. >> Thank you.

[1:46:20] » Hey ladies, that something you want to report? Well, we did meet and uh did uh

[1:46:27] start to work on the um the draft charter for a temporary

[1:46:33] advisory group. Um one thing I would say um I sense from the mayor and your

[1:46:41] request for us to consider a fee uh urgency. I

[1:46:47] » thank you. >> I'm assuming that's why you wanted to do

[1:46:50] that. And if there is urgency and I think there is for us to get

[1:46:58] set what what we are going to try and use for our revenue sources that the

[1:47:04] committee's work should be uh short and compact as possible

[1:47:10] um so that council can hear their findings and then we need time to

[1:47:17] deliberate and all that's got to really be in place by the time Justine needs to

[1:47:23] start on the budget in April. >> That would be well our first

[1:47:30] presentation would be to for the budget committee would be in April. So we

[1:47:35] usually the month before that >> right

[1:47:38] » here and then we that would be me working on it and then the month before

[1:47:42] that. So uh February, January, February would be staff doing what they're doing

[1:47:50] now. So they have already started that in a faster pace than we're working, but

[1:47:57] we wouldn't be I mean ideally we can make changes up to the budget.

[1:48:03] We would want to present them to the coun to the budget committee, but we

[1:48:08] could make changes to the budget up until the April meeting.

[1:48:13] Even if we had a meeting in no May, even if we had an April budget committee

[1:48:20] meeting, if something should change, we could still the budget committee and we

[1:48:24] could set another budget committee meeting, but they could still see and

[1:48:28] approve changes in May and then you guys will still see the budget in June for

[1:48:35] final approval. So, it will be seen three times with opportunities to make

[1:48:40] changes. Anyway,

[1:48:44] that's just my comment. I mean, December, January time frame for the

[1:48:50] committee to be giving us recommendations.

[1:48:58] » Sharon, do you have anything you want to add?

[1:49:02] Um, I would just say that I am very excited to have a diverse group of

[1:49:07] people um to look into this and become familiar with what it takes to run the

[1:49:13] city and how much it takes and what monies go where and um I think it's

[1:49:19] going to be a great educ educational experience for all of us actually.

[1:49:25] » Anyone else have anything? >> Yeah, I have a couple things. Um, first

[1:49:28] of all, in response to what somebody said earlier today in the in the hearing

[1:49:33] was that this was the foregone conclusion that the TLT would be

[1:49:36] approved. Um, I want to go on the record of saying what I've said from the very

[1:49:41] beginning in our budget meetings was that yes, we approved a budget and we

[1:49:44] knew that there was going to be a shortfall and we were going to have to

[1:49:47] discuss ways to come up with the money, but I have never agreed to the 15 or

[1:49:53] above percent um, TLT tax. And I I do agree that it needs to be increased, but

[1:50:00] I think that just doing that alone will not solve our problems and is is not the

[1:50:05] most financially uh most fiscally sound way to approach

[1:50:09] this problem. Um the other thing that I would like to say is I would like to see

[1:50:15] us um not hold up critical safety repairs

[1:50:23] uh while we're waiting on this financial system. Um because OSHA has um if if

[1:50:30] OSHA comes in and calls you out on something um they can give you a ticket,

[1:50:35] but they can also find that you were negligent and and if

[1:50:42] there was willful disregard for a situation, that is a safety issue for

[1:50:46] employees. And that is the biggest thing. If you're standing underneath a

[1:50:49] garage door that weighs several hundred pounds and pushing it up with a stick in

[1:50:54] order to get it open, not only is that bad for the public because there's no

[1:50:57] guarantee you're going to be able to get out that door, it's extremely dangerous

[1:51:01] for the person standing underneath the garage door. So, whatever we think the

[1:51:06] repair is, whether it could be just a spring or whether it could be whatever,

[1:51:11] I think long-term the plan needs to be to get electric doors on that so nobody

[1:51:16] is standing underneath the doors pushing up with a stick or other a rope or

[1:51:19] anything else. But also, I think we need to look into that and not hold up those

[1:51:24] type of critical repairs. And I want to go on the record saying that because if

[1:51:28] if OSHA does come in and start throwing out criminal charges, I'm going to be on

[1:51:33] the record saying you should not wait on that. In fact, you should close that

[1:51:37] garage door down until it can be repaired.

[1:51:41] » Is there another part? >> No, that was my two parts.

[1:51:44] » Okay. Anyone else with the comments? All [clears throat] right. I'm gonna go

[1:51:52] and say council concerns Preston.

[1:51:58] Um just I think that we need to move along

[1:52:02] with the citizen advisory [clears throat]

[1:52:06] finances.

[1:52:10] » Good. >> We are we will

[1:52:14] we're making it a priority.

[1:52:18] Okay, Dana.

[1:52:21] » Uh, the street light presentation that we had last month, I'm I'm not clear on

[1:52:26] what's happening with that. I thought there was a time limit if we were going

[1:52:29] to be able to get that that reimbursement or the the rebate. We

[1:52:34] needed to have it done by sometime this month. So,

[1:52:37] » end of September. Yeah. >> Okay. So, are we going to be moving

[1:52:41] forward with that? I don't I don't recall us having a vote to actually do

[1:52:44] it. Did we? Okay. We're moving forward with it. There's a few things we've got

[1:52:48] to work out and a few investigations we can do, but start working on that again

[1:52:52] probably next week. But it's just >> Well, what I'm saying is do we need any

[1:52:56] other council action before we go forward with that? Okay. Thank you.

[1:53:01] » Chair.

[1:53:07] [clears throat]

[1:53:10] » Yeah. I just uh one thing that I would just ask um if or maybe you could advise

[1:53:17] me and I'll do it. Um I would like to know if any of the other towns in the

[1:53:21] county are raising their TLT as we are because I know a lot of people

[1:53:29] have talked about 10% and 12% a story and and such. Um, but it would it would

[1:53:37] be interesting to know if we're the only city raising

[1:53:42] tax. >> I because I've seen the numbers.

[1:53:47] » We'll do uh nobody local that I know of other than the county,

[1:53:51] » right? >> The state,

[1:53:54] » right, heard that >> Medford and that's what I know of so

[1:53:59] far. Oh. >> Um, but I have I that was just a real

[1:54:03] shallow dive that I did just a few minutes as somebody was talking and

[1:54:06] asking about it. Um, so I'll see if I can find you some more information. I'll

[1:54:11] report back to you. >> I just I think that uh if there are

[1:54:16] other cities that are raising taxes, that would be a u pertinent to me and my

[1:54:22] vote. I hear what people are saying. I also think that your heart is a really

[1:54:27] really really special place to come and stay and maybe it's worth a little more

[1:54:33] tax. I mean, but [clears throat] that's just that's my personal opinion. Um, so

[1:54:41] I'm always looking for more information. >> That is

[1:54:46] okay. I'll take a motion. A

[1:54:50] » motion to adjurnn. Second.

[1:54:55] » All those in favor? >> I

[1:55:02] thank you. >> Thank you everybody.

[1:55:06] » Right. >> But there's ways

Sep 2 2026 CC MTG & Public Hearing

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