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Siuslaw NewsFriday, September 22, 2023 Florence, Oregon

Number 38 • 133 years

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Council updates Florence parking ordinance

City Attorney Ross Williamson told the council the ordinance was updated to agree with state law and after a work session where The Florence City Council the council gave feedback. voted unanimously to update the “The purpose of this ordinance city’s parking ordinance with a is primarily to deal with what goal of ensuring homeless people we’re calling vehicle camping. who live in their vehicles cannot It’s folks experiencing homelessstay in one location for an extend- ness, and they have nowhere else ed length of time. to go but their vehicle,” William-

By DAVID RUPKALVIS Country Media

son said. “If they’re parked on a city street, this ordinance will address those issues. We are also talking about the nuisance aspects of vehicle camping. We’re proposing regulations that we believe are objectively reasonable and balance the needs of those that are homeless and our businesses and property owners. We’re implementing some real regulations

that we believe will have real impacts on the community.” Williamson said the new ordinance requires those living in vehicles to move at least 600 feet every 72 hours. The 600-foot distance equates to about three city blocks. Shorter time limits in places like Old Town would remain in place. “Say you’re parking some-

where, and there’s a two-hour parking, a three-hour parking or maybe the 72-hour parking across the city. If you move on the same block, that doesn’t reset the clock,” Williamson said. “Now it’s clear if you move to the other side of the street or around the corner, that’s not enough if

See PARKING page 6A

School board Delilah is back on the air as KDUN celebrates anniversary declines monthly stipend

By BREE LAUGHLIN Country Media

A big-time radio personality is supporting the small-town radio station where she started. Reedsport-based radio station KDUN has been back on the air for two years thanks in part to radio host Delilah. KDUN made a return to the air after being purchased by Delilah’s Big Shoes Productions in 2021. Delilah is a small-town girl who went on to make a big name for herself in radio. She is known for her feel-good radio show that offers song dedications and provides encouragement and advice to listeners. The nationally-syndicated radio host can be heard coast to coast – but she started her career in Reedsport. Delilah said she wanted to give back to the community where she grew up – and where she started her career in radio at the age of 15 in 1975. “It’s pretty special to have her hometown right here in our backyard and for her to be supporting us,” said station engineer Bob Larson, who also has a fruitful history in radio and television. Larson repaired the transmitter which allowed the 50,000 watt 1030 AM radio station to get back on air after several years of radio silence. Contributed photo Since then, the KDUN team has Delilah returns to the Reedsport Radio station where she started See KDUN page 7A her career.

By RODNEY HARWOOD Special to The News FLORENCE – The Siuslaw School District Board of Directors opted to decline a monthly stipend up to $500 paid to school board members as part of House Bill 2753 at Wednesday night’s board meeting. Resolution No. 091323-6.2 passed unanimously, stating the Siuslaw School District Board authorizes reimbursement of board business and professional development expenses for all board members for the fiscal year 2023-24. Currently, board members are reimbursed for travel expenses, conferences and other expenses occurring outside normal business activity. According to Superintendent Andrew Grzeskowiak, the school district has historically provided reimbursement for professional development

costs and other reasonable expenses related to the performance of the duties of a director. “We have a regular account within the district to take care of their professional growth,” he said. “We’re simply maintaining that practice. In some districts they weren’t doing that and board members were taking on additional expenses for their role. “We have two or three board members that attend the annual conference in November and two or three members that typically attend the summer conference in July. Typically it’s a two-day conference with hotel, meals and registration for the conference.” In other action, the Siuslaw School District Board of Directors approved the Co-Developed Longitudinal Growth Performance Targets, for the state-mandated “growth See BOARD page 6A

After four years, climate protests continue By DAVID RUPKALVIS The Siuslaw News

As they have done almost every Friday for the last four years, Mike and Pat Allen came down to Florence City Hall on Friday to urge city leaders to declare a local climate emergency. The fourth anniversary of the weekly protests coincided with a Global Climate Strike, where those concerned with climate change were asking political leaders to make a difference. Allen said the ongoing protests, which have been held week after week with crowds as big as 20 and as small as four, have begun to make a difference. He pointed to Florence Mayor Rob Ward as an example. “The previous mayor refused to do anything with the county unless it was mandated,” Mike Allen said. “The new mayor looks at it from a different perspective.” Allen said Lane County has a Climate Action Plan, and he would like to see the city of Flor-

Photo by David Rupkalvis/The Siuslaw News

See CLIMATE page 2A Pat Burke, left, and Ray Sherrill hold signs during a climate strike protest in front of Florence City Hall.

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