Pacific City
SUN
Facebook reportedly admits to ‘Frac-Out’ at Tierra Del Mar................... 4
School houses of yesterday
Tillamook County drops to Lower Risk category in COVID framework..................5
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Virtual hearing reveals divided opinions on beach driving restrictions.....................6
Vol. 15, No. 361 • January 29, 2021 • FREE!
PAC addresses Pacific City area pay-to-park plans By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun
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Championing the Trail
TORTA’s online fundraiser to help pay for mountain bike trails Chamber to host new director from Tillamook County Library system The Pacific City – Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce will host special guests Geri Godber, new director of the Tillamook County Library system and Jaykob Wood, new director of Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, at its February monthly meeting. Held via Zoom, the meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 2, noon-1:15 p.m. and can be accessed at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83515 167915?pwd=d1UzMHdTVXI4Ujlxa3hsYT BXeUl2QT09. The meeting ID is 835 1516 7915 and the passcode is 291475. Godber’s most recent experience was the director of the Christian County Library System in Missouri. At the scheduled time of the meeting, she reportedly will be driving
cross country to Tillamook and plans to find a café (or library) with internet service so she can join the meeting. The chamber will be her first community contact in Tillamook County. Wood is also from the Midwest – Michigan. Both will be introduced by Tillamook County Commissioner Mary Faith Bell who is planning on providing an update on other county happenings. The Chamber is also planning to have a report from the Tillamook County Health Department regarding the status of vaccine availability in Tillamook County, which seems to change daily, if not hourly.
The Chamber is also hoping to hear from either Representative David Gomberg and Senator Dick Anderson — or both. The legislators are reportedly busy attending to work in the current legislative session in Salem. Though the Chamber is noting that it’s been a difficult and challenging year for most of us, they are pledging to remain a key player in South Tillamook County with current information on Covid-19, the latest from elected officials, help for local small businesses and more. The Chamber is also moving forward with plans for July 4th fireworks, Clover’s Day, the Reach the Beach bicycle event and Dory Days.
he Pacific City/Woods Parking Advisory Committee addressed a number of topics from wayfinding to shuttle buses at its Jan. 27 meeting, but spent the bulk of the time discussing the upcoming pay-to-park program at Cape Kiwanda and the Pacific City Turnaround (end of Pacific Avenue). Tillamook County Parks Director JoAnn Woelfle said that because of a COVID-related delay with one of its vendors, the installation of the meters, originally planned to be completed by the end of January, had been pushed back. As reported in the Dec. 18 issue of the Sun, the county will be installing five meters — two of which will be in Pacific City. “We did have a COVID situation at one of our vendors that caused a two-week delay, but we’re looking at getting the kiosks next week,” Woelfle said. “They’re scheduled for Jan 31st and the machines are going to be there shortly thereafter. We’re going to get the kiosks installed and then the machines installed inside the kiosks. I’m hoping that within the next two weeks, if everything is working out great, we’re going to be able to have the machines up and running.” She said the county’s current yearly pass system is working properly with many passes already ordered. Passes, which are good for all of the county’s day use facilities and cost $55, or $45 for seniors or disabled veterans, can currently be purchased by calling 503-322-3522, but Woelfle said she hopes to have an online registration active in early to mid February where passes will also be able to be purchased. PARKING ENFORCEMENT ADDRESSED Members of the parking committee also discussed the timing of when enforcement would begin and the practical issues surrounding citing people for parking violations. Tillamook County Commissioner David Yamamoto suggested the idea of having the meters fully installed for a period of time before police begin writing citations. “I’m saying we need a coordinated effort to rollout before we turn these machines on and expect everyone to have a pass,” he said. “I’d like the machines to be in place and people used to seeing them before we actually make everything active.” Tillamook County Sheriff Josh Brown said he agreed with that concept, but that there’s also the issue of how to deal with enforcement on the beach where dory and kayak operators are currently allowed to park. He said that the issue is that it’s a state beach but a county ordinance. “Obviously the optics are you’re paying to park on the beach, but the county’s means to get to that (is) it’s the county beach access ramp, and we do have the authority to charge on that.” Brown also made reference to the logistical challenge of enforcing the parking county wide. “It is important to understand that there are going to be hundreds of cars down there in the numerous parking lots in PC alone,” he said. “That’s not to mention all of the other parks or locations where this fee is going to be implemented. When you’re talking about one deputy, two deputies that are trying to enforce (parking for) these cars and write citations, just to write citation does take a lot of time.” Brown said that from an enforcement perspective, that still raises a legal question. “We’ll have to witness them driving down on that ramp to say they used that ramp,” he explained. “(It’s) not that there’s any other access points, but, if we write a citation to somebody for not paying their fee to drive down that ramp, I guarantee what they’re going to say is my buddy has a house down here, and that’s how I got down here.”
PACIFIC CITY AND TILLAMOK ARE FOR LIMITED INDOOR DINING we are open! OPEN
Pelican Brewing Company’s Pacific City and Tillamook locations are now open for Seated Indoor Dining. All three of our locations are still open for Curbside, Takeout, and Weather Dependent Patio Seating. Fly over and choose your favorite way to enjoy Pelican’s award-winning beer and beer-inspired cuisine. Check out PelicanBrewing.com to stay up to date on all our current offerings and dining options.