Pacific City
SUN
Governor’s executive order closes dine-in eating for area restaurants........ 4 Chamber to host Zoom forum for victors of 2020 elections...............................5 Brook Wyntergreen named destination manager for South County
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Visit Tillamook Coast honors tourism heroes..................................9
Vol. 14, No. 356 • November 20, 2020 • FREE!
Coast Guard urges paddlers to label their water crafts
Surging Tides
Recent King Tides, high winds showcase the power of the ocean Yamamoto shares parking plans for Pacific City area By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun s part of his presentation to members of the Pacific City-Woods Citizen Advisory Committee, Tillamook County Commissioner David Yamamoto shared possible directions the county may go if it’s successful in its bid to purchase the Faye Jensen property, a 6.32-acre oceanfront parcel that lies between Pacific Avenue and Kiawanda Community Center. Yamamoto, who spoke at the CAC’s quarterly meeting on Nov. 14, said that amongst the potential uses for the land would be parking. He noted that the Kiawanda Community Center features a “beautiful building” with a recent addition but lacked parking. “Since (the Jensen property abuts) the parking (at the Community Center), we can develop additional parking for Kiawanda Community Center and also make the parking for our visitors, our tourists.” He also noted that the Jensen property could serve visitors at the Pacific City Turnaround area/Pacific Avenue. “There is a great need for parking there, (too),” Yamamoto added. “Could we take a small piece of the Jensen property and turn it into a parking facility? We certainly might.”
Photo by Tim Hirsch
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TILLAMOOK CO. COMMISSIONER David Yamamoto shares the county’s vision for parking in Pacific City.
Still, he cautioned that these are just conceptual ideas at this point. “We have no ‘real’ plans for that property, yet. We have some vision. We’d like to maybe make some hiking trails between here and the Turnaround, (and) maybe some picnic areas. Again, we’re gong to be involving the community in all of those discussions before we make any final decisions.” That said, he did note that the concept of adding parking south of Cape Kiwanda fits into the idea of spreading people out so as to alleviate some of the congestion at the Cape. “Right now, everyone wants to go to the Cape, and I understand that,” he said. “It’s a
beautiful place, but it’s being loved to death. If we can develop some parking (at KCC) and at the Turnaround, to me, that makes a lot of sense.” Yamamoto also addressed a concern over the issue of four wheel drives crossing the dune at Pacific Avenue amidst pedestrians attempting to do the same. Though he said it does create a safety issue, in his discussions with motorists, it’s not as dire as it would seem. “I’ve talked to a lot of people that use that (dune) and one of the good things is, yes, they have to really develop some speed in order to get up either way on that slope, but, if they see something, the minute they take their foot off that gas, that vehicle just sinks into the sand and stops. So, it’s not like they’re going to hit their brakes and skid for 50 feet and run over somebody. (But), yes, it’s still possible.” That said, Yamamoto said he sees potential to improve the situation and that adding stairs or a ramp or other pedestrianonly access across the dune could also be a part of the improvements on the Jensen property. “I think that would be great,” he said. “That would separate pedestrian traffic and motor vehicle traffic trying to get over the dune.”
our special offer to the community
Cheers Tillamook County! From November 19th through December 2nd, we are excited to extend our Team Member discount of 20% off of food and 10% off of beer and merchandise to our coastal family. Show your driver’s license with your Tillamook County address when ordering food at our Takeout window or picking up at Curbside. We look forward to serving our beloved local flock.
The U.S. Coast Guard and its Washington and Oregon boating safety agency partners are urging the labeling of paddle craft and owner responsibility on the waters of the Pacific Northwest. The agency says that reports of unmanned and adrift paddle craft divert federal, state and local response boat and air crews on hundreds of dangerous and costly searches that turn out to be false alarms. Since 2016, 13th Coast Guard District aircraft and vessels have launched on 746 individual cases of vessel reported capsized and adrift. All were unmanned and adrift, not resulting in an actual distress. Each case represents a minimum cost of approximately $40,000 to the taxpayers to respond and conduct searches for possible persons in the water. For the 13th District, this accounts for an operational cost of approximately $29.84 million. The Coast Guard says it treats every distress call and report of an unmanned paddle craft as if a real life is at stake. “Unmanned adrift vessel search and rescue responses are the No. 4 response activity in the Coast Guard nationwide,” said Dan Shipman, recreational boating program specialist for the 13th District. “By properly securing your small craft, on the beach, dock or your vessel from being set adrift, you’re not only saving taxpayers’ dollars, you are helping protect your property, the environment and possibly the life of someone who is actually in need of assistance.” The Coast Guard urges the public to do the following three things: MARK YOUR KAYAK USCG says that by marking your kayak you are taking responsibility for your paddle craft. Their recommended way to do this is by labeling it with an “If Found” sticker, a label that allows responders to confirm if someone is actually in trouble and collect information to help search efforts. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY The USCG is also asking paddlers to take responsibility for that by recovering paddle crafts. The agency says that unmanned and adrift kayaks, canoes, dinghies and rowboats often cause hazards to navigation in the waterway and increase the level of risk and fatigue on response crews tasked to find the owners associated with the unmanned paddle craft. PREVENTING FALSE ALARMS USCG says that false alarms result in first responders being deployed in search of unmanned paddle craft, and this diverts resources away from actual lives in distress. For more information on paddle craft labeling, contact your local Coast Guard Auxiliary and visit iffoundsticker@d13cgaux.net to get free “If Found” stickers to help label your paddle craft. To get a free vessel safety check, visit http://wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=V-DEPT&category=i-wanta-vsc.
THANKSGIVING SPECIALS
Our Pacific City and Cannon Beach locations will be open for Takeout and Curbside Pickup Thanksgiving Day with seasonal specials available all weekend long, while supplies last. Skip the mess and order your feast to pickup from Pelican with ease.