Pacific City Sun, December 2, 2022

Jolly at the Helm

By VICKY HIRSCH of the Sun

‘Tis the season of giving, and South County shoppers will have the chance this Saturday, Dec. 3 to not only buy gifts for loved ones, but to also provide funds for a worthy cause at the same time.

Local artists will be showcasing their art and crafts during “Holiday Art Market,” a sale that will raise funds for the Nestucca Valley Backpack Food Program — a local nonprofit that provides backpacks full of food for food-insecure youth in the Nestucca Valley School District to help get them through the weekends. Each participating artist will donate a portion of the proceeds from their sales.

The Bazaar will take place at 34375 Hwy. 101 S., Cloverdale, next to The Rusty Cow, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artists taking part will include Athena Paradise, little alters and origami lanterns; Liisa Rahkonen, ceramic artist and painter; Kelly Howard, blown glass artist; Danelle Jones, greeting cards and prints; Karin Kaiser, hand-drawn cards; Maile Kaiser, tie dye clothing; Leslie Blanding, greeting cards; Seward Whitfield, painter; Debbie Fox, crafts; and Katy Davis, hand-made dolls. Coffee will be donated by Yellow Dog. Cookies from Grateful Bread will also be on hand.

Event organizer and participating artist Athena Paradise summed up the event’s spirit of giving, saying “I have been volunteering for the backpack program for years. I love helping to raise money for good causes.”

Co-organizer and owner of Cloverdale’s Shrine Gallery, Jay Ylvisaker, added, “It’s fun to bring the community together. Cloverdale is a sweet spot.”

ODFW delays beginning of ocean commercial crab season

ODFW announced on Nov. 18 that the ocean commercial Dungeness crab season opener is delayed until at least Dec. 16 for the entire Oregon coast. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife say the decision was made because pre-season testing shows crabs are too low in meat yield in some areas. Elevated domoic acid also was detected in some crab viscera (guts).

The next round of crab meat yield and biotoxin testing will occur in the coming weeks. Results help determine if the season opens Dec. 16 or is further delayed or split into areas with different opening dates.

ODFW

Opening updates are posted at dfw.state. or.us/MRP/shellfish/commercial/crab/season_ weekly_updates.asp until the decision to open the season is made.

Oregon, California and Washington coordinate Dungeness crab quality testing and the commercial season opening dates. California and Washington are delaying their commercial seasons until at least Dec. 16.

It’s bad santa season!

Due to the Covid pandemic, NVBFP has not been able to do their in-person fundraising gatherings, but have received donations to keep going. This year, with ongoing inflation, the cost of each backpack provided has gone from $11 a bag to $14 a bag. The number of students enrolled in the program has doubled since last year, and some of NVBFP’s top funding sources are not able to provide as much food as in the past. This seasonal fundraising opportunity will help to provide food-insecure students, who rely on their school-provided meals during the week, important nutrition on the weekends as well.

Those wishing to donate directly to NVBFP can make a donation online at nvbackpackprogram.org or mail a check made out to Nestucca Valley Backpack Food Program to: Nestucca Valley Backpack Program, PO Box 793, Pacific City, OR 97135.

tests crabs out of Oregon’s six major crabbing ports in partnership with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the commercial Dungeness crab industry.

ODFW announced on Nov. 18 that the ocean commercial Dungeness crab season opener is delayed until at least Dec. 16.

Stock photo

Home-spun gifts await at area holiday bazaars

Unlocking the key to gardening on the Oregon coast

Interested in learning more about gardening on the Oregon Coast? Have a desire to get to know people with similar interests and your new knowledge? If so, enrolling in the OSU Master Gardener™ training might be a great avenue for you to travel down.

It’s not necessary to be an expert to become an OSU Master Gardener™. Anyone with a sincere interest in gardening and horticulture — including gardeners, farmers, and nursery workers — are encouraged to participate in the 2023 Tillamook OSU Extension Service Master Gardener™ training, a program designed to provide in-depth training for local gardeners who, in turn, will respond by volunteering in the community to help the OSU Extension Service answer home and community horticulture

questions for the public.

For those that have the time and desire to volunteer in their community, the fee for the training is $150, which includes the “Sustainable Gardening” textbook and all class materials. OSU Master Gardeners™ provide volunteer service during the year after they complete their training. They work with other Master Gardeners to answer questions at the OSU Extension office, volunteer at the Master Gardener Learning Garden, and they help educate others in the community about gardening.

Classes are held each Thursday, starting on Jan. 5. The classes run 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. For more information, visit http://extension. oregonstate.edu/tillamook. Registration is available online at https://beav.es/5Ao.

HOLIDAY FUN awaits when the Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwan da Dr., Pacific City, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 34560 Parkway Dr., Cloverda le, host Christmas bazaars on Dec. 3. KCC’s event will run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and St Joe’s will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Above, “Captain Santa,” who is expected again this year, greets a youngster at last year’s KCC event. Above, at right, homemade gifts aplenty were found at last year’s Old Fashioned Christmas Bazaar at St. Joe’s. At right, there were also many hand-made items at KCC’s bazaar with more of the same expected this year.

Photos by Tim Hirsch

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By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun

Tillamook County Commissioners agreed to take a second look at a proposal to enact a business license fee program after business owners packed a Nov. 30 hearing on the draft ordinance, which in its current form asked for businesses in unincorporated Tillamook County to pay $75 and up each year. The funds would go towards activities of the Tillamook Economic Development Council.

Following the criticism of the proposal from all but one who testified, Commissioner David Yamamoto cancelled the second planned hearing.

Commissioner Mary Faith Bell then suggested the county form a working group that would include select business owners to delve further into the controversial proposal.

“I would be interested in exploring with my fellow commissioners the idea of putting together a small workgroup with a couple of names that I’ve written down here today to talk about some of the concerns we’ve heard about specifically in order to move forward, to make some changes,” Bell said following the testimony. “I would volunteer to be on that workgroup with (Tillamook EDC Director) Terre (Cooper) and some business representatives.”

Though there were certainly those who objected to the cost, the greater outcry was centered on the language that allowed for inspects and right-of-entry into businesses.

“I want to know why we’re getting inspected,” said Tillamook farmer Karl Zweifel. “We, as farmers, already fall under Department of (Agriculture and) all sorts of different rules that we follow. It was the inspection and the fact that you want to charge us a little bit of money this day and age, it irritated me. I don’t see a real reason.”

Many others, including Chris Wilks, of Tillamook, also objected to the inspections and right-of-entry.

“The verbiage in it is so vague it gives you guys basically free reign to do whatever you choose to after you implement this with no consequences. Yet, it gives many consequences to every business owner in Tillamook County that is employing the people of Tillamook County.”

And Cloverdale resident Josh Armstrong questioned the need.

“You need to look at the community,” he said, “and ask yourself why are we doing this? Who is this going to benefit? You’re taking money from us, and you say that you’re going to help us. I don’t see that.”

And speaking for the Pacific City-

Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce, its president, Glenn Gillas, expressed numerous reservations.

“(Commissioner) David (Yamamoto), you always pride yourself about Tillamook County being a leader for everything. I don’t see a precedent as far as other counties having a business license in unincorporated areas. Lincoln County is very similar to how we operate. To my knowlege, there is not a county business license (there).”

He also questioned whether most businesses would see any benefit.

“As businesses, we have a hard time understanding what benefit we’re going to get in paying this fee,” he said. “It’s not clear what businesses will receive (from EDC) as a result of these funds.”

He also was concerned about the fairness of the proposal, noting that there are businesses like alarm and electrical companies, as well as fishing guides, that come into town and do their work. He wondered if they would be asked to pay, and, if so, just how the county would enforce these type of businesses.

“Are you going to go down to the river and check all the fishing guides that are coming over from the valley and ask them for their business permit?” he asked.

He also said that the county’s assertion that this is, in part, an effort to celebrate Tillamook County businesses didn’t sit well.

“That’s like my mom inviting me to my birthday party but making me pay to attend my birthday party,” he said.

Another point raised was the length of time the verbiage says the county has to issue a license.

“30 days? This just slows the pace of business down, restricts the whole process,” said Cloverdale businessman Jonathan Whittles, who operates a small machine shop in the Sand Lake area.

“Philosophically, government does not drive the economy. Small businesses drive the economy.

I see two things here. You’ve got one, which is the money. I say, you want the money…. put something simple together, get a little bit of money. This is a power grab of a document. You read through it, and you’re just shocked.

I’m a student of communism, totalitarianism, authoritarianism.

(This draft ordinance is) a creeping control of government. This opens so many opportunities for government to creep into our lives.”

And Tierra Del Mar resident Mike Sears said that the proposal is a discouragement to business rather than an assistance to enterprise.

“As leaders, you should be opening the doors for expansion, for entrepreneurial, for people in crafts,” he said. “This is not a game ender, but it’s certainly a stoppage to the creative process for the people here. What I really want to tell you is I don’t need your permission to earn a living off my property. From the ability I have and the skills I have, I don’t need your permission to make a living.”

COMMISSIONERS RESPOND

“I heard a lot of really, really good points today,” Commissioner Erin Skaar said. “(From) my perspective, there’s a great need to go back and revisit this and to see if there is a way that it can make sense. I think there are some ways that we, as a county, need to think about in terms of who is operating in our county, knowing who is here, (and) ensuring that those (businesses) are properly licensed.

“You’ve given us a lot to work on, and I’m not ready to go forward on this ordinance without additional conversation and work. I appreciate Commissioner Bell’s suggestion to work with you all to talk about it further so that we can do (the) public engagement that it appears we really missed.”

And Commissioner David Yamamoto echoed her concerns.

“I see too many loopholes and problems with the current language in this ordinance,” he said. “I think we’re going to want some of you to be on this committee. It’s going to take time away from your business, yes, but it might help us draft something that will work, and, at this point, it’s going to take some time.”

Photo by Tim Hirsch

A ROOM FULL of business owners, at a Nov. 30 hearing hosted by Tillamook County Commissioners, spoke out against a draft ordinance that was designed to create a business license fee for unincorporated Tillamook County.

New construction homeowners in limbo with short-term rental pause

By CHELSEA YARNELL for the Sun

In 2021, Zachary Clement (of Portland) and his wife were well under way with their new home construction project in Pacific City.

Then in June 2022, the couple heard about the temporary suspension of any new shortterm rental permits.

In May 2022, the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners (BOC) signed Order 22033 that temporarily suspends the issuance of any new short-term rental permits from July 1, 2022 through July 1, 2023 in all unincorporated areas of Tillamook County.

During the moratorium, the Short-Term Rental (STR) Advisory Committee, a group made up of various professionals and community members, has been tasked to help create recommendations in regards to Ordinance 84, which sets regulations and guidelines for short-term rentals.

Order 22-033 temporarily suspends the issuance of new rental permits and any processing of short-term rental applications for new permits while the County works to identify strategies to mitigate the livability impacts of short-term rentals. This temporary suspension does not apply to real properties that were pending sale and in escrow by July 1, 2022. For said properties, once the buyer has become the legal owner, they may file an application for a new shortterm rental permit and Tillamook County Department of Community Development may process said application in the normal course of business.

But the Order does not give an exemption to new construction builds, even those that acquired building permits prior to the pause.

During consideration of the moratorium, Tillamook County Community Development Director and Building Official Sarah Absher

asked the BOC at their May 25 meeting how to handle new construction homebuilders’ requests for short-term rental permits.

“Unless a customer at the counter discloses that the intention of the dwelling is a rental, we really don’t know because there’s no box to check….because it’s not relevant at that point for the review process,” Absher said. “The permit to construct a dwelling is different than a permit to operate a dwelling as a short-term rental. So, when we go through the permitting processes, our obligation at the time of review is based on what the specific and current proposal is in front of us based on current code and regulation. It essentially is impossible to anticipate months or years from now what regulation may look like. Regulations and codes change. What community and development staff have been very clear about is to share with our customers what current regulations require and what is currently allowed. The challenge is that a short-term rental permit cannot be applied for until you have a lawfully established dwelling. What that requires is a certificate of occupancy for that dwelling.”

Without a completed home by the July 1 deadline, and therefore no certificate of occupancy, Clement and his wife were unable to apply for a short-term rental permit for their Pacific City property.

“We reached out to the Board,” Clement said. “They were giving exemptions to people who were buying a home; they could get a permit after the pause. I didn’t get a response to emails.”

Clement estimates that without a shortterm rental permit, he could miss out on $100,000 worth of revenue annually.

Tillamook County Board of Commissioner Erin Skaar is the current liaison to the Board for the STR Advisory Committee.

“We have been trying to be mindful of people who are maybe too far down the road to change their plan. That’s why we’ve considered someone who has an active sale agreement because they have made a commitment to make a purchase based on that expectation that they will have a shortterm rental,” Commissioner Skaar said at the May 25 meeting. “Without that additional revenue, they may be locked into a purchase that they cannot afford…How do we protect people who knowingly with good faith and good intentions are already in a real estate sale that could put them into jeopardy?”

But, Skaar offered an alternative for those building new construction.

“Anyone is welcome to rent their home full-time in Tillamook County. It might not have been what they expected or intended when they built it, but it is an opportunity for them to get out of financial jeopardy,” Commissioner Skaar said.

“(Renting to full-time residents) doesn’t work for us,” Clement told the Sun. “You don’t generate the same revenue, and we wouldn’t be able to use the home ourselves…We’re not rich, we need this income to help cover our mortgage. I’m supportive of reworking the regulations and making sure the people who live there full-time have a good balance between their needs and the needs of tourists.”

Clement eventually partnered with a lawyer to write a letter to the BOC.

“It laid out a whole argument for their reasoning being off-base,” Clement said. “I don’t want to go to litigation. I want it to be worked on as a community.”

Clement told the Sun that the letter received no response.

In addition to obtaining legal counsel, Clement’s frustration spurred him to create a petition on change.org titled: “The People in the Process of Building in Tillamook County

should be exempt from STR Pause.”

“To me, the motivation is partly on principal,” Clement said. “We bought this land and started building this house to use this land in a certain way: to make a little bit of money, spend time there being a part of the community, and make space available for people who want to experience that.”

As of November 2022, his petition had gathered over 200 signatures.

“We’re so hopeful that this will all work out,” said Clement. “The new regulations they introduce for the most part make sense. If I get a permit, then that’s fine. That’s just up in the air right now.”

Clement was contacted by roughly 20 other home builders in a similar situation as himself.

Jordan and Rachael Winters (of Salem), and their business partners, decided they wanted a beach house for their young family of five.

“To help finance it we would rent it via VRBO,” Jordan Winters said.

The couple purchased a vacant lot in Pacific City in March, had plans designed for their five-bedroom home, and broke ground in June 2022.

“We placed careful emphasis on (multiple bedrooms) so that it was for high-occupancy groups,” Winters said.

By the time the couple and their business partners had invested roughly $200,000, they were informed about the pause on short-term rental permits.

“We felt they pulled the rug out from under us and we’re upset about that,” Winters said. “In my opinion, public notice should have been wide and well-known. We didn’t know until a month after (the pause was in place).”

Commissioner Skaar acknowledges that the moratorium was executed at a rapid see SOME HOMEOWNERS, page 11

When you’re feeling your best, it’s easy to find more reasons to celebrate. The providers and staff at Adventist Health are dedicated to helping you enjoy the important moments this holiday season. Staying healthy this winter is as easy as catching up on your annual wellness exam to help keep you healthy and ready for more. To protect yourself against the flu, COVID-19 and variants, schedule an appointment with your provider, or visit AdventistHealthTillamook.org to see a schedule of flu clinics near you.

Did you know? The CDC recommends that everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, including all primary series doses and boosters according to their age group. Learn more at CDC.gov/coronavirus

Scan this QR code and schedule an appointment with a primary care provider today

Effective September 13, 2022, Pacific City Joint Water-Sanitary Authority (PCJWSA) is accepting applications for the unexpired term of Board Position #5. Applications are avail able at the PCJWSA office located at 34005 Cape Kiwanda Dr. Pacific City, Oregon 97135 or on line at www.pcjwsa.com. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Applicants must be an elector of the Author ity, live within the boundaries of PCJWSA and be willing to attend scheduled meetings. For more information, please call 503-965-6636.

John Wesely, Authority Manager

Yamamoto, Absher paint bleak development picture

By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun

It might not be tomorrow, it might not be next year, but, no thanks to the NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion, the challenges to future development in the floodplain of Pacific City and other similar areas throughout the state are on the horizon. And the picture isn’t pretty says Tillamook County Commissioner David Yamamoto.

Yamamoto, together with Tillamook County Community Development Director Sarah Absher, presented the sobering development future for Oregon, and, in particular, Tillamook County, at the Nov. 5 Pacific CityWoods Citizen Advisory Committee meeting.

If enacted as is, the Biological Opinion will usher in revised codes that will make building or remodeling in the most restrictive area of Pacific City’s floodplain a near impossibility. That’s because of the pressure NOAA Fisheries is bringing.

“NOAA Fisheries is forcing FEMA to weaponize the National Flood Insurance Policy,” Yamamoto said. “So, if the State of Oregon or Tillamook County does not abide by the biological opinion, then what’s going to happen is FEMA is going to withdraw your eligibility to buy a National Flood Insurance Policy. At the same time, we know that here in Tillamook County, we have natural disasters on a regular basis. We flood almost every year. If we don’t abide by the biological opinion, this is going to make us ineligible for disaster relief recovery coming from FEMA. So, this is serious stuff.”

Yamamoto also characterized Tillamook County as the area that would be most affected due to the amount of property in affected floodplains. And Absher said that Pacific City and Tillamook will be amongst the most impacted within the county.

“If you own a property in a flood plain — especially if you’ve purchased flood insurance policies through FEMA — once this biological opinion takes effect, if you just have an open piece of property in that floodplain and have not built on that property, you’re not going to be able to build in that property,” Yamamoto said. “If you own a piece of property on a floodplain and you have built on it and then something

happens (such as) it burns down (or) you want to expand your home, once this NOAA Fisheries BiOp passes, guess what? You’re not going to be able to do that either.”

Absher said that those in the regulatory floodplains in Pacific City — particularly the floodway along the Nestucca River corridor — will be impacted. Other highly impacted areas will be Nehalem, Rockaway Beach, and Neskowin.

And residential properties won’t be the only ones affected. Dairies, too, will be in the line of fire.

“If you drive across Tillamook County, the vast majority of dairies are in the flood plain,” Yamamoto said. “Over the years, our farmers have brought in fill and raised their milk parlors, raised their barns to keep the cow’s feet dry, basically. If something were to happen to one of their milking parlors or barns, or if they wanted to expand their operation, they would not be able to build or replace structures in that flood plain (once the rules enforcing the BiOp passes).

“What does that mean for our agriculture communities, for forestry? There’s going to be impacts to their ability to develop,” Absher added. “If a farmer wants to build another barn, they have to prove there’s no net loss of flood storage. (Think about a bathtub.) What happens when you put things in a bathtub? The water rises. So, in order to keep that water level, you would have to take out something in the bathtub to put in something new so that the water level stays (the same). That will apply everywhere — not only for agriculture lands.”

A CONTINUING BATTLE

With this threat looming, Absher and Yamamoto both said it’s a battle they’ve

been waging and will continue to fight for. And they would like the public to engage, too. He said one of the best ways to make a difference is by writing to those in Washington D.C. where Rep. Peter DeFazio is trying to get a five-year pause of the BiOp passed.

“(We would like you to) reach out to federal legislators to make sure they understand the issues and how it affects local communities,” Yamamoto said. “They don’t realize that many people in this room are going to be individually affected by this. This is about basically coho salmon. NOAA fisheries just released their five-year study on Oregon coastal coho and guess what? That study has shown that coastal coho populations are continuing to rise every year.”

As for Yamamoto’s own efforts, his wins include a successful effort in 2021 to get a resolution passed at the National Association of Counties that asserted that the biological opinion, as it applies to the state of Oregon, is not fair, and this needs to become a national issue.

One of the ideas both with National Association of Counties resolution and with DeFazio’s attempt at a pause is to wait on Oregon until they’ve rolled out their proposal for the entire country.

And, for her part, Absher is meeting monthly with NOAA Fisheries and FEMA in an attempt to broker alternatives that would allow some acceptable level of development once the new regulations hit.

“As we work with FEMA and NOAA Fisheries to continue to develop an alternative approach for Tillamook County, we want to use (our) great examples to say Tillamook County already knows what to do (to improve fish habitat and water quality),” she said. “We’ve been doing it. We have active watershed councils. We have a soil and water conservation district. We’re hoping — even though FEMA, right now, is saying we’re not going to get credit moving forward for some of this work — (that we can) send the message that we know what to do, and we’re doing a good job when it comes to fish recovery and water quality.”

Absher said that key to any new development standards will be in developing reasonable and prudent alternatives, which is an integral part of the Biological Opinion published by NOAA Fisheries.

The Tillamook PUD Customer Assistance Program (CAP) helps pay the electric bills of Program (CAP) helps pay the electric bills of those in need during challenging times. those in need during challenging times. CAP is funded by customer contributions that CAP is funded by customer contributions that are matched dollar for dollar by Tillamook PUD. are matched dollar for dollar by Tillamook PUD. If you have a little extra to spare, please If you have a extra to spare, please consider giving to CAP. Every contribution is consider giving to CAP. Every contribution is

greatly appreciated! greatly appreciated! For more information, call 503-842-2535 For more information, call 503-842-2535 or visit www.tpud.org. or visit www.tpud.org.

TILLAMOOK PUD PO Box 433 1115 Pacific Avenue Tillamook, OR 97141 503.842.2535 800.422.2535 www.tpud.org

TILLAMOOK COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Director Sarah Absher told the Pacific City-Woods CAC on Nov. 5 that development could be halted at much of low-lying Pacific City once rules supporting NOAA Fisheries’ Biological Opinion get enacted.

Photo by Tim Hirsch

Calendar Events of

CANDLES & SIP

Dec. 2, 5-6:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Learn to make soy candle with essential oils. $35 fee includes supplies, instruction, and first glass of wine. Sign-up at PCPour.com.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH RECEPTION Dec. 2, 5-7 p.m. Bay City Arts Center, 5680 A St. Featuring BCAC Members Gallery and Amber Jarvis. For more information, visit baycityartscenter.com or call 503377-9620.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR Dec. 2, 4-7 p.m. and Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tillamook United Methodist Church, 3808 12th St. Gift ideas, handcrafts, gift baskets, homebaked goods and Pick-a-DozenCookies. For more information, call 503842-2224.

ANGEL FANTASY OF TREES 2022 Dec. 2, noon-8 p.m. and Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Chinook Winds Casino, 1777 NW 44th St., Lincoln City. View decorated trees sponsored by businesses and join in the judging. Photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Dec, 2, 5-8 p.m. Free admission.

ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH’S

63RD ANNUAL OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS BAZAAR Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 34560 Parkway Dr., Cloverdale. Gift baskets, locally handcrafted items, and quilt raffle. Cinnamon rolls, Polish dogs and sauerkraut, and home baked goods. Proceeds benefit South Tillamook County non-profits. For more informa tion, call 503-392-3685.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Kiawanda Com munity Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Vendors from up and down the coast offering handmade crafts and products. Gift baskets raffle. Hot lunch available for purchase. Santa Claus arriv ing on a dory for photo ops with children. For more information, call 503-965-7900.

HOLIDAY ART SALE FUNDRAISER Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 34365B Hwy. 101 S., Cloverdale (the old BJ’s Fabric shop.) Art work by featured artists Liisa Rahkonen, Bethany Beuchel, Danelle Jones, and more. Proceeds to benefit the Nestucca Valley Backpack Food Program.

ANGELS BALL 2022 Dec. 3, 5 p.m. Chinook Winds Casino, 1777 NW 44th St., Lincoln City. Presented by Angels Anonymous Inc. Featuring live music by Collective Nation. Formal wear encouraged. Tickets $125 per person. For tickets or more information, visit AngelsAnonymous.org.

TILLAMOOK TREE LIGHTING Dec. 3, 4-7 p.m. Tillamook City Hall, 210 Laurel Ave. Local vendors, coloring contest, performances by locals and Til lamook High School choir, food, photos with Santa and tree lighting ceremony. For more information, email arushing@ tillamook.or.us or call 503-842-2472.

BINGO

Dec. 3, 5-6:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Drink wine and win prizes. Sign-up at PCPour.com.

9TH ANNUAL TILLAMOOK HOLIDAY LIGHT PARADE

Dec. 3, 7-7:30 p.m. Downtown Tillamook, ending at Tillamook City Hall. For more information, including entry guidelines, visit tillamookholidaylightparade.com.

MANZANITA TREE LIGHTING FESTIVITIES

Dec. 3, 5-7 p.m. Underhill Plaza, 635 Man zanita Ave., Manzanita. Tree lighting and Santa arriving on a fire engine.

CELTIC SERIES:

THE GOTHARD SISTERS

Dec. 4, 2 & 8 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101. Contemporary Celtic folk music. Tickets $30. For more in formation, visit lincolncity-culturalcenter. org or call 541-994-9994.

PACIFIC CITY-NESTUCCA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET

Dec. 6, 6 p.m. Kiawanda Community Cen ter, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Buffet dinner catered by Grateful Bread; cash bar. Special guest speaker Bill Oram (above). Tickets $55 or $100 per couple. Sponsorship tables available. For more information or tickets, call 503-965-3633 or email pcnvchamber@gmail.com.

KELP FACIALS

Dec. 4, 2-3:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Sample kelp mineral products and do your own facial. $30 fee includes samples, instructions, and first glass of wine. Signup at PC-Pour.com.

GENEROSITY BAZAAR

Dec. 4, 1-7 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Cen ter, 540 NE Hwy. 101. Bring donations of new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food. Shop non-profit booths for gifts. For more information, visit lincolncity-cultur alcenter.org or call 541-994-9994.

TILLAMOOK COUNTY WALKING GROUP

Dec. 5, 7 & 9, 10 a.m. Meet at Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. For more information, visit https://tillamookcountywellness.org/ move-well/walking-groups/ or contact coordinator Kathy at katystar7@hotmail. com or 503-801-7448 (text).

TILLAMOOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING Dec. 7, 9 a.m. Tillamook County Court house, room 106. Live video available at tctvonline.com. For agenda, visit co.tillamook.or.us/bocc.

‘A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL’ Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 9, 7 p.m., Dec. 10, 3 & 7 p.m. and Dec. 11, 2 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101. Present ed by Lincoln City Playhouse by Youth. $12 suggested donation. For more informa tion, visit lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or call 541-994-9994.

18TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES GALA & SILENT AUCTION

Dec. 9, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, 2106 2nd St., Tillamook. View trees decorated by local businesses, enjoy beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Advance tickets $35; at the door $40. For more information, call 503-842-4553.

‘IT’S

A WONDERFUL LIFE’ –

A LIVE RADIO PLAY

Dec. 9-11. NCRD Performing Arts Center, 36155 9th St., Nehalem. Presented by the Riverbend Players. Details TBA. For more information or updates, visit ncrd.org/ events.

SANTA AT THE STATION

Dec. 10, 6 p.m. Rockaway Beach Fire Dept., 270 S. Anchor St., Rockaway Beach. Pictures with Santa, cookies and cocoa, fire truck rides, door prizes and treat bags.

TRIVIA NIGHT

Dec. 10, 5-6:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Free admission. Must be 21 or over. Test your

Courtesy photo

HOLIDAY BAZAAR

Dec. 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. White Clover Grange, 36585 OR-53, Nehalem. Local artisans, crafts, farm goods, baked goods and more. For more information, visit whiteclovergrange.org or call 503-3685674.

UKULELE JAM

Dec. 10. Tillamook County Library, 1716 3rd St., Tillamook. Beginners lesson 12:30 p.m. and Jam at 1 p.m. Bring your own ukulele or borrow from the library. For more information, call 503-842-4792.

LASAGNA-THON FUNDRAISER

Dec. 10, 6 p.m. Bay City Arts Center, 5680 A St. All-you-can-eat lasagna, silent auction, and live music. $35 per person. Family-friendly event. Tickets available at the door or may be purchased in advance at BCAC. For more information, visit baycityartscenter.com or call 503377-9620.

JINGLE BELL JOG 5K

Dec. 10, 10 a.m. Begins and ends at Lincoln City Community Center, 2150 NE Oar Place. $25 entry fee for adults; $15 for 12 and under. For more information, visit LincolnCity.org or call 541-994-2131.

WREATH WORKSHOP & SIP

Dec. 10, 2 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Make your own wreath – $35 fee includes supplies and first beverage. RSVP to pc-pour.com. For more information, call 503-483-1337.

SANTA CLAUS & THE GRINCH

Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tillamook Air Museum, 6030 Hangar Rd., Tillamook. Photos with Santa Claus and the Grinch, cookies and hot chocolate. Free admis sion with two non-perishable food items per person. For more information, email info@tillamookair.com or call 503-8421130.

SOUTH TILLAMOOK COUNTY WALKING GROUP

Dec. 12, 14 & 16, 10 a.m. Meet at Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwan da Dr., Pacific City. For more information, visit https://tillamookcountywellness.org/ move-well/walking-groups/ or contact coordinator Kathy at katystar7@hotmail. com or 503-801-7448 (text).

CHRISTMAS BASKET PROGRAM VOLUNTEER DAYS

Dec. 12-16, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Hebo Fire Sta tion, 30710 Hwy. 101. Volunteers needed to fill food boxes and wrap gifts.

NESTUCCA VALLEY LIONS CLUB MEETING Dec. 13, 6 p.m. The Lion’s Den, 34510 Parkway Dr., Cloverdale.

PACIFIC CITY JOINT WATER SANITARY AUTHORITY BOARD MEETING Dec. 13, 5 p.m. Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. For more information, call 503-9656636.

TILLAMOOK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING Dec. 13, 1 p.m. Tillamook County Library, 1716 3rd St. Monday Musical Club.

SOUTH COUNTY FOOD PANTRY Dec. 13, 12:30-6 p.m. Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church, 35305 Brooten Rd., Pacific City.

NESTUCCA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD MEETING Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m. Nestucca Valley Jr./Sr. High School, 34660 Parkway Dr., Clover dale

TILLAMOOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING Dec. 14, 9 a.m. Tillamook County Court house, room 106. Live video available at tctvonline.com. For agenda, visit co.tillamook.or.us/bocc.

NESTUCCA RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD MEETING

Dec. 14, 4 p.m. Hebo Fire Station, 30710 Hwy. 101 S. Hebo. Call 503-392-3313 for more information.

ARTIST RECEPTION

Dec. 16, 5-7 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101. Enchanted Ground – a show by artists Janet Runger and Veta Bakhtina. For more informa tion, visit lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or call 541-994-9994.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ –

LIVE RADIO PLAY

Dec. 16, 7 p.m. and Dec. 17, 2 & 7 p.m. Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101. Live radio play of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Admission $20. For more informa tion, visit lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or call 541-994-9994.

‘NARNIA: THE MUSICAL’

Dec. 16 & 17, 7 p.m. and Dec. 18, 2 p.m. Bay City Arts Center, 5680 A St. Tickets by donation. Limited seating available –reserve tickets at baycityartscenter.com. For more information, call 503-377-9620.

TRIVIA NIGHT

Dec. 17, 5-6:30 p.m. PC-Pour Wine Bar, 33310 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City. Free admission. Must be 21 or over. Different subjects - movies, music, the 80s, 90s, 2000s & sports. Can play with your friend or on your own. Beginners always wel come. Drink wine & win prizes. Sign-up at PC-Pour.com.

FREE CPR EDUCATION EVENT

Dec. 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Rockaway Beach Fire Dept., 270 S. Anchor St., Rockaway Beach. Arrive at any time and receive first aid and CPR information and practice.

4-H RECOGNITION SKATING PARTY Dec. 18, noon-3 p.m. Tillaskate at Tilla maook County Fairgrounds, 4603 3rd St., Tillamook. Short awards program and then skating. Lunch will be provided.

Boy Scout donates table

Friends of Pacific City State Airport to dedicate table to memory of local pilot Dick Forman

By SALLY RISSEL for the Sun

The “Friends of Pacific City State Airport” recently formed a beneficial collaboration with Eagle Scout Bronson Gaine. Gaine needed to complete the last step in his Eagle Scout badge, and the FPCSA needed a new picnic table for its pilots.

Gaine began as a Cub Scout and has continued to the highest level as an Eagle Scout. He says it has provided him many life lessons and friendships. He is an active senior at Nestucca High school with plans to become a pilot and possibly apply to the Air Force Academy. Gaine built a beautiful cedar picnic table, which the “Friends” will dedicate to local pilot Dick Forman.

Dick joined the U.S. Army at age 16 in 1947 and was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. In Korea, he flew helicopters to rescue injured soldiers from M.A.S.H. facilities to floating hospitals. He was one of the only pilots allowed to fly at night. Marilyn Monroe was a special passenger when he flew her around for several days for her USO performances. Dick was a flight instructor at Portland Community College and loved to teach new pilots there and in Pacific City.

Forman was a doryman and lived along the airport with a hanger for his plane. He loved watching airplanes land and take off and was always willing to help pilots.

Forman was born in 1930 in Portland and died in November 2020 at his home in Pacific City. His large family still comes to Pacfiic City.

EAGLE SCOUT Bronson Gaine recently donated a new picnic table to the Friends of the Pacific City State Airport. The group plans to dedicate the table to local pilot Dick Forman.

Photo courtesy of Sally Rissel

Some homeowners in financial jeopardy due to STR pause

pace, but says communication about the pause was published in newspapers, Facebook, and discussed during their weekly BOC meetings.

The Winters’ home is projected to be completed in December, but will only be able to be utilized by them. Winters estimates that without a short-term rental permit the home will miss out on roughly $70,000 in annual revenue.

Winters said that they hope a short-term permit will be issued to them once the pause is lifted. Otherwise, they will have to look into the alternative of selling their property. But even with that, a lack of a short-term rental permit may affect their bottom line.

Twenty years ago, Robert Taylor (of Portland) bought property in the Pacific City area with the intention of building a small beach cabin.

“I saved some money, improved the property, and was able to put a down payment on a house plan,” Taylor said. “I had a plan to finance the rest so that I could use it. Obviously, the ability to rent when you’re not using it was the game plan.”

Taylor also didn’t have an occupancy permit on his new construction prior to the July 1 pause, and therefore could not apply for a short-term rental permit.

“I’d like to think anybody who has a building permit should be grandfathered in,” Taylor said. “We wouldn’t make those kinds of decisions if we knew that they would take it away.”

Taylor has viewed some of the STR Advisory Committee meetings virtually and told the Sun he feels “there’s been sincere effort to move this along.”

But, “there should be some compassion

and logic in consideration of the very small percentage of these people in this limbo,” he said.

As the liaison to the Board, Commissioner Skaar told the Sun that she feels the STR Advisory Committee is on track to present a recommendation about Ordinance 84 to the BOC by the July 1, 2023 deadline.

“I tentatively say ‘yes’ because we are working with a committee of 18 people and have received hundreds, and hundreds, and hundreds of letters and emails of community input,” Commissioner Skaar said.

Until then, the STR Advisory Committee will continue to meet and discuss the impacts of livability, enforcement, and additional issues arising from Ordinance 84. Caps and density limits are also being considered.

“I do understand, and I do feel for the people who are in this situation. But we can’t make exceptions. We can’t take this on a one-by-one basis,” Commissioner Skaar told the Sun

A presentation by Tillamook County Department of Community Development reported that as of Oct. 3, 2022, there were 328 short-term rentals in the Pacific City/ Woods area.

The next STR Advisory Committee meeting will be held on Dec. 13 at 9:30 a.m. in the Port of Tillamook Bay conference room. The meeting can be viewed at: co.tillamook.or.us/commdev/ page/short-term-rental-advisorycommittee.

Public comments on short-term rentals can be shared at STR Advisory Meetings or via email at: sabsher@co.tillamook. or.us or ltone@co.tillamook.or.us.

Biological Opinion expected to hamper development

“The first and number one objective is to avoid impacts,” Absher said. “So, what that means is no new development. FEMA defines development as any man-made change. They don’t say construction; they don’t say paving. It’s a man-made change. So, their first objective and directive to all of us is to avoid impacts by no development.

“If development may be allowed or may be able to occur, it has to be minimized. And, largely, minimization means going through a process to prove no take and no harm to salmonoid species. That would be for any property in that regulatory flood plain. The long and short of it is you don’t even need to be by a river. Flood plains extend beyond river boundaries. It’s not just the riparian corridors.

“So, in designing a new development process and permitting program, the burden of proof will be on the landowner or the applicant to prove that there is no take or no harm. The only way that we’ve been able to see what that would look like is it would probably require hiring a biologist or someone to come in for any development. You would have to prove no take and no harm. What concerns me for landowners who now have the ability on their own to get a (development) permit, this takes that ability away from you. You may — even to do some basic work — have to hire a consultant to provide you with some sort of biological assessment so it’s going to (take away) a landowner’s ability to even work on your own without having to hire somebody to come in and apply for a permit.”

Absher also addressed ways mitigation could occur.

“Largely, what we’re hoping for is it could be planting; it could be limiting impervious surface,” she said. “It could

be looking at construction on piers versus a traditional concrete foundation. All of those changes could result in some sort of positive net gain in meeting those objectives for water quality and fish recovery. The less impervious surface we have, the better stormwater infrastructure we have. The more greenspace we have, all of those contribute to those goals.”

TIMELINE

Currently, FEMA has just finished their model ordinance that communities will be asked to comply with in order to meet the required “reasonable and prudent alternatives.” But, there’s still time before Tillamook County must adopt it as it’s currently in a National Environmental Policy Act review process, a process that Absher said could take two to three years.

“Moving forward, the ask for the community is that there will be a time — probably in the next year — we’re going to have to come back and start talking about what code changes could we live with,” she said. “If we continue to work with FEMA and NOAA Fisheries to develop an alternative approach where we can say we think our new codes that we’re proposing meet the intent of those (reasonable and prudent alternatives) but also give us space to maintain properties (and) to develop properties. Can we live with maybe not having paved driveways? Can we do more riparian plantings? Can we look at better stormwater infrastructure? Can we accept lot coverage maximums?

“And what could we bring to the table and propose as a community to say these are the things we are willing to do to implement into our codes, to be good stewards and to meet the intent of the (reasonable and prudent alternatives). So, I’d like for us to start thinking about that now.”

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