The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
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Lincoln City Breaking Ground To Provide Affordable Housing
Lincoln City has continued its goal to help tackle the affordable workforce housing crisis by repurposing existing public property. The City’s redevelopment partner, Innovative Housing Inc. (IHI) received their permits in September and has broken ground on a 107-unit affordable housing project on NE 25th Street. Currently, the site is being prepared for retaining walls with the next step being foundations.
The property at the highway used to be a former gas station, and the easterly portions of the development were known as the “Iris N Ranch” a family residence converted to a convalescence home before removal of the buildings in the early 1970’s. The property has not been used since then.
Now with construction underway, IHI is focusing on another critical point of the project: building the prospective applicant process. IHI is currently taking names for a list of interested residents and will build a future rental application process that would begin in mid-2023. Residents could potentially move into the neighborhood in the first part of 2024.
Individuals and families interested in knowing more about the future application process can get on an “interest list” by contacting Leah Cooper at IHI at lcooper@innovativehousinginc.com.
In addition to creating more housing choices, Lincoln City will also benefit from IHI’s expertise in assisting new renters and homeowners find stability and growth in their new homes.
“I am thrilled to see this great partnership project get underway as I better understand and get to know the housing needs of our community,” Lincoln City Manager Daphnee Legarza said.
IHI responded to the City’s 2018 Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the 25th Street site and other publicly-owned parcels. IHI has over 35 years of development experience and operates nearly 1,000 affordable units in Oregon
Lincoln City is a classic Oregon Coast community, offering a small beach town vibe with seven miles of walkable sandy beach. It is comprised of seven commercial and neighborhood districts along Highway 101. These historic districts each have a distinct personality with roots in art, commerce, surfing, fishing and tourism: Roads End, Wecoma Beach, OceanLake, DeLake, Nelscott, Taft, and Cutler City.
For more information about either the City or the URA, or with regard to this redevelopment project, visit https://www.lincolncity.org/departments/economic-development, or contact: Alison Robertson Director, Lincoln City Economic Development & Urban Renewal Agency PO Box 50 Lincoln City, Oregon 97367 541-996-1095.
Street Construction Work Continues In Brookings
Street improvement construction is continuing this week at several locations in Brookings. A citywide road patching project will begin next week.
Resurfacing of Mill Beach Road between Chetco Avenue and the Mill Beach entrance to the Fred Meyer parking lot, Cottage Street and Marine Drive were all completed as of Monday.
“All of these projects are funded from the proceeds of the city’s four-cent fuel tax,” said City Manager Pro Tem Gary Milliman. “Resurfacing on Memory Lane and Alder Street is scheduled before the end of the year but is pending the completion of some underground utility repairs.”
Miulliman noted that traffic on Alder Street between Chetco Avenue and Railroad has increased since the lowering of the speed limit on Chetco.
“Money collected from the local fuel tax can only be used for street and sidewalk improvements within the city, Milliman noted. “None of the funding is being used to pave park parking lots or for other purposes. The Azalea Park parking lot resurfacing project is included in the same contract with the street resurfacing to reduce overall costs but is separately funded.”
Reauthorization of the local fuel tax will appear on the November 8 general election ballot. The city fuel tax currently generates about $330,000 annually. The ballot measure also proposes to increase the tax rate from four to five cents per gallon.
“Based upon this year’s collections, the tax generates about $82,000 for each penny of tax,” Milliman said.
Work is continuing on the Railroad Street sidewalk installation project, which also includes some street reconstruction and storm drain installation. “We have had a few days of weather delay, but otherwise this project is on schedule,” Milliman noted.
Warrenton Voters To Decide Whether To Renew Library Levy
A levy on the ballot before Warrenton voters would boost staffing and hours and continue to fund operations at the Warrenton Community Library.
The five-year local option levy would raise the tax rate from 33 cents to 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value and is estimated to generate nearly $1.5 million.
While the focus has been on the 5-cent increase, the outcome of the measure has major implications. The library is fully funded by the levy, rather than being supported by the city’s operating budget like many libraries elsewhere.
“I think we’re trying to spread the word with folks that this is how the library operates, and without the levy, the library will cease to exist,” Kelsey Balensifer, the chairwoman of the library board, said. “There isn’t money elsewhere in the city of Warrenton’s budget to make this function without the levy.”
If the levy is renewed, the money will go toward funding operations, extending hours, benefitting community programs and supporting the library in other ways.
The library operates with three staff members — one full time and two part time — and “an army of volunteers,” Balensifer said. The hope is to turn one of the part-time positions into full time.
The facility is owned by the school district, so funds would also go toward paying for rent, utilities and maintenance.
The decision to make a 5-cent jump, Balensifer said, did not come easy. The library board weighed between keeping it at 33 cents or raising it to 38 cents or 43 cents.
“We really struggled with that,” she said. “We know that times are hard for a lot of people, the cost of gas, inflation, all of that kind of stuff, so we decided to go for a moderate increase that will continue to cover library expenses and allow us to hopefully expand staffing, some programs and material purchases, but also we didn’t want to be unreasonable with voters.”
Established in 1993, the library operated out of a small building in Hammond for over two decades before moving to a larger structure on Main Avenue in 2017. Later that year, voters approved a significant leap in the tax rate, from 9 cents to 33 cents.
In 2017, a political action committee — Save Our Library PAC — was formed to fundraise and help with efforts in getting the levy passed. Made up of library board members, Friends of the Warrenton Community representatives and users of the facility, the group was relaunched this year.
“We think this is a very important community resource and we actually think it’s only going to be more important as our community continues to struggle with inflation and things like that, in that the library provides a lot of free or very, very low-cost things to our community,” Balensifer, who is married to Mayor Henry Balensifer, said.
Outside of providing books, DVDs, audiobooks and a checkout system for an array of items such as a guitar or a sewing machine, the library also features talks from local authors and a number of increasingly popular programs for children and families.
Michelle Murray, the president of the Friends group, said the library offers a unique value for a city that does not have many recreational centers. She added that the group is always taking new ideas for programs that may interest the community.
Balensifer and Murray said they were optimistic about the levy passing. There does not appear to be any organized opposition.
“I think as more and more people engage with the library and learn about what it is we provide to the community, we end up finding more and more library supporters out there,” Balensifer said. “So the more we spread the word, the more we’re being met with strong support from people who believe this is a valuable resource in our community.”
Today is Last Day to Register to Vote in Oregon
The deadline to register to vote in Oregon is today 10/18 (Tuesday). Oregonians can register either in person, online before midnight or via the mail, which must be postmarked for Tuesday. Oregon is one of eight states where elections are conducted entirely by mail. Ballots will start going out on Wednesday.
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan says for people experiencing homelessness, they can register anywhere with an address. “They could use, for example, the local elections office. They could use any different address that can receive mail as their residence for purposes as voting, as long as they’re an Oregon resident and otherwise eligible to vote.” A recent New York Times analysis ranked Oregon the easiest place in the country to vote.
Ballots must be in a dropbox by 8 p-m or postmarked for November 8th. Oregon has been a vote-by-mail state for more than two decades. Oregon ballots will begin going out this Wednesday. They’re due November 8th.
State officials renew agreement with Forest Service to help with forest health and wildfire risk reduction
SALEM, Ore.— Earlier this month the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) renewed their agreement allowing continued work across boundaries to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, improve forest and watershed health, and create jobs in rural, forest-dependent communities.
The cooperative work agreement was extended until 2032 under the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). This is a provision of the 2014 federal Farm Bill that allows state agencies to do vital restoration work on national forestlands in Oregon. Those make up nearly half of Oregon’s 30 million forested acres.
Kyle Sullivan with the Oregon Department of Forestry is that agency’s Federal Forest Restoration Program Lead. “The Forest Service is the largest forestland manager in Oregon. We are seeing real benefit in leveraging the strengths, skills, and resources of state organizations tasked with stewarding Oregon’s forests, fish and wildlife. This Good Neighbor Authority agreement is a crucial tool to continue this cooperative work.”
Sullivan said ODF, ODFW and the Forest Service have been working together for over six years under the current GNA agreement. “We’ve identified long-term projects that extend beyond the agreement’s original 2026 expiration date. The agreement signed this week now extends the work between state and federal agencies through 2032,” he said.
The three state and federal land management agencies are taking aim at the most pressing issues facing Oregon’s forests. At the top of the list is the over 7 million acres of federal forest in declining health and at elevated risk of large and destructive wildfire. Climate change mitigation and adaptation, wildlife species recovery, habitat connectivity, producing sustainable forest products, and supporting jobs are also issues the GNA agreement can help address.
This GNA agreement allows the Forest Service to take advantage of the additional capacity provided by ODF and ODFW, access streamlined state contracting processes, and leverage state funding dedicated to restoring federal forests.
Despite the GNA agreement allowing states to help improve the health of federal forests, all applicable federal laws and environmental reviews are followed. Decision-making authority still rests with the Forest Service for restoration work.
Forest Service Regional Forester Glenn Casamassa said, “GNA is a powerful tool. It allows us to work together across boundaries, at the appropriate scale, to benefit Oregon communities through enhancing forest and watershed health conditions – and to do so proactively, not reactively.”
Since 2016, ODF and ODFW have worked across all 11 National Forests in Oregon under 30 Supplemental Project Agreements. Results of this work include:
- 52,000 acres of restoration project planning and project preparation
- 11,000 acres of non-commercial fuels reduction and thinning, prescribed fire preparation, noxious weed treatments, wildlife habitat improvement, and stream enhancement
- 14,000 acres of commercial restoration, producing 50 million board feet of timber volume
- 7 contracted National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Categorical Exclusions (CE) projects covering 30,000 acres
- 440 acres of post-implementation monitoring work
In addition to the strong partnerships, the success of this work is also due to the Oregon Legislature’s forward-thinking investments in the Federal Forest Restoration Program. Under this program, state funds support forest collaboratives, environmental planning and analysis, and a state workforce dedicated to increasing the pace, scale and quality of restoration of federal forests.
“The renewal of this agreement maintains a crucial tool for the Oregon Department of Forestry to manage, protect and promote stewardship of all of Oregon’s forests,” said Oregon State Forester Cal Mukumoto. “Because so much of Oregon’s forests are under federal ownership, working with our federal partners under GNA is key to fulfilling the mission of ODF.”
Curt Melcher, Director of the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, said, “As managers of Oregon’s fish and wildlife resources, we rely heavily on partnerships with public and private landowners to improve habitat. Formal agreements like this will further strengthen our partnership with the Forest Service and provide the flexible tools and resources needed to boost stewardship and bring rural communities together.”
Report Says Oregon Hospitals Setting Up ‘Roadblocks’ To Financial Assistance Programs
A report from a union representing more than 15,000 healthcare workers alleges that most of Oregon’s 10 largest health systems have “set up roadblocks to accessing financial assistance programs and are currently out of compliance with Oregon law.”
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A 2019 Oregon law requires nonprofit hospitals to provide complete bill forgiveness to patients earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty line and some forgiveness to those earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty line, according to the October report from SEIU Local 49. The law also requires that financial assistance be made available to patients who receive care at hospital-owned clinics as well as financial assistance screening of patients before they are sent to collections.
In the report, SEIU Local 49 said it identified 10 of the state’s largest health systems and reviewed publicly available documents related to financial assistance that the systems are mandated to provide, including full financial assistance policies, plain language summaries, application forms and related website text. Through its review, SEIU set out to “understand to what extent these documents were in compliance with legal requirements.”
SEIU found that the Oregon systems are making financial information assistance difficult for patients to find and understand. The systems are also placing restrictions on which patients or services qualify for financial assistance beyond those allowed by law. The systems are also allegedly demanding patients complete detailed applications, despite having the information to determine eligibility, and are aggressively sending patients to collections “well before their window to apply for financial assistance has closed.”
Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems president and CEO Becky Hultberg pushed back against the report, telling the Portland Business Journal that it “provides a limited and incomplete picture of hospital financial assistance practices.”
SAIF brings back free in-person farm safety trainings
SAIF will be touring the state in the next few months to offer free farm safety sessions.
The 29 free ag safety seminars will be in 17 cities across Oregon. The first will be in Ontario on October 25, and they’ll continue through March. Nine of the seminars will be presented entirely in Spanish.
SAIF has put the seminars on for the last 29 years, helping Oregon’s farm owners, managers, and workers stay safe in one of the most hazardous industries. SAIF offered online webinars the last two years in lieu of in-person events.
“We are excited to get back on the road to offer these critical safety trainings this year,” said Courtney Merriott, senior safety management consultant at SAIF and one of the seminar presenters. “Being able to get out into the ag community is more effective as we look at reducing hazards in this industry.”
This year’s seminars will focus on four topics: ag hacks and ag myth busters; coexisting with agricultural chemicals; balancing the effects of heat and the effects of OSHA’s new heat rule; and first responders on the farm.
SAIF will also host online webinars in December and March in both English and Spanish.
The seminars are designed primarily for people working in agriculture but are open to anyone interested in ag safety and health—they don’t have to be insured by SAIF.
In-person seminars will be held in Bandon, Boring, Central Point, Corvallis, Eugene, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Hood River, Klamath Falls, La Grande, Madras, Milton-Freewater, Mt. Angel, Ontario, Salem, The Dalles, and Wilsonville.
Spanish seminars will be held in Central Point, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Hood River, Madras, Mt. Angel, Salem, The Dalles, and Wilsonville.
All will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and lunch will be provided.
Employers with small ag businesses who attend the seminar, or watch the webinars, will meet OSHA’s instructional requirement—one of four requirements that exempt small agricultural operations from random OSHA inspections.
Three hours of technical and one hour of business continuing education credits are available from the Landscape Contractors Board. Four producer continuing education credit hours for licensed insurance agents are approved by the Department of Consumer and Business Services.
