Minutes of August 2, 2008

OCEANSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
(www.oceansidefriends.org)
Regular Meeting, August 2, 2008
Minutes

President Judson Randall called the regular meeting of the Oceanside Neighborhood Association to order at 10:05 a.m. Saturday, August 2, 2008, at the Netarts Friends Church. There were 33 Oceansiders counted in the audience at 10:27 a.m.; 31 names were on the signup sheet. A quorum (37 persons) was not present.
Minutes of the July 5 meeting were approved without correction. The treasurer’s report displayed at the bottom of the agenda showed a balance of $1,634.11.
Jud announced that the Netarts/Oceanside Sanitary District’s special meeting on August 16 will be a “town hall” informational and comment gathering meeting with representatives of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, and the NOSD discussing consideration of the timing of building the new wastewater treatment plant. Jud urged our attendance at the Netarts Fire Hall at 10:30 am. Kathie Norris also encouraged all concerned about sewer rates and property taxes to attend, ask questions, and express their concerns.
At the same time on August 16, there will be a presentation by James R. Benya on preserving the night sky and quality energy efficient outdoor lighting in the Central Building next to the Pacific City Post Office. Richard Powers said he may attend that.
Jud said that he and Richard had spoken with a professor at Portland State University’s “Consensus” program who agreed to explore how a mediation process might be used to help resolve issues Oceansiders have with the NOSD, but the NOSD board chair has not responded to Jud’s messages for discussing this proposal.
Land Use Activities. Lisa Phipps reported on land use activities. This was her last report as our liaison with the Department of Community Development (DCD). Lisa introduced Sarah Absher Metcalf, who will be our liaison at future meetings. Lisa reported these activities:

A modified geo hazard report for the Cooper property on the north side of the NOSD plant has been submitted. They have a conditional permit from ODOT, providing the geo hazard report and variance are approved. When they apply for the variance, they will make a presentation before the ONA, probably in December. Kathie Kolody, Nancy Holden, and Marv Abbe had questions about the new geo hazard report. Lisa said that an appeal of the report must be based on the geo hazards: It cannot be used to appeal other matters, such as setbacks. The new coastal resource planner, Valerie Soilihi, will be reviewing the report. Lisa said a copy will be provided to Jud.
A meeting of all Citizen Planning Advisory Committee chairs is being planned.
In her new position as Planning Manager, Lisa is working to complete rewriting Goal 1, Citizen Involvement, by December. She will document processes set in place by CPACs. She is also reviewing the entire Tillamook County Land Use Ordinance document to check cross references, inconsistencies, and other flaws that have crept in. Regarding changes to Oceanside’s sections of the TCLUO, such as those proposed for the commercial zone, Lisa warned it will be necessary to hold town hall meetings outside of the ONA to gather public input.
The Raphael Writ of Mandamus was heard in Circuit Court on July 11 and was dismissed. There is no decision yet from the Court of Appeals about the Anchor Tavern case. There is nothing new from Green Crow or from the developer of the property above Happy Camp.
Another CPAC is forming in Cloverdale. All CPAC chairs will be meeting to work on the Goal 1 rewrite.
Lisa said the property on Rosenburg Loop that is being excavated has gone through the geo hazard process and has a building permit.

Lisa introduced Grant Graves of the Public Works Department who will attend the CPACs from here south whenever he can, to be a resource when we have road questions. Walt Giles will continue to deal with repairs such as those required on Maxwell Mountain Road.
Jud and the membership thanked Lisa for her service to the ONA over the years.
Next Jud introduced Jim Carlson, who serves as a field organizer for Our Ocean, a coalition of eight conservation groups working to preserve Oregon’s ocean legacy (e.g., Audubon Society of Portland, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition). Jim explained that the Netarts CPAC is looking for a way to have input in case of proposed new usages of the territorial sea off our coast. Jim provided a diagram showing all the agencies (federal, state, city, and county) in Oregon that have jurisdiction. Jim was asking whether the ONA wants to add a “land/sea connection” to its mission so it might be advisory on territorial sea (to three miles offshore) issues such as wave energy machines, marine reserves, oil drilling, etc. Jim also provided handouts from the document, Oregon Nearshore Strategy (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) (see http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/nearshore/document.asp, chapter “Oregon Nearshore Strategy Context.” He also referred to the Ocean Management Framework, “Oregon’s Territorial Sea” from the governor’s office (available on the web at http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/OCMP/docs/Ocean/otsp_1-a.pdf )
Jim recommends that the CPACs become knowledgeable about these technologies and their possible impact on our communities. As participants in the planning system, Oregonians should have input into what happens. CPACS need to have methods set up for contacting agencies. Jim suggested we consider adding to the ONA mission becoming an advisory group on ocean issues within three miles. Lisa said that Statewide Planning Goal 19 applies to ocean waters. CPACs can be advisory to federal, state and local agencies, however, getting timely notices of actions may be a challenge. Jud will look into this and come up with a proposal. Jim Hansen suggested making intergovernmental agreements to obtain the information.
Jim Carlson also spoke briefly about the marine reserve site proposed by Our Ocean between Cape Lookout and Cape Meares. Kathie Norris asked what impact it would have on Oceanside. Jim said we might see fewer crab boats offshore and that the number of fish in our waters would increase over time. He referred us to information available from FACT (Fisherman’s Advisory Committee of Tillamook) and the Oregon Marine Reserves website http://www.oregonmarinereserves.net/index.php.
Appendix F of the Highway 131 Refinement Plan. Since we did not have a quorum, we could not vote on the revised Appendix F of the Highway 131 Refinement Plan. This was postponed until the September meeting. Appendix F is on the ONA website.
Zone and Plan Review (ZAPR) Commercial Subcommittee Recommendations. Committee member Ron Young moderated a discussion of proposed changes in the Oceanside Commercial Zone ordinances. Richard Powers commented that some of the items were not priority issues and might be considered later. Ron recognized that the “elephant in the room” was the recommendation to change the height limit to 24 feet throughout the zone (on both sides of Pacific Ave. and its extension.) These are just recommendations and should be considered as such. The height change was recommended to keep Oceanside’s rustic village atmosphere. Tara Kottre from the Cabins said the setbacks are also an issue as they would make it difficult to build more cabins to the north. Jim Hansen suggested doing a master plan to set up view corridors and heights. Lisa said she would expect modifications to the proposed ordinances as the suggestions go through the public review process, with more input from the community before they go to the Planning Commission and the Board of Commissioners, which will have the final say. The BOC will look at what the community wants and at those parcels that will be damaged as a result of a new rule. Pam Zielinski asked how buildings on the east side of Pacific could have a view if they are the same height as those on the ocean side. Ron said the height change is aimed at preventing a row of Anchor size buildings through downtown Oceanside—is that what we want? Several suggestions were made for setting height limits, but it is difficult to find a solution that will be acceptable in all situations. Ron asked for more input from the community. Committee members are Ron Young, youngus5@comcast.net; Sue Butler, edgehill1585@aol.com; Craig Swinford, caswinford@qwest.net; Mary Flock, mbflock@msn.com; and Nancy Rangila, rangKMS@aol.com.
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Public Comment. Lisa announced that on Monday, August 4 at 9 a.m. the Board of Commissioners would be discussing vacation rentals.
Kris Woolpert said that the grading ordinance might become part of the residential committee’s responsibility. The Uniform Building Code has several paragraphs that might be incorporated. The committee may be meeting on Saturday, August 9. Elki said that the engineer they consulted regarding grading recommended the Uniform Building Code as a source.
Jim Hansen is looking for expert information on foredune formation (jaimehansen1@comcast.net).
Jud urged us to attend the NOSD/DEQ meeting on August 16, 10:30 a.m. at the Netarts Fire Hall. The next ONA meeting will be on September 6 at 10 a.m. at the Oceanside Community Center.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:56.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Auvil
Secretary