Public Meetings - Astoria, Oregon

The Astoria City Council met for a regular meeting beginning at 6:00 PM and adjourning at 7:48 PM. The agenda, minutes, and transcript all identify the meeting date as Monday, January 5, 2026, while the supplied timestamp was 2026-01-06 14:00:00+00:00; this summary uses the required date in the title. Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick and Councilors Andy Davis, Andrea Mazzarella, Elisabeth Adams, and Joshua Conklin were present, along with City Manager Scott Spence, Public Works Director Jeff Harrington, Assistant City Engineer Cindy Moore, Finance & Administrative Services Director Hilary Norton, Police Chief Stacy Kelly, Fire Chief Dan Crutchfield, Assistant to the City Manager Ryan Quigley, and City Attorney Blair Henningsgaard. Presentation: Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac) - Sarah Lou Heath, Executive Director, and Jackie Pewitt, Program Coordinator, presented. Col-Pac is a federal economic development district serving Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, and Western Washington counties. Programs highlighted included Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) administration, a small business revolving loan fund, the new Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, brownfield redevelopment and cleanup funding, the Northwest Oregon Transit Alliance, and the region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). - Heath said Col-Pac's return on investment is about 20 or 30 to 1 dollar each year on average. Dues have not been adjusted since 1994 and may need to be raised on a per-capita basis to satisfy the unencumbered, unrestricted match required for the EDA's $75,000 annual funding; current dues cover about five percent of staffing. Council asked clarifying questions; no formal action was taken. Proclamation: School Board Recognition Month - Council issued a proclamation recognizing January 2026 as School Board Recognition Month. Members of the Astoria School Board were present and accepted the proclamation. Reports of Councilors - Councilors reported on housing and homelessness efforts, a site visit to Seaside's 'Stepping Stones' sanctioned campsite, constituent concerns about housing, infrastructure, immigration, and public safety, an upcoming town hall, and library updates including a 'Library of Things.' Mayor Fitzpatrick noted the passing of Steve Allen, a management change at Merriweather Village, recent board/commission appointments, and a Dismal Dip fundraiser that raised just under $2,000 for the Astoria Downtown Association. Consent Calendar - Items 8.a (August 18, 2025 draft minutes) and 8.b (Industrial Discharge Permit for Sisu Brewing Company) were pulled for discussion before the vote. - Councilor Andy Davis raised concerns that the council was approximately 12 to 15 meetings behind on minutes; City Manager Scott Spence explained that verbatim minutes require significant staff time to review and format. Councilor Andrea Mazzarella asked about potential odors or impacts to neighboring businesses from Sisu Brewing's permit; staff responded that the industrial discharge permit regulates wastewater discharge only, while odor issues would be handled through separate building permit or public nuisance processes. Staff also explained wastewater capacity allocations and that Astoria's industrial users currently are breweries, with seafood processors permitted directly by the Oregon DEQ. - Council approved the consent calendar as presented by a 5-0 vote. Discussion Items - Election of City Council President: Councilor Andy Davis self-nominated and was elected Council President for the 2026 calendar year by a 5-0 vote. - Ordinance 26-01 (first reading): Council held a public hearing and first reading of the annual ordinance re-adopting state statutes referenced in the Astoria Code. Staff stated that no specific 2025 legislative changes were identified as directly impacting city code, but recommended a global readoption as best practice. The motion passed 5-0. - Sewage Lift Stations Rehabilitation Project CM/GC contract: Staff reported that four proposals were received and evaluated based on qualifications, experience, and project approach. Emery & Sons Construction Group, LLC was identified as the most qualified proposer. Assistant City Engineer Cindy Moore said all proposers requested score sheets, one requested full proposal materials, and no formal objections were received. Council approved the Phase 1 preconstruction services contract in the amount of $61,160 by a 5-0 vote. - Updated City Council Meeting Policy and Procedures: Council adopted amendments covering optional sign-up sheets, a new communications/media chapter, annual review, and changing 'obey' to 'observe.' Discussion clarified that councilors should distinguish personal opinions from official Council positions. The motion was approved 5-0. - Tribal Engagement and Consultation Policy: Council adopted the policy establishing consultation with the Chinook Nation and Clatsop-Nehalem Tribe by a 5-0 vote, and appointed Councilor Davis as tribal liaison and representative by a 5-0 vote. The minutes credit Mayor Fitzpatrick with the second on the appointment motion, while the transcript indicates Councilor Adams seconded; all five councilors voted in favor either way. New Business - Council discussed improving the meeting minutes process. Councilor Davis proposed moving to summary or action minutes supplemented by posted transcripts; Mayor Fitzpatrick preferred retaining verbatim minutes and asked about restoring the old captioning feature. Council members generally supported faster public access to meeting records. No formal action was taken; staff agreed to bring options back for consideration. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comment was received on the regular agenda items. - During non-agenda public comment, Jacqueline Lamar of Astoria (Grand Avenue) thanked council members for visiting Seaside's 'Stepping Stones' campsite and encouraged housing-first solutions and safe, stable shelter for unhoused residents. She said the current camping ordinance does not seem to be working and that 'homelessness ends with a home.' Key Outcomes - Approved the consent calendar, including the draft minutes, Sisu Brewing Company's industrial discharge permit, and authorization to solicit bids for the 2025 Trestle Repair Project, 5-0. - Elected Councilor Andy Davis as City Council President for 2026, 5-0. - Passed the first reading of ORD 26-01 re-adopting referenced Oregon Revised Statutes, 5-0. - Awarded Emery & Sons Construction Group, LLC a $61,160 CM/GC Phase 1 preconstruction services contract for the Sewage Lift Stations Rehabilitation Project, 5-0. - Adopted the updated City Council Meeting Policy and Procedures, 5-0. - Adopted the Tribal Engagement and Consultation Policy and appointed Councilor Davis as tribal liaison, both by 5-0 votes. - Took no formal action on minutes-process changes; staff will bring options to a future meeting.

This work session of the Astoria City Council took place on December 23, 2025 (note: the agenda and transcript list the date as December 22, 2025; this summary uses the date provided in the user instruction). The council discussed three agenda items: Council Rules of Procedures (3a), Tribal Coordination and Collaboration Policy (3b), and Downtown Parking (3c). No formal votes were taken, but staff received direction on next steps for each item. Public Comments & Testimony - No separate public comment period was held. During the parking discussion, Mr. Hayes, Executive Director of the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association, provided input via phone. He emphasized the need for hard data, consistent enforcement, and suggested exploring a paid parking model similar to Newport, Oregon. He offered to share a presentation on Newport’s transition. Discussion Items - 3a – Discussion on Council Rules of Procedures for Council Meetings Councilor Adams requested this item to review and amend the rules. She proposed adding an annual review of the rules (or upon any change in council membership) and suggested several changes: clarifying the agenda-setting process, updating the section on statements to the media, adjusting language around public testimony and sign‑up sheets, and replacing the word “obey” in Section 8.3 with more appropriate terminology. Councilor Conklin supported an annual review tied to the election cycle, noting that new members benefit from discussing the rules after gaining experience. Councilor Mazzarella agreed. The council reached consensus to have staff revise the document to include a review at least annually and whenever a new member joins, and to incorporate the other clarifications. The revised rules will be brought to the council for formal adoption at a January 2026 meeting. - 3b – Tribal Coordination and Collaboration Policy Director Dart McLean presented a draft policy developed with Brian Quigley. Councilor Davis suggested several terminology improvements: using “inherent” instead of “inherit,” preferring “consultation” over “collaboration” or “engagement,” and recognizing tribes as “sovereign entities” rather than “organizations.” He also recommended designating a council member and a staff member as leads (“owners”) for tribal coordination, with appropriate training. The mayor noted a typo (“inherit” should be “inherent”) and supported designating a tribal liaison. Staff agreed to revise the policy based on this feedback and then share the draft with the Chinook Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Clatsop Nehalem for their input. The revised policy is expected to return to council after tribal feedback is incorporated. - 3c – Discussion on Parking in Downtown Astoria Staff presented an overview of the 2018-19 parking study and highlighted upcoming developments (Oregon Film Museum, Dairy Gold, Department of Human Services – requiring 64 spaces, Owens Adair 2 – 50 units) that will increase parking pressure. Staff proposed two parallel tracks: developing public transit pilot programs (park‑and‑ride, shuttles) in partnership with Sunset Empire Transit District and the Port, and issuing an RFP for an updated parking study (estimated $60,000–$90,000). Council members discussed at length. Councilor Adams emphasized transportation demand management (TDM) strategies, understanding the parking district map, and the link between housing and transportation. She favored focusing on multimodal options and a more strategic study rather than a public perception survey. Councilor Davis expressed skepticism about spending on a new study before the new developments are operational; he argued that enforcement of existing parking regulations (two-hour limits, higher fines) and internal data collection (e.g., using a cadet for inventory) could address many issues. He also supported exploring paid parking and better utilization of private lots. Councilor Mazzarella supported acting sooner on transit options and was intrigued by paid parking, possibly with resident exemptions. She urged that any study include specific recommendations and commitment to action. Mayor Fitzpatrick suggested waiting for the new developments to open before commissioning a major study, and supported moving forward with transportation options in the interim. Mr. Hayes (ADHDA) advocated for hard data to inform a management policy, noted that enforcement consistency has been lacking, and offered to share Newport’s paid parking case study. Staff summarized three directions for moving forward: (1) continue coordinating with community partners on multimodal transit pilots, (2) conduct an internal review of parking enforcement metrics and code by the police department, and (3) develop a limited‑scope RFP focused on technical aspects (e.g., future impacts, TDM strategies, paid parking feasibility). The council generally agreed with these tracks. Staff will bring back a refined scope for the RFP and updates on the other two tracks. Key Outcomes - Council Rules of Procedures (3a): Staff to revise the rules to include an annual review (and review upon new member appointments), incorporate clarifications on agenda‑setting, media statements, public testimony sign‑ups, and replace “obey” with more appropriate language. The revised document will be presented for formal adoption at a January 2026 council meeting. - Tribal Coordination Policy (3b): Staff to revise the policy using council’s feedback (terminology, designated council and staff leads) and then share the draft with tribal partners for their input. A revised version will return to council after consultation. - Downtown Parking (3c): Staff directed to pursue three tracks: 1. Continue discussions with Sunset Empire Transit District, Port of Astoria, and other partners to develop multimodal transportation pilot programs. 2. Have the police department conduct an internal review of current parking enforcement practices and code effectiveness. 3. Develop a limited‑scope RFP for a technical parking study that addresses future development impacts, TDM strategies, and paid parking options, with a cost estimate to be presented to council for approval. Mr. Hayes’s offer to share Newport’s paid parking presentation was accepted; a future work session may be scheduled.

The Astoria City Council met on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included the swearing-in of a new councilor, recognition of a retiring firefighter, a lifesaving award, reports from councilors, approval of a consent calendar, and discussion of several regular agenda items. Key actions included authorizing a grant application for stormwater improvements, adopting a traffic safety response policy, setting priorities for community organization grants, and providing direction on housing development proposals. The meeting also featured public comments on home stay lodging and homelessness. Consent Calendar - The council unanimously approved the consent calendar (7a–7d), which included: - 7a: Moxy Hotel annual progress report (received). - 7b: Acceptance of a utility easement at 461 32nd St. from Astoria Waterfront LLC for the Northpost 66 development. - 7c: Authorization to grant three easements to ODOT for the ADA curb ramp project. - 7d: Extension of the Pacific Power franchise agreement to June 30, 2026. Public Comments & Testimony - Jason Murray (1078 Harrison Ave.) – Expressed concern about home stay lodging parking requirements that exclude his property. He requested reconsideration of the parking provisions, noting that he is a teacher and the policy would help public servants afford housing in the city. The mayor encouraged him to work with the Community Development Department. - Emily Ingdahl (1305 8th St.) – Urged the council to include unhoused residents in decision-making, criticized the criminalization of survival, and advocated for sanctioned camping, tiny homes, and use of superseding authority. She submitted a letter with quotes from community members gathered by mutual aid volunteers. She offered her assistance and that of other volunteers. Discussion Items - 8a: HIFP Grant Application for Copeland Commons Stormwater Improvements – The council authorized the Community Development Director to submit a Housing Infrastructure Financing Program grant to Business Oregon, with funds to pass through to Copeland Commons for stormwater work and a project manager. The motion carried unanimously. - 8b: Traffic Safety Advisory Committee – Response Policy and Protocol – The council adopted a final draft policy that includes definitions for severity, frequency, vulnerability, and feasibility, and expands options beyond education, enforcement, and engineering. The motion carried unanimously. - 8c: Community Organization Grant Program Review Criteria – Council discussed priorities for the upcoming budget cycle. Direction was given to continue using the 2024 criteria (permanent improvements, mental health, substance use) and to consider whether applications might leverage matching grants. Staff will incorporate these priorities into the budget committee process. - 8d: Housing RFEI – Customs House and Darigold Sites – Six development proposals were reviewed. Councilors discussed guiding principles: financial feasibility and funding strategy, diversity of housing tenure (especially ownership and community land trust for Customs House), site-by-site compatibility and realism, and community engagement and shared visioning. A motion directed staff to conduct additional analysis highlighting strengths, limitations, funding viability, site compatibility, and alignment with council’s guiding principles. The motion carried unanimously. Staff will return with analysis in January (likely at a regular meeting or work session). Key Outcomes - Swearing-in of Councilor Joshua Conklin – Judge Kaino administered the oath for Ward 4, effective December 1, 2025. - Retirement of Wade Matthews – Recognized for 25 years of service with the Astoria Fire Department, retiring December 30, 2025. - Lifesaver Award – Presented to four firefighters (Gage Bagay, Justin Whitney, Joe Green, Andrew Peterson) and others for saving Jarrett Lyons on November 26, 2025, after cardiac arrest. The patient has since recovered. - Councilor Reports – Included updates on community events, storm response, and policy discussions. Councilor Mozzarella noted that requests for work sessions on camping ordinance and day center have not been placed on agendas despite multiple requests. - New Business – Mayor Fitzpatrick proposed an interpretive sign at the Astoria Column honoring York, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The council expressed support. Councilor Adams requested a review of the council’s rules of procedure and code of conduct, which was added to the next work session. - Meeting Adjourned at 8:35 PM.

The Astoria City Council met for a work session on the City's livability response and camping ordinance. The agenda packet lists the meeting as Monday, December 8, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers, 1095 Duane Street; the supplied meeting timestamp is December 9, 2025, 14:00:00 UTC. No minutes were available. Staff from the Parks and Recreation Department, city manager's office, and police department presented the history of the camping code, current service-provider resources, and enforcement data, and council heard from invited community partners before agreeing on next steps. Discussion Items - Camping code history and structure: Staff said the camping ordinance was established in 2022 after discussions that began around 2018. A city livability response team was created in 2023, police reported growing enforcement difficulty in fall 2024, and discussions about an enhanced enforcement zone occurred April–June 2025. Staff also met with Clatsop County district court and corrections in July 2025 and with community partners in October 2025. The current code defines time, place, and manner: camping is prohibited outside 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.; the place map mostly allows camping in downtown and limited sidewalk areas while prohibiting it elsewhere; and manner rules limit space to 50 square feet per person, require daily removal of items from rights-of-way, prohibit huts and temporary structures, require six feet of sidewalk clearance, and prohibit blocking building entrances. Enforcement is citation-based through the municipal code. - Current resources and city actions: Community partners provide 32 units from Clatsop Behavioral Health, 64 beds or up to 21 units from Clatsop Community Action, 22 beds from Lifeboat Services, and 65 beds from Helping Hands. The City provides $100,000 per year through its community organization grant program and is funding a $20,000 cold-weather shelter program with Clatsop Community Action from December 1, 2025 through March 1, 2026, activated at 32 degrees. Staff also cited 2025 housing actions: $200,000 in funding intent for Copeland Commons, a $500,000 housing initiative program, and the Astoria Development Commission's Astoria Partnership Program. - Police enforcement data: Chief of Police Stacey Kelly reported that prohibited camping calls increased from 419 to 521, a 24% increase, and camping citations increased from 103 to 200, a 94% increase, comparing January–November 2024 with January–November 2025. Parks and Recreation logged more than 1,000 labor hours, over $54,000 in labor, and more than seven tons of garbage in the prior year's livability response. Chief Kelly said the ordinance is not working for roughly 10–12 habitual, service-resistant violators, noted that service providers have rules and consequences while the camping ordinance does not, and said two officers are leaving because they are tired of camping enforcement. Community Partner Input - The Harbor representative agreed with Chief Kelly that citations make no sense and called for compassion-based enforcement, outreach, and more low-barrier housing; she said housing is the root problem and providers must work together. - Helping Hands COO Joshua Blumquist said he worries about business access and ADA sidewalk accessibility, believes behavior and compliance are legitimate issues, and supported community service as accountability. He said Helping Hands has 89 beds across Clatsop County, 59 in Astoria, and he disputed that sobriety is required for entry, saying sobriety is not a requirement in the longer-term program. City staff had earlier described Helping Hands as requiring mandated sobriety for entry. - Clatsop Behavioral Health Executive Director Shaira Maryland Simmons said citations are ineffective, supports compelling people into care through non-financial paths, noted the high bar for civil commitment in Oregon, and described contingency management, paying people to show up to treatment, as a tool. She said the new 32-unit CBH housing project is scheduled to finish at the end of December and lease up in January, although it will make only a small dent in the crisis. - Clatsop Community Action's Jerome Stegmans described Seaside's Stepping Stones camp: 25 sites plus four overflow sites on a former vacant lot, currently serving about 25–30 people; each person has a partitioned site; there is no curfew, but people lose their site if absent more than 72 hours and can return after 30 days; case managers and street medicine visit regularly. CCA's Kenny Hansen said outreach is difficult, some clients may never be ready, and community service provides accountability and structure. He said he hopes a Stepping Stones-style site would help Astoria's hardcore group but could not promise it would work for everyone. - The Harbor representative, Susan, said survivors of domestic violence in rural areas often leave 10–12 times before permanently fleeing, and stressed the intersection of homelessness, mental health, substance use, and trauma. Council Direction and Key Outcomes Council did not take a formal vote, but at the end of the work session reached a consensus for staff to pursue four tracks: 1. Penalty escalation: Review the penalties and enforcement section of the camping ordinance to allow a path from civil citations to a municipal criminal violation after repeated violations, with possible deflection, community service, or treatment agreements as alternatives. 2. Circuit court processing: Continue work on an agreement to use Clatsop County circuit court infrastructure for prosecution of camping-related and other cases, with the city attorney as prosecutor; the court was reportedly open to the arrangement, and staff estimated at least six months to finalize it. 3. Private-property camping: Explore and publicize the existing private-property and vehicle camping provisions in the ordinance, Section 5.910, to encourage property owners, nonprofits, religious organizations, and others to participate; staff will develop an education and outreach campaign and assess whether safe-parking models fit the current code or need changes. 4. Place and sanctioned campsite feasibility: Schedule a future work session, likely early 2026, to review the place map and consider the feasibility of a concentrated sanctioned camping site or tiny-home village modeled on Stepping Stones; council may tour the Seaside site, and CCA and Lifeboat have expressed willingness to help staff or operate such a site. The mayor pressed council for a clear yes or no on whether it was willing to act, saying repeated meetings without a decision waste staff time. Councilor Adams objected that the mayor's tone was insulting, and Councilor Davis said the council had been doing substantial work by gathering information from police, courts, and providers. The mayor and several councilors agreed the near-term focus should be the small group of approximately 10–12 people creating the most recurring livability complaints, while providers cautioned that the service-resistant population is likely to grow and will remain part of the community. The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.

The Astoria City Council met on 2025-12-02 (noting that the agenda and transcript identify the meeting as Monday, December 1, 2025) at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The council unanimously approved the consent calendar and Resolution 25-41, interviewed five candidates for the vacant Ward 4 seat, and appointed Joshua Conklin after a tie in the first-round star vote. The meeting was extended to 9:00 p.m. and adjourned at 8:58 p.m. Councilor Reports and Opening Remarks - Councilors largely waived formal reports, thanking residents for the many emails, voicemails, and phone calls about the Ward 4 vacancy, and thanking all candidates. Mayor Fitzpatrick also noted the veterans dinner and downtown lighting festivities. Consent Calendar - The council approved, 4-0, the routine consent calendar, including a new Limited On-Premises Commercial Sales liquor license application from Josephson's LLC, doing business as Josephson's Smokehouse, 106 Marine Drive, Astoria. Resolution 25-41 – Condemning Federal Enforcement Tactics - Police Chief Stacey Keller reported that an ICE enforcement action occurred that day at the Warrenton Walmart around 11:00 a.m. Agents used unmarked vehicles with emergency lights, wore marked vests, and had masks; two people were taken into custody. No windows were broken, and local law enforcement, the sheriff, and dispatch were not notified before or after. - Councilor Adams encouraged continued dialogue with the county sheriff and state officials. - Public comment: Norma Hernandez (Consejo Hispano) said the community had two detentions that day and that those detained were working DoorDash; she expressed support for the resolution and asked that all community members be equally respected and protected. Another speaker, Mike Brochus, described significant indirect impacts on schools, students, and bus drivers, urging the council to consider broader community effects. - The council passed Resolution 25-41 unanimously (4-0). The resolution reaffirms Resolutions 17-03 and 20-22, condemns aggressive and unwarranted federal enforcement tactics such as unmarked vehicles, masked agents, and unidentifiable personnel, and directs city personnel and resources to prioritize city ordinances and Oregon law while protecting constitutional rights. Ward 4 Vacancy – Candidate Interviews and Appointment - Five candidates were interviewed: Joshua Conklin, Colin Cummings, Lisa Morley, Mike Brochus, and CJ Bell. The mayor set a two-minute public comment limit for this item, asked speakers to state their first and second choices and any tiebreaker preference, and outlined possible tiebreaker options including a star-system runoff, point totals, a coin toss, or a special election. - Candidate Q&A highlights: - On decision-making, most candidates described balancing Ward 4 feedback, citywide impact, staff expertise, and personal judgment. Lisa Morley said she would vote with Ward 4 when her judgment differed from the ward majority; Mike Brochus emphasized seeking diverse and dissenting perspectives. - On a hypothetical $1 million grant, proposals included staff wages, a procurement director, and an innovation center (Colin Cummings); sewer improvements, business grants, and veterans' wellness services (CJ Bell); forgivable loans for ADU and multifamily conversions (Joshua Conklin); matching funds, living-wage career pathways, and a community assessment (Mike Brochus); and $900,000 for an Astoria for All Astorians annuity plus $100,000 for a Ward 4 home-safety repair fund (Lisa Morley). - On time commitment, expectations ranged from approximately 15-20 hours per week to full-time; CJ Bell said she expected the role to be effectively full-time. - Thirteen people signed up in person to testify; no online sign-ups were initially listed, though one online Ward 4 voter later testified. - Public testimony expressed support for: - Joshua Conklin: Megan Armstrong, Jim Summers, a resident at 3678 Grand Avenue, Mary Ng, and online Ward 4 voter Temesh Sali. Speakers cited his community ties, youth, listening approach, and housing perspective. - Mike Brochus: Daryl Moore, Chris Holland, Judith Huck, Trudy Van Duzen Chitovich, and Ryan Blum (letter read by Judith Huck). They cited his executive experience, community board service, budgets of up to $20 billion, and workforce partnerships. - Lisa Morley: Randy Harris, Doris Queener, and Chris Ferrar cited her hard work, extensive community contact, and near-election performance. - CJ Bell: Chanel Bell cited accessibility and her commitment to connecting people with resources. - Norma Hernandez, not a Ward 4 resident, urged the council to choose someone who genuinely asks underserved Latino residents what they need rather than checking a box. Doris Queener expressed discomfort with the appointment process and said she would prefer an elected representative. - After comments, the council voted to extend the meeting to 9:00 p.m. (4-0). - First-round star-vote point totals were: Mike Brochus 17, Joshua Conklin 17, Colin Cummings 16, Lisa Morley 11, and CJ Bell 3. Councillors then discussed their processes; Mayor Fitzpatrick said his first-round ranking was based on correspondence and comments from Ward 4 residents, while Councilor Davis said the final decision should consider the whole city and should not be a public-comment headcount. - Councilor Davis moved to appoint Joshua Conklin. The motion was seconded and passed 4-0. Joshua Conklin was sworn in by the finance director/city recorder, taking the oath of office. New Business, Miscellaneous, and Non-Agenda Public Comment - Staff announced upcoming meetings: a December 8 work session on the city's camping ordinance and enforcement; a December 15 discussion of housing development responses for the Dairy Gold and Customs House sites, the Pacific Power franchise agreement, and the community organization grant program; and a December 22 work session on tribal collaboration/communication policy and a parking plan. - Staff also announced the December 10 volunteer board/commission appreciation event and the fire department's holiday food parade on December 9-11 at 6:00 p.m. - Councilor Davis requested a coordinated meeting with the city attorney to discuss legal options and protections related to immigration enforcement and protected-class language. - In non-agenda public comment, Mary Ng discussed the aid-and-assist docket, mental-health and homelessness-related court cases, a young homeless man with six pending charges over 2.5 years, and asked the council to review county funding and support more inclusive service models. Key Outcomes - Consent calendar approved 4-0. - Resolution 25-41 approved 4-0. - Ward 4 vacancy filled by appointment of Joshua Conklin; motion passed 4-0 and he was sworn in. - Meeting extended to 9:00 p.m. and adjourned at 8:58 p.m. - Council directed staff to arrange a city attorney discussion on potential immigration-related actions.

Note on date: The agenda and minutes list the meeting as Monday, November 24, 2025, but the meeting occurred on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, as provided in the source instructions. This discrepancy is noted. The work session was called to order at 6:00 PM and adjourned at 7:39 PM. All four council members were present (Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick, Councilors Andy Davis, Andrea Mazzarella, and Elisabeth Adams) along with Acting City Manager Jonah Dart-McLean and other staff. The council discussed two main items: a public statement supporting the Latinx community following recent ICE actions, and a potential update to the City Charter. Discussion of Public Statement of Support for the Latinx Community - Acting City Manager Dart-McLean introduced a draft statement for council consideration in response to recent immigration enforcement activity in Seaside/Clatsop County. - Council clarified that this is a joint public statement (not a resolution or ordinance) that could be released without further vote if all agreed. - Councilor Adams requested that additional protected classes language (including family structure, gender identity, etc.) be codified into city code rather than just included in the statement's 'whereas' clauses. She noted the city currently lacks such codification. - Councilor Mazzarella reported she had spoken with Congresswoman Bonamici's office, which expressed support, and noted that Cannon Beach had already passed a similar resolution titled "Resolution for the Purpose of Condemning Non-Transparent Federal Immigration Enforcement Tactics, Reaffirming Commitment to Constitutional and Community Safety Principles." She encouraged aligning with neighboring cities. - Council generally agreed the draft statement was acceptable and directed staff to prepare it for release. Separate resolutions on land use and enforcement will be presented at the December 1 regular council meeting. Council Discussion on City Charter Update - Councilor Davis presented a detailed proposal covering four areas (in descending order of importance): 1. Appointment of replacement council members: Revising quorum and vacancy language to allow remaining members to appoint replacements even if quorum is lost, using League of Oregon Cities (LOC) model language. 2. Appointed officers: Consolidating appointment/removal language for city manager, city attorney, and municipal judge into one section; adding duties for city attorney; removing duplicative and ambiguous clauses. 3. Appointment to committees: Changing the current process (mayor alone appoints) to require council consent for appointments and removals. 4. Size of council: Expanding from five to seven members by adding two at-large seats elected every two years, with an alternative concept of removing the mayor position and having council elect a president. - Other councilors raised additional topics: term limits for council and commission members (Councilor Mazzarella), regular charter review intervals, board boundary review, adoption of rules by resolution (Councilor Adams), and clearer vacancy procedures. - Council discussed timeline and process. They agreed to target the November 2026 general election for any charter amendments, noting it will be a high-turnout election with mayor and two council seats on the ballot. The deadline for ballot language is August 14, 2026. - The review process will include future work sessions (within 3-5 months), public listening sessions, and formal council action to place items on the ballot. Councilor Davis suggested putting each amendment as a separate ballot measure to allow public vote on each. - No formal votes were taken; this was a preliminary discussion to identify areas and next steps. Key Outcomes - Statement on Latinx community: Council agreed on the draft statement and will release it; staff will also prepare resolutions for the December 1 meeting. - Charter update: Council will continue discussions in upcoming work sessions, aiming for a final set of proposed amendments to be placed on the November 2026 ballot. The next work session is expected within the next few months to review additional proposals and refine language.

The Astoria City Council met for a regular meeting. The agenda and minutes date the meeting as Monday, November 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM, while the provided timestamp identifies the meeting as November 18, 2025, 14:00 UTC; this summary uses the provided date. Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick participated remotely while isolating after a COVID-19 diagnosis, and Council President Elisabeth Adams presided in his place. All four council members were present. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM and adjourned at 8:51 PM. Council approved the consent calendar, an emergency preparedness MOU, a fund restructuring, a compensation-related resolution repeal, and an updated salary resolution. Council also gave final direction on the Ward 4 appointment process and discussed a proposed response to recent ICE and border patrol activity. Consent Calendar - Approved the consent calendar by a single 4-0 motion: corrected loan repayment schedule for Business Oregon/IFA Loan Y12006; repayment schedule for Business Oregon Loan L23003; and a resolution formally recognizing the Ward 4 City Council seat vacancy. - Motion by Councilor Andrea Mazzarella, seconded by Councilor Andy Davis. Voting yes: Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick, Councilor Elisabeth Adams, Councilor Andy Davis, Councilor Andrea Mazzarella. Reports of Councilors - Councilor Davis reported on the parks master plan event, food insecurity and SNAP benefit uncertainty, the Rogue Brewery closure, and community concerns about federal ICE and border patrol activity. - Councilor Mazzarella reported on housing-related resident communication, infrastructure maintenance, storm preparedness, and regional disaster coordination meetings. - Councilor Adams reported on a Veterans Day event, veteran service officer shortages, outreach about the Rogue closure, and upcoming community meetings. - Mayor Fitzpatrick reported on visiting an ADU project, his COVID-19 quarantine, and his outreach to the governor's office regarding ICE actions. Public Comments & Testimony - Marilyn Dito (318 37th Street) asked whether the existing Astor West Special Projects Fund could already be used for housing without renaming or moving the money. Finance Director Hillary Norton responded that the fund's stated purpose was tied to Astor West urban renewal projects, so changing the purpose to citywide housing required a transparent fund change and supplemental budget process. - Mr. Brush (682 34th Street), during discussion of the Resolution 21-02 repeal, stated that turnover costs are astronomical and that the city can save money long term by paying competitive wages. - Ms. Morley (4908 Cedar Street), on the updated salary resolution, asked whether the retroactive application to July 1 should be explicitly spelled out in the resolution. - Jenny Poole Radway (565 12th Street) urged council to consider equitable public participation in the Ward 4 appointment process, noting that many Spanish-speaking residents in Emerald Heights face language, safety, and digital-access barriers. She asked council to think creatively about how to include those voices. - No public comments were offered during the non-agenda public comment portion of the meeting. Discussion Items - 7.a Memorandum of Understanding with Astoria School District 1C: Acting City Manager Jonah Dart-McLean presented the MOU for storage of emergency supplies on school district property and bus transportation during natural or man-made disasters. Fire Chief Dan Crutchfield answered questions and explained that supplies have already been stored with the school district for about two years under a verbal agreement, primarily at the middle school and elementary school, both outside the tsunami inundation zone. Councilors expressed support for formalizing the agreement. Motion by Councilor Davis, seconded by Councilor Mazzarella; passed 4-0. - 7.b Housing and Community Resiliency Fund 141 and Closure of Fund 140: Staff recommended closing the Astor West Special Projects Fund 140 and transferring remaining funds into a new Housing and Community Resiliency Fund 141. Finance Director Hillary Norton explained the fund's original stated purpose was limited to Astor West projects, so council needed to close the old fund and create a new fund with a new stated purpose. Council approved two separate motions, each 4-0: first creating Fund 141, and second approving the supplemental budget, closing Fund 140, and transferring remaining funds into Fund 141. - 7.c Repeal of Resolution 21-02: HR Director Ashley Diets explained that Resolution 21-02 fixed pay relationships for police sergeants, managers, and chiefs using specific percentage differentials that were not necessarily validated by market data. Repealing it aligns police management positions with the city's standard non-represented compensation practices. Councilor Davis expressed support for competitive pay but also concern about budget guardrails. The motion to repeal Resolution 21-02 was approved 4-0. - 7.d Updated Salary Resolution: The updated compensation plan included cost-of-living adjustments and a market adjustment for non-represented police management positions. HR Director Ashley Diets confirmed the changes were retroactive to July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, and resulted from negotiations with the Astoria Public Safety Association. The motion to adopt the salary resolution as presented was approved 4-0. - 7.e Traffic Safety Advisory Committee Policy and Protocol: Staff presented a draft response policy and protocol for the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee. Councilor Davis requested more guidance on how the prioritization criteria—severity, frequency, vulnerability, and feasibility—should be applied, and recommended adding flexibility beyond the traditional engineering, enforcement, and education framework. Councilor Mazzarella suggested adding an appendix or list of outside stakeholders and resources available to the committee. Mayor Fitzpatrick, who served on TSAC years ago, supported the policy and said the committee would have benefited from clearer guidelines at that time. No vote was taken; staff will revise the policy and bring it back. - 7.f Final Direction on Ward 4 Appointment Process: Council finalized the four questions to be asked of each candidate on December 1, 2025: Councilor Davis's question, "What do you believe should be the basis for decision making as a City Councilor?"; Councilor Mazzarella's question, "If you received a $1 million grant to use for the City any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?"; Councilor Adams's question, "What is your understanding of the time commitment involved as being a City Councilor?"; and Mayor Fitzpatrick's question, "What has changed in the 18 months since the filing period opened for the 2024 election that has prompted your interest in running for the recently vacated seat?", with a parallel version for Ms. Morley. Staff noted the mayor's question was later changed to "What has motivated you to run for Council now, and how has your perspective evolved since the last election?" Council also agreed to use the weighted STAR voting system, narrow the field through that process, then hold a nomination and final vote on the preferred candidate. In the event of a tie, council will decide at that time, possibly through further discussion or a coin toss. Public comment will be limited to 45 minutes total, two minutes per speaker, with priority to Ward 4 residents; sign-in sheets will allow people to indicate preferred candidates. Emails and letters to council will also be entered into the public record. New Business & Miscellaneous - Staff updated council on the Rogue Brewery closure, noting that the initial estimate of 18 affected workers had been reduced to 5 to 10, that wages are expected to be covered, and that Northwest Oregon Works has resources for displaced workers. - Staff asked for council support for a new Public Works Maintenance Technician position to help cover duties during the vacant wastewater treatment supervisor role. Councilors generally supported the position. - Council discussed recent ICE and border patrol activity in the region. Councilor Davis urged quick and measured action, and Councilor Mazzarella outlined a preliminary draft resolution affirming constitutional rights, preserving city resources for local enforcement, and exploring land-use measures to restrict detention facilities. Police Chief Stacy Kelly explained that Oregon law prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE or sharing information, and that local agencies have been updating protocols so officers can confirm whether a stop is legitimate and ensure public safety. Staff will work with the city attorney and affected departments and bring a resolution draft to council at the next regular meeting or possibly as early as the December 1 meeting. Key Outcomes - Approved the emergency preparedness MOU with Astoria School District 1C, 4-0. - Created Housing and Community Resiliency Fund 141, 4-0; closed Astor West Special Projects Fund 140 and transferred remaining funds, 4-0. - Repealed Resolution 21-02, 4-0. - Adopted the updated salary resolution, including COLA and market adjustments, retroactive to July 1, 2025, 4-0. - Directed staff to revise the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee policy and return it for future action. - Finalized the Ward 4 candidate interview questions, STAR voting process, nomination procedure, and 45-minute public comment format for the December 1, 2025 appointment meeting. - Directed staff and the city attorney to develop a resolution addressing ICE enforcement concerns and community protections, with a target of the next regular council meeting or the December 1 meeting.

On November 4, 2025, the Astoria City Council met in regular session in the Council Chambers, 1095 Duane Street, Astoria, Oregon. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:04 p.m. Councilors present were Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick, Andy Davis, Andrea Mazzarella, and Elisabeth Adams, who participated remotely. Staff present were City Manager Scott Spence, Police Chief Stacy Kelly, Assistant to the City Manager Ryan Quigley, and City Attorney Blair Henningsgaard. Scott Spence led the Pledge of Allegiance. No changes were made to the agenda. Note: the agenda and minutes are dated Monday, November 3, 2025, while the supplied meeting timestamp is 2025-11-04; this summary uses the supplied timestamp date. Proclamation - Council proclaimed November as National Native American Heritage Month in Astoria, recognizing the contributions of Native Americans, the history of colonialism, discrimination, deprivation, and genocide, and honoring Indigenous people historically and currently. Councilor Reports - Councilor Davis reported receiving community feedback about anticipated SNAP benefit shortfalls and urged support for local food distribution through churches and Clatsop Community Action. He expressed interest in exploring whether city funds, including homeless-related resources, could assist if needed, and noted personal health struggles. - Councilor Mazzarella reported similar conversations about SNAP benefits and food insecurity, shared information about a Clatsop County emergency food swap and pantry stocking event at the Astoria Armory on November 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and noted storm drain maintenance and seasonal infrastructure concerns. - Councilor Adams reported that Mangler Bridge maintenance will cause single-lane traffic and possible delays, and joined remotely due to medical matters. - Mayor Fitzpatrick reported on the grand reopening of the Astoria Public Library, thanked the Astoria Fire Department for raising the flag, noted strong participation in the downtown Halloween trick-or-treat event despite rain, reported meeting with City Lumber, observed progress at the Coastal Family Health Center construction site, and announced a November 21 fundraiser at the Larsen Center for the Performing Arts benefiting The Harbor. Consent Calendar - The Council approved the consent calendar as presented by a 4-0 vote, with Councilor Davis moving and Councilor Mazzarella seconding. The approved items were the draft City Council minutes of August 4, 2025; the draft Parks Advisory Board minutes of October 22, 2025; and the waiver of overtime parking fees in the Downtown Parking District for the holiday season. Voting for: Fitzpatrick, Adams, Davis, Mazzarella. Voting against: none. Regular Agenda Item – Ward 4 Council Vacancy Open House - City Manager Spence reviewed final details for the public open house / meet-and-greet scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, as part of the process to fill the Ward 4 Council vacancy established at the October 22, 2025 special meeting. - Location: Peace First Lutheran Church, within Ward 4, was selected; its room can hold about 140 people. The Hampton venue was booked, and elementary school options were not suitable. - Format: Council reached consensus on a hybrid format. The evening would begin with candidates being available at 5:30, followed by three-minute introductory remarks from each candidate; three moderated questions submitted by attendees, with the same questions asked of all candidates; two-minute responses per question; one-minute closing statements; and approximately 30 minutes of informal meet-and-greet. The meeting was estimated to last roughly 1.5 hours, with the venue blocked for about two hours. - Moderation: Council agreed that a neutral city staff member, possibly a department head or librarian, would moderate the question portion rather than a council member. - Candidate count: Two applications had been filed at the time, and at least two other people had indicated they intended to apply. - No formal motion was required. No public comment was offered on this item. New Business & Miscellaneous - City Manager Spence previewed upcoming topics: the November 17 meeting would address council questions for Ward 4 candidates, a possible process to narrow candidates to two finalists, and whether public comment should be limited to Ward 4 residents and businesses. A November 24 work session was scheduled to discuss the city charter. - Council discussed downtown camping enforcement and scheduling. Councilor Mazzarella suggested adding an additional monthly work session to address the backlog; Mayor Fitzpatrick noted holiday scheduling concerns. Council agreed to schedule a December 8 work session to continue discussion on homeless response with critical community resource providers. Public Comments (Non-Agenda) - Steve Fick (14th Street) expressed concerns about the impacts of homelessness on downtown businesses, public safety, and camping behavior. He urged Council to provide clearer direction and stronger enforcement tools and to explore approaches used in other cities. He also described a threatening encounter and a subsequent heart attack. - Dawn (11th & Duane Street) commented on National Native American Heritage Month, noting that Native Americans went from 100% of the area's population to 0.5%, and questioned SNAP funding priorities, the timing of public comment, and the requirement of a physical address or a $6 fee for a library card. - A resident identified in the minutes as Matthew Barish and in the transcript as Philip Barish (732 Alameda Avenue) described challenges encountered while constructing an ADU and requested Council review a sewer connection code requirement that mandates a separate sewer line connection, stating it creates financial and infrastructure barriers to housing development. - Carissa Lynn (560 Jerome Avenue) asked whether an emergency warming shelter would be available this winter and whether the City would assist in addressing potential funding gaps. - Lisa Morley (4908 Cedar Street) requested Council reconsider the three-minute public comment limit and encouraged regular town halls and ward-level meetings to allow extended community dialogue. - Mary Eng (PO Box 12) commented on mental health court processes, plea bargaining practices, homelessness criminalization, pedestrian safety, and whistleblower protections within the county justice system, including a $500-per-day federal penalty reference and an upcoming trial. Key Outcomes - Consent calendar approved unanimously, 4-0. - Final direction given for the November 19 Ward 4 vacancy open house: Peace First Lutheran Church location, hybrid candidate forum format, neutral staff moderator, and no formal motion required. - December 8 work session scheduled to continue homeless response discussions with critical resource providers. - Council discussion identified November 17 as the next Ward 4 appointment-process meeting and November 24 as the city charter work session; no decisions were made on those items at this meeting.

On October 28, 2025, the Astoria City Council held a work session with five critical resource partners to discuss services, funding challenges, and community needs. The meeting included presentations from Clatsop Community Action (CCA), Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers, The Harbor, and LifeBoat Services, followed by council discussion on homelessness, shelter capacity, and public safety. The meeting began at 6:00 PM and adjourned at 8:01 PM. Clatsop Community Action (CCA) - CCA serves approximately 30% of Clatsop County residents through housing, energy assistance, food distribution, and shelter programs. - Rental assistance funding reduced by 40–50%; over 100 households were notified of potential assistance termination, with approximately 80% temporarily stabilized through alternative funding. - Columbia Inn Shelter remains at full capacity with a waitlist; Esperanza Shelter reduced overnight staffing due to funding cuts. - The Food Bank distributed approximately 1.3–1.5 million pounds of food countywide last fiscal year, with roughly 460,000 pounds distributed in Astoria. - 10,500 Astoria households served (28,000 individuals). - 73,000+ meals served locally. - 80% of food sourced outside the county. - SNAP benefit loss would strain capacity significantly. - Key concerns: reduced prevention funding may increase unsheltered homelessness; continued instability in state and federal funding; inability to meet demand if SNAP benefits lapse. - CCA asked the council to advocate at the state and federal level for the county’s needs. Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers - Operates a 65-bed shelter in Astoria and additional facilities countywide. - Approximately 14,972 overnight stays in Astoria this year. - Projected funding shortfall of approximately $260,000. - State reimbursement delays impacting operations. - Key concerns: potential service reductions if funding gap is not filled; need for increased advocacy at the state level. - Alan Evans (founder) noted that the state funding distribution system is a “dumpster fire” and expressed frustration with the city’s $9,000 annual contribution relative to the $850,000 budget for the Astoria shelter. The Harbor - Operates a confidential shelter and provides survivor advocacy, prevention education, and housing assistance. - 60% of funding derived from federal sources. - 8% increase in Hispanic/Latinx survivors served, 5% increase in male survivors served. - Staffing increased to meet demand. - Key concerns: federal funding instability; need to reduce survivor stigma and maintain community awareness. - Susan Prettyman Hartel (deputy director) asked the council to be mindful of stigma and treat survivors with dignity. LifeBoat Services - Operates a low-barrier overnight shelter (6 PM–6 AM) and peer support services. - 549 individuals served during the biennium; regularly at capacity, turning away 5–15 individuals nightly. - Working to relaunch daytime navigation services. - Key concerns: 27% potential funding reduction under proposed county allocation formula; need for additional low-barrier shelter capacity. - LifeBoat expressed willingness to operate a managed camp if the city or county provides a location. - Oz (executive director) noted that a previous occupancy increase for 44 beds at 1040 Commercial was approved but then rescinded by the building official; he asked the council to help address this issue. Council Discussion - Councilors and providers discussed the impacts of rental assistance reductions on housing stability. - Community concerns regarding unsheltered camping and downtown behavior were addressed; providers reported that most clients are local or have prior community ties, countering the perception that individuals are bussed in. - Shelter capacity limitations and the mix of low-barrier vs. higher-barrier options were examined. - The potential role of managed camping and expanded shelter capacity was debated, with providers emphasizing the need for more low-barrier options. - Councilor Davis and Councilor Lump noted that the work session was originally intended to explore alternatives to a proposed camping ordinance; they expressed interest in continuing that discussion. - Councilor Mazzarella (absent due to travel) submitted questions via text; she asked what the council could do to support providers in the coming winter months. Key Outcomes - No formal votes were taken; the meeting was informational. - Providers were asked to email their budgets and expected funding cuts to the City Manager for distribution to the council. - Council encouraged providers to speak at public comment and to advocate at the state and federal level. - The council acknowledged the resignation of Councilor Lump, who stated this was his last meeting. Councilors expressed gratitude for his principled service. - LifeBoat’s request regarding the occupancy increase at 1040 Commercial will be considered for a future meeting agenda, with the City Manager to follow up.