OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Astoria Parks Board Meeting - October 1, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Wednesday, October 1, 2025
BodyAstoria, Oregon
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, October 1, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:05

Transcript — Verbatim
1:43

Actually, we can start right on time today, six forty-five because everybody that needs to oh my god, I look so big in that TV.

1:53

Whoa, we get a new camera system.

1:56

Yeah, this is Oh, okay, that's better.

2:04

I had a big face on that one.

2:06

Are you kidding me?

2:11

Well, good morning.

2:13

Let's start with a call to order.

2:15

Lou, would you like to start us up?

2:19

Hello.

2:24

Howard Rube, Astoria School District.

2:27

Aaron Moore.

2:28

Norma Hernandez.

2:30

Nathan Pinkstaff.

2:32

Brita Hurwig.

2:34

Taylor Bay.

2:35

Sergio Carrera.

2:39

Oh right.

2:40

And for staff?

2:41

Oh, we've got Rachel.

2:42

Ah and we have Rachel Rachel, please.

2:45

Rachel Pearson.

2:47

Thank you.

2:48

This is Jonah Dart McLean for staff.

2:51

Oh right.

2:52

And have we received anything for public comment directly to us?

2:58

Uh we have not.

2:59

We've got some folks in the audience.

3:01

I don't know if they've got any public comment or would like to speak.

3:05

That's good.

3:07

Okay.

3:08

Approval of minutes.

3:10

Did you guys have a chance to read it?

3:12

Any edits, changes, deletions, concerns, anything that needs to happen with that.

3:19

If not, I will consider a motion to approve.

3:23

Oh motion to approve the minutes.

3:25

Second.

3:26

All in favor.

3:28

Any opposed.

3:30

Okay, so it passes.

3:37

What have you heard?

3:38

Good, bad or ugly.

3:43

Yes, I'll go.

3:51

As Lou would say.

3:52

Awesome to see uh it's so busy.

3:55

Uh was sad.

3:56

We did talk to uh two separate families that talked about the park by Star of the Sea.

4:17

There's been a gentleman there that likes to show up and pull his pants down and pee.

4:29

But they did say how good the park looks over there.

4:31

It's just that rumor spreading pretty fast.

4:34

So a lot of people aren't wanting to hit that.

4:37

I said I would say something, but they said they did call it in, so hopefully whoever it is gets caught.

4:43

Anyway, thank you.

4:45

That is something that maybe maybe we know somebody in the police department, right?

4:52

Yeah, we know we always look that way.

4:54

We look to the ones that we know.

5:00

And if nothing's there, just get some more info on uh who keep an eye out for.

5:04

And if you see any the families again, it's good to know around like what times it could be that it's a pattern that away um we can uh check it out.

5:14

Yeah, that's pretty sad.

5:16

Anybody else?

5:19

No.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Procedural████████████████21%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████12%
Public Safety███4%
Community Engagement███4%
Summary of Proceedings

Astoria Parks Board Meeting - October 1, 2025

The Astoria Parks Board met on October 1, 2025 at 6:45 AM in City Hall. The meeting covered routine approvals, public concerns, volunteer recognition, foundation updates, progress on the Parks Master Plan, and upcoming events.

Consent Calendar

  • The minutes from the August 27 meeting were approved unanimously via motion (Nathan Pinkstaff, second by Britta Herwig).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

  • President's "What Do You Hear": Nathan Pinkstaff reported hearing from two families about a person urinating in public at Star of the Sea Park, discouraging visitation. Sergio Carrera said he would look into it as a police matter. Lou Marconeri joked about Pinkstaff supervising Lindstrom Park. Chair Norma Hernandez mentioned negative Facebook comments about a railing installed on the Riverwalk, which staff explained was necessary due to erosion contours. Howard Rube suggested checking railings on the trestles further east.
  • Volunteer Recognition: Staff recognized Tallin Bohrer, a young volunteer who helped at the Free Movie in the Park event in August.
  • Astoria Community Foundation Updates: Britta Herwig announced the "Run on the River" race is set for May 30, 2026, with a new title sponsor. The foundation's scholarship fund is sufficient for the upcoming basketball season.
  • Parks Master Plan Update: Staff provided an update on the 2016 Parks Master Plan revision. A preliminary survey (QR code) is available, and a public open house will be held November 15 from 12-2 PM at the Astoria Armory, featuring activities, free skate passes, and a more comprehensive survey. Chair Hernandez encouraged board members to attend for support.
  • Staff Reports and Upcoming Events: New tire swing and climbing equipment ordered for Lindstrom Park (tire swing arriving that day, climber from Korea coming in October); a new picnic shelter to be installed. A "Pumpkin Float" activity will be held at the aquatic center on October 24.
  • Future Meetings: The next meeting is October 22; the November 26 meeting (day before Thanksgiving) was cancelled, and the next meeting after October will be December 17.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved August 27 minutes.
  • Directed staff to investigate the park safety complaint at Star of the Sea Park.
  • Board members encouraged to attend the November 15 open house and share information.
  • Decided to cancel the November 26 meeting and hold the next meeting in December on December 17.
  • Meeting adjurned at 7:09 AM.

Meeting Transcript

Actually, we can start right on time today, six forty-five because everybody that needs to oh my god, I look so big in that TV. Whoa, we get a new camera system. Yeah, this is Oh, okay, that's better. I had a big face on that one. Are you kidding me? Well, good morning. Let's start with a call to order. Lou, would you like to start us up? Hello. Howard Rube, Astoria School District. Aaron Moore. Norma Hernandez. Nathan Pinkstaff. Brita Hurwig. Taylor Bay. Sergio Carrera. Oh right. And for staff? Oh, we've got Rachel. Ah and we have Rachel Rachel, please. Rachel Pearson. Thank you. This is Jonah Dart McLean for staff. Oh right. And have we received anything for public comment directly to us? Uh we have not. We've got some folks in the audience. I don't know if they've got any public comment or would like to speak. That's good. Okay. Approval of minutes. Did you guys have a chance to read it? Any edits, changes, deletions, concerns, anything that needs to happen with that. If not, I will consider a motion to approve. Oh motion to approve the minutes. Second. All in favor. Any opposed. Okay, so it passes. What have you heard? Good, bad or ugly. Yes, I'll go. As Lou would say. Awesome to see uh it's so busy. Uh was sad. We did talk to uh two separate families that talked about the park by Star of the Sea. There's been a gentleman there that likes to show up and pull his pants down and pee. But they did say how good the park looks over there. It's just that rumor spreading pretty fast. So a lot of people aren't wanting to hit that.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com