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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Astoria City Council Regular Meeting – December 15, 2025

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, December 16, 2025

BodyAstoria, Oregon

SessionCity Council & Commissions

DateTuesday, December 16, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:30:43

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:06

All right, we'll call the meeting to order.

1:08

Good evening and welcome to the Monday, December 15th, 2025 meeting of the Australia City Council.

1:15

For the record, the time is 6 p.m.

1:18

Director Dart McLean.

1:19

If you could lead us in the pledge, please.

1:21

We would ask that you please rise if you are willing and able.

1:26

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:30

To the Republic, which we should say I guess one nation under God, an invisible with liberty and justice.

1:40

Thank you, Director Dart McClain.

1:42

If we could have a roll call, please.

1:44

Counselor Davis.

1:45

Here.

1:45

Counselor Mazzarella?

1:47

Here.

1:47

Counselor Adams.

1:48

Counselor Conklin.

1:50

Here.

1:50

Mayor Fitzpatrick.

1:52

Here.

1:54

So first off tonight, we are going to have the swearing in of Counselor Joshua Conklin.

2:00

And we have Judge Kino with us this evening to swear him in.

2:03

Judge Kino.

2:04

Thank you, Mayor.

2:05

One up.

2:11

Raise your right hand, please.

2:13

Repeat after me.

2:14

I Joshua Conklin do solemnly swear.

2:18

That starting on December 1st, 2025.

2:25

I will support the Constitution of the United States of America and the state of Oregon.

2:35

The charter of the city of Astoria and the laws thereof.

2:41

And I will faithfully and honorably fulfill the duties of counselor of the city of Astoria.

2:54

To which I've been appointed to the best of my ability.

2:59

Congratulations.

3:23

Thank you, Mayor and Councillors.

3:24

It's a privilege to come before you tonight to celebrate one of our longtime members.

3:28

And I'm going to ask Wade to uh come up here, please.

3:32

Thank you.

3:40

And then uh later this month, the fire department will be holding some more um ceremonies and things for Wade to honor his long career.

3:47

But I just want to share a little bit about Wade with you.

3:50

Uh Wade began his association with the city of Astoria in September of 2000 when he was hired as a firefighter.

3:56

Uh Wade will be retiring December 30th, 2025, after 25 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Astoria.

4:04

While working in the fire department, Wade was promoted to engineer and later to lieutenant.

4:14

This project requires a lot of time and dedication.

4:48

Very well respected in the community and also by his fellow firefighters.

4:52

Wade has a true passion for being a firefighter, and he's truly been committed to the Astoria Fire Department.

5:00

His retirement is bittersweet as we will all miss him around the fire station, but we know he will continue.

5:04

We will continue to see him in his capacity at the college.

5:08

This is a new beginning for Wade, and we know he's going to do great things.

5:12

We're excited for his future, and his retirement also creates new beginnings at the fire department.

5:18

We will be hiring a new firefighter soon, and we'll also be promoting one of our current members to lieutenant to fill his big shoes.

5:27

We all wish Wade the best in his well-deserved retirement, and we hope that you get to spend a little bit more time with friends and family.

5:34

Congratulations, Wade.

5:36

Thank you.

5:44

And I'll have the mayor uh present Wade's retirement plate.

5:51

Wade Matthews, it is my honor to present you with the plate of from the city of Astoria.

5:58

We appreciate your 25 plus years with the fire department.

6:01

We know you're going to do great at the college.

6:03

We're glad you're staying in the community.

6:06

Again, congratulations and thank you for all you have done in your 25 years.

6:11

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Affordable Housing███████████████████████████████████35%

Public Engagement████████████████16%

Community Engagement█████████████13%

Procedural█████5%

Homelessness████4%

Arts And Culture████4%

Land Use Planning████4%

Historic Preservation████4%

Fire Department Operations███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Astoria City Council Regular Meeting – December 15, 2025

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.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we'll call the meeting to order. Good evening and welcome to the Monday, December 15th, 2025 meeting of the Australia City Council. For the record, the time is 6 p.m. Director Dart McLean. If you could lead us in the pledge, please. We would ask that you please rise if you are willing and able. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the Republic, which we should say I guess one nation under God, an invisible with liberty and justice. Thank you, Director Dart McClain. If we could have a roll call, please. Counselor Davis. Here. Counselor Mazzarella? Here. Counselor Adams. Counselor Conklin. Here. Mayor Fitzpatrick. Here. So first off tonight, we are going to have the swearing in of Counselor Joshua Conklin. And we have Judge Kino with us this evening to swear him in. Judge Kino. Thank you, Mayor. One up. Raise your right hand, please. Repeat after me. I Joshua Conklin do solemnly swear. That starting on December 1st, 2025. I will support the Constitution of the United States of America and the state of Oregon. The charter of the city of Astoria and the laws thereof. And I will faithfully and honorably fulfill the duties of counselor of the city of Astoria. To which I've been appointed to the best of my ability. Congratulations. Thank you, Mayor and Councillors. It's a privilege to come before you tonight to celebrate one of our longtime members. And I'm going to ask Wade to uh come up here, please. Thank you. And then uh later this month, the fire department will be holding some more um ceremonies and things for Wade to honor his long career. But I just want to share a little bit about Wade with you. Uh Wade began his association with the city of Astoria in September of 2000 when he was hired as a firefighter. Uh Wade will be retiring December 30th, 2025, after 25 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Astoria. While working in the fire department, Wade was promoted to engineer and later to lieutenant. This project requires a lot of time and dedication. Very well respected in the community and also by his fellow firefighters. Wade has a true passion for being a firefighter, and he's truly been committed to the Astoria Fire Department. His retirement is bittersweet as we will all miss him around the fire station, but we know he will continue. We will continue to see him in his capacity at the college. This is a new beginning for Wade, and we know he's going to do great things. We're excited for his future, and his retirement also creates new beginnings at the fire department. We will be hiring a new firefighter soon, and we'll also be promoting one of our current members to lieutenant to fill his big shoes.

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