Astoria City Council Work Session Summary – December 23, 2025

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.