Astoria City Council Meeting – April 21, 2026 (Note: Agenda/Mintes/Transcript Date April 20, 2026)

Note: The agenda, minutes, and raw transcript all indicate the meeting took place on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The user-provided date of 2026-04-21 conflicts with these sources. This summary uses the user-provided date for the title but notes the discrepancy.

Meeting Time: 6:00 PM – 9:16 PM (with a recess) Location: 2nd Floor Council Chambers, 1095 Duane Street, Astoria, OR (also livestreamed) Council Present: Mayor Sean Fitzpatrick, Councilors Andy Davis, Andrea Mazzarella, Elisabeth Adams, Joshua Conklin (all 5 present)

Consent Calendar

• Items 7.a–7.g were approved unanimously (5-0). These included: a lease with the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association for the Sunday Market (May 10–October 11, 2026); project completion reports for the Pipeline Road Waterline Resilience Project and the 16th Street Distribution Waterline Replacement Project ($3.36 million); a contract extension with Baker Tilly US, LLP for audit services; a permanent easement for the Columbia River Maritime Museum at 1840 Marine Drive; department updates; and an amendment to the DEQ grant agreement for the Sewage Lift Stations Rehabilitation Project (extending the deadline to June 30, 2026, to utilize $125,000 in remaining grant funds).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 8a – Designated Campsite Locations: Over 25 community members spoke, nearly all opposing both proposed sites (Pacific Power parking lot on Second Street and Taylor Avenue). Key concerns included: negative impacts on tourism, property values, neighborhood safety, employee safety (e.g., Josephson’s Smokehouse), environmental hazards (Second Street as a former fuel site), high winds (Taylor Avenue), proximity to schools and parks, and lack of a comprehensive plan. Several speakers urged the city to pursue a regional approach, prioritize housing-first solutions, and involve the arts community. A few speakers (e.g., David Reed, Sarah Long, Lisa Morely) questioned the process, enforcement, and the number of shelter beds. Former State Senator Betsy Johnson opposed the Taylor Avenue site and questioned liability at the Second Street brownfield site. Councilor Mazzarella clarified that the unsheltered count is ~34, but the countywide homeless estimate is 1,243, with approximately 300 in Astoria.
• Item 8b – Sign Code Amendment: No public testimony.
• Item 8c – Col-Pac Vermifiltration Grant: Bradley DePuyt (Fort George Brewery) supported the project, describing vermifiltration as a promising technology for wastewater treatment.
• Non-Agenda Public Comments: Mary Ing discussed a toxic workplace tort claim; Dan Hubner urged continued focus on campsite selection; Chuck Meyer questioned why the Astoria Aquatic Center does not donate family passes to nonprofit fundraisers.

Discussion Items

• 8a – Designated Campsite Locations: City Manager Scott Spence presented two sites based on 16 evaluated properties. The Pacific Power parking lot (Second Street) would require a lease, estimated at $2,000/month or less, and had a DEQ “No Further Action” determination. The Taylor Avenue site (near the roundabout) is city/ODOT-controlled, with preliminary ODOT approval, but is adjacent to R3 zoning and near a landslide toe. Estimated operating costs: $75,000–$90,000/year; one-time capital: ~$200,000, potentially from Housing Initiative contingency or redirected nonprofit grants. Council discussion revealed concerns about both sites: Councilor Conklin preferred Taylor Avenue for safety; Councilor Davis called both “imperfect” and emphasized the need for behavioral expectations, privacy fencing, and ordinance amendments; Councilor Adams opposed both sites, citing insufficient public process and lack of a scoring system. After public comment, council reached consensus not to move forward with either site. Enforcement and camping ordinance amendments were discussed as next steps.
• 8b – Ordinance 26-04 (Sign Code): Community Development Director John Roberts explained that the amendment originated from Columbia Memorial Hospital and included housekeeping changes. A proposal to modify the bed and breakfast definition (to clarify that weddings and small events are not prohibited) was removed via a 5-0 vote, then the amended ordinance was adopted 5-0.
• 8c – Community Resiliency Program Grant to Col-Pac: Col-Pac Executive Director Sarah Lu Heath presented a $20,000 grant request for a feasibility study on vermifiltration (wastewater treatment using worms) to help local breweries and seafood processors. The study is part of an industrial symbiosis initiative. Council approved the grant 5-0, with Councilor Adams requesting a follow-up report.
• 8d – Sewage Lift Stations Rehabilitation Contract Amendment No. 2: City Manager Spence requested $110,725.98 for confined-space entry and field measurements to verify equipment specifications (a “measure twice, cut once” approach) to protect the city’s ~$1.2 million investment in long-lead equipment. Approved 5-0.
• 8e – 2026 Paving Project Authorization: City Engineer Nathan Crater presented the $800,000 project (funded by the Astoria Road District Fund) for pavement overlays, base repairs, striping, and ADA improvements on portions of Irving Avenue, Halsey Street, West Bond Street, Florence Avenue, and South Denver Street. Bid solicitation authorized 5-0. Councilor Adams requested future presentations include maps and historical paving data.
• 8f – Rideshare Ordinance: Rescheduled to a future meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Designated Campsite (8a): Council reached consensus not to proceed with either the Second Street or Taylor Avenue sites. Next steps include a work session on April 27, 2026, to debrief the process, identify new site selection criteria, and discuss potential amendments to the city’s camping ordinance. Enforcement of the current ordinance will be revisited.
• Sign Code Amendment (8b): Ordinance 26-04 was adopted as amended (removing the bed and breakfast definition change). Vote: 5-0.
• Col-Pac Grant (8c): Approved a $20,000 matching grant for the vermifiltration feasibility study. Vote: 5-0.
• Sewage Lift Stations Amendment (8d): Approved $110,725.98 contract amendment with Emery & Sons Construction Group, LLC. Vote: 5-0.
• 2026 Paving Project (8e): Approved authorization to solicit bids. Vote: 5-0.
• Work Session Agenda: The April 27, 2026, work session will focus on the campsite debrief and camping ordinance rather than the previously scheduled Arts and Culture Development Program.

Note on Date Discrepancy: The user-provided date for this summary is April 21, 2026, but all official documents (agenda, minutes, transcript) and the meeting video timestamp indicate the meeting occurred on April 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM. This summary does not use the agenda/minutes date to honor the user’s instruction, but the discrepancy is recorded for accuracy.