Astoria City Council Regular Meeting — 2026-08-04 (Agenda/Transcript Date: Aug. 3, 2026)

The Astoria City Council met in regular session to issue a U.S. Coast Guard proclamation, approve routine consent items, conduct a quasi-judicial appeal, authorize several grant agreements and public works contracts, amend the FY 2026-27 budget, and decide how to handle the citizen initiative proposing a vacant residential unit excise tax. Public comment was taken on the initiative, and the council adjourned after non-agenda comments. The agenda, minutes, and transcript list the meeting as Monday, August 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM local; the supplied meeting timestamp is 2026-08-04T14:00:00+00:00. That discrepancy is noted here. The minutes also record the adjournment as 9:01 a.m., while the transcript indicates 9:01 p.m.; this summary follows the transcript.

Proclamation and Council Reports

• The mayor and council read a proclamation declaring August 4, 2026, as United States Coast Guard Appreciation Day in Astoria. Coast Guard Commander Sahlin accepted the proclamation and thanked the community, businesses, and food banks for supporting Coast Guard personnel and civilians during a 76-day Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
• Councilor Davis reported on the sister-city delegation visit to Walldorf, Germany, including the German-American Friendship Association and student exchange program.
• Councilor Mazzarella reported requests for a resolution on ICE detention facilities and a letter or resolution supporting federal recognition of the Chinook Indian Nation; she proposed future discussion.
• Councilor Adams announced upcoming meetings, including ADHDA, shelter/rehousing providers, transportation committees, Conversations with Council, and a fire chief meet-and-greet.
• Councilor Conklin reported on an AI safety seminar, highlighting voice-cloning scams and recommending family code words.
• Mayor Fitzpatrick reported attending community events but deferred details due to the long agenda.

Consent Calendar

• No member of the public requested removal and no councilor pulled an item.
• Approved 5-0 by one motion: May 26, 2026 council work session minutes; July 22, 2026 Parks Advisory Board minutes; acceptance of a utility easement at 305 Industry Street (Ocean Beauty) for an existing storm drain, one-time payment of $7,500 split equally between the City and the Clatsop Behavioral Health project team; purchase of two Ford F350 utility trucks; the FY 2026-27 salary resolution updating compensation ranges for existing positions; and the Lum Lodge full on-premises liquor license application at 1572 Franklin Avenue.

Discussion Items

8.a Appeal Hearing — Exterior Alteration Request EX26-02, 1064 14th Street

• The council conducted the appeal of the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) denial. No one objected to jurisdiction. Councilor Adams had no disclosures; Mayor Fitzpatrick disclosed viewing the property, listing, floor plan, and hearing notice; Councilor Mazzarella disclosed showing the house when previously listed; Councilors Davis and Conklin had nothing to disclose.
• City Planner Tiffany Taylor explained the property is a contributing historic resource in the Shively-McClure National Register Historic District. The proposal would remove about 24 feet of the 30-foot historic garage, retain the front six feet and foundation/pony walls, and add a greenhouse. Staff and HLC concluded it would remove most of a contributing resource and fail to preserve sufficient historic fabric. The City Historian identified 408 district properties, 70 early detached garages, 30 wood-framed garages, and only one garage associated with a kit home, this one.
• Applicant Bristol Kelly argued the proposal was rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, not demolition; it would preserve character-defining features, reuse materials, retain the front, remain similar in size and form, have limited street visibility, and be reversible.
• Council deliberation: Mayor Fitzpatrick and Councilor Mazzarella questioned how much of the garage's current appearance is genuinely historic; Councilor Davis cautioned against treating prior alterations as a reason to allow further removal, citing a potential perverse incentive; Councilor Adams found the record complete; several councilors expressed sympathy but concluded the existing code did not permit approval.
• Vote: 5-0 to uphold HLC's denial. The ruling is appealable to LUBA within 21 days.

8.b Copeland Commons Stormwater Infrastructure Grant

• The City received a $550,599 Business Oregon Housing Infrastructure Financing Program (HIFP) grant for public stormwater infrastructure supporting approximately 60 affordable housing units at Copeland Commons. Staff recommended authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement; no local match is required for eligible construction and construction-management costs. The City must manage the project, finish the infrastructure by May 18, 2029, and maintain the affordability covenant.
• Councilor Davis recused and abstained because he serves on the Copeland Commons board; he stated no financial conflict.
• Vote: 4-0, with Davis abstaining.

8.c Heritage Square Brownfield Cleanup — Qualified Environmental Professional RFP

• The City received a $2,000,000 EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant for the Heritage Square site. Staff requested authorization to issue an RFP for a Qualified Environmental Professional. Public Works Director Jeff Harrington said the work addresses cleanup planning, regulatory documentation, filling and capping the pit, structural deficiencies, utility conduits, and future public-space design. The RFP cannot be issued until EPA approves it and would remain open at least 30 days.
• Councilor Adams asked about downtown and Sunday Market impacts; Harrington said impacts would be limited mostly to material delivery and pit work, with coordination with Sunday Market and possible phasing. A conditional no-further-action determination would allow open-space use; future excavation or cap disturbance could require Oregon DEQ review.
• Vote: 5-0 to authorize the RFP.

8.d Homeless Liaison Personnel Service Contract

• Under the Shelter First Policy, staff recommended awarding a homeless liaison contract to Nicholas Bowling after two proposals were received. The liaison will provide approximately 30 hours per week under a budget of about $66,000. Coordination with CCA, Helping Hands, and other providers is part of the scope. Councilor Mazzarella disclosed knowing Bowling through a real-estate transaction; she did not participate in selection. Councilor Davis expressed confidence in Bowling.
• Vote: 5-0 to approve the contract.

8.e Cedar Creek Spur 1 Bridge Design and Engineering

• Staff requested authorization for an $80,974.83 professional services agreement with Waterways Consulting, Inc. for design and engineering of replacing a failing culvert crossing on Spur 1 Road in the Bear Creek Watershed. The crossing provides access to about 15 percent of the watershed and is near a critical water intake. The new bridge would meet fish-passage standards and restore Cedar Creek to its traditional channel; construction is preliminarily estimated at $300,000 to $500,000.
• Vote: 5-0.

8.f Budget Amendment — 17th Street Dock Fund

• The council approved transferring $140,000 from contingency to capital improvements in the 17th Street Dock Fund #330. The agenda description's second sentence references FY 2025-26, while the resolution text and minutes use FY 2026-27; the motion and minutes use FY 2026-27. Engineering was about 60 percent complete. Councilor Davis cautioned that item 8.g's narrative appeared to presuppose passage of 8.f. After an initial voice vote, the resolution was re-voted by roll call at Councilor Adams's request.
• Vote: 5-0.

8.g Contract Amendment — 17th Street Floating Dock Replacement

• Staff requested authorization for the remaining $383,500 of the Bergerson Construction contract for fabrication and delivery of the replacement 17th Street Floating Dock. Engineering was approximately 60 percent complete, allowing fabrication planning to proceed while final drawings are completed.
• Vote: 5-0.

8.h Citizen Initiative I-COA-2026-01 — Vacant Residential Unit Excise Tax

• City Manager Scott Spence reported that Clatsop County Elections determined 1,083 valid signatures were required and, on July 23, 2026, notified the City that the petition met the requirement. The petition proposes a $3,000 excise tax for the first year a residential unit fails the occupancy requirement, a $6,000 annual tax for subsequent years, exemptions for medical care, military service, disaster recovery, rehabilitation, government and nonprofit ownership, financial hardship, and other circumstances, annual declarations by owners, assessment/appeal/penalty procedures, and creation of a Community Housing Fund for affordable and workforce housing activities.
• Oregon law gives the council three options: adopt the petition through ordinary ordinance procedures, reject it and refer it to voters, or reject it and propose alternative ballot language. Councilor Davis supported referral rather than direct adoption, citing administration and implementation concerns; if voters approved it, the council could later amend it. Councilor Mazzarella confirmed voter-approved ordinances can be amended by ordinary ordinance process, unlike charter amendments.
• The mayor took a non-binding show of hands; most in chambers and online favored placing the measure on the ballot.
• Vote: 5-0 to reject the initiative petition and place it on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Appeal hearing (8.a): No additional testimony was offered in support of or opposition to the appeal after the staff and applicant presentations.
• Items 8.b through 8.g: No public comment was offered.
• Initiative 8.h comments included:
  • Andy Kipp (461 Exchange Street), chief petitioner: supported ballot referral; described a volunteer effort by more than 25 people, hundreds of conversations, housing shortage, exemptions, and creation of a dedicated housing fund.
  • Thomas Jenkins (36142 Riverpoint Drive, outside city limits): supported the initiative on behalf of the Oregon Working Families Party and encouraged allowing voters to decide.
  • Daniel Hubner (1840 Sixth Street): volunteer; described residents' concerns about housing affordability and lack of a dedicated city housing funding source.
  • August Waters (210 23rd Street): opposed; said his working family's multigenerational home would trigger $6,000 per year and argued the measure taxes homes that are not fully used, not just vacancy by choice.
  • Robert Lug (325 Jerome Avenue): opposed or punitive; questioned administrative costs, expected revenue, and whether the tax would do anything beyond penalizing people preparing to move to Astoria.
  • Cole Evans (Astoria): supported ballot referral; emphasized difficulty younger and working residents face finding housing and said year-round residents' needs should be prioritized.
  • Nancy Horowitz (210 23rd Street): supported rejection so the measure reaches the ballot but opposed the measure; raised enforceability, privacy, and litigation concerns.
  • Caitlin Seifried (151 Fifth Street): chief petitioner; noted more than 1,100 voters, approximately 15 percent of Astoria's registered voters, signed the petition.
  • David Oser: supported voters deciding but asked the City to provide information before the election on staffing, enforcement, appeals, administrative costs, revenue, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Jeff Daly: opposed; argued it would add government staff and require intrusive investigations into how often owners occupy homes.
  • Don Damster (260 23rd Street): opposed; said the proposal relies on guesswork and could unfairly affect retired part-time residents who contribute financially and through volunteering.
  • Laura Parker: opposed; recommended streamlined permitting, easier ADU development, use of buildable land, stronger derelict-property enforcement, and locally produced manufactured housing; noted maritime workers can be away from home long periods.
  • Christopher Kruby (533 38th Street): requested a continuance to August 17 for additional public input and legal review; supported housing work but found occupancy/reporting provisions potentially punitive.
  • Marian Murph (267 Bond Street): requested a continuance for legal review; raised concerns that the tax could conflict with Oregon constitutional limits on property taxation and expose the City to litigation.
  • Liz Harris (1193 10th Street): supported ballot referral; said one in seven homes in Astoria are empty, that hardship and renovation exemptions protect owners, and that the measure would return homes to use or generate housing funding.
  • Lisa Morley (Alderbrook neighborhood): opposed; described landlord legal and financial risks, including a five-month eviction experience, and argued owners should not be pressured to rent.
  • Grant Loomis (1772 Jerome Avenue): supported ballot referral; believed most owner-occupied homes would be minimally affected and vacant properties could meet strong rental demand.
  • An unidentified speaker: opposed because her Astoria vacation home is subject to homeowners-association restrictions prohibiting rentals, so she would face the tax without being able to rent the property.
• Non-agenda public comment: John Windus (960 Franklin Avenue) recognized the recent passing of former trolley conductor Bob Miller and encouraged support for the American Red Cross because of wildfire-response demands and a blood shortage.

New Business & Miscellaneous

• Councilor Mazzarella reported that the Chinook Indian Nation support letter had a deadline; the council agreed by consensus to place it on the August 17 agenda. Her separate ICE detention facility request will be brought forward later.
• Councilor Conklin asked for a clearer, more transparent process for recognizing public commenters, especially online, and suggested a queue based on order of raised hands. Mayor Fitzpatrick noted it is difficult to determine exact order when many hands are raised simultaneously; Conklin asked for a consistent process regardless of who presides.
• Councilor Adams requested that the council consider drafting a letter on the Bonneville Power Administration's defunding of the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement Program, citing impacts on local fisheries, jobs, streams, estuary, and the net-pen program at Netul Creek.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent calendar 5-0.
• Upheld the Historic Landmarks Commission denial of EX26-02 by a 5-0 vote; any appeal to LUBA must be filed within 21 days.
• Authorized the Mayor to execute the $550,599 Business Oregon HIFP grant agreement for Copeland Commons stormwater infrastructure; vote 4-0, with Councilor Davis abstaining.
• Authorized staff to issue the Qualified Environmental Professional RFP for the Heritage Square Brownfield Cleanup Project; vote 5-0.
• Awarded the Homeless Liaison Personnel Service Contract to Nicholas Bowling; vote 5-0.
• Approved the Waterways Consulting, Inc. professional services agreement not to exceed $80,974.83 for the Cedar Creek Spur 1 Bridge Project; vote 5-0.
• Approved the resolution transferring $140,000 from contingency to capital improvements in the 17th Street Dock Fund #330; vote 5-0 after roll call.
• Authorized the City Manager to execute contract amendment #1 with Bergerson Construction for $383,500 for fabrication and delivery of the replacement 17th Street Floating Dock; vote 5-0.
• Rejected citizen initiative I-COA-2026-01 and referred it to the November 3, 2026 general election ballot; vote 5-0.
• Agreed by consensus to place the Chinook Indian Nation support-letter request on the August 17 agenda; agreed to address the ICE detention facility request at a later meeting; Councilor Adams's BPA Select Area Fisheries Enhancement Program letter request remains for future consideration.
• The meeting was adjourned at 9:01 p.m. local.