OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Astoria City Council Meeting - August 3, 2026: Budget, Grants, Historic Appeal, and Vacancy Tax Initiative

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, August 4, 2026
BodyAstoria, Oregon
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, August 4, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:52:52

Transcript — Verbatim
1:07

Good evening and welcome to the Monday, August 3rd, 2026 meeting of the Austoria City Council.

1:13

Mr.

1:13

Spence, if you could lead us in the pledge, please pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:34

Thank you, Mr.

1:35

Spence.

1:36

And if we could have a roll call, please.

1:39

Council Davis, I'm here.

1:40

Council Mozarella.

1:41

Here.

1:42

Councilor Adams.

1:42

Here.

1:43

Councillor Conklin.

1:44

Here.

1:44

Mayor Fitzpatrick.

1:45

Here.

1:47

So first off, thank you, everyone, for joining us this evening.

1:50

It's good to see a lot of people in the audience.

1:53

For those who are online, we appear to have 30 something people in the audience, and there uh maybe people out in the hall planning to come later as well.

2:04

Uh, especially on an evening like this when we've got uh air quality that's getting a little poorer by the minute uh due to the smoke from fires on another in another part of the state and adjacent states.

2:18

So our first order of business tonight is a proclamation, which I am happy to make.

2:24

And this is a proclamation regarding the United States Coast Guard.

2:28

And I am going to read the uh first portion, and then I'm going to ask the rest of the council to read uh one of the whereows as well, starting with uh Councilor Davis.

2:41

So I will uh state that this is a proclamation from the city of Astoria, whereas the United States Coast Guard, USCG, has courageously protected our count our country's shores since August 4th, 1790, and the Coast Guard is the nation's oldest continuing continuous seafaring service.

3:00

And whereas the members of the United States Coast Guard have dedicated their lives to preserving the safety, security, and environmental stewardship of our waters through their unwavering commitment to service and whereas the 13th District of the United States Coast Guard vows to serve and safeguard our vast and challenging waterways with more than 3,000 active duty reserve auxiliary and civilian employees and Coast Guard auxiliarists stationed in the Pacific Northwest, which includes base Astoria and whereas the City of Astoria is a proud Coast Guard community since 2011 and recognizes the many contributions that the men and women that wear the uniform to the United States Coast Guard bring to the community, as well as their essential role to ensure the safety of all maritime and recreational activities that occur in the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River and whereas the honorable servicemen and service women of the Coast Guard have been America's maritime protector, defender, and shield for over two centuries, and they continue to embody and execute the United States Coast Guard motto by Semper Paradis, always ready and prepared.

4:11

Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Astoria, Oregon, does hereby declare August 4th, 2026 as United States Coast Guard Appreciation Day in the City of Austria, and we urge all citizens to recognize the dedicated and honorable service faithfully provided by the United States Coast Guard members in their families.

4:32

So we are lucky enough to have with us tonight, Commander Salin.

4:36

Commander Salin, if you will meet me up the collectorn here.

4:47

Thank you very much.

4:48

Happy to provide you with the uh declaration there.

4:53

Would you would you like to say a few words to the council and the audience that's here this evening?

4:58

I would if thank you, if that's okay with you.

5:00

If that's okay with you.

5:01

First, I would like to thank the city council for this uh this proclamation in recognition of the Coast Guard's birthday, uh, August 4th is uh is our birthday.

5:10

And uh, but I I really want to say thank you to the city council and the population here in Astoria for your support over this last year.

5:20

Um you all might still remember that we went through a historic shutdown of Department of Homeland Security, which we fall under uh set for 76 days.

5:27

Uh we did not our civilians did not get paid, and um local food banks and local businesses helped our civilians manage that, get through the hardship of of not receiving paychecks during that time.

5:39

Luckily, the uniformed members were paid throughout that period.

5:42

Um, but there were several conversations about how to support the the Coast Guard if we went unpaid and uh and that is great.

5:50

We are so grateful and thankful for all the support here in uh Astoria.

5:54

So thank you very much.

5:55

Thank you, Commander.

5:56

And again, we are appreciated for everything that the Coast Guard does for us here.

5:59

Yeah, me too.

6:00

Appreciate it.

6:12

Do we happen to have any other active Coast Guard members here this evening or former active Coast Guard members?

6:20

Not seeing any.

6:21

Great.

6:22

Okay, next up is uh reports of counselors, and we will start with Councillor Davis tonight.

6:29

Sure.

6:30

Uh conscious that we've had we do have a pretty packed agenda.

6:33

I will try to keep my comments short, but I do want to report on uh myself and Bruce Connor uh just got back from a delegation trip to visit our sister city of Waldorf uh in Germany.

6:46

Uh Waldorf and Astoria have been sister cities since 1963, uh, and it's an important uh relationship.

6:54

I see Mike Francis in the audience who uh also went on a trip to visit Waldorf shortly before we did um and wrote about it in the paper if you're interested.

7:02

His comments are uh more well written than mine will be uh spoken.

7:07

Um we really went on the event of uh the celebration of the 125th anniversary of Waldorf and uh their recognition as a city by the central German government.

7:19

Um, but that was uh sort of an excuse for them to invite us over as a city uh because it was the 33rd anniversary of the German American Friendship Association, which is uh Waldorf's citizen group that tries to uh take care of these relationships between Waldorf and their various sister cities.

7:40

They have several.

7:41

Uh there's also uh of Freeport, New York and uh and Waldorf, uh Maryland, uh as well as a French city and three other German cities uh that are sister cities uh to Waldorf.

7:54

So it's a big deal for them uh in general to cultivate these relationships.

7:59

And they treat us uh very well when we come and visit and uh and make sure that we know that they appreciate the ongoing relationship.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation██████████████████████████26%
Affordable Housing████████████████████████24%
Procedural███████████████15%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Homelessness█████5%
Environmental Protection████4%
Community Engagement██2%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Astoria City Council Regular Meeting - August 3, 2026

The Astoria City Council met on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a proclamation for Coast Guard Appreciation Day, approval of a consent calendar, and action on eight regular agenda items. Key decisions included upholding a Historic Landmarks Commission denial, authorizing several infrastructure grants and contracts, and voting to send a citizen-initiated vacant residential unit excise tax measure to the November 2026 ballot. The meeting was extended to 9:01 PM due to lengthy public comment on the initiative petition.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved draft meeting minutes (May 26, 2026 Council Work Session and July 22, 2026 Parks Advisory Board).
  • Accepted a utility easement at 305 Industry Street (Ocean Beauty) for $7,500, shared equally with Clatsop Behavioral Health.
  • Authorized purchase of two Ford F350 utility trucks.
  • Approved a salary resolution adjusting compensation ranges for existing positions for FY 2026-2027.
  • Accepted a liquor license application for Lum Lodge at 1572 Franklin Avenue (F-COM license).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • 8a – Historic Landmarks Appeal: No public comment was offered; the hearing was closed after the appellant’s presentation.
  • 8b through 8g: No public comments were made on these items.
  • 8h – Vacant Residential Unit Excise Tax Initiative: Over 30 people attended in person and 52 online. Public comment was taken from 8:34 PM to 9:00 PM. Key speakers and positions:
    • Andy Kip (petitioner, 461 Exchange St.) urged the council to send the measure to the ballot, noting 1,100+ signatures from Astoria voters and a year of volunteer work.
    • Thomas Jenkins (Oregon Working Families Party, outside city limits) supported the measure and thanked the council for upholding First Amendment rights.
    • Dan Hubner (1840 6th St.) supported the ballot measure, citing a housing crisis and lack of dedicated city funding.
    • August Waters (210 23rd St.) opposed, arguing the tax would penalize families with multi-generational homes and part-time residents.
    • Robert Lugg (online, 325 Jerome) questioned the punitive nature and administrative feasibility, noting he saves for a future home in Astoria.
    • Nancy Horowitz (210 23rd St.) opposed the measure, calling it ill-conceived, unenforceable, and invasive of privacy.
    • Caitlin Seifrid (1515th St., petitioner) asked the council to respect the 1,100+ signatures and send the measure to the ballot.
    • David Ozer (online) urged the city to provide cost-benefit analysis if the measure goes to ballot.
    • Jeff Daly (online) opposed, citing increased bureaucracy and burden on taxpayers.
    • Don Damstutter (260 23rd St.) opposed, arguing the tax is based on guesswork, hurts retirees, and is invasive.
    • Laura Parker (in person) advocated for alternative housing solutions (zoning reform, ADUs, manufactured housing) and expressed concern about unintended consequences for maritime workers.
    • Christopher Kruby (online, 5338th St.) asked to delay the decision to August 17th for further legal review, citing potential lawsuits.
    • Marion Merck (267 Bond) asked to continue to October 17th for legal vetting of constitutionality under Oregon ballot measures.
    • Liz Harris (1193 10th St.) supported sending to ballot, noting 1 in 7 homes are empty and the tax is a way for empty homes to contribute to housing funds.
    • Lisa Morley (Alderbrook) opposed, describing difficulties with a professional squatter and arguing the tax would force renting against property owners’ will.
    • Grant Loomis (1772 Jerome) supported the measure, saying he could find renters if he left.
    • Ms. Audio (online, second home under HOA) opposed, noting HOA restrictions prevent renting.

Discussion Items

  • 8a – Appeal of Historic Landmarks Commission Decision (EX26-02, 1064 14th St.): The appellant, Bristol Kelly, proposed removing 24 feet of a 30-foot historic garage to build a greenhouse, retaining the front six feet. Staff argued this constituted substantial partial demolition of a contributing historic resource, citing the city historian’s report that only 30 wood-framed early garages exist in the district and this is the only one associated with a kit home. The HLC denied the request. The council heard from staff and the appellant. Councilor Adams walked through the criteria, noting that while the front portion is not historic, code requires recognizing changes over time. Councilor Mazzarella favored the balance of preservation and practical use. Councilor Davis expressed concern about perverse incentives. After deliberation, the council voted 5-0 to uphold the HLC denial. (Motion by Davis, second by Conklin; roll call all aye, with Mazzarella reluctantly concurring.)
  • 8b – Copeland Commons Stormwater Infrastructure Grant: The city received a $550,599 HIFP grant from Business Oregon for stormwater infrastructure to support a 60+ unit affordable housing development. Councilor Davis recused himself (board member of Copeland Commons). The council authorized the Mayor to execute the grant agreement. (Motion by Adams, second by Conklin; voice vote all aye.)
  • 8c – Heritage Square Brownfield Cleanup RFP: Staff presented plans for a $2 million EPA brownfields cleanup grant, including filling the pit and capping. The council authorized issuance of the RFP for a Qualified Environmental Professional. (Motion by Davis, second by Mazzarella; voice vote all aye.)
  • 8d – Homeless Liaison Contract: The council approved a contract with Nicholas Bowling for 30 hours/week at $66,000 budgeted. Councilor Mazzarella disclosed a prior business relationship but did not abstain. (Motion by Davis, second by Conklin; voice vote all aye.)
  • 8e – Cedar Creek Spur 1 Bridge Design: The council approved a $80,974.83 contract with Waterways Consulting for design of a bridge to replace failing culverts, addressing fish passage and watershed access. (Motion by Adams, second by Conklin; voice vote all aye.)
  • 8f – Budget Amendment for 17th Street Dock: The council approved transferring $140,000 from contingency to capital improvements within the 17th Street Dock Fund. Initially a voice vote, a roll call was later conducted: all aye. (Motion by Davis, second by Conklin; roll call: Davis aye, Mazzarella aye, Adams aye, Conklin aye, Fitzpatrick aye.)
  • 8g – Contract Amendment for 17th Street Dock: The council authorized a $383,500 contract amendment with Bergerson Construction for fabrication and delivery of the replacement floating dock. (Motion by Davis, second by Conklin; voice vote all aye.)
  • 8h – Citizen Initiative Petition (Vacant Residential Unit Excise Tax): The council considered the citizen petition I-COA-2026-01, which proposes a $3,000 tax for first year of vacancy and $6,000 thereafter, with exemptions, and creation of a Community Housing Fund. The Clatsop County Elections Office certified 1,083 valid signatures. The council had three options: adopt, reject (ballot referral), or reject with alternative. After extensive public comment, Councilor Davis moved to reject the petition and place it on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. Councilor Mazzarella seconded, noting that concerns about litigation could be addressed later. Councilor Adams expressed preference for tabling but supported the motion. The motion passed on voice vote (all aye).

Key Outcomes

  • 8a: Uphold Historic Landmarks Commission denial of external alteration request EX26-02 (5-0).
  • 8b: Authorized Mayor to execute a $550,599 grant agreement with Business Oregon for Copeland Commons stormwater infrastructure.
  • 8c: Authorized issuance of RFP for Qualified Environmental Professional for Heritage Square Brownfield cleanup.
  • 8d: Approved homeless liaison services contract with Nicholas Bowling.
  • 8e: Approved $80,974.83 engineering contract with Waterways Consulting for Cedar Creek Spur 1 Bridge.
  • 8f: Approved budget amendment transferring $140,000 from contingency to capital improvements for 17th Street Dock (roll call 5-0).
  • 8g: Authorized $383,500 contract amendment with Bergerson Construction for dock replacement.
  • 8h: Rejected the citizen initiative petition; the measure will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot for voter consideration.
  • New Business: Council agreed to add a letter of support for Chinook Nation federal recognition to the August 17, 2026 agenda. Councilor Conklin raised a request for more transparent public comment selection. Councilor Adams requested a draft letter regarding BPA defunding of the select area fisheries program.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the Monday, August 3rd, 2026 meeting of the Austoria City Council. Mr. Spence, if you could lead us in the pledge, please pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Thank you, Mr. Spence. And if we could have a roll call, please. Council Davis, I'm here. Council Mozarella. Here. Councilor Adams. Here. Councillor Conklin. Here. Mayor Fitzpatrick. Here. So first off, thank you, everyone, for joining us this evening. It's good to see a lot of people in the audience. For those who are online, we appear to have 30 something people in the audience, and there uh maybe people out in the hall planning to come later as well. Uh, especially on an evening like this when we've got uh air quality that's getting a little poorer by the minute uh due to the smoke from fires on another in another part of the state and adjacent states. So our first order of business tonight is a proclamation, which I am happy to make. And this is a proclamation regarding the United States Coast Guard. And I am going to read the uh first portion, and then I'm going to ask the rest of the council to read uh one of the whereows as well, starting with uh Councilor Davis. So I will uh state that this is a proclamation from the city of Astoria, whereas the United States Coast Guard, USCG, has courageously protected our count our country's shores since August 4th, 1790, and the Coast Guard is the nation's oldest continuing continuous seafaring service. And whereas the members of the United States Coast Guard have dedicated their lives to preserving the safety, security, and environmental stewardship of our waters through their unwavering commitment to service and whereas the 13th District of the United States Coast Guard vows to serve and safeguard our vast and challenging waterways with more than 3,000 active duty reserve auxiliary and civilian employees and Coast Guard auxiliarists stationed in the Pacific Northwest, which includes base Astoria and whereas the City of Astoria is a proud Coast Guard community since 2011 and recognizes the many contributions that the men and women that wear the uniform to the United States Coast Guard bring to the community, as well as their essential role to ensure the safety of all maritime and recreational activities that occur in the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River and whereas the honorable servicemen and service women of the Coast Guard have been America's maritime protector, defender, and shield for over two centuries, and they continue to embody and execute the United States Coast Guard motto by Semper Paradis, always ready and prepared. Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Astoria, Oregon, does hereby declare August 4th, 2026 as United States Coast Guard Appreciation Day in the City of Austria, and we urge all citizens to recognize the dedicated and honorable service faithfully provided by the United States Coast Guard members in their families. So we are lucky enough to have with us tonight, Commander Salin. Commander Salin, if you will meet me up the collectorn here. Thank you very much. Happy to provide you with the uh declaration there. Would you would you like to say a few words to the council and the audience that's here this evening? I would if thank you, if that's okay with you. If that's okay with you. First, I would like to thank the city council for this uh this proclamation in recognition of the Coast Guard's birthday, uh, August 4th is uh is our birthday. And uh, but I I really want to say thank you to the city council and the population here in Astoria for your support over this last year. Um you all might still remember that we went through a historic shutdown of Department of Homeland Security, which we fall under uh set for 76 days. Uh we did not our civilians did not get paid, and um local food banks and local businesses helped our civilians manage that, get through the hardship of of not receiving paychecks during that time. Luckily, the uniformed members were paid throughout that period. Um, but there were several conversations about how to support the the Coast Guard if we went unpaid and uh and that is great. We are so grateful and thankful for all the support here in uh Astoria. So thank you very much. Thank you, Commander. And again, we are appreciated for everything that the Coast Guard does for us here. Yeah, me too. Appreciate it. Do we happen to have any other active Coast Guard members here this evening or former active Coast Guard members? Not seeing any. Great. Okay, next up is uh reports of counselors, and we will start with Councillor Davis tonight. Sure. Uh conscious that we've had we do have a pretty packed agenda.

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