Astoria City Council Regular Meeting Summary – October 6, 2026

The Astoria City Council held a regular meeting in the Council Chambers at 1095 Duane Street, Astoria, Oregon. The agenda and transcript identify the meeting as Monday, October 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.; the supplied timestamp is 2026-10-06 14:00:00+00:00, which is used in this heading. Mayor Fitzpatrick presided, with Councilors Davis, Adams, and Conklin present; Councilor Mazzarella was absent. The Council approved a consent calendar, adopted Ordinance 26-08, adopted 2027 legislative priorities, and received first responder recognitions and community updates.

Presentations and Recognitions

• Police Chief and Fire Chief recognized first responders for two life-saving incidents on October 4, 2026. At approximately 12:14 a.m., Officers Marone and Brawley found an unresponsive man near the Fort George warehouses, initiated CPR, and administered Narcan. Sergeant Durier, Officer Slate, Port Authority Chief Hanson with an AED, and fire personnel including Chief Dan Cretchfield, Lieutenant Brett Bishop, Engineer Zach Plant, and intern Jackson Hill continued care. The patient regained consciousness and was transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital. Later that day, at approximately 7:37 p.m., Officers Sladick, Brawley, and Morone responded to a person in a vehicle not breathing at Safeway; after CPR and three doses of Narcan, the patient regained consciousness and declined further care.
• Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Brantley of the U.S. Coast Guard was recognized for stopping on the Megler Bridge on September 22, 2026, and staying with a woman in crisis while texting his command to call 911. Officers Camp Fui and Sergeant Litwin responded; Officer Camp Fui built rapport, de-escalated the situation, and transported the woman to the hospital. Mayor Fitzpatrick presented mayor's coins, and the chiefs issued life-saving awards.

Proclamations

• The Council proclaimed October 1–31, 2026, as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The proclamation noted that one in three women and one in four men in the U.S. experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, that approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence each year, and that domestic violence is the single largest cause of injury and homicide for women.
• The Council proclaimed October 15, 2026, as Great Oregon Shakeout Day. Fire Chief Crutchfield said the fire department would distribute handouts and emails to city employees and share earthquake preparedness information on Facebook.

Reports of Councilors

• Councilor Davis reported on a budget meeting for the regional emergency communications board, noting no fee increases were included in the current package and that the Bowline project pass-through was recognized.
• Councilor Adams reported on community concerns about mail delivery, particularly downtown; a meeting with Congresswoman Bonamici; the Harbor's feasibility study for a new building to expand domestic violence and sexual assault services; the Oregon Transportation Commission meeting coming to Astoria; Safe Highway 30 advocacy; Oregon Home rules and middle housing discussions; restoration of CMH's FEMA grant; and the homeless liaison's progress under the shelter-first policy.
• Councilor Conklin reported that residents at a Mill Pond town hall were unanimously opposed to the vacancy home tax, raised Riverwalk bicycle safety concerns, flagged new accumulations of personal items and smoking near a day center, and noted community concerns about mail delays.

Consent Calendar

• The Council adopted the consent calendar by one motion, seconded and passed by roll call with all present members voting aye. The calendar included:
  • Draft work session minutes from July 27, 2026.
  • Intergovernmental Agreement No. 25070 with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development for a Housing Capacity Analysis and Contextualized Housing Need.
  • A License to Occupy part of the Alameda Avenue right-of-way adjacent to 150 Columbia Avenue for a trash enclosure deck.
  • An intergovernmental agreement with Clatsop County for Accela/Oregon ePermitting APO upload services.
  • Liquor license applications from Astor Street Opry Company, Frite & Scoop, 503 Marquee Stagehouse & Cocktails LLC, and The Train Station.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Will Rose, a commercial building owner on Commercial Street, expressed strong support for addressing the chairwall system. He said he has 52 feet of chairwall in front of his building, offered inspectors access, and described a crack between the sidewalk and asphalt that he believes contributes to building leaks.
• Wendy Hemsley, an Uppertown resident, thanked the Council, said she sees marked improvement in the city's homelessness response, and urged the Council to push new housing construction and development in Astoria similar to Seaside and Warrington.

Discussion Items

Ordinance 26-08, Article 9 Building Code Amendments

• City Manager Spence introduced the second reading. The ordinance modernizes and clarifies building code administration and enforcement, aligns terminology with Oregon specialty codes, clarifies recoverable enforcement costs, aligns appeal procedures with City Code Section 1.070, and removes the operational plan requirement from ordinance-level adoption.
• Councilor Davis asked about omitted building number section 9.395; staff confirmed no amendment was made to that section and the asterisks indicated the omission. Councilor Conklin asked about the building official's role; staff said the amendments clarify rather than change authority. Councilor Adams asked about future fee changes; staff said fee revisions would come to a work session because current fees are more than a decade old.
• No public comments were offered. The motion to adopt Ordinance 26-08 was made by Councilor Adams, seconded by Councilor Conklin, and passed by roll call with all present members voting aye.

Adoption of City Council Legislative Priorities

• City Manager Spence presented five legislative priorities for the 2027 session: $500,000 for Customs House workforce housing pre-construction costs; a $6 million request for a 1.1 million gallon Clearwell water tank and new laboratory; $500,000 for aquatic center expansion pre-construction planning; a study of the aging chairwall system on Marine Drive and Commercial Street; and discussion and reform of Senate Bill 48 regarding jail time and sentencing.
• Councilor Davis suggested adding an estimated cost range of $50–150 million for chairwall rehabilitation to emphasize the need for ODOT planning. Staff agreed to work with engineering and public works on numbers. Councilor Adams asked to tie the priorities to work plan goals. Councilor Conklin requested a postcard-sized handout for the League of Oregon Cities conference. Councilor Davis also suggested changing the title of the Senate Bill 48 item from reform and discussion to discussion and reform; Council agreed.
• The Council adopted the legislative priorities by voice vote on a motion by Councilor Adams, seconded by Councilor Davis. The motion carried.

New Business & Miscellaneous

• City Manager Spence announced upcoming meetings: October 19 for a lift station project cost increase and confined-space safety requirements; October 26 work session for a development review audit and city code modernization; November for a draft council handbook; and summer for council representation on regional boards and commissions.
• Spence reported that the U.S. Postal Service had responded to Senator Merkley's office saying most mail issues were addressed, but the City is still experiencing delays. Finance Director Hillary Norton said the finance department is waiving late fees generously and working with customers on paperless billing and auto-pay during the mail disruption.
• Spence said the shelter-first policy is working, shelters have averaged one or two beds per night, more than 24 individuals entered shelter during the 30-day transition, and a full report is expected in November or December. Assistant City Manager Ryan Quigley said three locker units, providing six individual lockers, were ordered and expected within two weeks.
• Councilor Adams asked the Council to appoint a direct council contact for the homeless liaison. City Manager Spence cautioned that a single council member engaging with the contractor could create conflicts with staff coordination. The Council agreed to hold a broader discussion at the October 26 work session instead of appointing someone that evening.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously by roll call, with Councilors Davis, Adams, Conklin, and Mayor Fitzpatrick voting aye.
• Ordinance 26-08 was adopted unanimously by roll call on second reading.
• The 2027 City Council Legislative Priorities were adopted; staff will amend the chairwall item with cost estimates and continue coordination with state delegation and the League of Oregon Cities.
• The Council directed staff to schedule discussion of homeless liaison reporting and council engagement for the October 26 work session.
• The City will continue monitoring postal service improvements, coordinate with congressional offices, and encourage OTC public comment on the chairwall system.