Saturday, March 12, 2011

Clatsop County Re-Districting Committee Seeking Citizen Panel Members




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, March 11, 2011

CITIZENS SOUGHT FOR REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE

Clatsop County is seeking applicants for a citizen panel charged with drawing new boundaries for county commissioner districts based on the 2010 U.S. Census data.
The process, conducted every 10 years following the Census, ensures that all five districts represented by the county commissioners have roughly equal population by re-drawing the boundaries to take into account any shifts in population within the county.
The 11-member committee will be made up of one citizen representative from each commissioner district and a representative from each of the five cities, with a county commissioner as chairperson. City representatives will be selected by the respective city managers – Clatsop County is seeking applicants from the each of the five districts. Those members may be city residents.
The committee will use the Census data to make any necessary changes in the boundaries in conformance with state requirements that districts be contiguous, of equal population, utilize existing geographical or political boundaries, not divide communities of common interest, and be connected by transportation links.
To apply, obtain an application form and return it to the Clatsop County Manager’s Office at 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria OR 97103, (503) 325-1000. Forms are available from the County Manager’s Office or can be downloaded from the county website http://www.co.clatsop.or.us/ at “Documents” under “County Manager.”
Forms must be submitted by 5 p.m. March 25. The board of commissioners will make the selections.

Released by:
Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 325-1000

EPA Agrees To Strengthen Ships Ballast Rule


Bettina Boxall - L.A. Times - Environment

March 8, 2011 - 6:11 PM


The federal government has agreed to develop more stringent national regulations governing the discharge of ship ballast water, which has been a major source of troublesome invasive species in California and other states......Read Full Report



CLATSOP COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
For the reconsideration of the conditional approval of the consolidated application by Oregon Pipeline, LLC, to construct a 41-mile natural gas pipeline.
DATE OF HEARING: Wednesday, March 30, 2011
TIME: 3:30 PM
LOCATION: Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial Street - Astoria, Oregon 97103

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on January 13, 2011, the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners, pursuant to ORS 197.830(13(b) and OAR 661-010-0021, withdrew its decision to grant conditional approval to the Oregon Pipeline, LLC, consolidated application that was originally approved by the Board of Commissioners on November 8, 2010.
That decision had been appealed to the State of Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).

On February 9, 2011, the Board of Commissioners held a public hearing and set the scope of review for the reconsideration hearing. The Board has determined it may consider any and all issues identified in the findings adopted in support of the November 8, 2010, Board of Commissioners decision and that no new evidence will be considered as part of its reconsideration of the November 8, 2010 findings and decision.



The criteria applicable to the Board’s decision on reconsideration are as follows:

Land and Water Development and Use Ordinance 80-14
L3.220 – Residential Agriculture 5 Zone

L5.000 – Conditional Development and Use

L3.510 – Agricultural Forestry Zone

L5.040 – Development and Use Permitted with Review

L3.550 – Forest-80 Zone L5.120 – Coastal Zone Consistency Review

L3.560 – Exclusive Farm Use Zone

L5.350 – Transportation System Impact Review

L3.740 – Aquatic Development Zone

L5.800 – Columbia River Estuary Impact Assessment

L3.780 – Aquatic Conservation 2 Zone and Resource Capability Determination.

L3.800 – Aquatic Natural Zone

L4.000 – Flood Hazard Overlay

L4.040 – Geological Hazard Overlay

L4.080 – Shoreland Overlay

L4.200 – Sensitive Bird Habitat Overlay
Standards Document
S2.500 – Erosion Control Development Standards

S3.500 – Farm and Forest Zones Dwelling and/or Use Standards

S3.650 – Tsunami Inundation Zone

S3.700 – Geologic Hazard Requirements

S4.200 – Columbia River Estuary Shoreland and Aquatic Use
and Activity Standards

S4.500 – Protection of Riparian Vegetation

S6.000 – Road Standard specifications for Design and Construction


Clatsop County Comprehensive Plan – Goals and Policies
Goal 1 – Citizen Involvement

Goal 2 – Land Use Planning

Goal 3 - Agricultural Lands

Goal 4 - Forest Lands

Goal 5 - Open Space, Scenic and Historic Areas and Natural Resources

Gosl 6 - Air, Water and Land Quality

Goal 7 - Natural Hazards

Goal 8 - Recreation

Goal 9 – Economy

Goal 10 – Population and Housing Goal

Goal 11 – Public Facilities & Services

Goal 12 – Transportation

Goal 13 – Energy Conservation

Goals 16 and 17 – Estuarine Resources and Coastal Shorelands Lewis & Clark, Youngsd, Wallooskee River Valleys Community Plan and the Elsie - Jewell Community Plan


Oral and written argument will be accepted from all of the parties to the LUBA proceedings related to the November 8, 2010 approval. Oral argument must be presented through the parties’ legal counsel only unless otherwise permitted by the Board at the hearing.
County staff will be permitted to make a staff report and respond to Board questions. All other persons or organizations who participated in the 2010 Hearings Officer and Board of Commissioner proceedings in this matter will be permitted to submit written argument only, as provided below in this notice.

All written argument submitted to and received by this office by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, February 23, 2011, pursuant to the Board’s February 9, 2011, direction, will be considered at the March 30, 2011 public hearing.

NOTE: Failure of an issue to be raised in a hearing, in person or by letter, or failure to provide statements sufficient to afford the decision maker an opportunity to respond to the issue precludes an appeal based on that issue.

The following documents are available for review at the Clatsop County Transportation & Development Services office, 800 Exchange Street, Suite 100, Astoria, Oregon. A copy of the application, all documents and evidence submitted by or on behalf of the applicant and applicable criteria are available for inspection at the department office during normal business hours (M-F, 8-5) at no cost and will be provided in a digital format at reasonable cost.

A copy of the staff report is available for inspection at the Department office at no cost at least seven days prior to the hearing and will be provided at a reasonable cost.

In general, the procedure for conduct of the public hearing will in accordance with LWDUO Section 2.185(3): Introductory statements by the Board of Commissioners, staff report presentation, argument from the LUBA parties, argument from other parties, rebuttal by LUBA parties, and conclusion of the public hearing.
The Board of Commissioners will then deliberate and issue a decision.

If you have questions about this land use matter or need more information, please contact Jennifer Bunch, Clatsop County Planner, at (503) 325-8611 or via email at jbunch@co.clatsop.or.us .

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Clatsop County Board Of Commissioners Supports Staff Findings For Denial Of Oregon LNG/Pipeline Application



Thursday, March 10, 2011

BOARD SUPPORTS FINDINGS OF DENIAL FOR OREGON PIPELINE APPLICATION (GRP: No Representative From Oregon LNG/Pipeline Was In Attendance At This Hearing)
At a hearing Wednesday the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners gave preliminary approval to a new set of findings for the consolidated land-use application from Oregon Pipeline Company LLC that, if adopted at an upcoming meeting, will result in the application’s denial....Read Full Clatsop County Report

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Updated GRP Straw Poll: Should DUII's In Astoria Be Tried In Astoria Muncipal Court Or Circuit Court


Straw Poll Ends With 107 Total Votes In 33 Days. Final Results:71% Say Try DUII's In Circuit Court, 28% Say Keep DUII's In Astoria Municipal Court!!

Let's settle it and pass-on the result. On your left you will see a Straw Poll(Non-Scientific) that simply asks the question:Should DUII's In Astoria Be Trien In Astoria Municipal Court Or Circuit Court?

Vote on it and lets see where "The People Stand"

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

County To Host Round-Table Conference Calls With Our State Reps & Senator



Monday, March 07, 2011

COUNTY HOSTS ROUND-TABLE CALLS WITH LAWMAKERS


Clatsop County is again organizing regular early-morning conference calls with North Coast legislators for local public officials.
The calls, beginning March 8 and tentatively scheduled to take place every other week, will enable city and county officials and other community leaders to talk directly with Sen. Betsy Johnson and Reps. Debra Boone and Bill Witt on the latest developments at the 2011 Oregon Legislature in Salem......Read Full Release

Oregon Pipeline/LNG Files Petition For Alternative Writ Of Mandamus Against Clatsop County. March 9, 2011 Re-Hearing On OLNG/Pipeline Proceeds Anyway!


(Mandamus is a judicial remedy which is in the form of an order from a superior court to any government subordinate court, corporation or public authority to do or forbear from doing some specific act which that body is obliged under law to do or refrain from doing, as the case may be, and which is in the nature of public duty and in certain cases of a statutory duty.[2] It cannot be issued to compel an authority to do something against statutory provision.)
Clatsop County Press Release!!
March 9th, Oregon Pipeline Re-Hearing To Proceed Regardless

filed a Petition for Alternative Writ of Mandamus requesting the court to compel Clatsop County to approve Oregon Pipeline's consolidated application for land use approval which would allow Oregon Pipeline/LNG to move forward with an approximate 41 mile high pressure Natural Gas transmission pipeline segment through Clatsop County.

Under Oregon Law ORS 34.130, if a county does not make a final determination on an application for a permit within 150 days after the application is deemed complete, the applicant may file the petition for Alternate Writ of Mandamus in the Clatsop County Circuit Court to compel the governing body to approve the application.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Dress Sale To Benefit Clatsop County Juvenile Department Prevention Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, March 7, 2011

DRESS SALE BENEFITS JUVENILE DEPARTMENT PREVENTION PROGRAM

Clatsop County’s Juvenile Department Prevention Program is holding a dress sale Saturday, March 12 as a fundraiser for the youth program.
The sale takes place noon to 4 p.m. at Warrenton High School gym.
Dresses are brand new, in a variety of styles, sizes and colors, and priced to sell, and are perfect for a prom, party or event.
All proceeds support the Prevention Program, which provides gender-specific programs to girls within our community; parenting classes and family activities; and community outreach to reduce underage alcohol and drug use.
For more information contact the Prevention Program at (503) 325-8673.

Released by:
Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 325-1000

HB 2800: Farm To School Bill To Be Heard Wednesday, March 9, 2011

HB 2800 Directs Department of Education to provide reimbursements to school districts that serve Oregon food products as part of United States Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.

Directs department to award grants for development of
food-based, agriculture-based and garden-based educational activities.

Allocates moneys from Administrative Services Economic Development Fund to Oregon Business Development Department for purposes of reimbursements and grants.
Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2011.....Read Full Bill