Astoria Planning Commission;Plans May 24, 2011 Public Hearing On Buildable Lands Inventory

CITY OF ASTORIA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Astoria Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 immediately following the Traffic Safety Committee meeting at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, 1095 Duane Street, Astoria. The purpose of the hearing is to consider the following request(s):
1. Amendment A10-02 by the Community Development Director, City of Astoria, to amend the Development Code adding Section 1.253 adopting the Buildable Lands Inventory by reference, City Wide, in all zones. Development Code Standards 1.200-1.210, Articles 9 and 10, and Comprehensive Plan Sections CP.005-CP.025, CP.110-CP.125, CP.190-CP.210, CP.215-CP.230, CP.290-CP.340, are applicable to the request.
2. Amendment A11-01 by the Community Development Director, City of Astoria, to amend various Comprehensive Plan sections to implement the 2011 Buildable Lands Inventory and update outdated information in relevant sections of the Comprehensive Plan, City Wide, in all zones. Development Code Standards Articles 9 and 10, and Comprehensive Plan Sections CP.005-CP.025, CP.010-CP.025, CP.030-CP.105, CP.110-CP.125, CP.190-CP.210, CP.215-CP.230, CP.290-CP.340, and CP.460.4 are applicable to the request.
3. Amendment A11-02 by the Community Development Director, City of Astoria, to amend Section 2.390(18) of the Development Code to allow single and two family dwellings on the first floor with commercial facilities in the front portion of a structure as an outright use in a C-3, General Commercial zone. Development Code Standards 2.385-2.415, Articles 9 and 10, and Comprehensive Plan Sections

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24th Annual Youth Recognition Awards Nominations Now Being Accepted Until May 11, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 5, 2011

YOUTH AWARD NOMINATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

The Clatsop County Commission on Children and Families is accepting nominations until May 11 for its 24th Annual Youth Recognition Awards.
Adults may nominate youth ages 12 through 20 who have either overcome personal challenges to achieve success or significantly enhanced the quality of life in the community through some form of service.
In addition, youth can nominate adults who have made a significant positive impact on their lives for the Adult “Asset Builder” Award.
Instructions on how to nominate a youth and forms are available from Alice Beck at (503) 325-8156 or on the Clatsop County website at http://www.co.clatsop.or.us/. Information on how youth can nominate adults will be posted in local middle and high schools. Nominations will be reviewed and final candidates selected by commission members.
The awards will be presented at the 24th Annual Youth Recognition Awards, Wednesday night, May 18 at the Holiday Inn Express in Astoria from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Many local businesses are donating desserts for the event.

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

Clatsop Special Service District Budgets Approved

CLATSOP COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICT BUDGETS APPROVED

The budget committees of the four Clatsop County special service districts approved the districts’ respective 2011-12 fiscal year budgets without change Wednesday.
Approved were the proposed budgets of the 4-H and Extension Service Special Service District, Road District #1, Rural Law Enforcement District and Westport Sewer Service District. The four budgets next go to the county board of commissioners for public hearings June 8 and final adoption June 22.
The budget committees consist of the five county commissioners plus citizen members.
The 4-H/Extension Service budget totals $573,400 and funds four Oregon State University faculty positions and support staff who provide educational programs and information to Clatsop County residents, including nutrition education, Coastal Hazards and Master Gardener programs.
Road District #1 funds road maintenance and improvement projects in the unincorporated area of the county. Its budget for 2011-12 is $3,303,400.
Rural Law Enforcement District provides enhanced funding to the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office. Budget for 2011-12 is $4,738,700.
Westport Sewer Service District supports the wastewater system serving approximately 90 customers in the Westport community. Funding includes a district budget of $70,800 and an equipment replacement budget of $57,700
Proposed 2011-12 tax rates charged by the districts are:
· 4-H/Extension Service – $0.0534 per $1,000 property value
· Road District #1 – $1.017
· Rural Law Enforcement District – $0.7195
The Westport Sewer Service District is entirely rate-supported; sewer rates are $37 per month.
All four budgets can be viewed online at http://www.co.clatsop.or.us/. Go to “Budget” under”Administration/Board of Commissioners.”

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

Clatsop County Diking District #5 To Hold Annual Meeting May 16, 2011

Diking District #5 will hold its annual meeting Monday, May 16, 7 p.m. at Lewis and Clark Rural Fire Department Fire Hall, 34583 Highway 101-Business.

Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 325-1000 Ext. 1312

LCPS Final Phase Of The Stramiello Estate Sale Set For May 13, 2011

The Lower Columbia Preservation Society
Last Phase of our Sale from estate of Roberta Stramiello
First Presbyterian Church Hall
corner of 11th and Harrison Streets, Astoria
May 13th through 15th, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Half-price mark-down begins at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Huge amount!! Housewares, linens, cabinets, dressers, tables, chairs, lamps, sofas, 10’ quilting rack, etc.
There will be a silent auction for some choice items, e.g. garden décor and wicker chaise.
For more information call Pam Chestnut (503) 325-3245
All proceeds go to LCPS
Don't miss this one!

2011 - 2012 Clatsop County Budget Unanimously Approved By Budget Committee

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

BUDGET COMMITTEE APPROVES 2011-12 PROPOSED BUDGET
The Clatsop County Budget Committee unanimously approved the proposed 2011-12 budget without change Tuesday, May 3.
The budget next goes to the county board of commissioners for a public hearing June 8 and final adoption June 22.......Read Full Release

Darigold Building Surplus Sale Set For May 12, 2011 At The Building

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

SURPLUS ITEMS FOR SALE MAY 12 AT DARIGOLD BUILDING

Looking for a bio-hazard refrigerator? How about a toilet, still in the box? Or some mouse pads?
A potpourri of items of varying value and utility will be for sale Thursday, May 12 as Clatsop County clears out the Darigold Building in downtown Astoria in preparation for its demolition.
The building at Ninth and Duane streets has served as storage space for the county for several years, and has accumulated a variety of used office equipment and furniture such as desks and filing cabinets, as well as assorted oddities – including an antique toilet paper holder, and even two animal skulls – that the county is offering for sale to the public.
The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Darigold Building. Sales are for cash only or checks from established businesses.
A complete list of all 200-plus items for sale is available on the Clatsop County website, http://www.co.clatsop.or.us/.
The Board of Commissioners sold the Darigold Building in February to Coastal Family Health Center, which plans to build a three-story, 40,000-square-foot building for its own clinic as well as office space for local non-profit social service agencies.
Hazardous materials such as asbestos will be removed from the structure prior to the demolition, which will likely occur in mid-June. Once cleared, the site will serve as temporary parking space until construction on the new facility begins.

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

Wauna Mill Union Says....Strike!!!

By Erik Olson / The Daily News Online
Posted: Monday, May 2, 2011 8:20 pm
Union workers at Georgia-Pacific's Wauna mill have given negotiators strike authorization as contract talks with the company have bogged down, a union representative said Monday.

The 900 members of the United Steelworkers local 1097 have been working under a contract that expired in April 2010, said Gaylan Prescott, the union's staff representative.

The union voted down a company contract offer in January, and the next contract talks are scheduled May 24 with a federal mediator, he said......Read Full TDN Details

The Ideal Natural Disaster, Emergency Survival Kit; Got One Ready Yourself? Any Ideas To Add?

(Photo - Masternewmedia.org)

If I need to evacuate, what should I bring with me?
Your survival kit is generally the same for all natural disasters. Here is a list of suggested supplies:
*an extra supply of prescription medicines
* non-perishable dietary foods
*ice chest
*a minimum of 2 quarts of water per person per day
*pet food
*candles/flashlight
*matches
*blankets/sleeping bags
*extra cash
*clothing
*eyeglasses
*personal hygiene items
*special items for infants
*special items for elderly and disabled family members
*quiet games or books/toys for children
*important papers-driver′s license, special medical information, insurance policies, and property inventories
*first aid kit
*water purification kit.

Want To Play A Part In Your Own Local History?

Monday, May 2, 2011

REDISTRICTING BOARD INVITES PUBLIC COMMENTS

The Clatsop County Redistricting Board invites public comment on the process of redrawing the boundaries of the county board of commissioner districts.
The nine-member board will hold a series of meeting May 5, May 9 and May 20. All meetings will begin at 4 p.m. at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria. Public comments will be accepted at the beginning of each meeting.
The panel is charged with drawing new boundaries for the five commissioner districts to conform to new population data from the 2010 U.S. Census. The board’s plan must be presented to the county commissioners by July 30.
New districts must adhere to the following criteria established by the Oregon Legislature:
· Be contiguous
· Be of equal population
· Utilize existing geographical or political boundaries
· Not divide communities of common interest
· Be connected by transportation links
For more information on redistricting, go to “Redistricting Process” on the Clatsop County website, http://www.co.clatsop.or.us/.

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

U.S. LNG Exports Will Face Stiff Competition

(Cheniere Partners Photo)




Updated from a Barclays Capital commodities research publication Mar. 22, 2011.

James Crandell
Biliana Pehlivanova

Barclays Capital

New York



Michael Zenker


Barclays Capital


San Francisco



Oversupplied North American natural gas markets might see construction of liquefaction that would allow LNG export potentially in 2015. There is a question, however, of whether the world needs another source of LNG supplies.



Global regasification additions will far outpace liquefaction capacity growth 2012-13, suggesting that global LNG markets could tighten if demand materializes behind those terminals.





The picture changes 2014-15, however, when liquefaction and regasification growth balance.



This suggests that proposals for North American liquefaction would likely face strong competition, particularly from Australia, and highlights the importance of relative costs of supply.....Read Full Article

Booming Demand By Chinese For Northwest Logs And Lumber

(Michael Clapp Photo - OPB)

Booming Demand From Chinese For NW Logs And Lumber
Tom Banse - OPB

April 4, 2011

There's good news and bad news for logging and sawmilling jobs in the Northwest.
The bad news is new figures out Friday show construction spending dropped in February to the lowest level in more than a decade.

The good news is that timber demand from China is soaring...... Read Full OPB Article

Bin-Laden Dead!! Buried At Sea!!!

by JULIE PACE, Associated Press
kgw.com
Posted on May 1, 2011 at 7:59 PM
Updated today at 8:42 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks against the United States, is dead, and the U.S. is in possession of his body, a person familiar with the situation said late Sunday.....Follow The Details Here

Inside The Raid That Killed Bin-Laden