Questions for Astoria
Straight Answers About City Government
Have a question about an issue affecting Astoria? I will use this page to answer questions from residents, share perspectives, and explain what the City Council can—and sometimes cannot—do. Understanding how city government works is an important part of making informed decisions about Astoria’s future.
Homelessness in Astoria
It’s time to talk about the homeless population here in Astoria. This is a relatively new phenomenon here . I came back to town in2006. Around that time the Astoria Coffee House and Bistro had opened up and I would often stop and sit with a cup of coffee. I can recall encountering a couple of ‘homeless’ people. One was Helmet John and the other was this older women who went around offering stick drawings for spare change. Otherwise I would note the occasional transit passing through. 10 years later that had suddenly changed. Numerous homeless folks started showing up and staying, panhandled and camping anywhere the vegetation could hide and shelter them.
The panhandling was the first issue the city and council took action on. City Code 6.390 Unlawful Transfer On Vehicular Portion Of The Right-Of-Way was created in 2018 to address an increase in people making transfers of goods or monies between pedestrians and motor vehicles on the vehicular portion of the roadway, creating a traffic safety concern. This had the intended effect. (https://astoria.municipalcodeonline.com/book?type=ordinances#name=CHAPTER_6_TRAFFIC)
The next issue was the camping in the woods around and in Astoria. People were lighting fires, defecating and piling garbage. Some were near homes and were people hiked and complaints were being heard by the city. The decision then, under Police Chief Spalding, was made to give the campers reasonable notice to move out of the woods or the city would come in and move them. The woods were successfully cleared. Public Work’s and Park’s crews went in and cleaned up.
People were now camping out in the open on public property. Other cities across the west were experiencing similar problems, employing a variety of tactics to deal with this surge of homelessness seen on the streets. Lawsuits were filed against different cities and 2 rose to the the level of Ninth Circuit Federal Appeals Court. While outcomes were being waited on, the State of Oregon passed legislation compelling cities to create ordinances to establish camping time, place and manner. The City and Council established these in 2022 during the SARSv2 pandemic. The council did the minimum to comply knowing that until the issues were settled in the courts it would be prudent to wait.
This year City and Council took the additional step of adding the ability to trespass anyone who is camping in a public right away outside the prescribed times. The arrestee then could be transported to the county jail for a booking and then released. The individuals possessions would be collected and stored near the police station until the individual came and reclaimed them. All those on the streets were informed over a 30 day period before enforcement started. As a result, the homeless over of the street. Anywhere from 20-30 chose shelter options they had refused in the past. Others, unfortunately moved back up into the woods.
I’ve sat down with Police Chief Kelly and listened to his assessment, mostly positive, about the impact of the updated ordinance. I’ve toured with former Astoria Police Officer Kenny Hanson, now working for Clatsop Community Action, visiting the Columbia Inn, the Seaside Stepping Stones (https://ccaservices.org/housing/stepping-stones2/) camp site and Esperanza Village (https://ccaservices.org/housing/esperanza-village/) meeting and talking to some of the sheltered individuals along with an earful from Kenny.
Progress has been made. We can’t eliminate the homeless problem, it must be addressed at a national level to help alleviate some of the main reasons people find themselves without shelter. For Astoria, there is more to be done. The City and the Council need to be ready to act when opportunities present themselves. Continue to work with the county and CCA.
The Arts in Astoria
During the budget meetings in early 2024, I advocated for funds to be set aside to contract with an individual to create what came to be known as the Arts & Culture Strategic Direction Recommendations Report. My advocacy was successful. That person ended up being Jessamyn Grace West. Ms. West had spent the prior couple of years working with the arts community and the City to make the case for the City to be more involved with supporting the arts community.
From the Council Summary presented to the City Council:
‘In January 2024, the Astoria City Council identified support for the arts as a core priority within its City Council Work Plan and as an essential component of a strong local economy. Over the past year, the City conducted a multi-phase research and engagement process — including an arts community inventory of more than 350 entries,12 stakeholder meetings with 84 participants, and 11 individual interviews — to develop a strategic direction for arts and culture in Astoria. This summary presents six recommendations to strengthen arts infrastructure, improve access to funding, and position Astoria as a thriving creative community on the Oregon Coast.’
From this set of recommendations to the Council came the Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission. I have hopes that the Commission will be an asset to support what the arts do for our city both in regard to enhancing our community for those of us who live here and nearby, and the experience of tourists in our town. For more about the commission:
https://www.astoria.gov/Arts___Culture_Advisory_Commission.aspx?deptid=1
On August 17th this year the Council approved the following resolution with the amendment about ex-officio representation.
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH AN ARTS &
CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION
https://d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net/astoria/766c25b1359bfb0bb877c8582b0bcd2e0.pdf
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF ASTORIA ARTS & CULTURE
ADVISORY COMMISSION
People interested in finding out more about the Arts Commission, workshops, events and trainings for the art community can contact Jessamyn West at: hello@astoria.art.
To apply for an appointment to the commission you can contact the City at: https://www.astoria.gov/Boards_Commissions.aspx
Brian asked: How do you feel about LOWERING property taxes. Mine is way too high and it keeps going up. If you can lower taxes I’ll definitely vote for you. Or who ever can definitely lower them.
There is no way for the city to lower property taxes on the whole. Regular property taxes are set and controlled by state law and are limited but lawfully entitled to rise by 3% a year to help offset inflation.Other property taxes associated with bonds that where voter approved are also fixed and there is no mechanism to reduce or remove them. So no, I won’t be able to lower property taxes and if anyone else says they can, they are wrong. The only additional potential increases would be a new bond approved by the voters. I am only aware of one entity locally considering that, the Port of Astoria. Even new bonds are very restricted in how they are allowed to impact the overall tax burden. State measures that control property taxes are Measures 47 and 50.
How do you feel about the Vacant Rental Unit Excise Tax?
I'm against it. Housing is challenging here in Astoria as most people are aware.Buildable lots are scarce and costs to build a home are high. Rents are high. All types of housing have been at a premium. As a result some housing advocates are looking for any opportunity to increase the housing supply. This tax is one. Though I can appreciate the good intentions, to many times the consequences far out weigh the good that is trying to be achieved. This ordinance would be a burden on city resources to establish and administer It’s really difficult to know all the cost that would be generated relative to the revenues collected let alone the potential for litigation that could be brought to bear. The impact on housing stock would at best be minimal.
Here are some questions about transportation. How do feel?
Transportation, Ride-share, Taxis, Buses and E-Bikes:
Transportation is like most things here, complex. Here in Astoria we grapple with getting around town, particularly, we are inundated with tourists. What can the City do to improve traffic flow? What are the alternative ways of getting around? How can we drive less and encourage tourists to drive less around town? There is very little we can do to divert traffic around town. We are a bottleneck.
Yesterday I had a conversation with one of our town’s taxi drivers who happen to also have been a Taxi Operation owner here in Astoria, now discontinued. She talked about her concerns about ride-share companies such as Uber and Lift threatening the existence of local taxi companies. There is only one left in Astoria. She said that Long Beach allowed ride-share and the taxi business is no longer. Currently, whether or not to allow ride-share operators to operate legally in Astoria is or will be up for discussion with the City Council.
E-bikes are another important topic. They are becoming ubiquitous across the country and locally. I’m curious how people feel about them and what the City and State might want to do towards regulating them. There was a good show today on NPR, On Point, discussing e-bikes. I’ll put a link here so you can listen to the podcast version for a good primer for discussion.
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2026/09/08/how-should-e-bikes-be-regulated
Buses. Should we have a cross-town shuttle to move people from parking areas a distance from downtown? The trolly sort of serves this purpose but is limited, slow and isn't always available (though a joy to watch and ride!) Ideas?
Future topics: The Arts: Impact on tourism and the community’s quality of life.
Port of Astoria: How can the City and the Port improve how they work together?
Advance Astoria, A Five Year economic Development Strategy completed in 2017. It’s time to revisit it. https://www.astoria.gov/Assets/dept_3/pm/pdf/cai.astoria_eds%202017.pdf
Charter Amendments
Coming up on the November ballot are several Astoria City Charter Amendments. I’ll list them here and comment on each one. These will reflect how I’ll likely vote. What do you think? That said, if elected as Mayor of Astoria, I will support and implement the voters will if any of these are approved, this goes for any measure approved including the Vacant Home Tax.
Measure 4-244, Council Size.
The measure would provide for a City Council consisting of a Mayor, two Councilors elected at large, and four Councilors elected from wards established by ordinance. The measure would
provide that, after adoption, one at-large Councilor and two ward Councilors are elected at each general election to a two year and four-year terms, the two year would then become a 4 year term after the completion of the first 2 year term.
I will vote against this. As the Ward 2 City Councilor I always felt that the decisions I made should be based on what’s best for Astoria. If it was going to have a greater negative impact on a particular ward, mine or one of the others, that impact would influence my decision. That’s the job. Adding 2 more positions I feel would incumber the process. Citizens are always welcome to weigh in and should.
Measure 4-425, Mayor’s Appointments.
Currently, the Mayor appoints members of
Council committees and other persons required by the Council to be appointed. The Mayor may also remove those appointees. The amendment would require the advice and consent of the City Council before the Mayor may appoint members of Council committees or other persons required by the Council to be appointed. The amendment would also require the advice and consent of the Council before the Mayor may remove those appointees.
The measure shifts appointment and removal authority from the Mayor acting alone to a process requiring approval by the City Council. Other duties and powers of the Mayor and Council
would remain unchanged.
I will likely vote no. It’s more than that I’m running for mayor and as mayor I would lose one of the few powers remaining over and above the other council members. When I was on council I didn’t begrudge the mayors right to make appointments. I was frustrated that the council wasn’t notified of the appointments made. I felt that the mayor should, in a public meeting, announce his or her’s appointee nominations so that the council could comment for the mayor’s consideration before confirming the appointments. If concerns about an individual, the mayor would then make a better informed decision. If I become mayor and this measure doesn’t pass, that is what I’ll do.
Measure 4-249 Update Charter.
This measure amends multiple provisions of the City Charter.
The measure revises quorum and vacancy procedures by allowing remaining Council members
to fill vacancies even when Council membership falls below a normal quorum. It creates procedures for appointing temporary Council members. It updates provisions governing the City Manager, including qualifications, duties, authority, appointment, removal, and restrictions on interference by Council members in administrative matters.
It revises provisions governing the Municipal Court and Municipal Judge and authorizes appointment and removal of Municipal Judges Pro Tem.
It creates a definition for the office of City Attorney and provides that the City Attorney is appointed and may be removed by a majority of the Council.
Other conforming and clarifying amendments are included.
I’ve looked over these amendments and find them acceptable adding clarity. I will likely vote in favor on this one. Take a little time to read through and see if you agree.
Here are a few links pertaining to this discussion if you want to take a deep dive.
From the July 6, 2026 Council meeting:
https://d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net/astoria/5ee77335679e5ecaaa3d461cbbfcdbe20.pdf DISCUSSION ON POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE ASTORIA CITY CHARTER.
Video from July 6th meeting. Just click on item 9.d) under the video to listen to the council discuss all the measures:
https://astoria.granicus.com/player/clip/903
Measures listed on County website:
https://www.clatsopcounty.gov/1323/Measures
City Charter:
https://granicus-aasmp-peak-files.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/4207975/Astoria_City_Charter.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIATHOFOHMMEOCNXD2W/20260922/us-east-1/s3/aws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20260922T205404Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=82c004a7b60457f3b22546d7b26ac0c6a115ae2eba505db29724328f22c96e4f
https://www.tom-for-astoria-mayor.com