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VOL. 46, ISSUE 18
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CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
September 2, 2022
Watching over the snowy plover Breana Laughlin
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Country Media
nowy plovers are a rare shorebird species that live on Oregon beaches. These fluffy little birds blend in with their surroundings and can be hard to spot. Just few decades ago these birds almost disappeared for good. The populations of the Western Snowy Plover have made a comeback thanks to a coordinated effort by biologists, volunteers and educated beachgoers up and down the Oregon Coast. Dave Lauten and Kathy Castelein have been on the forefront of this effort. The Bandon-based biologists came to Oregon to study plovers 26-years-ago. “We were hired to do the job the first year, and then we liked it so much it turned into another year… and then it turned into 26 years,” Lauten said. The biologists study the birds by finding their nests – which consist of just a few tiny eggs laid right in the sand. They monitor the nests along with the mating pairs of birds. When the baby birds hatch, the biologists put small colored bands on their legs in order to track them. “It’s interesting to study the individual birds at each beach and see the dynamics of population – and what is working and what isn’t working,” Castelein said. Lauten and Castelein have worked with the Nature Conservancy and Oregon State University, and they now work with Portland State University’s Oregon Biodiversity Information Center.
Planning Commission approves transportation plan, now in councils’ hands Top: Snowy Plover with a chick. Inset: Kathy Castelein, biologist with chick. Courtesy photos Their dedication to birds and to wildlife is what keeps them motivated. “We work 7-days a week all summer long. You have to have the passion to get up out of bed at 5 a.m. every morning day after day and you have to have a passion for the birds – and find it interesting,” Lauten said. “It’s a little bit like a game because you are getting clues all the time about where the birds might be nesting and where to find the birds - and whether or not the
Deb Atiyeh
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brood is still active. So for me I look at as a little bit of a challenge to make it fun,” he said. Bringing the birds back Not everyone knows there are endangered-species right here on
the Oregon Coast, the biologists said. “There are a lot of people that
n See
PLOVER, Page 3
City Manager discusses solutions to overcrowding in Cannon Beach A
Deb Atiyeh
For the Gazette
t the Aug. 15 “Coffee with Councilors” Cannon Beach City Manager Bruce St. Denis discussed possible solutions to overcrowding in Cannon Beach and the impact of so many visitors. Those attending also expressed concerns about the lack of garbage cans at certain beach access points, dealing with traffic back-ups at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Hemlock Street, and the need to get ahead of the expected influx of people migrating north due to climate change. St. Denis said he sees overcrowding as a long-term problem that is only going to get worse, with the ever increasing population of cities to the east, and suggested that paid parking could be used as a solution to overcrowding. Visitors are no longer allowed to park on the shoulders of Highway 101, so they now park in the nearest city. The number of vehicles parked on neighborhood streets sometimes poses a problem for emergency vehicle access. St. Denis noted that “it’s always been the assumption that the people who live on the coast have an obligation to provide parking and bathrooms to the people who don’t live on the coast.” He added that the State of Oregon does not step up, with the responsibility falling upon the cities. St. Denis said that the city spends $70,000 a year just on toilet paper for the town’s three public restrooms. That figure does not include the expense to clean the restrooms, along with water, wastewater treatment, or garbage pickup and disposal. St. Denis made several additional comments concerning overcrowding: if you look at other places that are getting ruined by having too many people, it’s important to try to preserve the area and not get overrun. He added, visitors are not enjoying Cannon Beach if it is too crowded. The community should be given back to the people who live
here; many residents avoid going downtown during the summer and “there’s something wrong with that”. “There are no more beach communities being made... and you can go to one of the 100 most beautiful places on the planet and stay all day for free” St. Denis said. St. Denis brought up parking enforcement using license plate recognition technology, where traffic aides could scan license plates. He mentioned that parking in Portland can be $75 a day. Charging $20 to $25 for parking might be an At a recent Corgi event the beach was the busiest in years. Gazette file photo option to deter people from coming here, with some Local resident Rick Gray comcans made and delivered, but they choosing to go other places. mented that “we are in a world that are expected in September. These Paid parking would be required in is changing rapidly, and the changes cans were approved by the Design all areas of the city. Residents and are resulting in more and more Review Board and Council many employees would get free parking people coming here for the day”. He years ago, so just ordering cans permits and the details could be said that to control the number of from a waste supplier is not someworked out. people that come here every day, the thing city leadership wants. LaBonte Councilor Nancy McCarthy only tool is to control the number expressed appreciation when mentioned that the Municipal Court of available parking places and residents let her know about any judge for Cannon Beach had told enforce the parking rules, or it will issues, and she welcomed feedback her that 70 to 80 parking tickets just keep getting worse. He went were contested during a recent court on where new garbage cans should on to say places like Phoenix and be located. session. The current parking fine is Las Vegas are becoming unbearably Councilor Robin Risley asked $50 and there are more tickets being hot; the Great Salt Lake is drying if the garbage could be picked up issued, with Police Chief Jason up. “10 or 15 years from now, if the three times a day on busy days, Schermerhorn saying people want climate keeps changing, and there’s instead of the current twice a day. to avoid the consequences for their no reason to think it won’t, this nice, LaBonte explained that the combehavior. moist, cool part of Oregon won’t pany contracted for garbage collecIn response to concerns extion is having a difficult time finding just be overrun with day-trippers, it pressed by a citizen about a lack of enough employees, and there would will be overrun period. We need to garbage cans at beach access locastart getting ready for the fact that be an increased cost to the city for tions, public works director Karen we’re standing here on this beautiful LaBonte replied that there are a total additional garbage pick up. piece of land and we are going Schermerhorn talked about the of 30 garbage cans in place at the 45 to be overrun by environmental stop sign at the Sunset-Hemlock beach access locations, with a total migrants”. intersection and the resulting of 79 cans spread throughout the Coffee with Councilors is held back-up onto Highway 101. The town. The city recently paid almost the third Monday of every month police would like to have someone $9,000 for four additional garbage from 10 am to 11 am. It is an open directing traffic on busy days, he cans along with two benches, and forum where residents can ask said, but they sometimes have other the city has ordered an additional questions of McCarthy, Risley and calls and are unable to be there. 10 garage cans. These are made of St. Denis. Other city officials, inSt. Denis explained that even with galvanized steel and redwood so cluding Shermerhorn, LaBonte, and they won’t rust or tip over, and must someone directing traffic, the two Emergency Services Director Rick closely-spaced pedestrian crossbe installed on solid, level ground. Hudson are frequently available to walks at Sunset and Hemlock make Supply chain and labor issues the traffic problem worse. answer questions. have caused a delay in getting these
For the Gazette
he Cannon Beach planning commission voted unanimously to adopt the Cannon Beach Transportation System Plan (TSP) at their August 25th meeting, with additional recommendations addressing environmental protections and safety concerns. It is now up to the Cannon Beach City Council to review and adopt the TSP plan. The TSP is a long-range plan with a prioritized list of goals providing the framework for future solutions to transportation issues based on community priorities that will be implemented over the next 20 years as the budget allows. The future investments will improve travel for all users of the transportation system, including those who drive, walk, bike, use transit and deliver freight within the city. The plan addresses traffic safety, sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, enhanced lighting, and bike routes. It will also help manage the increasing number of visitors expected over the next 20 years. Why do we need a TSP? Cannon Beach remains the only city in Clatsop County without a TSP, and cities are required to complete a plan to qualify for State grants to help fund transportation projects. This was the final planning commission meeting for commissioner Lisa Kerr. Commission members and city officials expressed their gratitude to Ms. Kerr for her expertise and countless hours volunteering on the planning commission over the past eight years. The City of Cannon Beach Transportation System Plan (TSP) is a long-term plan for managing, preserving, and improving the transportation system to serve the needs of the Cannon Beach community. Purpose The TSP serves as a blueprint and vision for transportation system development in Cannon Beach for the next 20 years. The 2022 Transportation System Plan is Cannon Beach’s first TSP. This plan: • Assesses the existing and future conditions of Cannon Beach’s transportation system and determines transportation needs for all modes of travel, including driving, walking, biking, using transit, and using a mobility device. • Discusses the freight, rail, marine, and aviation needs of the system. • Assesses emergency response facilities, including tsunami evacuation routes, assembly areas, and wayfinding and signage, and provides recommendations for improving the emergency response and evacuation system. • Includes both near and longterm projects that directly address transportation issues in the City of Cannon Beach and provides an evaluation system for prioritizing these projects. • Includes an implementation
n See TSP, Page 3