Ballot measures

There are five ballot measures available to Astoria voters this election. I’ll write up individual pieces on all of them, but at high level, this is what I think of them and how I’ll be voting:

• Measure 4-244 City of Astoria Charter Amendment - Council Size

  • YES. I’ll vote to support this amendment that adds 2 at-large City Council positions and brings Astoria’s Council size to 7 total from the current 5.

• Measure 4-245 City of Astoria Charter Amendment - Mayor's Appointments

  • YES. I’ll vote to support this amendment that adds an “advice and consent” function to City Council on Mayoral appointments to and removals from city boards and commissions. Currently the Mayor has sole authority to appoint and remove board and commission members.

• Measure 4-246 City of Astoria Charter Amendment - Update Charter

  • YES. I’ll vote to support this amendment that brings Astoria Charter language into alignment with recommended language in the League of Oregon Cities model charter and amends the Council process for filling Council vacancies.

• Measure 4-247 City of Astoria Initiative - Vacant Home Tax

  • YES. I’ll vote to support this amendment to add a Vacancy Tax in the city of Astoria and allocate the collected funds to a Community Housing Fund.

• Measure 4-249 Clatsop Care Center Health District Bond

  • YES. I’ll vote to support the issuance of a $34 million dollar bond to pay for the replacement of their current (100-year old) skilled nursing facility and to consolidate their operations to their complex on the South Slope of Astoria.