Mayor’s Report
JANUARY 2021
Well It’s been a solid month into my new role as Mayor of Gearhart. What a month its been!
First I must say that the insurrection that occurred at our nation’s capital on Wednesday must be denounced. Violence can never be a solution to our differences.
Covid remains throughout the greater Clatsop County community. The county has a website with Vaccine information and FAQ’s at https://www.co.clatsop.or.us/publichealth/page/vaccine-information-faqs. Information on vaccines will be available on that website as more vaccine comes into the county and distribution timelines are updated. In the meantime keep socially distanced, wear a mask as posted and required indoors or when not able to maintain at least 6 ft from others (except those in your household), wash hands frequently and keep groups small. Diligent use of these measures might keep the county from moving into the “Extreme Risk” category again. Here is a link to a video from the Oregon Health Authority: https://youtu.be/zPI-Pge8c7g
The Council had a work session last week to learn more about the Oregon Solutions Elk Collaborative. I would like to plan a virtual town hall sometime in late January or early February to outline the various aspects of a Gearhart Elk Management Plan. The Elk population has roughly tripled to quadrupled in the past 10 years. We have lush food sources for the Elk and it seems they can’t get enough of living the life in Gearhart, much like the rest of us. At any rate, I have started a power-point presentation to share some of the information I have learned and look forward to sharing it soon.
The City Council has also reviewed the draft of the Gearhart Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (part of the Clatsop County Plan). This update has been in the works for a while, and we will be sending it to the Planning Commission next month for their review and for public comment. The Council made some minor changes in the priorities, but for the most part they remain the same as for the last 5 years:
- Relocate the Gearhart Fire Station to a site outside the large tsunami zone.
- Develop a community self-sustainability program to provide food, shelter, hygiene, water, communication and utilities (we have done a lot on this goal for the last of couple years thanks to the City staff, CERT team, and the help of some grant funding.
- Develop and implement a community disaster preparedness program.
- Educate the community about hazard risks and hazard mitigation. Councilor Dan Jesse suggested a new committee to coordinate hazard mitigation activities and if you would like to volunteer for such a committee let me know and we will work to make that happen.
The city council is completing work on the Fire Station due diligence report and I hope to have that available to the public later in the first quarter. I am excited to see this process move forward. I know the firefighters need a larger training space, storage for equipment, and a decontamination room, as well as many other things that would be a part of the new station. Thanks to all the volunteers and our staff who have worked throughout the pandemic to answer our calls- 500 last year!
The Council was able to distribute 23 grants to Gearhart small businesses before the end of the year. It was great to see the smiles (behind the masks) as we delivered checks. Thanks to the city staff and council who worked through 3 special meetings to get this important task done. The grants were part of the CARES act money the city received.
The Business Committee has been working on an inventory of Gearhart businesses, the Parks Master Plan Committee has just sent out a survey and we have received a great response so far, if you haven’t filled one out for your family, please look for it in your water bill or a link on the blog or city website. Finally, Gearhart is participating in a planning project for improving safety on Highway 101 throughout Gearhart, this is a long-term project that is described in the Gearhart Transportation Plan (at the city website).
Stay safe Gearhart! Here’s to a happy and healthy 2021!
Mayor Paulina