Pacific City
SUN
Getting the new year off on solid footing
Nehalem Bay Campground extends reservation closure timeline ............................ 4 Oregon DMV warns of potential vehicle scams................................................................ 4
4
January 15 is deadline to sign up for insurance via ‘Oregon Marketplace’.............. 7 PLEASE TAKE ONE
Vol. 18, No. 463 • January 10, 2025
County Commissioners approve new parking, camping fee changes By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun
T
A Shelter for
Survival
New tsunami shed installed in Pacific City in effort to provide emergency supplies
Commissioners axe transient lodging cap at Cape Kiwanda By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun
T
hose wishing to rent their properties as short-term rentals in the Cape Kiwanda area will have an easier time as Tillamook County Commissioners unanimously approved a plan to exempt the properties west of the Nestuca River from the short-term rental lodging cap that was set in 2023. The remaining area of Pacific City and Woods will still be subject to a 95home rental limit. The change comes after numerous community meetings showed support for the concept, an effort led by Sarah Absher, director of Tillamook Community Development Department. “There was overwhelming consensus and support from (Pacific City) meetings to create a cap exemption area in Pacific City,” she told the Board of Commissioners on Jan. 8. “They still need a license, they still need to go through the process, they need to pass the fire and life safety inspection, comply with parking, et cetera, but those properties would be removed from a (transient lodging) cap (that a 2023 board order established for 21 subareas of unincorporated Tillamook
County). It was acknowledged through the program ordinance update amendment process that this area (which includes Cape Kiwanda and homes along Cape Kiwanda Drive), has been more transient vacation rental use
Photo by Tim Hirsch
THE CAPE KIWANDA area will no longer be subject to a short-term rental cap.
in nature.” Absher also noted that the area comprised the majority of properties being used as vacation rentals with properties west of the river accounting for 236 of the area’s 326 short-term rental licenses. She also noted that with Pacific City’s current wait list of 28, 18 will immediately come off as they are in the new exempt area. The order passed by Commissioners on Jan. 8 also tweaked some language.
HAPPY HOUR
$5
Gone is any mention of percentage of total homes of an area. Instead, there is simply a maximum number of homes eligible to rent their properties as vacation rentals. “I think (Commissioners) should know what the percentage of dwellings (is) in each subarea that has a license. But, in terms of the order, to keep it clean and to simply establish a number of licenses available for each community, we have taken the percentages off.” Absher also thanked the other subareas for their willingness to wait another year for the program’s features — particularly the “use it or lose it” clause — to have a more full effect. “What I really appreciate is that the communities, with the exception of Pacific City…some more reluctantly than others…were supportive of taking another year and taking a wait and see approach, and not adjusting the cap limits at this time for the number of licenses in their subareas. … The changes in the updates that we made are still being implemented, and we have not fully realized or been able to fully track for an adequate period of time, in my opinion, how these changes are working through the program itself.”
PINTS
Draft Beer 5.00 Imperial Draft Beer 6.00
hose purchasing annual parking passes for Cape Kiwanda and other county parks will soon have a little more flexibility as Tillamook County Commissioners, on Jan. 8, approved a plan to change the passes from being based on the calendar year (JanuaryDecember) to a Photo by Tim Hirsch rolling system ANNUAL PARKING where passes will passes good for Cape be good for one Kiwanda and other year from the date Tillamook County parks will now expire one year of purchase. after their purchase. “We feel this provides people a lot more flexibility,” said Dan Keyes, director of Tillamook County Parks. “We also feel like our sale of season passes will increase significantly because we increased flexibility.” CAMPING FEES INCREASE Another change approved at the same meeting is that overnight visitors enjoying the great outdoors at one of Tillamook County Parks’ campgrounds will soon have to pony up a few more greenbacks. Starting Feb. 1, camping fees will go up $5 year round as the changes also included the elimination of winter rates. “After some analysis, we didn’t really feel like the winter rates were as much of an incentive to bring people here as is being previously thought,” Keyes told Commissioners. “We also think that our campgrounds are significant enough and beautiful enough that they alone drive our customer base.” Reasons cited for the increase included higher garbage and water expenses, as well as the conversion of showers from coin-operated to timer switches (complimentary use now to be included in camping stay). In addition, Parks, which is a self-supporting agency, will use the increase to fund a $150,000 transfer to the county as a public safety fee. Prior to voting unanimously for the changes, commissioners voiced their support. “I am delighted to pass this, to vote for this,” said Commissioner Mary Faith Bell. “I’m grateful for all your work. I think it’s timely. It’s been a long time since we raised fees, and all of your reasons are sound. (I’m) particularly grateful to Parks that you want to contribute to the general fund for public safety reasons.” For his part, recently sworn-in Tillamook County Commissioner Paul Fournier applauded changing the annual parking passes to be good for one year from date of purchase rather than being based on a calendar year. “I think it’s a great idea,” he said.
EVERY WEEK
SUN-THURS
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM