18th Annual Oregon Land Use Law December 10 & 11, 2014 -- Portland, OR

Overview

The Oregon Land Use Conference is entering its 18th year. Over the past 18 years, it has established a reputation as one of Oregon’s premier Land Use Seminars, and one that should not be missed. Every year the best professionals in the Oregon Land Use System converge to share their thoughts and wisdom regarding the most relevant and hottest land use topics. We think you will agree that this year’s program has an excellent blend of individual speakers, topics and informative panel presentations.

This conference is a must for land use practitioners, planners, federal, state and local government employees, land use decision makers, developers, citizens and anyone who works and participates in the Oregon Land Use System--whether it be the private or public sector. Come join your land use colleagues and learn the latest of what’s happening in this interesting and ever changing area of law.

We’ll gather for a beer and wine reception at the conclusion of the first day co-hosted by Hathaway Koback Connors, Jordan Ramis and Perkins Coie where you can meet your fellow colleagues and share experiences and ideas. This tradition has proven to be very successful and fun. We hope to see at the Conference.

Thank you to the Reception Sponsors Hathaway Koback Connors LLP, Jordan Ramis PC and Perkins Coie LLP.

Want to promote your company by becoming a Sponsor of this seminar?
Call The Seminar Group at 800-574-4852 for more information.

Credits: See the credit section for full information
OR CLE: 10.75 General & 1.0 Ethics Credits (Live Webcast & Attending)
WA MCLE: 10.75 Credits, incl. 1.0 Ethics (Live Webcast & Attending)
APA: 11.25 CM Credits, incl. 1.5 Law Credits ~ Pending (Live Webcast & Attending)
OR RE Appraiser: 13.0 Hours (Attending ONLY)
Oregon Engineers: May Qualify (Live Webcast & Attending)

Public asked to weigh in on 2015 groundfish and sport halibut seasons

Public asked to weigh in on 2015 groundfish and sport halibut seasons NEWPORT, Ore. -- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking sport anglers to speak up and help shape the 2015 Pacific halibut and groundfish seasons.

“This is an opportunity for sport anglers to provide their input on proposed changes to the Pacific halibut catch sharing plan and sport groundfish regulations for 2015”, said Lynn Mattes, Project Leader for Recreational Groundfish and Halibut.  “There are new halibut proposals for Oregon as a whole, as well as each subarea.”

In addition to halibut, ODFW is asking anglers for their input on changes to the management of nearshore rockfish species. The federal quota for nearshore rockfish will be reduced 26 percent next year and anglers will be asked to weigh on a variety of alternatives for responding to the decrease. 

Anglers wishing to participate in the season-setting process may do so in one of two ways: Attend one of four public meetings scheduled in October, or complete an on-line survey.

The four public meetings will all start at 7 p.m. and will be held:

• Monday, Oct. 6 at the Holiday Inn Express, 204 W. Marine Dr. in Astoria,
• Tuesday, Oct. 7 at the ODFW Marine Resources Program main office, 2040 SE Marine Science Dr. in Newport (webcast available, see details below)
• Wednesday, Oct. 8 at the Best Western Beach Front Inn, 16008 Boat Basin Rd. in Brookings
• Thursday, Oct. 9 at the Red Lion Hotel, 1313 N. Bayshore Dr. in Coos Bay. 

Those who can’t attend a meeting can still participate in the season-setting process through on-line surveys – one for halibut and one for bottomfish. The surveys can be found at:

• Halibut survey
• Groundfish survey

“There is no substitute for getting together and discussing the issues,” Mattes said. “But we realize many people may not have time to attend a meeting, which is why we’re using the online surveys to augment the public meetings.”

WEBCAST DETAILS
The Newport meeting will be webcast for those who cannot attend a meeting in person, but would still like to hear the discussions.

Join the meeting at:  https://www4.gotomeeting.com/join/738420615

• Use your microphone and speakers
•  Or, call in using your telephone.
  • Dial +1 (872) 240-3312
  • Access Code: 738-420-615
  • Audio PIN: Shown in the GoTo Meeting dialogue box on your computer screen after joining the meeting
• Meeting ID: 738-420-615

###

Contact:
Lynn Mattes (541) 867-4741, ext. 237

Dear Editor,

Why Do Coos County Citizens Need and Deserve 'This' "Voice Of The Voters" Home Rule Charter?

This Great Nation was built on a Constitutional Republic form of government.

This means we were given a government where we ELECT our REPRESENTATIVES and they have CHECKS and BALANCES.

Our federal and state governments both have three parts to provide representation and checks and balances: a House and Senate, a President or Governor, and the Judiciary branch. Additionally we have federal and state Constitutions which give rather specific guide lines and limits to the power of the government to dominate and control the citizens. Also there is generally some national and/or state coverage on TV, radio, in multiple newspapers, on talk shows, etc.

At present Coos County is a 'General Law County' with three elected Commissioners.  This means your commissioners can, with an 'aye' vote of only two people control the county funds, indebtedness, selling and buying of assets, increase their salaries, delegate their authority, etc. The only limit of their power over the county ( not cities ) is if there happens to be a specific ORS (Oregon Revised Statute ) regulating the issue. There are practically no checks and balances or reviews and very little required notification of their actions, before or after, to the citizens.

With this complete power over county issues they have additionally put forth rules allowing themselves to vote on issues outside of standard Board of Commissioners meetings, plus set rules which deny citizens the right to ask questions or make comments on most issues.

Coos County deserves and needs this non-partisan “Voice of the Voters” Home Rule Charter (Constitution) which gives the citizens control over major expenditures not included in the budget (remember $165,000 X 3 = almost a half a million dollars) , county land use changes, selling and giving away your county assets, etc, etc.

Regardless of your view point, it gives all citizens the right to vote on these issues and more.

Read this “Voice of the Voters” Home Rule Charter...... Then PUT IT IN WRITING!
Vote Yes on ballot measure 6-149!
Thank You,
Jaye Bell
Coquille, Oregon 97423

SPECIAL REPORT-HSUS TAKING ACTION FOR ANIMALS 2014

SAOVA Friends,

The HSUS annual conference Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) was held June 27-30, 2014 in Washington DC.  HSUS describes the conference as one that promotes “mainstream solutions” and provides attendees education to become a better advocate for animals.   In other words, TAFA serves as a huge pep rally for animal rightists to connect, bolster their morale, and in the words of HSUS: “recharge their batteries.”  In his conference speech Wayne Pacelle told the audience, “TAFA is an attempt to attract the elite in the animal protection movement to help train you and educate you so then you can fan out all over the country and spread these messages and heighten your own level of effectiveness as an advocate.”

The various conference speakers included many of the old guard from the animal rights industry:  Gene Bauer and Bruce Friedrich (Farm Sanctuary); Carole Baskin (Big Cat Rescue); Sara Amundson (Humane Society Legislative Fund); Keith Dane (HSUS Equine Protection); Jonathan Lovvorn (HSUS VP Animal Protection and Litigation); Nancy Perry (Sr. VP Government Relations, ASPCA).

Nick Cooney and Nathan Runkle from Mercy for Animals (MFA) were also among the speakers.  MFA is probably best known for their undercover videos of animal agriculture which Runkle calls the “lifeblood” of the organization. MFA considers itself part of a “social justice” movement where portraying production agriculture as harsh and cruel will move people toward a vegan diet. 

Although not her first appearance, a newer face at TAFA was Lisa Fletcher, host of “The Stream” on Al Jazeera America and wife of Wayne Pacelle, who describes herself as a friend to all animals and vegan food maniac.  You may remember reading recently that Fletcher provided a platform for longtime radical activist Paul Shapiro, HSUS VP on Farm Animal Protection, on a segment of her show covering new USDA regulations.

Other TAFA scheduled speakers included, State Rep. Eddie Lucio III (TX); Jill Kline (Education and Advocacy Manager, Wisconsin Humane Society); Christine Coughlin (Pres. Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection); and Nicole Paquette (VP, HSUS Wildlife Protection/former Texas State Director).

TAFA also offered a series of workshops for the attendees.

“Becoming a Political Animal” workshop was moderated by HSUS director and former member of Animal Liberation Front, John Goodwin. Presenters included former state senator Roy Afflerbach (PA); Matt Dominguez, HSUS Public Policy Manager Farm Animal Protection; and Wayne Pacelle. Workshop attendees were instructed on effective lobbying at all levels of government from city council to Congress.

“Giving Farm Animals a Voice” workshop presenters included Erica Meier, Executive Director, Compassion Over Killing, and Kristie Middleton, Corporate Outreach Manager, HSUS Farm Animal Protection who shared strategies for effectively waging initiatives against farm animal cruelty.

Kelly Peterson, HSUS Senior Vice President for State Affairs moderated a workshop with former and current legislators to teach activists what “humane legislators” need to hear in order to pass animal protection laws.  The discussion panel included Delegate Eric Luedtke (MD); Representative Diana Urban (CT); and former Tennessee state Representative Eric Swafford, now HSUS Director for Rural Outreach and Development. We will cover this portion of the conference in more detail in a later article.

THE HSUS PLAN AND PROGRAMS

When Pacelle addressed the audience his speech centered on the four policy sections that HSUS uses to break down the animal protection movement. They are: Public Education and Awareness; Hands on Caring; Corporate Reform and Corporate Policy; and Public Policy and Enforcement.

Pacelle noted it is now a universal value in our society to oppose cruelty to animals.  With anti-cruelty statutes in every state carrying felony penalties it reinforces the fact that people who are cruel to animals are going to pay a price to society, either with incarceration or fines.  Pacelle continued, “That is the meaningful sort of legal framework for us to build upon.” 

As part of the HSUS “hands-on” programs, teams of staff and volunteers are assembled for disaster response, animal rescue, and for animal fighting and puppy mill cases.  According to Pacelle, HSUS can leverage images from these programs to raise public awareness that animals are in crisis situations every day across the country.

Pacelle then covered the third portion which is Corporate Reform.  Pacelle stated, “We live in a capitalist society where corporations produce the products that so many of us consume. They employ millions and millions of people. We want them as part of their broader mission of social responsibility to include animal welfare. We ask them to try to reach a higher standard. So this is where the anti-animal testing policies come in and the no gestation crate policies. This is vital work for us and we in HSUS spend a tremendous amount of time on it.”’

The final segment of Pacelle’s speech, which focused on Public Policy and Enforcement, should be a major wakeup call for everyone on how far the HSUS tentacles continue to invade our communities pretending to dispense mainstream values.

Pacelle introduced this segment saying that laws in a civil society are not only designed to keep order but to reflect the values which are basic to society.  The laws are not designed to change everybody; they are designed to deal with those who are increasingly viewed as (moral) outliers in society. The law addresses these outlier cases of people who are engaging in conduct that is no longer acceptable. The conduct may have been acceptable at one point, but it is no longer acceptable today.  Pacelle reminded listeners that it is up to them to advance social progress for animals just like the other great causes of civil rights, anti-slavery, and women's rights.

He then announced that HSUS now had State Councils in place in half the states in order to expand the HSUS reach and support HSUS state directors.  The councils cover equine and farm animal protection, law enforcement, faith, and park animal protection and HSUS plans to have these councils in all 50 states.  Pacelle informed the audience that these structures were being created to empower those committed to the animal rights industry and to advance the ideals of social reform.  He reminded listeners that social reform is not perfectly linear with consistent forward progress.  Felony and increased animal cruelty penalties, ending use of gestation crates, corporations enacting animal welfare policies sometimes move a step or two forward toward progress and then a step back.  To quote Pacelle, “That's the nature of a social movement -- especially when you've got big adversaries.”

We may be used to the animal rights rhetoric and vegan agenda; however the really disturbing part of this new “structure” plan is the HSUS District Leader Program now in place.  This program is designed to engage people in all 435 Congressional Districts and have those District Leaders lead political efforts to advance federal legislation by concentrating on influencing members of Congress.

Below is the ambitious position description for a District Leader as posted on the HSUS website.

The purpose is to help HSUS advance and accelerate animal protection priorities for companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife with legislation at the local, state, and federal levels.  Under the guidance of HSUS staff, the Leader is to develop an action plan for successful completion of one goal related to Legislative Advocacy; one goal for protection of Companion Animals, Eating with a Conscience, or Wildlife Protection; and one goal related to growing the “movement.”  The Leader is also expected to participate in the state Humane Lobby Day.  The Leaders are expected to organize grassroots activities, attend community events and meetings, and will be given a 'Toolkit' with program ideas.

Qualifications for District Leader positions include a commitment to the mission of HSUS; willingness to cultivate strong relationships with elected officials and lawmakers; and willingness to recruit new members, among other requirements and abilities.  It should be noted that these are volunteer positions and HSUS membership or greater philanthropic commitment is required.

Pacelle explained to listeners that this new structure being developed for the District Leader program was very important.  It is not just political.  The Leaders will work with school districts to establish Meatless Mondays; connect with small farmers to unite them against “factory farms;” work with animal shelters on spay/neuter initiatives in the community.  The program is designed to build an army in every community in the United States and it is well underway.

In addition to the District Leaders, HSUS plans to include within this framework County Leaders in all 3,100 counties across the U.S.  Quoting Pacelle, “Our ambition is to have thousands and thousands of people involved.  If we get this done, we’re going to be hell on wheels.”

PLEASE CROSS POST WIDELY
The world not only belongs to those who show up, it's controlled by the best informed and most motivated. Cross posting is encouraged.

Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's & Animal Owners' Voting Alliance
Working to Identify and Elect Supportive Legislators
saova@earthlink.net  or cubhill@earthlink.net

Home Rule Response

The following is in response to the article in “The World” on 9/20/14 regarding “Home Rule”.

Most citizens of Coos County are too busy with their normal lives and are unable to attend commission meeting. Those that do make time are now labeled “the noisemakers” by Mr. Barton. These “noisemakers” are citizens expressing their constitutional rights to express their opinion on how they are governed and how the County manages it assets. It is “noise” because no one is respectful enough to listen to individuals that take the time to get involved and express an opinion.

“The ultimate objective was to get a professional administrator to run the day-to-day affairs of the county because the commissioners are, first of all, not well-qualified to administer a government of that size and complexity,” Barton said.  I find it strange how these unqualified elected officials are qualified to hire a professional administrator that is not responsible to the citizens of the County. This same professional administrator would hire all individuals currently elected except for the Sheriff and Commissioners. He would also have “golden parachute” attached to his employment contract.

 “I think home rule is a good thing,” said Commissioner Melissa Cribbins. “It reflects the individual characteristics of a county. But I’m concerned in this case that it’s small groups of people with individual interests.” The charter’s specificity also makes Commissioner John Sweet think it’s geared toward individual interests, rather than countywide needs. Mr. Sweet also claims “it’s attempt to undermine the concept of representative government.”

I say just the opposite is true. It requires that our elected representatives be responsible and responsive to the citizens that elect them. I challenge anyone to find any item in the charter that would benefit any one special interest group. There are no “special interest” groups funding this issue. It is strictly a “grass roots” movement.

How Herne and Bell are doing it, by putting it to the voters is the only method that private citizens can address the issue under state law. “The current board of commissioners has repeatedly denied Herne and Bell’s requests to consider their charter specifically.”

.“Voice of the Voters” is the only avenue citizens have to give guidance to the commissioners on how they (the citizens) are to be governed.

Respectfully, a Coos County Concerned Citizen,

 Theo Stanley,
PO Box 307 Bandon.OR

ODFW to host public meetings on commercial nearshore fishery


ODFW to host public meetings on commercial nearshore fisherySeptember 22, 2014

NEWPORT, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will discuss the commercial black and blue rockfish and nearshore fisheries at three public meetings in Brookings, Port Orford and Pacific City in late September and early October.

Geared primarily to commercial fishers with black and blue rockfish and nearshore permits, the agenda for the meetings includes a review of the 2014 season to date, updates from the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), a review of the process for setting the 2015 regulations and an opportunity for the industry and others to comment on the state management for the 2015 season.

For 2015, the PFMC has proposed harvest reductions to blue and other nearshore rockfish, changes to lingcod trip limits in winter months, and a reorganization of the other fish stock complex.

Meeting dates and locations are listed below. All meetings will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

• Monday, Sept. 29, Best Western, 16008 Boat Basin Rd., Brookings
• Tuesday, Sept. 30, Port Orford Library, 1421 Oregon St. (Hwy 101), Port Orford
• Thursday, Oct. 2, Kiawanda Community Center, 34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr., Pacific City 

For additional information about the upcoming meetings, contact Brett Rodomsky at (541) 867-0300 ext. 291 or Troy Buell at (541) 867-0300 ext. 225.

###

About the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: ODFW’s mission is to protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.  The department’s policies are set by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.  ODFW is headquartered in Salem and works through a regional management structure that allows for fish and wildlife management at the local level.

ODFW’s Marine Resources Program manages Oregon’s commercial and sport saltwater fisheries and has stewardship over our state’s marine environment.

Contact:
Brett Rodomsky 541-867-0300 ext. 291 (brett.t.rodomsky@state.or.us)
Troy Buell 541-867-0300 ext. 225 (troy.v.buell@state.or.us)

COOS COUNTY VECTOR ASSESSMENT & CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

 

Bandon Conference and Community Center (aka Bandon Barn)

1200 W   11th St.  SW Bandon OR 

 

 

5:30 – 5:35           Roll Call & Approve minutes of 9/04/14 meeting

5:35 – 5:45           Staff Report

5:45 – 5:50           Chair Report on County Commissioner meeting of 9/16/14

5:50 – 6:00           Bat House Program/Event Planning

6:00 – 6:15           Mapping Project Next Steps

6:15 – 6:25           Public Comment

6:25 – 6:30           Committee Member Comment

6:30                        Adjourn

by Mary Geddry

We’ve had a long and pleasant reprieve but it appears, unfortunately, that the mathematically challenged Jon Barton has regained his mojo. The Walrus is once again weighing in and sharing his regressive views in the local paper regurgitating industry talking points on fossil-fuel development and now blathering on about county governance.

Barton has offered us his “learned” critique of the proposed home rule charter based upon his brief tenure as a member of the structure advisory committee . He was only appointed to the committee by the county commission because he shared the board’s majority view of converting county governance over to a hired administrator. It’s ironic that Barton’s criticisms of the charter, if one were just to substitute the titles, are almost identical to public criticism of his recommendation at the time. Namely:

BARTON – “It is idealistically crafted with little regard to the practicalities of managing an organization of the size and complexity as Coos County.”

The public rightly recognized that the structure advisory committee was formed with one predetermined yet undisclosed goal of hiring a county administrator without any regard to practicalities and complexities. Barton, like the other appointed members rarely attended a board meeting prior to the formation of the committee, except to ask for money for SCDC and has rarely attended since.

BARTON – “Proponents say the Charter would reduce costs but other than offering up eliminating commissioner credit cards and requiring public bidding for goods and services (already practiced and required by state law) they offer little to substantiate their claim.”

Once again the public, or “noisemakers” as Barton calls them, demanded evidence that hiring an administrator “would save the county millions.” Sigh, despite enthusiastic attestations from proponents of the “administrator model” none were able to actually provide substantive evidence of why they themselves were so convinced hiring an administrator would magically improve the county.

In another bit of irony, the paper reports that Melissa Cribbins supports the possibility of a home rule charter but has reservations about the one on this November’s ballot.
CRIBBINS – “I think home rule is a good thing. It reflects the individual characteristics of a county. But I am concerned in this case that it’s small groups of people with individual interests.”

Wow! Just swap “home rule” with the words “community enhancement plan” and Cribbins could actually be a member of the public voicing concern about the CEP.

“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax–
Of cabbages–and kings–
And why the sea is boiling hot–
And whether pigs have wings.”
The Walrus and the Carpenter by Lewis Carroll
(just before eating the poor, duped Oysters)

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — The U.S. House of Representatives has again passed a historic forestry bill championed by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River), the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act. The bill fixes broken federal forest policy to create jobs in the woods, improve forest health, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and generate revenue for local communities to provide essential local services like schools and law enforcement.

This bill was originally passed in the House nearly one year ago, but the Senate has refused to act on it. Today, the House passed it again as part of a package of jobs bills to encourage Senate action.

“This forestry legislation passed this House 363 days ago. The legislation in this package that we are going to send over to the Senate one more time would allow us to put people back to work in the woods, reduce fires, and produce revenue for schools teachers, sheriffs and sheriff’s deputies, search and rescue, for all these basic fundamental services that matter in rural communities across the West,” Walden said during debate on this measure before the House.

“You want to do something about poverty? Create a job! You want to get America back on track? Pass these bills! And then get the Senate to pass them. We’ll create jobs, generate revenue, and have positive cash flow in this country for once. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can put people back to work,” Walden continued.  

“We are at the end of our legislative sessions. It is time to pass this one more time so we can get it into law. To wake up the Senate. To get them to do the right thing. Let’s move forward! We don’t need more partisan rhetoric here. We need to help America get on its feet. We need to take better care of our forests and our watersheds. We need to put people back to work in America, and that’s what these bills do,” Walden concluded.

The bill contains the O&C Trust, Conservation and Jobs Act, a plan offered by Walden and fellow Oregon Reps. Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader to deal with Oregon’s unique O&C lands. Their proposal would put people back to work in the woods and generate revenues to failing Oregon counties.

For more information on the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act (H.R. 1526), click here. For information on the O&C Trust, Conservation, and Jobs Act, click here. 

The House also passed the Central Oregon Jobs and Water Security Act, a bill authored by Walden to deliver much needed water to Prineville for job creation and pave the way for clean energy generation at Bowman Dam in Crook County. This is the third time in three years that the House has passed this bill. It passed the House unanimously in June 2012 and October 2013, but the Senate has not taken a vote on it so far.

Hey Folks,

The following is a good article on how local governments are taking too much public money to incentivize businesses to produce jobs in a local economy.  However, these schemes have become intellectually and politically to easy of a way to make it look like they are creating jobs.  The cartoon is perfect fit for government Economic Development, becasue they are all sick with SII.....Rob T. 

Good Afternoon All!

Attached please find for immediate release, the BACAPA Press Release announcing the 12th Annual Auction & Dinner with special guest - Cole Rohrbough, former Atlanta Braves Pitcher!!

Thank you & we hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
  Michelle M. Martin
Vice President/Media Specialist
BACAPA - Barview Area Charleston Area Parks Association

Yesterday's hearing on lead ammo reinforced everything we were expecting.

While the hearing subject was listed as "Lead Ammunition Survey" there is no doubt that what will be coming down the road is an attempt to ban lead ammo.
If some of the more extreme anti-hunting activists have their way, the ban will be on all lead ammo, not just ammo used in hunting.

While the representatives from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife did not call for an outright ban, others who came to testify made it clear that that was their goal.

Myra Finkelstein of the Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, and Debra Scheafer of the Audubon Society of Portland both called for a complete elimination of lead ammo.  But while their "science" was obviously agenda driven, one comment by Finkelstein was particularly telling.

(Keep in mind, the efforts to ban lead ammo are all being done in the name of saving California Condors. The claims by the anti-hunting extremists are that condors are dying because hunters use lead bullets. Those bullets "fragment into hundreds of tiny pieces" and are then consumed by condors.)

Let's leave aside their questionable knowledge of ballistics for a moment. 


 Finkelstein noted that a voluntary ban on lead ammo for hunting in Arizona had been "incredibly successful" in terms of its very high compliance rate, but that it didn't work!


It's pretty clear that when a "scientist" promotes a program that has failed elsewhere, she has an agenda that's a little different than advertised.


 Oregon Firearms was joined by Dan Reid of the NRA and Stan Steele of the Oregon Outdoor Council who did an excellent job highlighting the holes in the anti-hunters' testimony.

Brad Witt, the Chairman of the committee asked some interesting questions that clarified that the testimony of the "fragmenting bullets" was dubious at best. Vice Chair Sal Esquival pointed out that when he weighed the bullets from an elk he shot, they all weighted exactly the same as when they were fired, again adding to the doubt of fragmenting bullet theory.


 Also pointed out was that California's ban on lead ammo has coincided with an increase in lead levels in condors! As you would expect from California, they are now expanding that ban!


 Coincidentally, NSSF today released a report "demonstrating the negative effects that the State of California's ban on the use of traditional lead ammunition in hunting will have on hunters, the state's economy and wildlife conservation."
 

That report is available here.

The hysteria around lead ammo is interesting considering the massive amounts of lead used and left behind by people other than hunters.

There is little doubt that the real agenda is against hunting and gun owners and has nothing to do with saving scavengers.

You can see a video of the hearing by using this link. You will want to scroll down to "House Interim Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources 2014-09-16 2:00 PM"


 From there you can go directly to the part of the hearing dealing with lead ammo by clicking on the tab that says  "Lead Ammunition Survey - Informational Meeting".


Chairman Witt and Vice Chair Esquival (both of whom are hunters and gun rights supporters) commented on the large number of emails they received on this issue. For all who took time to write, thank you for your activism and thank you to everyone who took time to come to the hearing, especially the large contingent from our friends at Oathkeepers. Rest assured your presence made an impact.

                     Supporters, Friends, and Members of AFP Coos,

What was formerly AFP Coos is now

COOS COUNTY CONSERVATIVES:
Thursday, September 18, 2014
6:00PM TO 8:00PM
ESD Building in Coos Bay

 http://goo.gl/maps/8Lb8z
We are having Don Gurney, Casey Runyan, Merv Cloe, and Rob Taylor come in on Thursday and talk to us about the Elliott State Forest.  We hope as many of you can make it as possible.  Steve Noorlander, Big Daddy Noorlander, will be there cooking up his delicious Pulled Pork Sandwiches. We ask that you bring with you a potluck dish of your choice, store-bought or home-made so there will be enough food for all. 

The meeting will start at 6:00PM and run until about 8:00PM. The ESD Building is located at 1350 Teakwood Avenue, (one block south of Thompson Rd) just off of Koosbay Blvd. in Coos Bay.

Kindest Regards,

Rick Hoffine
COOS COUNTY CONSERVATIVES

Hey Folks,

Commissioner John Sweet is lagging behind on this issue too.  Instead of going to the people with a Resolution in support of separating the CBWR from the O&C once and for all.  Mr. Sweet decided to hire an expensive Lobbyist, who knew little on the subject, to court the federal Senators and Congressman in DC., which is the wrong tactic.  He is also in favor of having the Coquille Indian Tribe manage both parcels of land, becasue he believes the Tribe, as a sovereign nation, is immune to lawsuits from Environmentalist.  That same immunity is a double edged sword, because they can use it against any legal claim from the county, so lets pressure our Congressman to do the right thing and give back this public land to the people of Coos County.  The people of Coos County can put it to much better use than the federal government.....Rob T. 

Any similarity between the O&C lands and the CBWR (Coos Bay Wagon Road) lands ends with their respective management by the BLM (US Bureau of Land Management). Despite reports to the contrary the CBWR land conveyance had nothing whatsoever to do with the O&C Railroad land re-vestment. “The CBWR lands came into being through an 1869 Act of Congress in exchange for successfully constructing a military wagon road between Roseburg and Coos Bay…” The Act of 1919 distributed funds derived from the CBWR proportionately to Coos and Douglas counties. In 1937, Congress passed The O&C Lands Act which provided for the “permanent forest production; protection of watersheds and regulation of stream flow… and provisions for reimbursing the O&C counties the loss of tax revenues from the O&C lands“. Unfortunately, the drafters of the ’37 Act forgot to address the CBWR and consequently the matter had to be addressed again by Congress in 1939 to correct the omission.

How receipts collected for timber harvested from the Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands were handled was not addressed by the O&C Act of 1937. In 1939 the Coos Bay Wagon Road Act of 1939 became law. The 1939 Act established an in lieu tax payment program for paying Coos and Douglas Counties in lieu of taxes for the Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands.

The Coos Bay Wagon Road Act of 1939 not only reaffirmed the Act of 1919 and unlike the O&C lands allowed for payments-in-lieu-of-taxes or PILT that are not tethered to simply to timber harvests. Simply enforcing an existing Congressional Act will bring badly needed revenue to the county.

Upon appraisal thereof, the land and timber thereon shall be assessed as are other similar properties within the respective counties, and payments hereunder in lieu of taxes shall be computed by applying the same rates of taxation as are applied to privately owned property of similar character in such counties.

Senator Ron Wyden’s proposed O&C Land Grant Act of 2014 is set to reproduce the identical error as the 1937 Congress and give away 60,000 acres of Coos County’s tax base. It seems that a simple letter or phone call should suffice to advise Wyden’s staff of the error but last spring the county hired a lobbyist to the tune of $5,000 per month to rescue the CBWR from Wyden’s bill. Unfortunately, there is no indication the lobbyist, Ray Bucheger of FBB Federal Relations, (who also works for Jordan Cove and the Port of Coos Bay), understands the history of the CBWR any better than our current commission or has made any progress in moving Wyden’s staff in the right direction. Nevertheless, Commissioner John Sweet supports continuing the expense in order to “have an ear on the ground” while the legislative process moves forward and the county commission essentially does nothing.

Hey Folks,

Government has no business owning property.  Government mismanages, misuses, and politicizes everything that comes within its contact, so I have always maintained it would be better to sell Michael Keiser the OPRD property and put it on the tax roll.  The state should be going after the feds for the 54% of the land that they own in Oregon. 

However, in the following email exchange between the governor's office and the representative of Bandon Biota, it becomes very apparent by page 3 that Coos County Commissioner John Sweet's family farm is part of the negotiations.  Once again "Two Feathers" Sweet is deeply involved with another highly controversial issue......Rob T. 

What the MOU does not entail is that the commissioners may have eliminated the ability of the county’s Road Department to scrutinize road improvement projects, because they obligated the road repairs to the will of a third party.  It may even cause delays in scheduling repairs that should receive a higher priority.  The tribe will have the choice of setting the timing of these projects and the arrangement gives them the ability to choose the companies that will receive the contracts---all of which eliminates the county’s economic flexibility.  The tribe will also be able to use the federal money to leverage the management of the Wagon Road lands and other timber issues.  

The money comes from the Federal Highway Administration, so the taxpayers of Coos County are still paying for the improvements.  The only difference is the money is coming from a much larger taxing pool. 

Many in the public objected to this covert agreement between the county and the tribe, especially when all three county commissioners had to recuse themselves from the first vote, until upon receiving legal counsel.  During the campaign for commissioner, Mellissa Cribbons promised to recuse herself from all votes concerning the Coquille Indian Tribe, since she was one of their former lobbyists.  Unfortunately, in the end, all three commissioners voted in favor of the deal showing the real value of political promises.  

It would have been beneficial for the voter to know this information about the candidates before casting their ballots.  

The only commissioner up for reelection this fall is incumbent, John Sweet, so it was disconcerting that upon request, he still refuses to release his answers to a questionnaire from the Coquille Indian Tribe, which was given to all the commissioner candidates during the last election cycle.  Why would a candidate oppose releasing these answers?  What is Mr. Sweet hiding? 

The lack of disclosure goes against the integrity of the candidate.  These answers are very important for the voter, because the questions from the tribe cover several important issues that the BOC will face in the future.  The Coquille Indian Tribe functions as a sovereign government and the distinction allows them certain legal abilities that are not granted to other organizations, and certainly not advantageous to the county.  It is this point the commissioners should be very carefully to consider, while negotiating with this group or any foreign nation.  

Question 3:   If forced to make budget cuts, what programs would you try to protect?  (How do we express our interest?) 

Question 4:   For many years, Coos County and the Coquille Indian Tribe have worked to develop a cooperative approach (see www.wagonroad.org) to the management of the federal Coos Bay Wagon Road lands.  Our Proposal would generate and sustain thousands of jobs and make Coos County self-sufficient from federal timber “safety net” payments.  Do you support enactment of this proposal by the U.S. Congress?  Please explain the reasons for your answer.   

 Question 6:   What is your position on Indian Gaming and its future in Oregon?  Do you support the right of Oregon’s Tribe to offer gaming? 

 Question 7:   What changes, if any, would you make to the Federal Endangered Species Act to make it more effective in recovering species and minimizing its impact to rural economies? 

 Question 9:   Western Oregon tribes were terminated in the 1950’s and lost their land base.  To this day, these tribes struggle to regain a fraction of their traditional territory and place it in trust with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  This process is laborious and the backlog of trust applications is significant.  Trust land is exempt from Oregon property taxes.  Would you support changes in law to improve the process for Oregon tribes to have lands placed into trust?  Why or why not? 

 Question 14: What is your position on making the Oregon Reservation Enterprise Zone program a permanent law? 

 All of these are good questions and everyone deserves to know how the candidates answered.  However, the fact Commissioner Sweet refuses to present his answers may not mean he is deceitful, but it does appear to be inappropriate, and some might say, “The appearance of impropriety is impropriety.” 

Re 23 August editorial.  If there is competition for the office of mayor, and I hope that there is, perhaps your ace political reporter can do an article with content similar to the following that is a part of a web site that I authored.

 
No voter should have to say - I wish that I had known.  Many voters find it difficult to assess the qualifications of candidates for mayor and council member in a council / manager form of government that is used by more than 4,200 cities and counties across the United States including Coos Bay.  The role of mayor is probably the most misunderstood leadership position.  

Citizens should understand the job of their mayor before they vote in November.  Most citizens have never been inside of the city hall building or met the mayor.  Many have never attended a council meeting.  Most have never been elected or appointed to a political position.  Many don’t know who the mayor, council president or city manager is.  Sadly, too many don’t care.

During November of even numbered years the city of Coos Bay holds an election to choose a mayor and half the council.  Generally speaking, the council / manager form of government is a representative system where all power is concentrated in the elected mayor and council and where the council hires an overqualified manager to ensure that services are being provided to the entire community.  The mayor and council are the city’s decision makers.  The mayor and council rely on the city manager to provide complete and objective information to them.  The Coos Bay mayor does not occupy an executive position within city government like his / her peers in large city government.  All too often the mayor is considered to be a chair of meetings and the person who attends dinners and social functions.  Occasionally the mayor forgets that the city manager runs the day to day city government operations.  The city charter prohibits the mayor or council members from communicating directly with department heads or department employees; except when that interface is as a private citizen with a concern.  This is typical of Oregon council / manager government charters.  It is difficult for city employees to serve two masters.   

Many voters will have difficulty assessing whether a candidate has the qualities and intentions needed to be a good mayor.  The mayor must have a vision, experience and a successful track record working in small groups.  Candidates for mayor often present themselves as the leader who will take charge of city government and propose bold solutions to the cities problems.  However, when they are elected, they have extreme difficulty following through with their promises.  

In the Coos Bay council / manager form of government the mayor has no powers on which to base true executive leadership and they must depend on other officials, elected and appointed, for most of what the mayor accomplishes.  The charter of the city of Coos Bay makes it difficult for the mayor to initiate policy on their own and the mayor lacks any legal authority to implement new policy.  

The Coos Bay mayor is responsible for soliciting citizen’s views in forming policy and procedure.  The Coos Bay mayor should be considered as a Chairman of the Board, important to smooth city government but not crucial to any city organization operation.  The city government will operate adequately with minimal leadership by the mayor.  The Coos Bay mayor should assure that all elements of city government are coordinated to improve their effectiveness.  The mayor must have a close working relationship with the city council, the city manager and the citizens.  The mayor has the ability to raise issues and to put forth proposals, working to assure that he / she does not alienate the city council.  

Every mayor has a different style of doing business.  You already employ good people at good salaries to manage your city; to assure your public safety; to identify and solve problems related to infrastructure; etc.  Day to day city operation is not the mayor or council member’s primary role.  There are several parts to the mayor’s functions and responsibilities.  Of primary importance is presiding at council meetings; being the spokesperson for the city; assisting the council in setting goals; serving as a promoter and defender of the city.  The mayor is responsible for informing the public.  The mayor must have extensive contact with the public and with the media - all citizens and all media.  The mayor must be a team builder and player and work to build consensus on matters before the council.  The mayor may also be in demand for appearances at meetings, dinners, and other special occasions.  This is not an inherent part of the job as mayor.  The city manager and the city council president should share the ceremonial duties receiving recognition for the work that they, not others, have undertaken and accomplished.  

The city charter requires that the mayor conduct two council meetings each month and sign all documents set in front of them by the city council that require signature.  Absolutely, positively, no more!  The Coos Bay mayor has no executive authority; has no veto powers; may not appoint or remove department heads for any reason; and may not ask questions of department heads or department staff.  The Coos Bay mayor’s primary purpose is to provide leadership and guidance to city government and to be an advocate for the people.

Elicker taking leadership position with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service


Elicker taking leadership position with U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceSeptember 4, 2014

SALEM, Ore. -- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Roy Elicker is resigning effective Oct. 10, 2014 to begin working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Elicker, who has been ODFW Director since 2007, has been named Assistant Regional Director for Fishery Resources for the USFWS Pacific Region based in Portland.

Elicker started with ODFW in 1993 as a Watershed Health Program Coordinator.  Since then, he has held a number of positions in the department, including Fish Screening Program Manager, Fish Division Deputy Administrator, Legislative Coordinator, and Deputy Director for Fish and Wildlife Programs.  He was appointed Director on Aug. 3, 2007 after serving as Acting Director on two separate occasions.  He was reappointed to a second term in October 2011.

"The years with ODFW, especially the past seven years as Director, have been incredibly rewarding," Elicker said. "It has been an honor to lead the dedicated, professional staff at ODFW."

Elicker will assume his new position with USFWS on Oct. 12, 2014.  Elicker will be responsible for daily operations of U.S. Fish and Wildlife fisheries programs in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Hawaii. 

Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair Bobby Levy thanked Elicker for his years of service to the department and the state's fish and wildlife.

"Roy has done an outstanding job,” Levy said. "He's provided strong, steady leadership and helped make ODFW one of the most respected agencies in the state and one of the leading fish and wildlife agencies in the nation."

Levy said she will work with the Department, Commission and Governor’s Office regarding the next steps in hiring a new department director.

###

Contact:
Roger Fuhrman (503) 947-6010

The analysis Steve Dingle, the county counsel, presented to the Commissioners was false and misleading, and clearly demonstrated very little knowledge of the content and purpose of the proposed ordinance. Luckily, because of the e-mails and public testimony the Commissioners received from the many concerned citizens, Commissioners Jay Bozievich, Faye Stewart, and Pete Sorenson all pushed back against Mr. Dingle claims, and asked for the progress on the ordinance to continue. Jay Bozievich did an exceptional job questioning Mr. Dingle’s flawed legal analysis, and Faye Stewart and Pete Sorenson both attempted to guide Mr. Dingle in ways to efficiently use his time in finalizing the ordinance. You can watch the video of their discussion by clicking the link at the bottom of this letter. If you have the time, please write a brief email to the following Commissioners thanking them for their courage in continuing to pursue an ordinance that would protect Lane County from the implementation of the laws of war authorized by the 2012 NDAA.  


Jay Bozievich – Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us 

Pete Sorenson – Pete.sorenson@co.lane.or.us

Faye Stewart – Faye.Stewart@co.lane.or.us

I want to thank everyone who previously e-mailed the commissioners on the issue of the NDAA and the ordinance. I also want to especially thank all those who came this last crucial, but unexpectedly lengthy Board of County Commissioners meeting.  I will keep everyone updated on any new developments concerning Lane County’s ordinance. Please share and forward the video link and this email to all those who may be interested.

Video of legal counsel’s and Commissioners’ discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6U4ZgUFv3g

Sincerely,
Colin Farnsworth
PANDA ~ Oregon State Coordinator
Oregon.Against.NDAA@gmail.com

Feel free to contact us at anytime for more information or visit:

1) PANDA ~ Oregon Youtube channel
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvVPBv-oZoli5NnE_MC6BRQ

2)PANDA ~ Oregon Facebook page
www.facebook.com/pandaOR1776

3) PANDA’s National website:
www.PANDAunite.org

Related Posts:
NDAA~Open Letter to #LaneCounty BOC on the #NDAA Culpable Mental States
#NDAA Action Alert~Lane County BOC Voting on Ordinance Options for #Oathkeepers
NDAA---Lane County Moves to Pass Ordinance Against Federal Indefinite Detention 
SCOTUS---Supremes Refused to Hear Legal Challenges to the NDAA 
NDAA---Lane County BOC Public Hearing & Comments on RCGI April 15, 2014
Oath Keepers Public Meeting in Coos Bay February 22, 2014
TEA Party---Video of Brookings TEA Party January 18, 2014
RCGI---Time to Support Oath Keepers & Make a Public Comment to The World
RCGI---Open Letter to OR State Representative Wayne Krieger
RCGI---Douglas and Lane County Lobby our Senators against NDAA
RCGI---The Jim Bice Radio Show with Stewart Rhodes founder of Oath Keepers 
ATF---It’s time to submit comments on proposed NFA rule changes!
RCGR----The New NDAA will cost YOU $5,700
RCGR---Legislative Defense Manual
If You Value Your Liberties, Stay Out of Coos Bay, Oregon!
RCGR---Coos Bay City Council Rejects Promise of Federalism and Oath
City of Coos Bay---City Council Meeting Votes to adopt RCGR September 17, 2013
RCG Resolution Against the NDAA 2012----Updated 9/7/2013
Obama administration hiding info on targeted killings of Americans - senator
THE U.N. & LOCAL AGENDA 21
THE U.N. & AGENDA 21:

From: fred kirby
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 6:50 AM
To: Treasurer; Steve Jansen
Subject: Monies collected as Urban Renewal

​Dear Madam Treasurer and Assessor Jansen:

With minimal effort, in the easiest format, may I receive the following for the past two full years:
Tax assessed labeled Coos Bay Urban Renewal Number 1 and Number 2 (or Coos Bay and Empire)
Tax collected as Urban Renewal number 1 and 2 and sent to the city of Coos Bay.
Thanks for your time and response.

Fred Kirby
Coos Bay

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Denise Harris <dharris@co.coos.or.us>
Date: Tue, Aug 12, 2014 at 3:03 PM
Subject: RE: Monies collected as Urban Renewal
To:  Fred Kirby
Cc: Steve Jansen <sjansen@co.coos.or.us>

Mr. Kirby:

I have listed below the information you requested. 
This is what would be collected if all taxes were collected in full.
If you need anything else, please feel free to contact me anytime.

2012-13       

Coos Bay  #1   $1,009,874.24    based on Excess Value of $66,141,918

Coos Bay  #2   $   617,681.22    based on Excess Value of $40,462,028



2013-14

Coos Bay  #1   $1,016,894.64    based on Excess Value of $66,582,055

Coos Bay  #2   $   654,070.37    based on Excess Value of $42,841,165

Denise Harris
Chief Deputy Assessor
Coos County
Phone: (541) 396-7902
Fax:  (541) 396-1027
Email: dharris@co.coos.or.us

In my part of town we gave away the Hollering Place and cleaned out a couple planter boxes.

The link to the actual file: http://www.co.coos.or.us/Portals/0/County%20Clerk/Elections/Election%202014/certlocpositionscandidates.pdf

Dear Honorable Lane County Commissioners,

Yesterday, I spoke to the board in favor of creating an ordinance against the offensive sections 1021 and 1022 of the NDAA.

Please forgive my attempts to correct the county attorney in his explanation of culpable mental states, during the commissioner comments. I felt compelled to set the record straight at the moment but later realized it was not the appropriate time to do so.

As I mentioned I am a retired Oregon peace officer. My experience and training encompasses two police academies and seventeen years in the business. I am a former police instructor and field training officer, having previously testified as an expert.

I am not an attorney, but part of my job was to train new officers in all aspects of law enforcement including criminal and civil law. Please allow me to explain what culpable mental states are and how they're applied legally.

There are four culpable mental states. Intentionally, Recklessly, Knowingly and Criminal Negligence.

Definitions With Respect To Culpability
http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/161.085

Either one or more culpable mental states must be present in order for a crime to have been committed. This only applies in criminal law, not civil. Since the "laws of war" do not apply under the NDAA, neither does procedural law as to due process for arrested persons.

In the very least, arrests will be made with little or no "reasonable suspicion" based only on an accusation without merit, instead of the required "probable cause."

Suspected enemy combatants/detainees will be turned over to federal authorities/military for processing, thus opening the door to civil litigation against those participating.

The police will in effect be acting as agents of the federal government's tyranny against the American people, authorized by the Lane County Board of Commissioners.

The attorney also mentioned the use of federal grants and how or if to use the funds. The answer is quite simple. Don't apply for them.

Would you rather the few individual police officers benefit financially by working for overtime pay, or that every person in the county be tumultuously stripped of their constitutional rights by threat of deadly force for pretended offenses?

Please note that when these grants are ongoing such as a traffic safety campaign, all law enforcement agencies in the county generally apply for and use the same grant.

The county attorney was making the same old NDAA arguments as have countless others on the subject long before it's before passage. Regardless the complexity in legalese, local governments across the nation are doing what the federal government is refusing to do. Protecting their citizens and Constitutions as is their primary representative duty.

He stated that Hedges ~V~ Obama, has yet to be determined unconstitutional by a judge of competent standing. You would think that Appeals Court Judge Katherine Forest, would qualify to opine federal law.

How could he come to this moot conclusion when judicial competency was never an issue? If it was most or all of her decisions would be scrutinized.

By passing a stronger enforceable ordinance, you will be sending a clear message that Lane County protects her citizens from tyranny. Be that guiding light for other counties to follow. Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,
Tom McKirgan

Oath Keeper
Southern Oregon Coordinator
"Not On Our Watch"
http://oroathkeepers.org

Related Posts:
#NDAA Action Alert~Lane County BOC Voting on Ordinance Options for #Oathkeepers
NDAA---Lane County Moves to Pass Ordinance Against Federal Indefinite Detention 
SCOTUS---Supremes Refused to Hear Legal Challenges to the NDAA 
NDAA---Lane County BOC Public Hearing & Comments on RCGI April 15, 2014
Oath Keepers Public Meeting in Coos Bay February 22, 2014
TEA Party---Video of Brookings TEA Party January 18, 2014
RCGI---Time to Support Oath Keepers & Make a Public Comment to The World
RCGI---Open Letter to OR State Representative Wayne Krieger
RCGI---Douglas and Lane County Lobby our Senators against NDAA
RCGI---The Jim Bice Radio Show with Stewart Rhodes founder of Oath Keepers 
ATF---It’s time to submit comments on proposed NFA rule changes!
RCGR----The New NDAA will cost YOU $5,700
RCGR---Legislative Defense Manual
If You Value Your Liberties, Stay Out of Coos Bay, Oregon!
RCGR---Coos Bay City Council Rejects Promise of Federalism and Oath
City of Coos Bay---City Council Meeting Votes to adopt RCGR September 17, 2013
RCG Resolution Against the NDAA 2012----Updated 9/7/2013
Obama administration hiding info on targeted killings of Americans - senator
THE U.N. & LOCAL AGENDA 21
THE U.N. & AGENDA 21:

Related Posts:
ARRRG Voice of the Voters Home Rule Charter Officially Filed for November Ballot
News with Views Editor Special Guest Speaker for Patriots Gathering July 19, 2014 
Letter to Editor---Curry County Charter does not equal Coos County Charter
BOC---Shared State-County Services and Mosquito Abatement
Letter to Editor---Jordon Cove Expects Tax Relief 
Agenda 21---Sustainable Development & Regionalism
Community Vs. Collectivism
Regionalism - The Blueprint for Your Serfdom
Letter to Editor---WHY DID THE CHARTER BALLOT MEASURE 6-143 NOT PASS?
BOC---Regulatory Streamlining and why they want an Administrator
MGX---a few links to some very informative articles from Mary Geddry
City of Bandon---Votes on the renewal of City Manager's Contract
MGX---"Change the title of the administrator to 'director' and the problem is solved."
BOC---Regulatory Streamlining and why they want an Administrator
Letter to Editor------Feckless or Hypocritical
MGX---Spinmeisters at The World newspaper.....
Audit report 2012-17‏
MGX---plans underway to dismantle county government‏
Jackson County regional planning gets green light---Regionalization coming to Coos
News with Views Editor Special Guest