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Bandon Budget Committee Meeting April 17, 2017 at 7:00 pm

4/12/2017

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Budget Committee Notice for City of Bandon and Bandon Urban Renewal
Press Release Date:
Monday, March 6, 2017

NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THE CITY OF BANDON AND BANDON URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY.

A public meeting of the Budget Committee of the City of Bandon  and Bandon Urban Renewal Agency, Coos County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 will be held at City Hall, 555 Highway 101. 

A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained after March 20, 2017 at City Hall, 555 Highway 101, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. 

The City’s website where this notice can also be read is: http://www.cityofbandon.org

This is a public meeting where deliberation of the Budget Committee will take place.  Listed below is the time and place of additional Budget Committee meetings which will be held to take public comment.  Any person may appear at this meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.


Date: April 17, 2017 & April 24, 2017 (if needed), at 7:00 PM
Location: City Hall, 555 Highway 101, Bandon, OR


Related Posts:
Coos Bay Review Meeting for City & Urban Renewal Budget on April 13, 2017
Coos Bay Legally Steals from Average Citizens to Decorate a Private Business
Oregon Department of Revenue Timber Tax Links Exposing Taxing Inequities  
Coos Bay Taking from the Poor to Give to the Privileged Using Urban Renewal
LOC ~ Rules Finalized for Regional Infrastructure & Corporate Welfare Fund
Expectations of the Natural Resources Committee & Donald Trump's Promises
Coos Bay Gives $97,000 of Public Money to the Local Drama Club
Coos Bay Redistributing Money to Owners of Historical Places
Planning CD-16-127 CIty of Coos Bay ~ Messerle's Determination to Apply Bio-Solids
LTE ~ An Open Letter to the Mayor of Coos Bay Crystal Shoji from Fred Kirby
Coos County District Attorney Letter on the Daily ~ Hudson Opinion
Coos Bay Procedural Rules for Replacing an Empty Seat on the City Council
Coos Bay Giving Away Public Money to a Private Business Using Urban Renewal
Invoice of Services for Coos Bay Council's Wastewater Treatment Plant August 2016 
Mayoral and Council Candidates for Coos Bay
LTE ~ Wastewater Treatment Plant "Suchadeal"
Time to Teach a Lesson to the Local Politicians
LTE ~ One Very Confused Dick in Coos Bay
Coos Bay Two Ballot Measures on Marijuana Tax & Dispensary License in November
LTE ~ Coos Bay Privatization of Wastewater Treatment Plant for Overpriced Lawyers

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League of Oregon Cities Continue to Centralize Procedures for City Council Meetings

4/4/2017

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“Model Rules of Procedure for Council Meetings”
Now Available Online
The League has created “Model Rules of Procedure for Council Meetings” for cities to use as a starting point in crafting their own procedural rules.

This model has 11 chapters, covering the following topics:
• General governance;
• Meetings;
• The adoption of ordinances and resolutions;
• Land use hearings;
• Processes involved in: meetings, debate, public comment, and voting;
• Keeping and retaining minutes;
• Ethics and decorum;
• Interactions between councilors and the city staff/attorney;
• Censure or removal from office; and
• Process for amending or repealing council rules.
The “Model Rules of Procedure for Council Meetings” is available here, on the League's website in
the Library section of the Publications tab and in the A-Z Index under “Meetings, Council.”
Contact: Patty Mulvihill, Acting General Counsel – [email protected]



Comments

Coos Bay Legally Steals from Average Citizens to Decorate a Private Business

4/3/2017

Comments

 
Hey Folks,
The city of Coos Bay has decided to take $21,000 of taxpayer money and give it to a private business.  The city has tried to enact gas taxes and increase fees to raise revenue for the city, yet they have enough money to spend on decorations.....Rob T.  

It looks nice, but is it moral to take from any one individual to give to a corporation in the form of
government welfare? 

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The Empire Mercantile, located at 640 Newmark Avenue, was recently able to make some significant façade improvements through the City’s Urban Renewal grants program. The main structure was built in 1930, and an addition was constructed in 1973/1974. The building is one story, and it is located in the Empire Urban Renewal District and the Empire Waterfront Settlement Design Review District. The Frost family have owned the building and operated businesses at this location for about 40 years. Prior uses include businesses such as D&N Furniture, Dollar & More Store, and now, Empire Mercantile.

The façade improvement project included the replacement of the previous canopy on the south elevation of the building with a new ‘Dark Grey’ metal canopy; replacement of the prior ledger stone rock work with new ‘Black Rundle Alpine’ cultured ledger stone; the return of the colored cement abutting the sidewalk to its original color; removing three large vertical windows to create an indoor display and adding three smaller horizontal windows at the top for lighting; and replacing the old T-111 siding with a ‘James Hardie’ siding and trim. On the west elevation, framing in of the recessed areas with ‘Hardie Stucco’ sheets and painting both the south and west elevations with a ‘Medium Warm Grey’ added a stylish finish to the edifice. The corner location of the property and its recent upgrades have added another positive dimension to the Empire efforts of improving the area for all to be proud of.

The cost of the project was just under $42,000 of which the City’s Urban Renewal Façade program contributed $21,047.

Related Posts:
Oregon Department of Revenue Timber Tax Links Exposing Taxing Inequities  
Coos Bay Taking from the Poor to Give to the Privileged Using Urban Renewal
LOC ~ Rules Finalized for Regional Infrastructure & Corporate Welfare Fund
Expectations of the Natural Resources Committee & Donald Trump's Promises
Coos Bay Gives $97,000 of Public Money to the Local Drama Club
Coos Bay Redistributing Money to Owners of Historical Places
Planning CD-16-127 CIty of Coos Bay ~ Messerle's Determination to Apply Bio-Solids
LTE ~ An Open Letter to the Mayor of Coos Bay Crystal Shoji from Fred Kirby
Coos County District Attorney Letter on the Daily ~ Hudson Opinion
Coos Bay Procedural Rules for Replacing an Empty Seat on the City Council
Coos Bay Giving Away Public Money to a Private Business Using Urban Renewal
Invoice of Services for Coos Bay Council's Wastewater Treatment Plant August 2016 
Mayoral and Council Candidates for Coos Bay
LTE ~ Wastewater Treatment Plant "Suchadeal"
Time to Teach a Lesson to the Local Politicians
LTE ~ One Very Confused Dick in Coos Bay
Coos Bay Two Ballot Measures on Marijuana Tax & Dispensary License in November
LTE ~ Coos Bay Privatization of Wastewater Treatment Plant for Overpriced Lawyers

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Oregon Department of Revenue Timber Tax Links Exposing Taxing Inequities  

3/26/2017

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Coos Bay Taking from the Poor to Give to the Privileged Using Urban Renewal

2/16/2017

Comments

 
Hey Folks,
More government eco-devo, corporate welfare for downtown Coos Bay, paid for by everyone else in the county through the city's Urban Renewal Agency.  The owners were very smart to take advantage of a very bad program.  Anyone with any intelligence on the city council should have asked why someone who can spend $750,000 on an upgrade project cannot afford another $25,000 themselves, instead of asking it from the taxpayers.  The city is asking people who do not have that kind of money to donate to someone who does.  Then the city wonders why people have resentment towards their representatives......Rob T. 
My Inquiry of the City of Coos Bay:
From: Rob Taylor [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2017 1:16 PM
To: Jackie Mickelson <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Friday Update - February 3, 2017

Hello Jackie,
I have a couple of questions about the Friday Update newsletter. 

It mentions the Fletcher Building and a $750,000 improvement project. 

What is the source of the funding?

Who owns the Fletcher Building?

Rob, 
The new home of the Northwest Fitness Center was awarded a façade improvement grant of $25,000.  The rest of the improvement project is being funded privately. 
 The building is privately owned by Henry and Heather Delaney.

 I hope this helps with what you needed.
 Thank you,
 Jackie Mickelson
 Jackie Mickelson, Executive Assistant
City of Coos Bay

5oo Central Avenue, Coos Bay, OR 97420

541-269-8912 / Fax 541-267-5912
www.coosbay.org

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BEFORE
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AFTER
Northwest Fitness is Coming to Town

The building at 227 South Broadway, formally known as the Fletcher Building, is getting a major facelift and overhaul in preparation for Northwest Fitness coming to town. The improvements include making the building the first flood-proofed building in Coos Bay. Additionally, a new awning will be installed, the façade stucco and trim work will be repaired or replaced as needed, new paint on the east-facing façade, and the new owner will replace all of the windows and exterior doors.

Over the past ninety years, the building has settled due to insufficient foundation support; and it will be reinforced with strategically placed helical piles. The structural columns that run the length of the building will also be replaced, and the structure of the upper level will be reinforced by an additional pair of parallel beams. The inaccessible restrooms that were on the first floor are being replaced with code compliant unisex restrooms, and the floor is being leveled throughout the main floor. The building's heating, lighting, and electrical service for the building are also being replaced for code compliance and energy efficiency.

Due to budgetary constraints, the second floor of the building is not being prepared for construction. Only structural improvements will be pursued at this time. The existing walls will be demolished, and the existing roof structure will be reinforced with new columns and beams. The total project is projected to cost about $750,000. and it will be major an improvement to the downtown area.

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LOC ~ Rules Finalized for Regional Infrastructure & Corporate Welfare Fund

1/6/2017

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Rules Finalized for Regional Infrastructure Fund
Business Oregon recently filed revised rules for the state’s Regional Infrastructure Fund with the secretary of state’s office and they became effective December 22. While the fund will continue to provide grants and loans to local governments for Regional Solutions projects, the revised rules modify the process for grant and loan applications and award determinations. Under the updated rules, Regional Solutions Advisory Committees will recommend projects from their regions to a new Grant and Loan Review Committee, which will be designated by Business Oregon. The rule changes were made primarily to improve transparency, consistency and timeliness of grant and loan awards, ensuring economic vitality across all 11 Regional Solutions regions. The League provided comments to the draft rules, including a request for the requirement of a city representative in the composition of the new committee.

Each region will receive a base of 5 percent of the total amount of funding available during any round of applications. Most of the funding for the current biennium has been allocated to regional projects, and the new process would generally not be applicable to pending projects. However, the governor’s budget requests an appropriation of $11 million in lottery bonds for the Regional Infrastructure Fund in the 2017-2019 biennium. The League will support that Regional Solutions budget request, as this fund has been used to successfully address regional priorities and leverage other resources.
The rules, flow chart of the new process and a summary of comments and responses to the public comments can be found here.  
Contact: Wendy Johnson, Intergovernmental Relations Associate – [email protected]

Article on Business Oregon:

www.wweek.com/news/2016/12/19/new-audit-finds-states-economic-development-agency-gives-lots-of-goodies-but-fails-to-measure-results/

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Expectations of the Natural Resources Committee & Donald Trump's Promises

11/13/2016

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For eight years, President Obama levied a smothering regulatory attack on the one sector that’s kept the American economy afloat: energy. American families took a back seat to Putin and OPEC as the administration erected barrier after barrier to responsible domestic energy and natural resource development.  On Tuesday, voters overwhelmingly rejected four more years of oppressive regulations that have exacerbated the country’s economic decline. Instead, they chose “America First.”

Here’s a look at what a Trump administration could mean for important issues within the Committee’s jurisdiction.

OIL & GAS

Fortune: "Trump […] wants to remove regulations that have previously blocked opening up federal lands and offshore areas for oil and gas exploration and production…”
 
Forbes: "We will see an abrupt end to the Bureau of Land Management’s efforts to grab authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing on federal lands...A Trump victory is bad news for OPEC. More American oil will compete head-to-head with the cartel."

COAL

The Hill: “Trump has pledged to bring the coal industry back from the brink and save coal miners' jobs, after years of decline due to competition from cheap natural gas and President Obama's policies.”
 
Bloomberg: "Trump, meanwhile, has released numerous economic and energy-related plans touting an end to the coal-related federal lands leasing moratorium.”

TRIBAL ENERGY

The Washington Times: “The Trump administration will ease restrictions on American energy reserves worth trillions of dollars...and will block the bureaucrats holding Native American businesses back and bring new jobs into our communities.” 
 
DROUGHT & WILDFIRE

USA Today: “Trump said state officials were simply denying water to Central Valley farmers to prioritize the Delta smelt, a native California fish nearing extinction — or as Trump called it, "a certain kind of three-inch fish.”

“We’re going to solve your water problem. You have a water problem that is so insane. It is so ridiculous where they’re taking the water and shoving it out to sea,” Trump said.

Bloomberg: "After several years of stalled action on wildfires and forests...Trump’s election victory changed the prospects for legislative action in 2017."

ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
 
The Hill: “Keystone was central to the national debate over energy and environmental policy. [...]
 
Congressional Republicans tried numerous times to force approval of the project, but Obama always blocked their attempts.”
 
E&E News: "With a President Trump in the White House, the nation's fossil fuel debate will likely shift from "keep it in the ground" to putting pipelines in the ground...”

Natural Gas Intelligence: "Congressional critics of the Obama administration’s final guidance to federal agencies for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions accused the White House in a hearing Wednesday of giving environmental groups ammunition to bring lawsuits against energy projects.
 
"The November presidential election could decide whether the GHG rule prevails, with Republican Donald Trump likely to potentially eliminate it."
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
10:00 AM
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Subcommittee on Federal Lands
Legislative Hearing on the "Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Area Act"

11:30 AM
1334 Longworth House Office Building
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 866 and H.R. 1484

4:00 PM
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Full Committee
Markup 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016
10:00 AM
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Full Committee
Markup

Promises from President Elect, Donald Trump

Therefore, on the first day of my term of office, my administration will immediately pursue the following six measures to clean up the corruption and special interest collusion in Washington, DC:

* FIRST, propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress;
* SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition (exempting military, public safety, and public health);
* THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated;
* FOURTH, a 5 year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service;
* FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government;
* SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.
On the same day, I will begin taking the following 7 actions to protect American workers:
* FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205
* SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership
* THIRD, I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator
* FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately
* FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars' worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.
* SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward
* SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure
Additionally, on the first day, I will take the following five actions to restore security and the constitutional rule of law:
* FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama
* SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States
* THIRD, cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities
* FOURTH, begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won't take them back
* FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.
Next, I will work with Congress to introduce the following broader legislative measures and fight for their passage within the first 100 days of my Administration:
  1. Middle Class Tax Relief And Simplification Act. An economic plan designed to grow the economy 4% per year and create at least 25 million new jobs through massive tax reduction and simplification, in combination with trade reform, regulatory relief, and lifting the restrictions on American energy. The largest tax reductions are for the middle class. A middle-class family with 2 children will get a 35% tax cut. The current number of brackets will be reduced from 7 to 3, and tax forms will likewise be greatly simplified. The business rate will be lowered from 35 to 15 percent, and the trillions of dollars of American corporate money overseas can now be brought back at a 10 percent rate.
  2. End The Offshoring Act. Establishes tariffs to discourage companies from laying off their workers in order to relocate in other countries and ship their products back to the U.S. tax-free.
  3. American Energy & Infrastructure Act. Leverages public-private partnerships, and private investments through tax incentives, to spur $1 trillion in infrastructure investment over 10 years. It is revenue neutral.
  4. School Choice And Education Opportunity Act. Redirects education dollars to give parents the right to send their kid to the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school of their choice. Ends common core, brings education supervision to local communities. It expands vocational and technical education, and make 2 and 4-year college more affordable.
  5. Repeal and Replace Obamacare Act. Fully repeals Obamacare and replaces it with Health Savings Accounts, the ability to purchase health insurance across state lines, and lets states manage Medicaid funds. Reforms will also include cutting the red tape at the FDA: there are over 4,000 drugs awaiting approval, and we especially want to speed the approval of life-saving medications.
  6. Affordable Childcare and Eldercare Act. Allows Americans to deduct childcare and elder care from their taxes, incentivizes employers to provide on-side childcare services, and creates tax-free Dependent Care Savings Accounts for both young and elderly dependents, with matching contributions for low-income families.
  7. End Illegal Immigration Act Fully-funds the construction of a wall on our southern border with the full understanding that the country Mexico will be reimbursing the United States for the full cost of such wall; establishes a 2-year mandatory minimum federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering the U.S. after a previous deportation, and a 5-year mandatory minimum for illegally re-entering for those with felony convictions, multiple misdemeanor convictions or two or more prior deportations; also reforms visa rules to enhance penalties for overstaying and to ensure open jobs are offered to American workers first.
  8. Restoring Community Safety Act. Reduces surging crime, drugs and violence by creating a Task Force On Violent Crime and increasing funding for programs that train and assist local police; increases resources for federal law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors to dismantle criminal gangs and put violent offenders behind bars.
  9. Restoring National Security Act. Rebuilds our military by eliminating the defense sequester and expanding military investment; provides Veterans with the ability to receive public VA treatment or attend the private doctor of their choice; protects our vital infrastructure from cyber-attack; establishes new screening procedures for immigration to ensure those who are admitted to our country support our people and our values
  10. Clean up Corruption in Washington Act. Enacts new ethics reforms to Drain the Swamp and reduce the corrupting influence of special interests on our politics.
On November 8th, Americans will be voting for this 100-day plan to restore prosperity to our economy, security to our communities, and honesty to our government.
This is my pledge to you.

http://www.npr.org/2016/11/09/501451368/here-is-what-donald-trump-wants-to-do-in-his-first-100-days

Comments

Coos Bay Gives $97,000 of Public Money to the Local Drama Club

11/3/2016

Comments

 

The following was in the October 28, 2016 addition of the City of Coos Bay's newsletter with a very brief description of the Dolphine Theater façade project.

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The project cost the taxpayers $97,200 for the improvements, which was not mentioned in the newsletter.  Why?

From the Coos Bay URA Minutes 01-05-2016

Consideration to Approve a Façade Improvement Grant for the Dolphin Players

City Manager Rodger Craddock presented a façade improvement grant application on behalf of the Dolphin Players Theatre located at 580 Newmark in the Empire District. City Manager Craddock provided a brief history on the building noting in 2011, the Urban Renewal Agency(URA) entered into an agreement with the Dolphin Players wherein the URA provided $100,000 and project management for some required interior renovations of the building. In return, the Dolphin Players agreed to allow the facility to be used as a community meeting place, free of charge at a minimum of once a month and placed security interest in the property should the building be sold at later time.

On May 4, 2015 the Design Assessment Team reviewed the application and recommended approval of the project as proposed. On May 12, 2015 the Planning Commission also reviewed the application and recommended approval of the proposed improvement as submitted.

Urban Renewal Agency Minutes- January 5, 2016

Dolphin Players Treasurer Alice Carlson noted the exterior of the building was a hindrance to operations and in much need of repair; noted Hillary Baker of Crow/Clay Associates Inc.  assisted with the design and proposed improvements. Ms. Baker noted the theatre building was constructed in 1940 and was a partial two-story structure building. The applicants proposed to use the additional fa9ade grant to improve the exterior of the building to include improvements to the existing metal siding and canopy; refinish/repair and paint the concrete shell; construct a new cornice, base plinth and pilaster; replace windows on the south elevation; and construct a new internally illuminated marquee over the south entrance with lighting in the soffit to light the sidewalk/entrance. The project also included areas on the east elevation for community murals.
Bids received were $125,892, $122,970, and $97,200. Ms. Baker noted the $97,200 bid included all improvements less the east-wall stucco.

Staff proposed the Agency consider making the requested fa9ade grant an Agency project; recommended providing project management funding for the project in the amount not to exceed the $97,200 project bid. Staff also suggested increasing the security interest on the property to include the amount spent on the 2011 project and the proposed project.

Board Member Shoji moved to approve the Agency managed Dolphin Theatre façade project for an amount not to exceed $97,200 subsequent to an agreement with the Dolphin Players for an increased security interest on the property deed. Board Member Kramer seconded the motion.

Board Member Vaughan inquired about the architectural costs associated with the project. Ms. Carlson stated some architectural costs/time was donated and the remainder was paid by Dolphin Players.

A call for question was made which passed with Chair Groth and Board Members Brick, Kramer, Shoji, and Vaughan voting aye. Board Members Daily and Leahy were absent.

Related Posts:
Coos Bay Redistributing Money to Owners of Historical Places
Planning CD-16-127 CIty of Coos Bay ~ Messerle's Determination to Apply Bio-Solids
LTE ~ An Open Letter to the Mayor of Coos Bay Crystal Shoji from Fred Kirby
Coos County District Attorney Letter on the Daily ~ Hudson Opinion
Coos Bay Procedural Rules for Replacing an Empty Seat on the City Council
Coos Bay Giving Away Public Money to a Private Business Using Urban Renewal
Invoice of Services for Coos Bay Council's Wastewater Treatment Plant August 2016 
Mayoral and Council Candidates for Coos Bay
LTE ~ Wastewater Treatment Plant "Suchadeal"
Time to Teach a Lesson to the Local Politicians
LTE ~ One Very Confused Dick in Coos Bay
Coos Bay Two Ballot Measures on Marijuana Tax & Dispensary License in November
LTE ~ Coos Bay Privatization of Wastewater Treatment Plant for Overpriced Lawyers

Comments

Coos Bay Redistributing Money to Owners of Historical Places

10/25/2016

Comments

 
CITY OF COOS BAY - HISTORIC PRESERVATION RENOVATION GRANT
 
The City of Coos Bay received a grant from the State Historic Preservation Office to assist property owners of historic structure with needed renovations.  The Coos Bay Historic Preservation Committee will make these funds available to property owners of structures listed on the National Registry of Historic Places to make exterior rehabilitation or renovation improvements. 
 
Renovation or rehabilitation work shall be located on the primary facade of the structure or on a facade that is highly visible to the public.  Structural improvements to preserve the integrity of the structure may also qualify.  Project(s) may receive 50% of the project cost up to a maximum of $5,298 in grant funds, whichever is the lesser amount.
 
If you are interested in applying for grant funds, submit the Renovation Grant Application to the Community Development Department no later than January 15, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. The Historic Preservation Committee will review applications and award the grant(s) on January 22, 2017. 
 
Applications and grant guidelines will be available at the Historic Preservation Open House on Thursday, October 27th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Old City Hall (375 Central Avenue); and after that date from the Community Development Department, City Hall, 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon 97423.   Questions about the program or the application should be directed to Debbie Erler at 541.269.1181 X 2259 or e-mail at [email protected].

Related Posts:
Planning CD-16-127 CIty of Coos Bay ~ Messerle's Determination to Apply Bio-Solids
LTE ~ An Open Letter to the Mayor of Coos Bay Crystal Shoji from Fred Kirby
Coos County District Attorney Letter on the Daily ~ Hudson Opinion
Coos Bay Procedural Rules for Replacing an Empty Seat on the City Council
Coos Bay Giving Away Public Money to a Private Business Using Urban Renewal
Invoice of Services for Coos Bay Council's Wastewater Treatment Plant August 2016 
Mayoral and Council Candidates for Coos Bay
LTE ~ Wastewater Treatment Plant "Suchadeal"
Time to Teach a Lesson to the Local Politicians
LTE ~ One Very Confused Dick in Coos Bay
Coos Bay Two Ballot Measures on Marijuana Tax & Dispensary License in November
LTE ~ Coos Bay Privatization of Wastewater Treatment Plant for Overpriced Lawyers

Comments

Coos Bay Giving Away Public Money to a Private Business Using Urban Renewal

9/10/2016

Comments

 
Hey Folks,

Please do not get angry at the business owners for trying to recoup some of their tax dollars.  Everyone tries to take advantage of government loopholes, which are designed to divide the people based on all kinds of arbitrary categories.   

The people responsible for this form of corporatism are all those voters who keep putting politicians in office that are supporters of corporate welfare.  The problem is not the company, but the government policy. If this business owner did not take advantage of the program another one would take its place, as designed. 

 In this case, it is the worst program of all, Urban Renewal.  Nero had a great Urban Renewal program that did not go so well for the Christians living in the neighborhood that was being redeveloped.....Rob T. 

Links to more information on Urban Renewal:

http://www.cooscountywatchdog.com/end-urban-renewal.html

Comments

LTE ~ North Bend Airport Manager Might be "Nuts" 

7/28/2016

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Have you noticed the Los Angeles real estate agent’s sign at the airport seeking a lessee for the 30,000 square foot hangar and office building?  In 2014, the airport manager told us “I’m confident this will get leased out” (prior to August 2015) “because there is a need”.  Apparently prospective lessees disagree. 
 
It’s been more than 14 years since the city of North Bend caused a ballot measure to form the taxpayer supported Coos County Airport District; thirteen years since the municipalities of Lakeside, Myrtle Point and Powers sued to stop the effort. 
 
On 22 April 2014, The World published an article of promises from the airport manager regarding a new airport hangar that was being constructed thanks to grant money from the Oregon Lottery - to be maintained by the taxpayers.  On 9 June, my Letter to the Editor commenting on the airport manager’s promises was published by The World.  Both are available at theworldlink.com.  Bottom line, my comments can be summarized in the words of famous WWII General Anthony McAuliffe - “Nuts!”. 
 
Taxpaying airport owners were promised that the hangar and office building “may be able to attract” the overnight needs of commercial aircraft serving North Bend; “is designed to” house 737 size aircraft; “could also end up housing” a large corporate entity with many aircraft like an air ambulance company; and, attracting the right lessee “could infuse up to $100,000 into the local economy” annually.   
 
With extensive canard, empennage and propulsion system modifications, pigs “may” and “could” fly.  Taxpaying airport owners of Lakeside, Myrtle Point, Powers and other communities would probably appreciate a follow up article by The World with content covering real world prospects for leasing the hanger; of hangar income to date; of leasing the vacant airport business center properties; on use of the airport owned business park that, after more than 12 years, remains bare land; of what the airport is doing to lease vacant properties other than hanging signs and sitting by the phone waiting for a prospective lessee to call.  Perhaps The World article will tell us where the 56 aircraft reported annually as being permanently housed at the local airport may be found; and include a summary of the airport reported average of 50 daily aircraft departures and landings; and will address any planned runways extension required to safely accommodate 737 size aircraft.  Current FAA information is summarized at www.airnav.com/airport/KOTH. 
 
Fred Kirby 
Coos Bay 


Comments

BOC ~ Notice of Deliberation on JCEP Tuesday August 16, 2016

7/27/2016

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Related Posts:
Public Meeting for Coos County April 19 & North Bend April 26, 2016 on JCEP
Open Letter to the Coos County Board of Commissioners Concerning the JCEP
Eminent Domain Protest in Coos Bay Monday April 4, 2016 ~ 5pm at The Mill Casino
LTE ~ Proponent Kissing Off Local Concerns About JCEP
LTE ~ More Transparency for the SCCF
Coos Bay School District Contract w/Superintendent Dawn Granger March 2014
LTE ~ Coos Bay School Board Ignoring Parents & Students
LTE ~ Leshley Still Uninformed
BOC ~ County Dog Board, Prisoner Release, Public Meeting for October 13, 14, & 15
Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet

Comments

SCDC ~ The Animal Farm Picks New Animals to Feed at the Pubic Trough

6/3/2016

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Greetings!
 
I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. It was a beautiful weekend to spend on the South Coast.

We’ve had a busy start to the summer here at SCDC. This week was our Annual Meeting. Each year, we hold our annual membership meeting to elect new board members, Executive Committee members, and approve our budget for the upcoming fiscal year.  We did all that and more.
Before I share with you about our newly elected board members, I want to take a moment to thank all of our board members and executive committee members from this past year. I want to thank Ben Marchant for doing a super job as our Chair and being a rock for SCDC during its renaissance. I want to thank Hank Hickox, Fred Jacquot, Rodger Craddock, John Briggs, Bob Garcia, and Rick Skinner for all serving on the Executive Committee this year. They each dedicated additional time each month to help guide staff and assist us as we’ve moved SCDC forward. The entire board of directors has been vital to our ability to have accomplished all that we have over the last year.

Thank you!!

Now, without further ado, here are our newly elected board members and Executive Committee Members:

Executive Committee:
Chair: Rodger Craddock
Vice Chair: Hank Hickox- Bandon Dunes
Immediate Past Chair: Ben Marchant- City of Coquille(not Coos Bay)
Secretary: Chrystal Shoji- City of Coos Bay
Treasurer: John Briggs
At-Large (Public Sector): Patty Scott- Southwestern Oregon Community College
At-Large (Private Sector): Pam Plummer- Umpqua Bank
 
Individual & Affiliate:
Timm Slater- Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
Rodger Craddock
 
Bronze & Silver:
Pam Plummer- Umpqua Bank
Mark Wall- Roseburg Forest Products
Deena Gisholt- Oregon Pacific Bank
Daryl Robison- Coos Curry Electric
Erin Reynolds- City of Florence
 
Gold & Platinum:
Hank Hickox- Bandon Dunes
Paul Janke- Bay Area Hospital
Donna Nichols- Jordan Cove LNG
Bill Richardson-City of North Bend
 
You can find a full list of our board members at our BRAND NEW WEBSITE at www.scdcinc.org

Have a great weekend!

Connie Stopher

Executive Director
South Coast Development Council
50 Central Avenue, Suite A
Coos Bay, OR 97420

Phone:   541-266-9753
Cell:       541-808-7774
Email:   [email protected]
Related Posts:
County Planning Reopens Record for Comments Part of LNG Project Dec. 29, 2015
County Planning Approves Weyerhaeuser Co. to Lawfully Create Lots or Parcels
BOC Town Hall on Camping at Bastendorff Beach in Charleston December 2, 2015 
AOC Conference ~ OR County Commissioners in Cahoots November 17-20, 2015
BOC Advertising for Finance Director/County Administrator After Voters Rejected It
Vote NO on the Transient Occupancy Tax ~ Measure 6-152
BOC ~ County Dog Board, Prisoner Release, Public Meeting for October 13, 14, & 15
Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
SCDC ~ Divvying Up Public Funding at Annual Board Meeting Thursday June 2, 2016

Comments

County Planning Reopens Record for Comments Part of LNG Project Dec. 29, 2015

12/23/2015

Comments

 
Related Posts:
County Planning Approves Weyerhaeuser Co. to Lawfully Create Lots or Parcels
BOC Town Hall on Camping at Bastendorff Beach in Charleston December 2, 2015 
AOC Conference ~ OR County Commissioners in Cahoots November 17-20, 2015
BOC Advertising for Finance Director/County Administrator After Voters Rejected It
Vote NO on the Transient Occupancy Tax ~ Measure 6-152
BOC ~ County Dog Board, Prisoner Release, Public Meeting for October 13, 14, & 15
Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet

Comments

AOC Conference ~ OR County Commissioners in Cahoots November 17-20, 2015

11/13/2015

Comments

 

AOC Conference
 Register Here

The 2014 Annual AOC Conference will take place begining Monday, November 17. 
It will be held in Lane County at Eugene Hilton Hotel Conference Center.

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Related Posts:
BOC Advertising for Finance Director/County Administrator After Voters Rejected It
Vote NO on the Transient Occupancy Tax ~ Measure 6-152
BOC ~ County Dog Board, Prisoner Release, Public Meeting for October 13, 14, & 15
Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet

Comments

BOC Advertising for Finance Director/County Administrator After Voters Rejected It

11/12/2015

Comments

 
Related Posts:
Vote NO on the Transient Occupancy Tax ~ Measure 6-152
BOC ~ County Dog Board, Prisoner Release, Public Meeting for October 13, 14, & 15
Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet
Comments

BOC ~ Notice of Withdrawal for LNG Shoreline Stabilization November 3, 2015   

11/5/2015

Comments

 
Related Posts:
LTE ~ Leshley Still Uninformed
BOC ~ County Dog Board, Prisoner Release, Public Meeting for October 13, 14, & 15
Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet
Comments

LTE ~ Leshley Still Uninformed

10/29/2015

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Letter to the Editor / other media - except The World
 
Say what!  Dick Leshley wrote to us again in the 24 October The World newspaper.  Sadly Mr. Leshley demonstrates how uninformed that the front man for BS Oregon is in matters regarding the JCEP.  This time Leshley tells us that payment by JCEP (fees in lieu of taxes) to the citizens will be akin to an individual making “a donation to a charity”; perhaps what he considers to be a free will offering by JCEP.  Apparently, he doesn’t consider hundreds of millions of (tax obligation) dollars during the next 20 years (fees in lieu of taxes) to be public money.
 
I have submitted many pages of comments and concerns regarding the CEP.  Some of my credentials to comment on what I believe to be an incomplete contract without adequate safeguards for the average taxpaying Coos County citizen include positions with large aerospace and high tech companies as Director of Contracting, Director of Subcontracting, Contracts Administrator, Auditor, Negotiator, Director of Business Development and staff to the company president.  I wrote and managed many fixed price and cost type multi - year, multi - task, contracts with variable options and with a value (in today’s dollars) in excess of $4 billion.  Titles are like knighthood; but, I understand contracting and governing law.
 
Eleven years ago, while other west coast of the Americas communities (from BC Canada to Tijuana Baja California) were rejecting LNG factories, JCEP found the Ports welcome mat.  JCEP also found that five years of tax avoidance and their ability for the tail to wag the dog accompanied the welcome mat.  Instead of thanking us for not rejecting them, their demands on us became ever increasing.  We owe JCEP nothing except what is pursuant to Oregon law and within the four corners of a well written contract document.  At a minimum, they owe us a legally enforceable agreement to hire locals first.
 
Now Veresen / JCEP, a company with minimal assets, demands more in the CEP.  And, the most vocal of the CEP supporters, county commissioner Sweet, finds nothing wrong with Veresen / JCEP demands.
 
Mr. Leshley, it’s tax avoidance, front loaded fees in lieu of taxes, assessments on the citizens, and the peoples tax money being discussed in the CEP; not a “large monetary windfall”.  AS proposed by Veresen / JCEP, the taxpayers assume all risk of non - performance by Veresen / JCEP and citizens lose money in the deal.  The CEP removes the people’s control of hundreds of millions of their tax dollars and gives total control for the next 20 years to a small group that will be unelected by the people, not appointed by the people, impossible to remove or replace by the people, to distribute the people’s money to entities they alone deem appropriate. 
 
In support of the argument for a SCCF / CEP / whatever, Coos County Tax Assessor Jansen told us that there would not be a difference in the total dollars received by the people from JCEP as tax or as fees in lieu of tax.  It appears that is no longer the case and this taxpayer has asked Assessor Jansen for a public update presentation to the people soon.
 
Fred Kirby
Coos Bay
24 October 2015

Related Posts:
BOC ~ County Dog Board, Prisoner Release, Public Meeting for October 13, 14, & 15
Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet

Comments

LTE ~ Voting for Unknown Promises in Transient Occupancy Tax

10/29/2015

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Editor,

Yes, the Coos County transparent Commissioners John Sweet, Melissa Cribbins, and Bob Main ask CC residents to approve another tax which affects them, their neighbors, visiting relatives, visitors, tourists, business establishments, etc. At the same time CC would be agreeing to more regional non-elected control of your monies.


This will be accomplished by putting into law ballot measure 6-152 ( Lodging Tax ) which imposes a new 10% tax on all less than 30 day rentals at parks, campgrounds ( your parks and campgrounds included ), RV parks, hotels, motels, vacation rentals, bed&breakfast rooms, etc.


The measure allows lodging operators to retain 5% of their collections for their costs. Commissioners estimate the measure will, the first year, collect $2.45 million.


The CC work group presenting allocation of funds, headed by The Dunes manager Hank Hickox, reports the tourism board will be comprised of 13 appointed members comprised of :1. “the largest revenue generators”; 2. four different CC sectors, plus regional areas of Douglas, Curry, gateway areas and experts on tourism such as the state's “Travel Oregon”. It is stated the State requires 70% of funds go to tourism promotion.


The remaining 30%, estimated at $750,000, would, after deducting expenses for handling and enforcing the new tax, go to county services as decided by your commissioners.


Now this measure may seem to never impact you or your visiting friends and family as you and they may not stay or vacation in any of these lodgings and you may never want to stay in town overnight after going to the theater, meetings, car repair, etc. However, how about the lodging businesses loss of income due to necessary price hikes? How about all the businesses such as restaurants, food, clothing, souvenirs, shopping malls etc. which will suffer from an estimated $2.45 Million taken from visitors by this new tax?


By the way, have you read the entire measure to see what else it might contain or have you only read the 'summary' the commissioners provided on your ballot. Where can you find the entire measure to read? Don't ask me. I cannot find it on the commissioners' web site either. The policy would seem to be: “ Vote the measure in and then you will find out what powers you gave the commissioners and their appointed non-elected local and regional friends .”


Jaye Bell
ARRRG
PO Box 826 Coquille, Oregon



Comments

LTE ~ Coos Bay School Board in Turmoil Alleged by Complainants

10/23/2015

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Letter for the Forum / Letters to the Editor Section
 
An open letter to the Coos Bay Schools Board from a concerned voter / taxpayer:
 
Dear Coos Bay Schools Board Members:
 
It has been reported by The World newspaper, and perhaps by others, that you have acknowledged the existence of turmoil within the schools system – turmoil alleged by complainants to have been caused by the Coos Bay Schools Superintendent; that you have accepted formal complaints from educators and others regarding the superintendent; that you and outside counsel have spent considerable time conducting a thorough review of complaints content; that you have interviewed complainants desiring such face to face interview; that you have provided a written response to each complainant; and that you have concluded investigative matters regarding the schools superintendent. 
 
One of the weakest traits of a leader is an inability to make a decision.  Based on facts made known, many of us voting, taxpaying, citizens believe that, in the interest of taxpayers, students, faculty, administrators and staff, it is appropriate that the schools superintendent be replaced.  It took less time to understand the origin of the Etruscan language than you have spent on this matter.  Please don’t waste my tax dollars, or yours, proceeding to the next level.  You conducted a search for a schools superintendent; you narrowed your search to an overqualified long time local teaching professional, Greg Mulkey, and to an unknown from outside of the area.  Ultimately you decided the unknown was better than the known.  Perhaps some of you now regret that decision.
 
Mr. Mulkey, a former student of local schools, a local teacher, an administrator, and a team player, ready to take command was one of two finalists considered to be qualified.  If he still seeks the position, there is no reason to believe that Mr. Mulkey would not rise to the top of the superintendent candidates list again.  He remains a known – more so than ever.  He enjoys the enviable loud vocal support of students, subordinates, faculty, peers, taxpayers and local business owners. 
 
A decision and immediate closure of this matter please.  More months of hiding under the legal protective umbrella called “executive session” with discussion and results undisclosed to the public are not required.  Don’t waste your time and our tax dollars searching for another unknown outsider when the clear choice to lead our schools is here and ready to bring peace to our edge of the planet.
 
Fred Kirby
Coos Bay
17 October 2015


Related Posts:
BOC ~ County Dog Board, Prisoner Release, Public Meeting for October 13, 14, & 15
Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet

Comments

Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax

10/8/2015

Comments

 

Op-Ed on Ballot Measure 6-152 Lodging Tax

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 County Commissioners are elected to solve problems, manage county government and provide leadership.  A large part of the leadership that Commissioners provide involves setting and managing the county's budget.  Much of the County budget comes from the state and federal government, and it comes with strings attached.  We are told how much to spend, and what it can be spent on.  Roughly 20% of the County's budget comes from a mixture of property taxes, timber sales, and other miscellaneous revenue streams.  With this 20%, we make sure that the deed for your house is recorded, a police officer shows up when you call and a place to take the person that is arrested, you have a clean, safe place to dump your trash, and many other services that our citizens have come to depend on.  We have made great progress in the last few years in making departments such as Parks and Planning self-sustaining, while still providing the same or better levels of service.  We know that we can always do better, and we continually strive to make sure that we are providing the best level of service for the budget we have available.

Many people ask why the County can't just make the federal government increase timber harvests, or pay the County for the lands that they are not harvesting.  Over the last twenty years, Coos County has consistently lobbied the federal government to increase timber harvests and return to sustainable harvest levels that will provide both jobs and tax revenue.  These efforts have been largely unsuccessful, although we continue to educate, remind, and lobby for changes to federal timber policy to create a sustainable solution that meets the needs of all, not just the needs of the few.  We believe that federal timber policy will change in the future in large part because of the catastrophic forest fires, but this change will likely be years in the making.  Coos County needs to improve its financial future now.
The Coos County Commissioners continue to actively seek ways to improve the County budget situation. When you open your ballot in a few weeks, you may notice Measure 6-152, put on the ballot by the Commissioners.  This measure would create a county-wide lodging tax.  Coos County citizens would not pay this tax unless they stayed in a hotel, campground, RV park, or vacation rental in Coos County.  Tourists are currently not contributing any lodging tax in the unincorporated portions of our county except the statewide lodging tax, which is kept by the State of Oregon and used to promote tourism statewide. 

Lodging tax has restrictions under Oregon law.  Seventy (70) percent must be used for tourism promotion or tourism related facilities.  The other 30% is unrestricted and would be used to fund public safety, including the Coos County jail, the District Attorney's Office, and the Sheriff's department.  Public safety is the largest user of our unrestricted funds, and it needs to have a long term, sustainable funding source in order for us to attract and retain our dedicated deputies.  This measure would raise about $2.7 million dollars total per year, which would provide about $800,000 for public safety and $1,900,000 for tourism promotion.  It doesn't fund all of our public safety needs, but it is a good start.
Won't people avoid Coos County if we have a lodging tax? Unlikely.  Tillamook County passed a similar tax in 2013, and they experienced a 16% increase in tourism last year.  Coos County is one of the few Oregon coastal counties that does not have a lodging tax. In all, 82 cities and 16 counties in Oregon have lodging taxes.  In fact, Curry County voters will also be considering a  lodging tax this November. Currently, visitors who stay in the unincorporated areas of Coos County only pay a 1% tax that goes directly to the State of Oregon.  If visitors stay in a city in Coos County, they currently pay a lodging tax imposed by the city as well as the state tax.  This county-wide tax would level the playing field, so a tourist will pay the same rate no matter where they stay in the County.

Coos County’s tourism industry is a key component of our economic future. Tourism provides a sizeable portion of the jobs and income in our County.   We can do a better job of marketing ourselves through tourism promotion, advertising and upgrading our tourist facilities, and a lodging tax would bring in the revenue needed to accomplish that goal. 
Vote yes on improving the future of Coos County.  Vote yes on 6-152.
 
Melissa Cribbins, John Sweet, and Bob Main
Coos County Board of Commissioners


Transient Lodging Tax Proposal
File Size: 397 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Related Posts:
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet

Comments

LTE ~ JCEP Attorney Demanded Facts & Truth from Citizens, Not Emotion

10/2/2015

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Letter to the Editor 
 
In their lengthy 3 September message to the people of North Bend, the Veresen / Jordan Cove Energy (JCEP) attorney demanded facts and truth from concerned citizens, not emotion, when discussing the planned workers camp matter.  OK counselor; some clarification please.
 
First, telling the citizens of, and nearby, North Bend that their overburdened infrastructure must accommodate a 20% increase in population almost overnight causes emotion and reaction.
 
For 11 years the number of Jordan Cove Energy Project (JCEP) required temporary workers has frequently moved between 250 and 4,000 depending on the official or unofficial JCEP spokesperson, the audience, and for essentially the same LNG import, now LNG export, terminal.  Currently the JCEP advertised peak number of temporary workers is 2,100; the average number will be significantly lower.
 
For 11 years, expecting local struggling taxpayers (who will soon lose control of many tens of millions of their tax dollars) to give JCEP between five and 19 years of tax avoidance as promised to JCEP by our local elected, appointed, and self - anointed professional politicians, and for other valuable consideration, JCEP has repeatedly promised to give preference to hiring, and paying a premium to, skilled and unskilled workers from Coos County and from the southern coast of Oregon.  There must be at least 1,000 qualified skilled job seekers within daily driving distance (many who are currently under employed or overqualified) ready to start working tomorrow.  Labor unions and their members’ friends and families throughout Oregon have endorsed and supported JCEP relying on these promises to their thousands of dues paying job seeking members.
 
If Veresen / JCEP intends to keep its promise that its contractor and subcontractors will hire locals first (locals who do not necessarily possess LNG factory construction experience); if Veresen / JCEP intends to ensure that any successor company honors the JCEP promises and contractual obligations (including those promises that are set forth in the Community Enhancement Plan (CEP) that will never be legally enforced); and assuming that job seeking locals have homes; why is a workers camp that would make the Joad family envious, that is planned to accommodate at least the peak amount of 2,100 bodies (apparently assuming no locals will be hired), required to be situated under the McCullough Bridge? 
 
Fred Kirby
Coos Bay
25 September 2015

Related Posts:
Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015
Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes
LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp
Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet
Democratic Party Passes Resolution Opposing Eminent Domain for LNG 
Commissioner Candidate Refuses to Disclose Answers to a Questionnaire
Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare
Officials Obscuring Facts on the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Infestation
Yes to LNG, No to the CEP
#USFWS Admits Fault for the Bandon Mosquito Infestation
#CoosCounty Commissioner Candidate Debate October 8, 2014 in Coquille
MGX---Controversial Alliance for Progress Co-Founder Donates to Sweet Campaign
#CoosBay Uses Urban Renewal Money for Confederate Tribe Private Development
Bribed Surgeons Implanted Counterfeit Medical Devices into Patients 
MGX---County Assessor has Real Disconnect on Community Enhancement Plan
#Coquille & #MyrtlePoint School Districts Among Worst at Utilizing Public Funding
BOC---Cowardly, Commissioners Cribbins & Sweet Betray the Voters of Coos County 
Unanswered Questions about the South Coast Community Foundation

Comments

Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes

10/2/2015

Comments

 

Hey Folks,

The following Press Release is good news for the tax payers of Bandon, because we no longer are the financiers of the Bandon Cheese Factory.  However, what they did not bother to mention is that the business is in an Enterprise Zone, so the corporation does not pay property taxes. 

Do you think that is fair to everyone else?

And, to top it off, the patriarch of the Drobot family pleaded guilty to one of the biggest fraud and bribery cases involving buying politicians to defraud the Medicaid system.     
City of Bandon---Local Developer Michael Drobot Admits to Bribery & Conspiracy 

Government Economic Development is a slush fund for redistributing money from the poor to the wealthy....Rob T. 
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Between the exciting things our borrowers and investors are doing to strengthen the resilience of the Pacific Northwest, and new developments at Craft3, there's always a lot happening. Stay in touch with our latest news to see the many diverse areas in which we generate positive impacts for communities and the environment. 

 Craft3 borrower Face Rock Creamery graduates to local credit union
by Jennifer Janda | Aug 19, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

08/19/15


Contacts:    Jennifer Janda, Craft3 Marketing Manager, 888-231-2170 ext 205

                  Greg Drobot, Face Rock Creamery President, 619-756-7910

                  Lucette Lovell, First Community Credit Union- Vice President Commercial Lending, 541-396-2145

Craft3 borrower Face Rock Creamery graduates to local credit union

Loan originally made to bring cheese and jobs back to Bandon is refinanced by First Community Credit Union.

BANDON, ORE. - Craft3 announced the start-up loan it made to Face Rock Creamery in Bandon, Oregon has been paid off. First Community Credit Union refinanced Craft3’s loan and provided additional capital to purchase a city parcel. Craft3 considers it a win-win for everyone involved.

In 2012, City leaders backed local developer Greg Drobot’s idea to open a new cheese factory, Face Rock Creamery. But there were problems securing financing to make the project a reality. Start-up capital for rural businesses is hard to find.

“The banks are extremely difficult to deal with if you’re a startup, and unless you’re a business with a long track record of financials it is damn near impossible to get a loan,” Drobot said.

That is when he learned about Craft3, a nonprofit lender. Craft3 specializes in lending to businesses unable to access financing from traditional sources. Craft3 provided Drobot with loans for the construction of the cheese factory and retail store and to purchase production and retail equipment.

Since opening, Face Rock has been a huge success. Not only does it employ 20 people full-time, Face Rock Creamery cheese is available in almost 2,000 grocery stores across nine Pacific Northwest states, including Costco, Fred Meyer and New Seasons.

“After two years in operation, we were able to get conventional financing. But we would have never made it where we are today without Craft3,” he added.

“Craft3 is proud to have helped bring cheese back to Bandon,” shared Craft3 Senior Business Lender, Brad Hunter. “When a loan client like Face Rock Creamery qualifies for traditional financing, we consider it huge a success. Everyone wins.”

Craft3 considers itself to be a hands-on financial partner. It is an advocate for its clients, staying in close touch with the business owner and offering its expertise wherever possible.

“First Community Credit Union appreciates alternative lenders like Craft3 that can help start-up businesses in rural communities grow and thrive,” explained First Community Credit Union Vice President, Lucette Lovell. “We strive to build lasting partnerships and as a financial partner of choice in our communities, I would like to thank Greg Drobot for choosing First Community Credit Union. We are excited to be Face Rock Creamery’s local financial partner.”

Craft3 lends to businesses, government agencies and nonprofits that strengthen the region.

  • Business Loans are available for financing commercial real estate, energy efficiency upgrades, start-ups and expansion of businesses needing working capital, acquisitions, inventory, fixtures, equipment and related business property. 
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Craft3 is a nonprofit CDFI lender that invests in businesses that create jobs, strengthen the economy and reduce environmental impacts. Its mission is to strengthen economic, ecological and family resilience in Pacific Northwest communities. Craft3 does this by providing loans to entrepreneurs, nonprofits, individuals and others who don’t normally have access to financing. It then complements these financial resources with expertise, personal connections and other advocacy for its clients. Learn more at www.Craft3.org and www.Craft3.org/Videos. 


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LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
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Sweet admits that community service fess are derivatives of tax dollars ‏
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City of Bandon---Votes on the renewal of City Manager's Contract
Comments

LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp

9/20/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Letter to the Editor  

Thanks Dick Leshley for your frequent letters to the editor as unofficial Jordan Cove Energy Project (JCEP) spokesperson.  Your 12 September letter regarding the proposed JCEP workers camp gives many of us Coos County citizens concern.   

Three times we are told that the workers camp is “required by the permitting process” or to “comply with the permitting process”.  No it isn’t.  It is implied that all temporary JCEP workers will be “earning at least three times the median income of Coos County”.  No they won’t.  Try 150% inclusive of benefits.  Twice we are told “no one knows” how many will “use” or “live in” the camp.  We are told that JCEP workers are “free to live anywhere they wish”.  Why should temporary guest JCEP workers from third world countries be permitted to live “anywhere” and perhaps disappear permanently into the USA?  

Most Coos County citizens don’t oppose a JCEP workers camp per se.  People oppose a camp built on swamp land, in a flood plain, in a tsunami zone, close by a residential neighborhood, with parking for almost 1,900 vehicles that will be joining local and highway 101 traveling private and commercial vehicles, coming and going over a two lane bridge and through a single common intersection.   

Mr. Leshley must understand that materials for constructing JCEP do not exist on the North Spit.  Materials will be arriving by barge, some by rail, much by hundreds of trucks daily that will damage rural and local roads; trucks that will not be paying the contemplated local five cent / gallon surcharge to repair roads; trucks that will join logging, chip, and other trucks passing through the North Bend and Coos Bay city centers and heading for that same intersection.   

Deepening and widening the channel for JCEP will increase the volume and velocity of tsunami waters.  Sounds to me like two 200 foot flare stacks with 100 foot flames ready to incinerate unsuspecting USCG helicopter crews en route to protecting maritime interests; deafening noise during and after construction; and a camp at the proposed location where 1900 vehicles and 2000 bodies may travel upstream to Coos Bay during a tsunami just adds to the insanity.  

The IBM slogan for years was THINK!  It was Adolf Hitler who said “What good fortune for governments that the people do not think.”  Prove Adolf wrong.  Think, speak and register to vote.  

Fred Kirby
Coos Bay
13 September 2015

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Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015
Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011
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#Coquille & #MyrtlePoint School Districts Among Worst at Utilizing Public Funding
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Comments

 Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011

8/23/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Do Enterprise Zones Work February 2011
File Size: 219 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Related Posts:
Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015
Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads
LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP
LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money  
LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG
LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet
Democratic Party Passes Resolution Opposing Eminent Domain for LNG 
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Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare
Officials Obscuring Facts on the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Infestation
Yes to LNG, No to the CEP
#USFWS Admits Fault for the Bandon Mosquito Infestation
#CoosCounty Commissioner Candidate Debate October 8, 2014 in Coquille
MGX---Controversial Alliance for Progress Co-Founder Donates to Sweet Campaign
#CoosBay Uses Urban Renewal Money for Confederate Tribe Private Development
Bribed Surgeons Implanted Counterfeit Medical Devices into Patients 
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#Coquille & #MyrtlePoint School Districts Among Worst at Utilizing Public Funding
BOC---Cowardly, Commissioners Cribbins & Sweet Betray the Voters of Coos County 
Unanswered Questions about the South Coast Community Foundation

Comments
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