Astoria Development News
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Astoria Approves 4% Water and Sewer Rate Increase for Fiscal Year 2026-2027
The Astoria City Council adopted resolutions authorizing fiscal year 2026-2027 water and sewer rates, including a 4% utility rate increase. This increase is intended to cover operational costs, debt service, collective bargaining requirements, administrative expenses, historical service levels, and major capital projects such as the sewer lift station project and wastewater treatment headworks. The council also discussed the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) surcharge, which primarily funds debt service for CSO monitoring and past projects, and noted that the city has no dedicated capital improvement fund revenue for water and sewer infrastructure, relying instead on grants and loans. The estimated unfunded capital improvement plan is approximately $250 million over 10 years. Public comment raised concerns about the allocation of funds, understaffing in the water department, and the accuracy of water bills.
Astoria Council Approves Community-Based Shelter Program, Excludes Vehicle Dispensation
The Astoria City Council directed staff to implement a community-based shelter program, with an amendment to exclude vehicle dispensation. This program aims to create a safe and stable space for individuals experiencing homelessness by partnering with non-profit and faith-based organizations to potentially place micro-shelters on private properties. The program seeks to transition individuals to permanent housing, reduce camping in public spaces, improve compliance with camping codes, and foster community partnerships. Key components include providing micro-shelters, sanitation, and garbage services, with program administration overseen by the city and a homeless liaison or city representative. Property owners providing space will have site standards and petitions to follow. Guests must comply with site rules and engage with service providers. The initial pilot program aims for one to three sites, with a maximum capacity per site and stay limits of 30 days, extendable to 90 days. The amendment to exclude vehicle dispensation was made due to concerns about mixing car camping with micro-shelters, although the possibility of private property owners allowing car camping independently remains.
Astoria Amends Camping Code, Reduces Penalties and Clarifies Enforcement
The Astoria City Council considered and adopted amendments to the Astoria Camping Code. The ordinance revises the purpose to guide individuals to shelter resources and provides the authority to disallow camping in public spaces when shelter resources are available. It includes exemptions for special circumstances and reduces the penalty for violations to a maximum of $35. The ordinance also clarifies the definition of 'person in charge' and reinserts it after it was unintentionally removed. The amendments were developed with consultation from an attorney specializing in this area, aiming to balance enforcement with compliance with state laws like HB 3115.
Astoria City Council Freezes Transportation SDCs Amidst Development Concerns
The Astoria City Council voted to freeze the transportation System Development Charge (SDC) rate at $3,116, pausing a planned increase to $4,674. This decision was made in response to concerns that the SDCs, particularly for smaller businesses and property use changes, were acting as a disincentive to development. The council heard from developers, business owners, and real estate brokers who described the SDCs as prohibitively expensive and potentially stalling property utilization. The council acknowledged the need to re-evaluate the SDC methodology to better align with the local economy and consider project-specific impacts, especially for small businesses and changes in property use. The freeze allows time for staff to work with consultants and local economic leaders to calibrate the SDC rates, with a commitment to returning to the council with findings and potential revisions within approximately two to three months.
Astoria Approves Street Vacations and Campus Agreement for Columbia Memorial Hospital Expansion
The Astoria City Council held a second reading and adopted an ordinance vacating portions of Franklin Avenue, 20th Street, and 22nd Street rights-of-way, adjacent to the hospital. This action supports the Columbia Memorial Hospital's (CMH) campus concept, allowing the hospital to develop a unified campus environment. The vacated streets will transition from public to private, though public access will be preserved. The ordinance includes standard reservations for repair and construction access. Concurrently, the council approved the Columbia Memorial Hospital Campus Agreement, which transfers specific city-owned properties to CMH to support hospital operations, including parking and an auction tank facility. This agreement is part of CMH's $300 million expansion project, which will increase the hospital's footprint from approximately 57,000 to over 180,000 square feet. The agreement also establishes communication protocols for emergencies and future utility work, and includes a payout of $232,000 to the city for the termination of a current lease for parking purposes.
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