New faces among city staff and officials led to a change in leadership. Seaside took action to close a Necanicum Drive homeless camp, and was one of the first Oregon cities to pass a homeless camping ordinance.

At the polls, voters showed themselves supportive of the extension of a fire bond levy and a moratorium on the sale of psilocybin.

Homeless camping ordinance

Seaside’s homeless ordinance was a work in progress in 2022. Motivated by campgrounds and tent areas throughout the city, the City Council addressed temporary shelters for those in need, and focused on state and federal requirements to provide alternative solutions.

The City Council voted to enact rules designed to close a homeless RV camp on 10th Avenue and Necanicum Drive and present alternatives for overnight shelter. A location was identified at the entrance of the Mill Ponds Natural History Park area off Alder Mill Road, with the capacity for 20 RVs and 30 tent campers.

The ordinance is intended to protect the safety of residents and regulate the use of public and private property by establishing time, place and manner guidelines for homeless camping. It established a permit program for temporary overnight camping on residential and non-residential properties.

In July, the council tweaked the ordinance with amendments that extend the length of stay for homeless campers and RVs.

Providing alternatives in winter dominated discussions throughout the fall amid reports of more people living in cars, on the streets and in the woods.

A collaboration between Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers, Clatsop Community Action and others reopened a building on S. Roosevelt Dr. for emergency overnight stays. Capacity will more than double in coming months.

A neighboring 4 1/2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath home to the north, purchased by Helping Hands in November, will add to the supply of shelter beds.

Election

Steve Wright was elected as Seaside’s next mayor. Running unopposed, Wright described his style as similar to Mayor Jay Barber, who has led the city since 2016.

Wright, the board president of the Seaside Museum & Historical Society, served on the Planning Commission before his appointment to the City Council in 2016. .

Wright sees housing, homelessness and emergency preparedness as the city’s top issues, including the replacement of the city’s vulnerable bridges.

Three of the six council seats went before voters in November, including Ward 1, Ward 2 and Wards 3 and 4.

Steve Dillard, whose opponent Duane Solem dropped out of the Ward 1 race in September, takes over the council seat. Dillard, a former IT professional and now the owner and manager of the Sandy Cove Inn with his wife, Annie, assumes the vacant seat after Wright’s bid for mayor.

In the contested Ward 2 race, Tita Montero asked voters to consider her 20 years of civic experience and community involvement.

In Wards 3 and 4, housing and homelessness dominated discussions in the three-way race between Seth Morrisey, Marcus Runkle and Seamus McVey. Morrisey won about two-thirds of the vote in his return to council. He said his No. 1 priority is to help facilitate increased trust and transparency in local government so more residents understand and get involved in the decision-making process.

Voters also weighed in on two measures, renewing a five-year local option tax of $460,000 annually to provide funds for fire apparatus, which included the purchase of a training tower. The funds will also go toward the training and safety officer for the Seaside Fire Department.

A new pumper fire engine to be funded by the levy will hold 2,000 gallons of water for fires not close to fire hydrants. About 60% of Seaside voters approved the measure.

Voters also approved a temporary, two-year ban on psilocybin manufacturing and service centers.

Personnel

The city’s new building official, Jerry Wade, attended his first Seaside City Council meeting on Dec. 12. Wade brings more than 30 years of building inspection and plan review experience, working for the cities of Milwaukie, Tualatin, Beaverton and Salem. He replaces Bob Mitchell, who was hired in 1997 and retired at the end of August.

Wade is one of many new city employees.

With the announcement of a search for a new city attorney, the city continues to fill positions for long-serving staff and employees.

These include the city planner Jeff Flory and Anne McBride, the emergency preparedness coordinator. Flory replaced Kevin Cupples, who retired in February after 23 years with the city. In addition to emergency operations, McBride assumed Flory’s former role as code enforcement officer.

Spencer Kyle replaced Mark Winstanley as city manager in June. Winstanley joined the city as finance director in 1995 and became city manager in 2001.

On Oct. 1, Zach Fleck joined city staff as finance director, overseeing all finance for the city and some office staff, roles previously held by Winstanley.

Stacy Rodriguez began her service as Seaside judge in October. She replaced Ron Woltjer, who retired in August.

At the Seaside Civic and Convention Center, Brian Owen replaced Russ Vandenberg, who served as the center’s general manager since 2005. Owen’s departure as Seaside Chamber of Commerce CEO led to the selection of his replacement, Katie McCloud.

The library executive director search remains open, Kyle said, with a consultant, June Garcia, enlisted to provide assistance. Josh Moorman will remain interim director until a candidate is hired.

Public Works Director Dale McDowell will retire at the end of January. The director oversees wastewater treatment, water treatment, street and public facility maintenance and other city tasks. McDowell was named public works director in 2015.