[wmm] Cannon Beach Together - the Organization

[George Vetter]

We at the Cannon Beach Together PAC would kindly ask you circulate the
following as an even-handed response to the [City Councilor] Gary Hayes
letter sent to your Wednesday Morning Meeting list.

Thank you,
CBT

—

*Q: What is Cannon Beach Together?*
Cannon Beach Together is a registered political action committee. Its
membership is diverse and inter-generational, including representatives of
the lodging and restaurant industries, artists, homeowners, retirees,
service industry employees, business owners, renters and more. We have
members in their 20’s, their 80’s and everywhere in-between.
*Q: What is your mission*Cannon Beach Together is a diverse group of
community members seeking consensus for the responsible stewardship of the
town we love. We’re seeking a vote on a historic level of debt for three
construction projects (City Hall, Police Station, Tourist Facility.)

*Q: Delaying will only increase the costs. Why are you doing this?*
We’re incredibly concerned about costs! If you’re worried about costs,
please join us. On top of their excessive scope, these projects are wildly
expensive on a cost per square foot basis. *The City is preparing to pay
almost twice as much per square foot for similar buildings in Manzanita and
Astoria*. We believe $12 million for a high-end tourist facility is too
much. We believe there are serious concerns about the management of these
projects, the concurrent construction, stacking on a single, variable
funding source and more. We believe a more responsible approach built upon
community consensus will save millions of dollars, improve operational
outcomes and increase community cohesion.
*Q: Don't we need - or want - all of these projects?  (Police Dept, City
Hall, the School)*
*We support all these projects in concept. *But costs are too high. *Why
should we in Cannon Beach pay twice as much per square foot as our
neighbors for similar projects?* (See: Manzanita’s new City Hall/Police
Station, or the proposed Astoria Film Museum.) It seems Cannon Beach’s City
Council and staff are intent on spending every dollar they possibly can.
(Remember: that’s exactly what the high-priced consultants, architects and
builders want—*the bigger the projects, the more they get paid*.)
*Q: The City says this won't cost 'me' anything. Tourists are paying
through taxes. Why not do these projects then?*
*This has the potential to cost you, the citizen, everything.* Cannon Beach
is planning increase its debt to near $40 million, tens of millions more
than the city has ever seen. This could reshape our future in drastic ways.
Already the City plans to fund parts of these projects (in yet unspecified
amounts) from the General Fund. These are full faith and credit bonds and
the City is on the hook to pay every last cent, whether tourists come or
not. *Over 30 years, do you think there could be a disruption to travel?* A
financial crisis? Wildfires? Tsunami? Regardless of tourist receipts, the
city has to pay. *A significant disruption could bankrupt our city*.
*Q: Does your group want to cause more controversy?*
No. We believe in democracy. We’re seeking consensus. We believe consensus
is achieved when all people are heard. *Cannon Beach has historically
cherished voter input on big decisions* like the purchase of the Ecola
Creek Forest Reserve and the Food Tax. When and why did this change? We
also believe that Council did not come into office with a mandate to
increase debt to almost $40 million. If you believe that the community
supports these projects then you should believe they will pass at the
ballot box. If not, why should Council disregard the will of the community?

*Q: The designs all look cool -- like other nice, new buildings in other
cities.  What's wrong with that?*
We believe these designs—from out-of-town consultants—are out of sync with
Cannon Beach’s village character. They are also out of sync with Cannon
Beach’s Comprehensive Plan. All around town cottages are being replaced
with big, gleaming McMansions. Why is the city determined to follow suit?
Bigger is not always better. Remember: consultants, contractors and
architects all have conflicts of interest; the bigger and more expensive
these projects are, the more money they make.
*Q:* *Why are the people in Cannon Beach Together hiding behind a PAC
instead of being public?*
The topics at hand have significantly polarized the community in Cannon
Beach. Cannon Beach Together (CBT) is *committed to centering discussions
on the objectives outlined in our mission*, rather than on divisions or
personal affiliations. Members of CBT are encouraged to disclose their
participation at their own discretion.

*Q: Why would you not want to do what is best for honoring the tribal
history?*
The more money saved on construction the more presenters, events and
exhibits can be produced to honor tribal and indigenous history. A big
empty building is not a museum. (Cannon Beach already has a museum focused
on tribal history.) Private rentals, weddings and corporate retreats do not
honor tribal history.

*Q:* *Wasn't there lots of analysis, discussion and alternatives debated
and reviewed?  Why isn't this the right answer?*
This process has been long and it has been backwards from the start. *There
was never a budget*. Designs were produced before costs were revealed. The
cart came before the horse. *When the costs were finally revealed long
lines of citizens stood before council and said: please, find ways to
reduce the cost*. Those concerns were never debated or reviewed seriously.
The most expensive option was chosen at practically *every* juncture.
*Q: The City Staff has done a lot of good things around here. Why should we
doubt their guidance / ability to deliver?*
*Project management of this magnitude is a full-time job.* *Managing a city
is also a full-time job. *There aren’t enough hours in the day to do both.
A single small mistake, like some we have seen already, would pay for a
full-time project manager and free the City Manager to do his (already)
full-time job. What is going to fall through the cracks?
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.crackmeup.com/pipermail/wedmrnmtg/attachments/20240808/9889b8a2/attachment.html>