Local Artist Receives International Recognition
"Head 6" by Sarah Gayle Plourde
"Head 6" by Sarah Gayle Plourde
Toledo Port Commissioner Gregg Harrison and Port Manager Bud Shoemake Tuesday asked members of the Toledo City Council for a pass on water charges for its waterfront park, now under development. Harrison also asked for relief on sewer and street maintenance fees. “We think this is warranted,” Harrison said, “because people are going to think of this as a city park, and no matter how much signage or publicity we have, people will view it as a city park. Harrison also pointed out that although the facility is being built and will be maintained by the Port, it is primarily the city and its Main Street business district that will benefit. The main point of discussion is the potential value to visitors of the public restrooms installed last fall. Shoemake said he expects the nearby transient dock will also bring visitors upriver to Toledo by water, providing another influx of visitors. The transient dock will have a sanitary pump out station for visiting watercraft hooked into the city sewer system.
Council Mark Camara argued the restroom facility is “a real asset to the city…and we need that.” Councilor Jill Lyon agreed the park and its facilities will be valuable, but did point out that “right now the city has no way of making any revenue at all on people visiting the city. We end up paying money for services when we bring people here,” she said. Lyon added it is not an exorbitant amount but points toward an ongoing problem for revenue generation. The Port plans to have the ADA-accessible restrooms open around the clock when they are activated later this year. There is no clear estimate on how much potential revenue the city would sacrifice if the Council agrees to the fee waiver request. “Restrooms aren’t flushing and sprinklers are not sprinkling yet,” Shoemake said. The Council may look at a resolution at its March 21 meeting. After bonds are arranged in April to pay for water improvements, rate waivers will not be allowed under terms of the bond sale.
The Toledo Main Street Program is transitioning to independent non-profit status, and will no longer be run by the City of Toledo. The organization is obtaining 501(c)3 status. However, the program still hopes to obtain some city funding. Program coordinator Allen Stewart and City Events Coordinator asked Toledo Council members at Tuesday’s work session for $7,500 for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, out of its total budget of $20 thousand. Main Street Board President Terri Strom told Councilors she is “really excited about this program as we move into our fourth year. The Main Street program is geared toward Main Street,” Strom said, “but our goal is to benefit the whole community…to make Toledo a destination where people want to come and where they want to stay.” Toledo Main Street is a member of Oregon Main Street, which in turn is part of the National Main Street program.
The Main Street Program, described by program coordinator Allen Stewart as a “comprehensive downtown revitalization program,” began in Toledo in 2009. Members have been active in event promotion, created a Toledo promotional DVD, worked on downtown beautification and signage, and provided training programs for business owners and merchants. The promotional DVD is visible on YouTube and will be a chapter of a new tourism DVD being produced by the Newport Chamber of Commerce. The idea is to sell Toledo as a destination in combination with Newport.
Toledo Promotional DVD:
(Update 4:15 p.m. March 13)
The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for the Central Coast starting early Wednesday morning, continuing through Wednesday afternoon. The warning period runs from 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Gusts up to 70 miles per hour could mean continuing problems with downed trees and power lines, as the area continues to recover from Monday night’s snowstorm. Winds are forecast to come up from the south, with the strongest winds from sunrise Wednesday through mid-afternoon.
(Published 10:30 a.m. March 13) Crews from Central Lincoln PUD are working to restore power in and around the Toledo area today, as well as in many other parts of the county. If you travel, don’t be surprised if you run into unanticipated road closures, as crews cut and remove trees on power lines and across roadways, or threatening to topple onto roadways. Closures will not be announced.
Toledo City Hall now has power and is open today. The public library is open, but the Toledo Pool is closed. Public Works Director Adam Denlinger reports the city water and wastewater systems are holding their own and, at this hour (10:30 a.m.), street flooding is not anticipated. However, conditions could change depending on how much rain falls, and how quickly the snow melts.
The Toledo Main Street Program is transitioning to independent non-profit status, and will no longer be run by the City of Toledo. The organization is obtaining 501(c)3 status. Program coordinator Allen Stewart said in a news release Monday (March 12) the transition “will be beneficial in a number of ways. The Main Street program will have more leeway regarding the scope of its operations and will be free from many of the restrictions related to being a public entity,” Stewart said. The program will remain partially dependent on City funds for now. The program’s future will be discussed at the Toledo City Council work session Tuesday (March 13) at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, and will make a funding request.
The Main Street Program, which began in Toledo in 2009 has been active in event promotion, created a Toledo promotional DVD, downtown beautification and signage and many training programs or business owners and merchants. Stewart hopes the public will attend the work session to offer support and comment on the Main Street Program, and advocate for continued city support.
Toledo Promotional DVD:
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