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Clatsop County offices will be closed



• Friday, December 22 at noon
• Monday, December 25
• Monday, January 1

Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, December 26 and Tuesday, January 2. 

The weekly Bulletin will also be on break and will return on Friday, January 5. 

Have a wonderful holiday season.

Update on Board of Commissioners Begin Strategic Plan Process

Clatsop County Board of Commissioners are continuing their annual strategic plan update process.

This past fall, community members were asked via an online survey for their feedback on issues and opportunities facing Clatsop County. 

During the first Strategic Planning Work Session, the Board of Commissioners reviewed the results of the survey.

This week was the second Work Session, where the Board established a list of priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. 

At the final Work Session on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, the Board will discuss actions that will be assigned to each priority to carry out this important work.

After Commissioners complete their strategic planning process, the annual update to the County’s 2021 Strategic Plan will be made available to the public.

This update will outline adopted priorities for FY 2024-25.

Housing Amendments Information Session on Proposed Zoning Changes to Simplify New Housing Construction

Clatsop County Community Development is hosting an information session regarding proposed changes to the County’s Land and Water Development and Use Code (LAWDUC), which is the County’s zoning code.  

The proposed changes are intended to simplify the housing construction process. A copy of the October 4 presentation which presented the draft changes to the Board of Commissioners can be downloaded.

The hybrid information session is 5 p.m. Tuesday, December 16 at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial Street in Astoria and via Zoom.  

Local Survey Seeks to Understand Our Community’s Strength

Resilient Clatsop County is asking for your help so they can understand the strengths we have in common in our community.

Resilience measures a community or individual’s ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties. 

This anonymous resilience survey is open to anyone 18 years of age or older and is available in English and Spanish.

Results only will be reported at the community level. That means they will be published like this: “out of 100 people surveyed, 30% have family who know a lot about them.”

Resilient Clatsop County is a group of local organizations and individuals working together to reduce early childhood adversity and build resilience in children and their families in Clatsop County. 

The survey goal is to measure positive factors that help people overcome stress and challenges. The information gathered will shed light on how we can best support each other.

5 Holiday Ideas to Help You Head into 2024

1.      Still putting together your holiday gift shopping list? If so, check it twice and then consider taking off any scratcher or lottery tickets.

2.      Planning Your Holiday Gathering? Offer non-alcoholic options for people who may be pregnant, so everyone can be part of the fun. Did you know that there is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy? Rethink Your Drink with non-alcoholic beverage options.

3.      Celebrate your holidays without headaches and hangovers.

• Choose abstinence: Consider festive non-alcoholic drinks as a way to celebrate 
• Pace yourself. Avoid binge-drinking and spread out your drinks. Try to only consume one drink per hour
• Use non-alcoholic drink spacers. Consider drinking water between each alcoholic beverage to ensure that you do not overindulge.
• If your celebration includes alcohol consumption, do not drive. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 40 percent of traffic fatalities during the holidays involve a driver who is impaired by alcohol, compared to 28 percent for the rest of the year. Make sure you have a designated driver for your holiday gathering who remains 100 percent sober and is not simply the person who drank the least.

4.      Some tips to if you host a holiday gathering:

• Offer a variety of alcohol-free drinks—water, juices, sparkling sodas. Alcohol-free drinks help counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Also, the other fluids may slow the rate of alcohol absorption into the body and reduce the peak alcohol concentration in the blood. They also provide your guests with alternatives to alcohol.
• Provide a variety of healthy foods and snacks. Food can slow the absorption of alcohol and reduce the peak level of alcohol in the body by about one-third. Food can also minimize stomach irritation and gastrointestinal distress the following day.
• Help your guests get home safely—use designated drivers and taxis. Anyone getting behind the wheel of a car should not have ingested any alcohol.
• If you are a parent, understand the underage drinking laws—and set a good example.

5.      Making New Year’s resolutions? Is one of them to stop gambling? Reach out to the Oregon Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-695-4648 for more information.

Have a safe holiday season!

Winter Whale Watch Week is around the corner. 

Go to one of 15 Whale Watch sites for the annual winter migration of Gray whales from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 27 - Sunday, December 31. 

Volunteers will be ready to help you spot the whales and answer your questions.



Whale Watch locations are listed at the Oregon Parks website.

Free Hikes on January 1

Get outdoors on New Year's Day for free First Day Hikes. 

You can choose from 34 free hikes in 31 parks across Oregon. All hikes will be guided by a park ranger or volunteer who will share stories about the park’s history, geology, wildlife and plants. 

Day-use parking fees will be waived Monday, January 1, at all open parks that normally charge a parking fee.

Visit the Oregon State Parks website for a list of parks and to get hike description and distances. 

New Point Size Requirement for Filing Documents Starts Jan. 1

Effective January 1, 2024, documents being recorded in the County Clerk’s property records must have text with font sizes of at least 10-point type. 

We urge all customers to begin updating their forms and templates early to avoid recording delays or extra charges.

This change in font type is due to House Bill 2029, which amended Oregon Revised Statute 205.232.

Questions? Contact the Clatsop County Clerk and Elections Office at 503-325-8511.

Board of Property Tax Appeals (BoPTA)

If you disagree with your property value on the tax bill you received this fall, you may appeal to the Board of Property Tax Appeals.

Your evidence must reflect the value of the property as it existed on Jan. 1, 2023. You may access petition forms at the Clatsop County website. 

A filing fee of $35 per account must accompany your petition with one petition per tax account. Appeals must be filed by Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

We suggest you contact the Assessment and Taxation Office at 503-325-8522 prior to completing your appeal form.

The Assessment and Taxation Office can assist you in understanding the basis for your property value and, in some cases, may be able to make changes without requiring you to file an appeal.

Volunteers Sought for Clatsop County Advisory Council and Committee

4-H Extension Budget Committee

Clatsop County is accepting applications for two vacancies on the 4-H Extension Budget Committee.

Budget committee members review the proposed overall 4-H Extension Service budget, make recommendations and approve the proposed 4-H Extension budget for adoption by the county commissioners.

The vacancies are for three-year terms.



Read more.

Human Services Advisory Council

Clatsop County is welcoming applications for one open seat on the Human Services Advisory Council.

The Human Services Advisory Council advises the Board of County Commissioners on developmental disabilities, mental health and alcohol and drug abuse services. 

The council meets the first Thursday of each month to identify needs, establish priorities for publicly funded services and assist in selection of service providers, evaluate services and provide a link to the public through advocacy and education. 



There is one open seat with the term ending February 28, 2024, which may be renewed for a new three-year term.



Read more.

Recreational Lands Planning Advisory Committee

Clatsop County invites applications from individuals interested in serving on three open seats on the Clatsop County Recreational Lands Planning Advisory Committee. 

The Board of Clatsop County Commissioners created the Clatsop County Recreational Lands Planning Advisory Committee to assist the County in the development of long-range plans for County parks and to direct the formulation and preparation of amendments to Clatsop County’s Recreational Lands Element of the Comprehensive Plan. 

For more information about this committee’s meetings or responsibilities, please email or call Steve Meshke, natural resources manager, at 503-325-6452.

Read more.

We Need Your Help to Reach More Oregonians

If you’re 65 or older or experiencing homelessness, or you know people in Oregon who are, Oregon Health Authority needs your help.

Please remind those you know that time is running out for people to protect their Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and other Medicaid benefits. OHP members have been sent letters about this since April. 

Some members are keeping their benefits with no action required. But other members must take action to keep their benefits.

Many members are at risk of losing coverage because they haven’t responded to the renewal letter, and a high number of these members are age 65 or older or experiencing homelessness.

Read more.

Research Study Related to PTSD Looking for Veteran Volunteers

The Boise VA Medical Center Research Department is conducting a research study related to post traumatic stress disorder and is looking for veterans diagnosed with PTSD to volunteer to join a trial of a new PTSD treatment therapy being studied.

This study represents a new strategy in the fight against long-term physical and psychological injuries. It will explore the effects of new medications and help determine the best match for what each individual's brain needs to succeed in treatment.

Participants will receive compensation for their time to complete the study plus travel time.

You may be eligible if you are 18-64 years old with either:

• A diagnosis of depression and are taking an antidepressant
• A diagnosis of depression with mild/moderate PTSD and are taking an antidepressant

Read more. 

Private Forest Accord Grant Program Grant Application is Open

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Private Forest Accord Grants Program is accepting applications for landowners to protect salmon and other aquatic species.

The deadline to submit applications is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.



Read more.

Crews will:



• Install school zone signs on Lewis and Clark Road
• Brush chop countywide
• Perform culvert and ditch maintenance county wide
• Monitor for inclement weather affecting roads

May 2024 Primary Election Candidate Filing Opens

The candidate filing window has opened for the May 21, 2024 Primary Election. 

Positions include County Commissioner District 2, County Commissioner District 4, Sheriff and Precinct Committee Persons.

Recording Information

You can now search for a document that has been recorded in Clatsop County.

We have developed a way for you to search for a document before coming in or calling our office. 

Once you find the document you are looking for, you can request a copy without paying a research fee.  

Just go to our website under Recording Information – Records Research, click on Locate a Document.

Passports

An appointment is required prior to coming in for new passport processing. Routine service can take 7-10 weeks or longer. Expedite service can take 3-5 weeks. 

Appointment Scheduling Saves You Time

Please go to our webpage and schedule an appointment for passports, park passes, marriage licenses, dog licenses, and recordings with us.

If you do not have an appointment, you may be asked to wait if we are with someone who has scheduled an appointment. 

Clatsop County is a great place to work. Find out about current Clatsop County career opportunities where you can make a difference every day.

• Community Corrections Records Specialist (Part-time, Temporary). Open until filled. Posted Internally and Externally
• Custodian. Open until filled. Posted Internally and Externally
• Electrical Inspector. Open until filled. Posted Internally and Externally
• Victim Services Coordinator (part-time). Open until filled. Posted Internally and Externally

Clatsop County is committed to being transparent and providing the information you need, when you need it.

Our new subscriptions webpage has a variety of email update topics and gives you the option of signing up or unsubscribing.