Councilor Tom Hilton answers residents' questions.

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Meeting with Tom Hilton, Astoria City Councilor Ward 4.
Wednesday October 6, 2021, 5pm
Pier 39 Banquet Room

12 Mill Pond Village residents in attendance

FYI: Answers are not quotes from Tom. They’re Judith Huck's interpretation.

Q&A

Q: Why did you want to be on Astoria’s City Council?
A: Several local residents asked Tom to run for City Council. They wanted a long time Astoria resident to run for the open City Council seat.

Q: What is your vision for Astoria?
A: Tom shared that Astoria used to be a timber, lumber, fishing and cannery town. Now it’s evolving to be more of a tourism town. Tourism and hotel taxes are included in the money the City runs on.

Q: What are the biggest Astoria area concerns that you’re working on?
A: 1. Traffic - should we put in a new truck route around downtown? 2. Homelessness - how to help people that are struggling. 3. Fairness in the way the City is run. 4. Riverwalk lighting.

Q: Are Astoria city councilors assigned City departments to oversee?
A: No.

Q: When will the new Riverwalk lights be installed along the path? And what locations?
A: The bollard lights (down lights) will be installed along the Riverwalk from the Maritime Museum to Pier 39. Engineering is still being done on how and where exactly the lights will be installed. Installation date unknown at this time.

Q: What City projects are you currently working on as our councilor?
A: None.

Q: What’s the plan for the 36th Street dock and walkway that recently fell?
A: That is Port of Astoria property, not City property. It’s up the Port as to the repairs.

Q: What can be done about RV camping on streets or parking lots?
A: The City has a no camping rule. Also, new no trash and no human waste rules.

Q: We want our City to be beautiful for visitors. How about emptying the garbage cans more often as they get overflowing after a holiday weekend?
A: During Covid lockdowns the garbage emptying company struggled. There is a new plan in place for regular City garbage can emptying.

Q: MPV would like to advocate for the new Farm Workers Medical Clinic having enough parking for patients AND employees to park on site.
A: Attend City Council meetings and let the Council know your concerns.

Q: What’s the status of Heritage Square?
A: There are plans being formulated for Heritage Square to include downtown worker housing and new commercial space on the ground floor.

Q: Who do we talk to if we have ideas about beautifying our City or attracting more visitors?
A: ADHDA Astoria Downtown Historic District Association 503-791-7940 office@astoriadowntown.com

Q: Whom do we talk to when we have a concern about our area or the Astoria City in general?
A: If you see something you have a concern about email the appropriate city department and cc
Tom Hilton thilton@astoria.or.us
City Manager: Brett Estes 503-325-5824 bestes@astoria.or.us
Admin Asst: Jennifer Benoit jbenoit@astoria.or.us
Parks & Recreation: Jonah Dart-McLean 503-298-2467 jdart@astoria.or.us
Public Works: Jeff Harrington 503-338-5177 jharrington@astoria.or.us
Admin Asst: Sarah Hammond shammond@astoria.or.us

Other info Tom shared:
The breweries use a lot of water in their manufacturing. We all share in the cost to process the water.