Nestucca Valley Community Alliance

A presentation to theTillamook County Board of Commissioners

April 11, 2012

Gloria Scullin, Chair

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How it all began

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South County citizens saw an opportunity toconvert commercial property to community use

4.3 acre Pacific Telecom cable landing

station

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• Following the bankruptcy of Pacific Telecom, the property was optioned to a developer

• The proposed residential development fell through and the property was put up for sale.

Cable landing property acquisition

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• A group of citizens wanted to purchase the property but funding was not available.

• The University of Washington (UW) sought a land base for its participation in the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) but could not purchase because of grant restrictions

• Tillamook Lightwave (TLW) purchased the property and agreed to lease parcels to UW and to the community

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Nestucca Valley Community Alliance

• The Nestucca Valley Community Alliance (NVCA) an all volunteer legal non-profit entity was formed in October 2010

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• We are partnering with TLW and UW to develop and manage a part of the cable landing station property for community use.

• We also recognize the opportunity in developing a relationship with UW in bringing an educational outreach program to the community.

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Organizational structure• The NVCA has a nine-member board with staggered

three year terms.• Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each

month at the Kiawanda Community Center (KCC) in Pacific City.

• The annual meeting is held on the second Saturday in August.– New board members are elected at this time.

• All meetings are open to the public and notices are sent to all area organizations and interested community members.

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The 2011-2012 NVCA Board• Gloria Scullin, Chair

– Past chair of Pacific City/Woods CPAC, thirty years with Daimler Trucks as Finance/Budget Director, working with the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum

• Paul Carlson, Vice Chair– Owner of a Health & Safety Consulting firm. Serves on the board of Denton Plastics, worked on Pacific City

growth, zoning and transportation plans, a member of the Pacific City Pathways.

• Anne Price, Secretary– Customer Service representative at Oregon Coast Bank. Current board member of PCJWSA, served as Inaugural

Chair of Pacific City/Woods CPAC, on Board of Neskowin Valley School and on the Tillamook County Planning Commission.

• Rob Royster, Treasurer– Owner/Operator of the Sportsmans Pub in Pacific City. Served as Chair of the Pacific City/Woods CPAC, on the

Nestucca Valley School District Budget Committee, has held leadership positions with Chamber of Commerce, Dorymen’s Association and served on several community boards.

• Kris Weiland – Fire Chief, Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District, member of the Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce, active

with local events, including 4th of July, Dory Days, Clover’s Day celebrations.

• Marie Heimburg – Program Manager for Tillamook County Mediation Program and County Juvenile Department and currently

serves on the Future’s Council

• Bill Busch– Retired geological oceanography professor, Neskowin Coastal Hazards Committee member

• Noe Martinez– Student at TBCC. 2011 graduate of Nestucca Valley High School, interested in community outreach

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Cable landing station-related activity• August 2011, NVCA Board developed a proposed

layout for the community portion of the property. – Presented initial proposal to TLW Operating Managers

and Board members, and the UW project manager. • September 2011, TLW completed their strategic plan

and identified their future needs for the property. – Space for additional fiber optic providers– Future needs of the University of Washington - OOI– Related parking requirements

• A local surveyor produced a conceptual plan for the property, identifying five tracts for specific uses.

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Proposed plan for cable landing station

Tracts C & DPotential Community Parking

Tract BNRFPD Water Rescue

Storage Building

Tract A Cable Landing

Buildings & Equipment

Tract ECommunity Use

Cape

Kiw

anda

Driv

e

Note: Road Access to BLM Land

Approximately 42% of the property (1.8 acres) is reserved for TLW and UW, leaving 58% (2.5 acres) for community use.

Road Access

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Tract E – community use

1. Exercise circuit2. Play ground

equipment - swings, slides, climbing structures

3. Multi-use sport area - hard surface, possibly covered area for basketball, tennis, or other sports and uses.

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Tract E – community use

4. Picnic area with tables

5. Amphitheater - simple design with a wooden stage and benches – to be used for concerts, plays, demonstrations and other activities

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Tract E – community use

6. Interpretive center - Long range plan. Building dedicated to education and cultural and historical events; for classes, meetings, displays, technology exhibits, offices for visiting educators.

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Current status of property – on hold

• The proposal for the property was presented to the TLC Federal Credit Union finance staff. – TLC expressed reservations about the value of the property

when placed in community service.– The concern - the value of the land as collateral for the

$1.75 million loan to TLW. • TLC has hired an appraiser to determine the value of the

property. • TLC will develop a schedule, after the appraisal, to

determine the time at which they will subordinate their interest in the property. – The timeframe of this action is not yet known.– We will continue to move forward in other areas. 1/18/2012

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After the license and lease are received

• A comprehensive site plan will be developed.• A final survey for grading and drainage will be completed.• Initial work

– Build the access road– Grade and surface the parking lot– Construct fences and gates• Outdoor recreation and

activity will be the initial focus.– Prepare the picnic area– Develop the exercise circuit –

install exercise stations and trail– Construct the amphitheater – Assemble playground equipment

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Non-profit status

• A local lawyer, with experience working with non-profit organizations, has assisted us in the preparation of our application for 501(c)(3) status.

• The application is near completion and will be sent to the IRS by the end of January.– The application with a 3-year financial plan and a detailed

narrative comprises over 50 pages of documentation.

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Educational outreach programs• Assisted in publicizing the Open House, July 13th, for

the OOI cable landing event– OOI program scientists and engineers gave

presentations and explained displays to 200 local residents.

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Educational outreach programs• The link with the UW – OOI education program is

continuing.– A large flat-screen TV and dedicated computer for

the Kiawanda Community Center were provided by UW.

– Media clips and video materials for classroom use and community displays are being compiled.

– Local educators have been offered guided tours of the UW’s RV Thomas Thompson when it returns to Seattle in spring 2012.

• Other opportunities within the OOI Education and Public Engagement program are being investigated.

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Actions for the immediate future• Work with the KCC Board to establish periodic

programs using film footage from OOI archives.• Invite guest speakers from UW, Oregon State

University, other institutions and our community to give public presentations.

• Explore with the Tillamook County Library ways to make OOI research and technology available to all. • Establish an OOI monitoring station at the cable landing station or other locations that will be open to the public and staffed with volunteers.

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Future opportunities• Our proximity to the OOI ocean sensors provides a

unique connection between South County residents and a part of our environment of which little is known.– Provides inspiration for increased science awareness

and appreciation of our local art, history, and culture– Introduces innovative technologies with practical

applications for schools, businesses and other organizations

• The challenge is how to inspire our young people, residents and visitors to take advantage of these opportunities.

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Longer term actions• Bring additional science, historical and cultural

experiences to South County – Add resources, equipment, project coaches to the area from

the OOI educational outreach programs.– Initiate an arrangement for a K-12 pilot program or beta test

with course materials developed by UW.– Explore software and training modules for educators.– Develop on-line and

on-site courses for Continuing Education or Learning Credits for educators across the country. (Revenue generating project)

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Longer term actions• Bring additional science, historical and cultural

experiences to South County– Emphasize ocean-related and other sciences, technology,

mathematics, art and music curricula for grades K-12.– Involve local historians and the Tillamook Pioneer

Museum to create history programs reflecting the importance of the ocean in the lives of South County families.

– Memorialize the visual and oral histories of South County on an interactive website managed by students.

– Involve the Dorymen’s Association to emphasize the importance and history of the Dory Fleets in our community1/18/2012

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How to make things happen?We need help from South County !!

We need your ideas, resources, experience, time and effort!!Our communities have a great deal of talent and expertise.

PLEASE JOIN US SPECIAL NVCA BOARD MEETING

Saturday, January 28, 20121:30 – 3:30 pm

Kiawanda Community Center

We will discuss setting priorities for the future and more importantly how to seize this opportunity and make it happen

for our children, for our future and for our community.1/18/2012