Residents urge alternatives to fines for unsheltered people; teacher seeks homestay parking rule change

Public-comment speakers at the Astoria City Council meeting on Dec. 15 urged the council to pursue alternative approaches to homelessness and to revisit homestay-lodging parking rules.

Jason Murray, a local teacher, told the council he supports homestay lodging as a tool to help city civil servants afford housing but said a parking-provision in the current application effectively excludes his property. Murray asked staff to re-evaluate parking eligibility and said he had been advised that a $500 application process exists but was not optimistic about passing it under current rules.

Emily Ingdahl, a retired professional fiduciary and organizer, urged the council not to escalate fines or citations as the primary tool for managing unsheltered residents and called for including people with lived experience in planning. Ingdahl recommended expanding Lifeboat beds, using super-siting authority, and exploring sanctioned camping or tiny-home sites; she offered volunteer support and pointed to regional examples such as Square One Villages and Stepping Stones in Seaside.

Council members invited the commenters to work with staff and noted that planning and community-development staff would follow up on parking and policy questions. Director Dart McLean offered to provide staff contact details after the meeting.