Results of the Clatsop County Econom Development Survey ic Final Report for: Prepared for: Clatsop County Prepared by: ng Workshop Service Center rsity of Oregon R 97403-1209 @uoregon.edu oregon.edu/~cpw Community Planni Community 1209 Unive Eugene, O Email: cpw http://darkwing.uMarch 2005 Special Thanks & Acknowledgements Community Planning Workshop wishes to thank the following individuals for their assistance with this evaluation. Kathleen A. Sellman AICP, Community Development Director Scott Derickson, Clatsop County Administrator Community Planning Workshop Staff Project Manager: Beth Goodman Researcher: Nicholas Snead Faculty Advisor: Robert Parker Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................... I Methodology......................................................................................... i Key Findings.........................................................................................ii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................. 1 Methodology........................................................................................ 1 Organization of this report ................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 2 RESIDENT SURVEY RESULTS......................................... 3 Characteristics of Survey Respondents .............................................. 3 Quality of Life ...................................................................................... 7 Key Findings...................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 3 BUSINESS SURVEY RESPONSES ................................. 15 Characteristics of Responding Businesses ....................................... 15 Business Climate............................................................................... 19 Plans for Business Expansion ........................................................... 27 Key Findings...................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER 4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES......................... 35 Residential Opinions about Economic Development Policies............ 35 Business Opinions about Economic Development Policies............... 42 Comparison of Residential and Business Opinions about Economic Development Policies........................................................................ 47 Key Findings...................................................................................... 50 APPENDIX A RESIDENTIAL SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND SURVEY INSTRUMENT ........................................................................................ 53 APPENDIX B OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS FROM THE RESIDENTIAL SURVEY................................................................................................. 63 APPENDIX C BUSINESS SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND SURVEY INSTRUMENT ........................................................................................ 91 APPENDIX D OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS FROM THE BUSINESS SURVEY............................................................................................... 101 Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page i Executive Summary Clatsop County contracted with the Community Planning Workshop (CPW) at the University of Oregon to conduct a residential and a business survey about economic development issues in Clatsop County. The goal of these surveys is to get opinions and perspectives from a range of people who live and own or manage businesses in Clatsop County. The survey was conducted from November to December of 2004. The Executive Summary describes the projects methods and highlights some of the key survey findings. Methodology The primary research tools were two surveys, one mailed to businesses in Clatsop County and one mailed to residents of Clatsop County. CPW drew a random sample of 1,200 names for each survey. Of the 1,200 surveys administered to residents, eleven were undeliverable, yielding an effective sample size of 1,189. CPW received 265 valid responses resulting in a 22.3% response rate. Of the 1,200 surveys administered to businesses, 314 were undeliverable, yielding an effective sample size of 886. CPW received 183 valid responses, resulting in a 20.7% response rate. A potential limitation of any random sample survey is non-response bias. In the case of the surveys CPW conducted for Clatsop County, if one were to assume that the sample was perfectly random and that there was no response bias, then the survey would have a margin of error of ±7% at the 95% confidence level based on the sample size relative to the sample population. This means that if the survey were conducted 100 times, 95 of those times we would expect the results would end up within ±7% of those presented in this report. Non-response bias is an issue in all surveys, but is particularly important in mailed surveys due to response rates. The Residential survey has a 22% response rate and the Business survey had a 21% response rate. We can use the comparisons of the demographics for survey respondents to evaluate how representative we feel the samples are. While the Residential sample shows some key differences from the sample population, CPW is confident that the survey identifies the range of attitudes and opinions that County residents have regarding economic development. While the survey provides specific data on many local issues, we encourage the County Board of Commissioners to consider the results in light of other information pertinent to developing an effective economic development strategy. In short, the survey results should not be directly interpreted as a policy mandate. Page ii Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Key Findings Residential Survey • Survey respondents exhibited many similarities to all residents of Clatsop County, however, there are some notable differences between the groups. In general, survey respondents are somewhat older, more frequently female, are more likely to own their home, and more frequently have a higher educational attainment. • About 73% of the residents surveyed responded that the projected population growth is acceptable. Twenty-one percent of those surveyed indicated that the population is growing too quickly, and 6% of the residents surveyed indicated that Clatsop County is growing to slowly. • The top five characteristics that residents indicated that were most important for establishing a high quality of life were: quality of education system, living wage jobs, affordable housing, variety of health care choices, and environmental quality. • The services and amenities that survey respondents rated highest were: access to recreation, environmental quality, parks, natural resources and habitat protection, and access to a performing arts center. • There is a gap between the quality of life characteristics survey respondents thought were important and characteristics that were rated highly in Clatsop County. Respondents rated quality of education system, living wage jobs, and affordable housing as the most important characteristics for a high quality of life. The current quality of living wage jobs and affordable housing were among the lowest rated characteristics. • About 38% of respondents indicated that Clatsop County is better off now than five years ago. Twenty-four percent of respondents indicated that Clatsop County is about the same today as it was five years ago, while 15% indicated that they are not sure if Clatsop County is better of now. Twenty-two percent of respondents indicated that Clatsop County is not better off now. • The majority of respondents think that there are not enough opportunities for job training and education. The types of job training and education that the most respondents indicated would be helpful are: trade (such as carpentry or plumbing) training, higher education, and health care training. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page iii • County residents tend to purchase lower-order goods (goods that are needed day-to-day) locally. For example, 91% of respondents indicated they purchase banking services, 72% indicated they purchase clothing and shoes, and 71% indicated they purchase pharmaceuticals locally. A higher percentage of respondents purchase goods or services—services like investment services, travel services, and computers and electronics —that are not readily available in Clatsop County in other markets. Business Survey • Most respondents are small businesses, with four or fewer employees and annual revenues of $500,000 or less. About one-third of the businesses have been in Clatsop County for 30 years or more. • Less than 10% of survey respondents rated Clatsop County as an excellent place to do business. About 35% of respondents rated the County as a good place to do business and about 45% rated it as a fair place to do business. Slightly more than 10% rated the County as a poor place to do business. • When asked whether the County is a better place to do business now that it was five years ago, 32% of respondents thought the County is a better place to conduct business, 16% of businesses thought the County is a worse place to do business, and 16% thought that conducting business in the County is both better and worse. Twenty-nine percent of respondents thought that conducting business in the County has not changed in the last five-years. • Business respondents think that quality of life characteristics, including recreation opportunities, quality of life, environmental quality, and community safety, have positive effects on Clatsop County as a place to do business. • Business respondents think that regulatory practices, the tax burden, economic issues, and lack of a well-trained labor force have a negative effect on businesses in Clatsop County. • Thirty-nine percent of respondents thought the County government is somewhat supportive or very supportive to local businesses, 29% thought the government is somewhat unsupportive or very unsupportive to local businesses, and 33% thought the government is neither supportive or unsupportive to local businesses. • Fifty-three percent of businesses indicate that they plan to expand in the next five years. Eighty percent of these businesses plan to expand in Clatsop County. They expect to hire an average of 9.2 new employees, need an average of 3.2 Page iv Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results acres for expansion, and need an average of an additional 3,000 square feet of floor space. Economic Development Policies for the Residential and Business Surveys • A large majority of businesses and residents are in favor of economic growth and think that the County should either encourage economic growth or accommodate and manage it. About 47% of respondents thought the County should encourage economic growth and 36% of respondents thought that the County should accommodate and manage economic growth. Relatively few respondents (3%) thought that the County should discourage economic growth. • Businesses and residents think that economic development should be promoted by a combination of County and city governments and the local chambers of commerce. • Respondents perceive that there are barriers to economic development in Clatsop County. Businesses perceived regulations and the lack of focus on economic development by the government as significant barriers. Residents perceived transportation, government attitudes, and a negative attitude about growth as barriers to economic development • Residential respondents are more in favor of economic development policies and strategies that enhance the quality of life and provide better job training. Business respondents are more in favor of economic development policies and strategies that reduce regulation and fees, increase the amount of industrial land that is available, and actively recruit new businesses • Nearly half of residential respondents think that the County should use financial incentives, such as tax abatements or loans, to attract new businesses. The majority of these respondents support the use of tax breaks, fee waivers, loans, and grants to attract new businesses to the County. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 1 Chapter 1 Introduction The Clatsop Board of County Commissioners is working to update the County’s economic development strategy. Clatsop County last updated the economic development portions of their comprehensive plan in 1983. To accomplish the update, the Board of County Commissioners is using a ten-step process to determine the County's role in economic development. This process includes working with community groups, such as the Clatsop Economic Development Council (CEDC), as well as conducting surveys and focus group meetings. The County’s updated economic development strategy will result in goals and actions that are achievable within the current budgetary constraints. The second step of the Board of County Commissioners' program was to survey residents and business about their attitudes about growth, quality of life, the business climate, and potential economic development policies. The goal of these surveys was to get opinions and perspectives from people that live or manage businesses in Clatsop County. The Community Planning Workshop worked with staff members in the Clatsop County government to develop and implement the surveys of businesses and residents. Methodology The primary research tools were two surveys, one mailed to businesses in Clatsop County and one mailed to residents of Clatsop County. CPW drew a random sample of 1,200 names for each survey. Of the 1,200 surveys administered to residents, eleven were undeliverable, yielding an effective sample size of 1,189. CPW received 265 valid responses resulting in a 22.3% response rate. Of the 1,200 surveys administered to businesses, 314 were undeliverable, yielding an effective sample size of 886. CPW received 183 valid responses, resulting in a 20.7% response rate. Appendix A provides a more detailed discussion of the methodology for the Residential survey. Appendix C provides a more detailed discussion of the methodology for the Business survey. Limitations of this study A key limitation of any random sample survey is non-response bias. If one were to assume that the sample was perfectly random and that there was no response bias, then the survey would have a margin of error of ±7% at the 95% confidence level based on the sample size relative to the sample population. This means that if the survey were conducted 100 times, 95 of those times we would expect the results would end up within ±7% of those presented in this report. Page 2 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Non-response bias is an issue in all surveys, but is particularly important in mailed surveys due to response rates. The Residential survey has a 22% response rate and the Business survey had a 21% response rate. We can use the comparisons of the demographics for survey respondents to evaluate how representative we feel the samples are. The demographic comparisons are presented at the beginning of Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. Organization of this report The remainder of this report is organized as follows: • Chapter 2: Resident Survey Results presents respondents' demographic data and opinions about quality of life issues. • Chapter 3: Business Survey Results presents respondents' demographic data, opinions about the current business climate, and plans for future business expansions. • Chapter 4: Economic Development presents residential and business respondents' opinions about economic development policies, as well as a comparison of residential and business attitudes. This report also includes four appendices: • Appendix A: Residential Survey Methodology and Survey Instrument includes a description of the residential survey methodology and the survey instruments. • Appendix B: Open-ended Questions from the Residential Survey is a transcript of the open-ended questions on the residential survey. • Appendix C: Business Survey Methodology and Survey Instrument includes a description of the business survey methodology and the survey instruments. • Appendix D: Open-ended Questions from the Business Survey is a transcript of the open-ended questions on the business survey. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 3 Chapter 2 Resident Survey Results In this chapter, we describe the results of the resident survey that CPW conducted in November and December 2004. The chapter begins with a discussion of the characteristics of survey respondents. Where appropriate, we compare the demographic characteristics of the survey respondents to United States Census data for Clatsop County. The chapter then presents the results of questions about growth and quality of life issues. Finally, at the end of the survey, respondents were given the opportunity to provide additional comments. A transcript of the comments is provided in Appendix B. Characteristics of Survey Respondents In any analysis of survey results based on a population sample, it is important to identify and describe the demographic characteristics of the sample and compare them to the characteristics of the population as a whole. Significant differences between the sample and entire population could indicate areas of potential bias of the survey results. We compared the demographics of the survey respondents to U.S. Census data from 2000 for Clatsop County.1 Figure 2-1 shows the age of the residential survey respondents compared to the age of Clatsop County residents. Survey respondents were generally older than all residents of Clatsop County. Respondents between the ages of 18 and 44 were under represented in the survey responses. Residents 45 years and older were over represented by the survey responses, especially for respondents aged 55 to 74. This may results from the fact that surveys were sent to registered voters and younger people, especially those less than 24 years old, are less likely to be registered voters than older people. 1 We recognize that the Census data were more than four years old at the time the survey was conducted. However, the Census data provide the best baseline data source for comparison of the survey responses. Page 4 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Figure 2-1. Age of Survey Respondents 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 18-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85 + Ag e G ro up Percent County Residents Survey Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004, U.S. Census, 2000 Table 2-1 shows the gender distribution of the survey respondents. Females were over-represented in the survey responses, with 58% of survey respondents being female, compared with 51% of Clatsop County's general population. Table 2-1. Gender of Respondents Gender Survey Respondents Clatsop County Male 42% 49% Female 58% 51% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004, U.S. Census, 2000 Most survey respondents lived in two-person households, as shown in Table 2-2. Twenty-percent of respondents indicated that children live in the household, with an average of approximately two children per household. The average household size of survey respondents was 2.29 persons, which was slightly lower than the County-wide household size of 2.35.2 Two-person households were over represented in the survey and one-person households were under represented in the survey responses. 2 U.S. Census, 2000 Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 5 Table 2-2. Household Size Household Size Number Percent Number Percent 1-person 51 20% 4355 30% 2-person 139 54% 5482 37% 3-person 34 13% 2081 14% 4-person 20 8% 1672 11% 5-person 9 3% 728 5% 6-persons or more 6 2% 385 3% Clatsop County Survey Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004, U.S. Census, 2000 Figure 2-2 shows the household income for survey respondents compared with all County Residents.3 Household income for survey respondents tended to be slightly higher than household income for all County residents. Households making between $50,000 and $59,999 annually were over represented and households with annual income less than $15,000 were under represented. Figure 2-2. Household Income 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% Less than $10,000 $10,000 to $14,999 $15,000 to $19,999 $20,000 to $29,999 $30,000 to $39,999 $40,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $59,999 $60,000 to $74,999 $75,000 to $99,999 $100,000 or more In co m e Percent of Respondents County Residents Survey Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004, U.S. Census, 2000 3 The household income data for the County residents is taken from the 1999 income information in the 2000 U.S. Census. It is probable that household income for Clatsop County residents has increased since 1999. Page 6 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Table 2-3 shows housing tenure for survey respondents and all Clatsop County residents. Seventy-nine percent of survey respondents owned their home, compared with 64% of all County residents. Renters were under represented in the survey respondents, with 21% of respondents renters, compared with 36% of the County's population. This suggests that the survey sample over represented homeowners. Table 2-3. Housing Tenure of Survey Respondents Response Survey Respondents Clatsop County Rent 21% 36% Own 79% 64% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004, U.S. Census, 2000 Figure 2-3 shows the educational attainment for survey respondents compared to all residents of the County.4 Survey respondents had some college or post graduate work more frequently than the County's population. The survey respondents under represent residents with educational attainment of high school/GED or less. Figure 2-3. Educational Attainment 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Grade School Some High School High School/GED Some College College Graduate Post Graduate Work Ed uc at io na l A tt ai nm en t Percent of Respondents County Residents Survey Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004, U.S. Census, 2000 4 The survey did not differentiate between a two-year Associate's degree (AA) and a four- year Bachelor's degree (BA/BS). The U.S. Census does distinguish between the two types of degrees. We felt it likely that people with an AA degree would consider themselves a college graduate, so we combined the AA and BA/BS degree data in the Census into the category "college graduate." Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 7 Table 2-4 shows the part of Clatsop County that best describes the location of survey respondents' home. Forty-eight percent of survey respondents lived in the Astoria and Warrenton area. Twenty-one percent lived in the Seaside and Gearhart area and 15% lived in unincorporated areas of the County. Table 2-4. Respondents' Location of Residence Location Number Percent Astoria 85 32% Warrenton 42 16% Unincorporated County 40 15% Seaside 34 13% Gearhart 21 8% East County 18 7% Cannon Beach 15 6% Hammond 7 3% Arch Cape 2 1% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Quality of Life Quality of life is comprised of all the elements that make a community a good place to live, such as high quality education, availability of family wage jobs, access to recreation and cultural amenities, affordable housing, good environmental quality, as well as other elements. CPW asked respondents questions about the County's growth rate, the importance of specific elements of quality of life, the quality of the elements of quality of life in the County, and the availability of job training and education. The survey asked residents their opinion about the State of Oregon's projection that population will grow by 0.8% per year in Clatsop County from now until 2020. Table 2-5 shows that 73% of the residents surveyed responded that the projected population growth is acceptable. Twenty-one percent of those surveyed indicated that the population is growing too quickly, and 6% of the residents surveyed indicated that Clatsop County is growing to slowly. Table 2-5. Respondents' opinion about the growth rate in Clatsop County Response Number Percent Acceptable 175 73% Growing too quickly 51 21% Growing to slowly 14 6% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Page 8 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Table 2-6 shows residents' opinion about the importance of various characteristics for establishing a high quality of life, ranked by the mean score for each characteristic (where 1=very positive and 5=very negative).5 The top five characteristics that residents indicated that were most important for establishing a high quality of life were: quality of education system, living wage jobs, affordable housing, variety of health care choices, and environmental quality.6 The characteristics that residents indicated were least important to a high quality of life were: access to performing arts center, variety of shopping opportunities, and transportation options. Although respondents indicated that these characteristics were "very important" or "important" less frequently, each of these characteristics is ranked as "very important" or "important" by more than 50% of respondents. Table 2-6. Respondents' opinion about the importance of selected quality of life characteristics Characteristic Very Important Important Neutral Unimportant Very Unimportant Not Sure Mean Quality of education system 71% 25% 3% 1% 0% 0% 1.34 Living wage jobs 69% 28% 2% 1% 0% 0% 1.36 Affordable Housing 64% 30% 5% 2% 0% 0% 1.44 Variety of health care choices 50% 43% 6% 0% 0% 0% 1.58 Environmental quality 51% 37% 10% 2% 1% 1% 1.64 Access to higher education 51% 36% 9% 3% 0% 0% 1.65 Diverse economic base 38% 45% 13% 2% 1% 1% 1.81 Variety of housing choices 29% 56% 13% 1% 0% 1% 1.85 Access to recreation 31% 51% 14% 3% 0% 0% 1.89 Natural resources and habitat protection 38% 36% 20% 4% 1% 1% 1.92 Parks 24% 53% 18% 3% 1% 0% 2.03 Transportation options 21% 52% 22% 4% 2% 0% 2.15 Variety of shopping opportunities 16% 48% 27% 5% 3% 0% 2.30 Access to a performing arts center 12% 39% 32% 12% 5% 0% 2.59 Other 72% 20% 4% 0% 0% 4% 1.29 Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Table 2-7 shows how survey respondents rate the current quality of services and amenities in Clatsop County, ranked by the mean score for each characteristic (where 1=very positive and 5=very negative).7 None of the services and amenities overwhelmingly received a "very good" or "very poor" rating from survey respondents. The results are spread out on the quality continuum and there are many responses that rate the quality of services and amenities as "neutral." 5 The value for the answer "not sure" is not included in the calculation of the characteristics' mean. 6 We did not consider the category "other" in the top five responses because only 25 respondents listed other characteristics and ranked them. 7 The value for the answer "not sure" is not included in the calculation of the characteristics' mean. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 9 The services and amenities that survey respondents rated highest were: access to recreation, environmental quality, parks, natural resources and habitat protection, and access to a performing arts center. The services and amenities that survey respondents rated lowest were: living wage jobs, diverse economic base, affordable housing, and the variety of health care choices. Table 2-7. Respondents' opinion about current services and amenities Characteristic Very Good Good Neutral Poor Very Poor Mean Access to recreation 19% 53% 22% 5% 1% 2.16 Environmental quality 13% 54% 27% 5% 1% 2.28 Parks 13% 52% 26% 7% 1% 2.32 Natural resources and habitat protection 12% 53% 27% 6% 2% 2.33 Access to a performing arts center 5% 38% 44% 11% 2% 2.67 quality education system 2% 39% 40% 16% 2% 2.76 Access to higher education 4% 39% 36% 19% 3% 2.79 Variety of shopping opportunities 2% 42% 30% 24% 3% 2.83 Transportation options 3% 36% 40% 17% 4% 2.83 Variety of housing choices 2% 36% 39% 21% 3% 2.87 Variety of health care choices 3% 35% 28% 29% 6% 2.99 Affordable Housing 2% 31% 31% 34% 3% 3.05 Other 23% 15% 23% 0% 38% 3.15 Diverse economic base 1% 15% 35% 46% 4% 3.37 Living wage jobs 1% 7% 23% 57% 13% 3.75 Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 The results in Table 2-6 and Table 2-7 show that there is a gap between the quality of life characteristics survey respondents thought were important and characteristics that were rated highly in Clatsop County. Respondents rated quality of education system, living wage jobs, and affordable housing as the most important characteristics for a high quality of life. Among these characteristics, the quality of education is best-rated, with 42% of respondents rating it "very good" or "good", 40% rating it as " neutral", and 18% rating it as "poor" or "very poor." The current quality of living wage jobs and affordable housing were among the lowest rated characteristics. Respondents gave the current quality of access to recreation, environmental quality, and parks the highest ratings. But only environmental quality was listed in their top five most important characteristics for quality of life, shown in Table 2-6. Figure 2-4 shows respondents' perception of whether Clatsop County is better off now compared to five years ago. About 38% of respondents indicated that Clatsop County is better off now than five years ago. Twenty-four percent of respondents indicated that Clatsop County is Page 10 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results about the same today as it was five years ago, while 15% indicated that they are not sure if Clatsop County is better of now. Twenty-two percent of respondents indicated that Clatsop County is not better off now. Figure 2-4. Respondents' opinion about whether Clatsop County is better off now than it was five years ago 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Not sure About the same No Yes O pi ni on Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Job Training and Educational Opportunities The survey asked residents' opinion about whether there are sufficient opportunities for job training and higher education in Clatsop County. Sixty-one percent of respondents indicated that there are not sufficient job training and higher education opportunities in Clatsop County and 39% indicated there are sufficient job training and higher education opportunities in the County. As a follow up question, respondents who answered that there are not enough opportunities for job training and higher education in Clatsop County were asked what type of training or education would be most helpful. Table 2-8 shows that residents responded that trade (such as carpentry or plumbing) training, higher education, and health care training would be most helpful. The three types of education that received the fewest responses were: restaurant and food services, agricultural education, and management. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 11 Table 2-8. Residents' opinion about the types of job training that would be helpful Characteristic Number Percent Trade (such as carpentry or plumbing) 90 60% Higher education 87 58% Health care 77 51% High-tech 71 47% Adult literacy 61 40% Maintenance and repair 60 40% Business and finance 48 32% English language 48 32% Professional 43 28% Forest management 40 26% Other technical 39 26% Office and administrative support 37 25% Spanish language 37 25% Restaurant or food services 35 23% Agricultural education 31 21% Management 26 17% Other (please specify) 8 5% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Shopping Figure 2-5 shows the percentage of respondents' shopping that occurs in Clatsop County. The majority of respondents do 50% or more of their shopping in Clatsop County. More than half of those surveyed indicated that 75% to 100% of their shopping is occurs in the county (58%). Twenty-seven percent of those surveyed indicated that 50% to 75% of their shopping occurs within the county. Nine percent of respondents purchase 25% to 50% of their goods and services in the county and 4% do 25% or less of their shopping in Clatsop County. Page 12 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Figure 2-5. Percentage of shopping that respondents do within Clatsop County 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 25% or less 50% to 25% 75% to 50% 100% to 75% Pe rc en t o f S ho pp in g Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 As a follow-up question, respondents were asked which products and services they purchase when they locally available. Table 2-9 shows that respondents frequently purchased the following products and services when they were available locally: banking services, medical services, dental services, clothing and shoes, auto parts and accessories, and pharmaceuticals. The products and services that respondents indicated they would purchase locally least frequently were investment services, travel services, and computers and electronics. Table 2-9. Types of products and services that respondents purchase in Clatsop County Product or Service Number Percent Banking services 240 91% Medical services 212 80% Dental services 208 78% Clothing and shoes 191 72% Auto parts and accessories 189 71% Pharmaceuticals 187 71% Insurance services 168 63% Furniture and appliances 148 56% Recreation services 140 53% Office supplies 113 43% Legal services 110 42% Travel services 77 29% Computers and electronics 73 28% Investment services 59 22% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 13 Table 2-10 shows respondents' reasons for shopping outside of Clatsop County. The majority of respondents indicated that the reasons they shop outside of the County are selection and price. Respondents rarely indicated that parking availability and distance from work are reasons for shopping outside of Clatsop County. Table 2-10. Respondents' reasons for shopping outside of Clatsop County Reasons Number Percent Selection 188 71% Price 175 66% Product Quality 70 26% Close to other shopping 62 23% Hours of Operation 24 9% Customer Service 23 9% Parking Availability 13 5% Close to work 2 1% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Key Findings • Survey respondents exhibited many similarities to all residents of Clatsop County, however, there are some notable differences between the groups. In general, survey respondents are somewhat older, more frequently female, are more likely to own their home, and more frequently have a higher educational attainment. • About 73% of the residents surveyed responded that the projected population growth is acceptable. Twenty-one percent of those surveyed indicated that the population is growing too quickly, and 6% of the residents surveyed indicated that Clatsop County is growing to slowly. • The top five characteristics that residents indicated that were most important for establishing a high quality of life were: quality of education system, living wage jobs, affordable housing, variety of health care choices, and environmental quality. • The services and amenities that survey respondents rated highest were: access to recreation, environmental quality, parks, natural resources and habitat protection, and access to a performing arts center. • There is a gap between the quality of life characteristics survey respondents thought were important and characteristics that were rated highly in Clatsop County. Respondents rated quality of education system, living wage jobs, and affordable housing as the most important Page 14 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results characteristics for a high quality of life. The current quality of living wage jobs and affordable housing were among the lowest rated characteristics. • About 38% of respondents indicated that Clatsop County is better off now than five years ago. Twenty-four percent of respondents indicated that Clatsop County is about the same today as it was five years ago, while 15% indicated that they are not sure if Clatsop County is better of now. Twenty-two percent of respondents indicated that Clatsop County is not better off now. • The majority of respondents think that there are not enough opportunities for job training and education. The types of job training and education that the most respondents indicated would be helpful are: trade (such as carpentry or plumbing) training, higher education, and health care training. • County residents tend to purchase lower-order goods (goods that are needed day-to-day) locally. For example, 91% of respondents indicated they purchase banking services, 72% indicated they purchase clothing and shoes, and 71% indicated they purchase pharmaceuticals locally. A higher percentage of respondents purchase goods or services—services like investment services, travel services, and computers and electronics —that are not readily available in Clatsop County in other markets. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 15 Chapter 3 Business Survey Responses In this chapter, we present the results of the Business survey. We describe the characteristics of business respondents, their perception of the business climate in Clatsop County, and their plans for business expansion in next five years. Characteristics of Responding Businesses The survey sample for businesses was stratified by industry to ensure representation of all industries in Clatsop County. Survey respondents were asked to indicate the type of industry or profession that most accurately describes their business. This information is shown in Table 3-1, along with countywide businesses based on Employment Security 202 (ES-202) data.8 It is probable that some respondents misclassified their business. The large percentage of businesses that specified "other" supports this conclusion. In addition, some respondents chose multiple industries, which explains why the total number of responses is higher than the number of survey responses. Table 3-1 shows that 15% of respondents indicated that their business is focused on retail trade. Twelve percent of businesses indicated that their industry is agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Eleven percent indicated that their industry is construction. Few or no businesses indicated that they are involved with wood products manufacturing or high-tech. The results show that the survey sample represents a range of industries in Clatsop County but over-represents some industries and under-represents others. The areas of greatest discrepancy are in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, as well as other services. 8 The Employment Security (ES) 202 data is a confidential database on individual employers managed by the Oregon Employment Department. The ES-202 database only includes employers that have “covered” employees—employees covered by unemployment insurance. It does not include sole proprietors, farm workers, and others that are self- employed. Page 16 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Table 3-1. Type of Industry for survey respondents and all businesses countywide Industry Number Percent Number Percent Retail Trade 35 15% 284 18% Other 33 15% 90 6% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing 26 12% 67 4% Construction 24 11% 175 11% Business Services 18 8% 128 8% Eating/Drinking Establishment 18 8% 177 11% Health Services 13 6% 125 8% Lodging 11 5% 78 5% Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 9 4% 107 7% Other Manufacturing 8 4% 37 2% Food Processing 7 3% 22 1% Other Services 7 3% 150 9% Wholesale Trade 6 3% 36 2% Education or Training 5 2% 30 2% Transportation, Communication, Utilities 5 2% 86 5% Wood Products Manufacturing 1 0% 5 0% High-tech 0 0% 0 0% Total 226 1,597 Survey Countywide Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Ninety-three percent of the respondents indicated that their business is based in Clatsop County. Table 3-2 shows the zip code of the respondents and the zip code for businesses countywide based on ES- 202 data. Zip codes in Clatsop County are large and tend to cover both urban and rural areas. As a result, it is not possible to determine the exact location of respondents based on their zip code. Fifty-two percent of respondents were located in 97103, which includes Astoria. Twenty- eight percent of respondents were located in 97138, which includes Seaside and Gearhart and 15% were located in 97146, which includes Warrenton9. Survey respondents from 97103 were over-represented and those from 97110 were under-represented. 9 One respondent from outside the County was included in the survey. It is possible that the business recently relocated. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 17 Table 3-2. Number of respondents and number of businesses countywide by zip code Zip Code Number Percent Number Percent 97103 94 52% 646 40% 97110 3 2% 147 9% 97121 2 1% 21 1% 97136 1 1% 0 0% 97138 51 28% 498 31% 97145 2 1% 7 0% 97146 27 15% 201 13% Zip code outside the County 1 1% 67 4% Survey Countywide Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Figure 3-1 shows the length of time that respondents' business have operated in Clatsop County. Twenty-nine percent of businesses have been operating in Clatsop County for nine or fewer years. More than one-third of businesses have been operating in Clatsop County for 30 or more years, with 17% operating in the County for 50 or more years. Figure 3-1. Length of time respondents' business have operated in Clatsop County 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 4 Less 5 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 More Ye ar s of O pe ra tio n Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Table 3-3 shows the number of employees, both full-time and part-time, reported by survey respondents and countywide based on ES-202 data. Forty-two percent of survey respondents had two to four employees. Page 18 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Eight percent of businesses had 30 or more employees. Businesses with 0 to 1 employees were under-represented in the survey but businesses with 2 to 4 employees were over-represented in the survey. Sixty percent of survey respondents had 4 or fewer employees and 57% of businesses countywide had 4 or fewer employees. Although there is variation between the number of employees for survey respondents and businesses county-wide, survey respondents were generally representative of businesses across the county. Table 3-3. Total employees reported by survey respondents (full-time and part-time) Number of Employees Number Percent Number Percent 0 to 1 52 18% 485 30% 2 to 4 123 42% 427 27% 5 to 9 41 14% 321 20% 10 to 19 31 11% 199 12% 20 to 29 20 7% 76 5% 30 to 39 6 2% 28 2% 40 to 49 8 3% 17 1% 50 or more 10 3% 44 3% Survey Countywide Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Table 3-4 shows the number of full time employees for survey respondents. Forty percent of respondents had 2 to 4 full-time employees and 67% had 4 or fewer full-time employees. Table 3-4. Full-time employees reported by survey respondents Number of Employees Number Percent 0 to 1 27 17% 2 to 4 65 40% 5 to 9 25 15% 10 to 19 21 13% 20 to 29 9 6% 30 to 39 5 3% 40 to 49 4 2% 50 or more 7 4% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Figure 3-2 shows the gross revenues for the most recently completed fiscal year for survey respondents. Slightly less than half of respondents had gross revenues of less than $500,000. Twenty percent of respondents indicated that they had gross revenues of $500,000 to $1 million and 19% or respondents had gross revenues to $1 million to $5 million. Eleven percent of respondents had gross revenues greater than $5 million. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 19 Figure 3-2. Gross revenues for survey respondents 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Don’t know Over $ 10 million $5 million - $10 million $1 million - $5 million $500,000 - $1 million Under $500,000 G ro ss R ev en ue s Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Business Climate This section presents the results of the sections of the survey that address the business climate in Clatsop County. The perceptions of the business climate are presented first, followed by perceptions of the Clatsop County government's support for business. Figure 3-3 shows survey respondents' rating of Clatsop County as a place to do business at this time. Less than 10% of survey respondents rated Clatsop County as an excellent place to do business. About 35% of respondents rated the County as a good place to do business and about 45% rated it as a fair place to do business. Slightly more than 10% rated the County as a poor place to do business. Page 20 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Figure 3-3. Survey respondents' rating of Clatsop County as a place to do business 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Poor Fair Good Excellent R at in g Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Survey respondents were asked how Clatsop County has changed as a place to conduct business compared with five-years ago. Figure 3-4 shows that 32% of respondents thought the County is a better place to conduct business, 16% of businesses thought the County is a worse place to do business, and 16% thought that conducting business in the County is both better and worse. Twenty-nine percent of respondents thought that conducting business in the County has not changed in the last five-years and 7% were not sure if conducting business has changed in the last five-years. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 21 Figure 3-4. Survey respondents' rating of the change in Clatsop County as a place to do business over the past five-years 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Not sure Unchanged Both better and worse Worse Better R at in g Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Survey respondents were asked whether Clatsop County is economically better off than it was five-years ago. Table 3-5 shows that 36% of respondents thought the County is better off, 29% thought that the County is not better off, and 27% thought the County's economy is about the same as it was five-years ago. Table 3-5. Survey respondents' perception of whether Clatsop County is economically better off than five-years ago Rating Number Percent Yes 65 36% No 52 29% Same 48 27% Not sure 14 8% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 The survey asked respondents for reasons that the County is better off than it was five-years ago. Sixty-one respondents provided written comments. The most common themes of the comments were: an increase in tourism, positive types of growth, the economy has been good, and that there has been an increase in public investment. Appendix D has a transcript of the full written comments, which are presented under question 3. The survey also asked respondents for reasons that the County is worse off than it was five-years ago. Forty-eight respondents provided written Page 22 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results comments. The most common themes of the comments are: the lack of well-paying job, too much government regulation, and a poor economy. Appendix D has a transcript of the full written comments, which are presented under question 3. Table 3-6 shows 36 characteristics that contribute to perceptions of business climate and shows respondents' opinions of how they affect Clatsop County on a scale of "very positive" to "very negative". Table 3-6 shows the characteristics ranked by the mean score (where 1=very positive and 5=very negative).10 Quality of life characteristics, including recreation opportunities, quality of life, environmental quality, and community safety, ranked highest. The lowest ranking characteristics were regulatory and economic issues. Community attitudes has the most polarized responses, with about 43% of respondents ranking it as somewhat or very positive and about 40% ranking it as somewhat or very negative. 10 The value for the answer "not sure" is not included in the calculation of the characteristics' mean. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 23 Table 3-6. Characteristics that affect Clatsop County as a place to conduct business Characteristic Very positive Somewhat positive Neutral Somewhat negative Very negative Not sure Mean Recreation opportunities 50% 33% 11% 5% 1% 0% 1.74 Quality of life 41% 45% 9% 5% 1% 0% 1.79 Environmental quality 35% 42% 15% 5% 2% 1% 1.94 Community safety 15% 44% 31% 8% 2% 1% 2.37 Economic growth potential 17% 40% 12% 24% 7% 1% 2.64 Availability of capital 5% 24% 37% 20% 5% 10% 2.65 Medical facilities 10% 34% 28% 20% 6% 1% 2.74 Population density 6% 26% 48% 14% 3% 2% 2.74 Vital downtown 6% 39% 30% 18% 7% 1% 2.81 Access to markets and customers 6% 31% 32% 25% 4% 2% 2.86 Shopping facilities 7% 34% 29% 22% 7% 0% 2.87 Sustainability 1% 24% 41% 23% 5% 6% 2.88 Competitive pressure from other businesses 2% 21% 55% 16% 3% 2% 2.91 Cost of living 6% 29% 33% 26% 5% 1% 2.93 Public education system 6% 33% 29% 21% 10% 1% 2.94 Availability of raw materials 1% 19% 33% 29% 9% 9% 2.98 Community attitudes 5% 38% 18% 28% 12% 0% 3.04 Growth management policies 1% 15% 39% 20% 16% 10% 3.05 Affordable housing 7% 24% 26% 34% 7% 1% 3.07 Workforce availability 4% 27% 19% 34% 14% 2% 3.21 Cost of doing business 2% 18% 34% 36% 7% 2% 3.22 Transportation system 4% 23% 30% 30% 12% 1% 3.22 Availability of land 5% 25% 18% 34% 16% 2% 3.23 Traffic Congestion 7% 20% 26% 27% 18% 1% 3.26 Utilities cost 1% 18% 48% 20% 13% 1% 3.26 Infrastructure 1% 9% 35% 35% 13% 7% 3.29 Availability of technology 1% 13% 30% 39% 12% 5% 3.35 Parking 9% 14% 23% 28% 25% 2% 3.41 Local tax policies 1% 7% 44% 29% 16% 3% 3.43 Workforce quality 1% 20% 20% 42% 17% 1% 3.52 Permitting requirements 0% 8% 28% 28% 28% 8% 3.53 Local government regulations 1% 8% 37% 30% 21% 3% 3.54 State and Federal tax policies 0% 3% 32% 31% 26% 8% 3.55 Diverse economic base 1% 10% 26% 41% 20% 2% 3.62 State and Federal regulations 0% 1% 30% 34% 28% 7% 3.67 State’s fiscal situation 0% 1% 20% 42% 32% 6% 3.87 Other (specify) 0% 0% 0% 20% 80% 0% 4.80 Effect (Percent of Respondents) Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Survey respondents were asked to list the top three strengths and weaknesses of doing business in Clatsop County, using the list of characteristics in Table 3-6. Table 3-7 shows the top ten strengths and weaknesses. The top three strengths were quality of life characteristics, including quality of life, recreational opportunities, and environmental quality. The top weaknesses were local government regulations, permitting requirements, and workforce quality. Some respondents did Page 24 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results not use the categories in Table 3-6 and their responses were categorized as "other." Appendix D has a complete transcript of the responses, listed under question 5. Table 3-7. Top 10 strengths and weaknesses of Clatsop County as a place to conduct business Number Percent Strengths 1 Quality of life 90 22% 2 Recreation opportunities 48 11% 3 Environmental quality 46 11% 4 Other (specify) 37 9% 5 Economic growth potential 32 8% 6 Community safety 19 5% 7 Community attitudes 17 4% 8 Public education system 12 3% 9 Workforce availability 11 3% 10 Affordable housing 9 2% Weaknesses 1 Other 56 13% 2 Local government regulations 34 8% 3 Permitting requirements 26 6% 4 Workforce quality 22 5% 5 Parking 20 5% 6 Traffic Congestion 19 4% 7 Workforce availability 19 4% 8 Local tax policies 18 4% 9 Diverse economic base 17 4% 10 State's fiscal situation 17 4% Characteristic Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Figure 3-5 shows survey respondents' perception of how supportive the Clatsop County government is to local businesses. Thirty-nine percent of respondents thought the County government is somewhat supportive or very supportive to local businesses, 29% thought the government is somewhat unsupportive or very unsupportive to local businesses, and 33% thought the government is neither supportive or unsupportive to local businesses. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 25 Figure 3-5. Survey respondents' perception of how supportive Clatsop County government is to local business 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Very unsupportive Somewhat unsupportive Neither Somewhat supportive Very supportive Pe rc ep tio n of C ou nt y Su pp or t Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Survey respondents were asked to list the top three steps that Clatsop County government could take to improve the County as a place to do business. CPW sorted the responses into general categories, which are shown in Table 3-8. A full transcript of responses is in Appendix D under question 7. The top three steps are streamline regulations, focus more on the economy, and reduce the tax burden. The responses in the "other" category included concerns about parking, public education, infrastructure development, and government attitudes. Page 26 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Table 3-8. Steps that Clatsop County government can take to improve to the County as a place to do business Top Three Steps for Improvement Number Percent Streamline regulations 69 20% Focus more on the economy 60 17% Reduce the tax burden 21 6% Make government more efficient 16 5% Improve all types of transportation 15 4% Improve the roads 14 4% Improve attitudes towards growth 13 4% Address social problems 12 3% Encourage well-paying jobs 9 3% Tax incentives 6 2% Focus more on environmental quality 5 1% Improve port facility 5 1% Increase tourism 5 1% Focus less on environmental quality 4 1% Address problems with housing quality and affordability 4 1% Improve Internet access 3 1% Focus on problems from a regional perspective 3 1% Improve workforce training 2 1% Other 86 24% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 The survey asked respondents to choose the three most and least attractive characteristics of Clatsop County for employers, shown in Table 3-9. The top three most attractive characteristics were: quality of life, the natural environment, and availability of land. The top three least attractive characteristics were: a well-trained labor force, the labor pool, and the permitting process. The characteristics that were rated as least and most attractive by a similar number of respondents were: the educational system, access to medical care, and availability of land. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 27 Table 3-9. The most and least attractive characteristics of Clatsop County for employers Characteristic Number Percent Number Percent Access to medical care 23 13% 20 11% Access to shipping 22 12% 34 19% Availability of land 37 20% 32 17% Availability of raw materials 17 9% 11 6% Availability of technology 4 2% 34 19% Business clusters 17 9% 11 6% County government 6 3% 35 19% Educational system 21 11% 21 11% Housing availability 22 12% 35 19% Labor pool 25 14% 62 34% Natural environment 123 67% 4 2% Permitting process 4 2% 58 32% Quality of life 151 83% 0 0% Tax structure 6 3% 33 18% Tax structure 4 2% 31 17% Transportation system 17 9% 44 24% Well trained labor force 12 7% 70 38% Most Attractive Least Attractive Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Plans for Business Expansion Understanding plans for business expansion is important for understanding perceptions of the local economy and business expansion. It is also relevant to land use planning efforts. The survey asked respondents questions about their plans for expansion in the next five years. Table 3-10 shows respondents' plans for business expansion in the next five years. Fifty-three percent of respondents planned to expand their businesses in the next five years. Of those planning expansion, 80% of respondents planned to expand their business in Clatsop County. Table 3-10. Respondents' plans for business expansion in the next five years Answer Number Percent Yes 92 53% No 84 47% Yes 70 80% No 17 20% Do you plan to expand your business in the next 5 years? If you do, will you expand it in Clatsop County? Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Table 3-11 shows the expansion plans of survey respondents for the next five years by industry. About 52% of respondents indicated that they planned to expand their business in the next five years. While Page 28 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results businesses in all industries plan for expansion, some show a higher probability of expansion than others. The industries that were most likely to expand (those with the highest percentages of plans to expand and with the most respondents) include: construction; agriculture, forestry, and fishing; retail trade; and eating and drinking establishments. Table 3-11. Expansion plans for the next five years by industry Industry Yes No Total Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing 56% 44% 16 Construction 79% 21% 14 Business Services 62% 38% 13 Food Processing 33% 67% 3 Lodging 33% 67% 9 Eating/Drinking Establishment 47% 53% 17 Other Services 80% 20% 5 Other 48% 52% 29 Transportation, Communication, 20% 80% 5 Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 43% 57% 7 Health Services 50% 50% 12 Wood Projects Manufacturing 100% 0% 1 Retail Trade 48% 52% 27 Education or Training 60% 40% 5 Wholesale Trade 50% 50% 2 Other Manufacturing 83% 17% 6 Total 53% 47% 171 Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Of the 92 businesses who answered that they plan to expand their business in the next 5 years, 84 businesses indicated that they plan to add new employees. The mean number of employees that businesses planned to add is 9.2 employees. Figure 3-6 shows the number of employees that businesses planned to hire for expansion. More than three-quarters of businesses planned to add 9 or fewer employees. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 29 Figure 3-6. Number of employees respondents planned to add in the next five years. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 1 to 2 3 to 4 5 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 29 30 or more N um be r o f A dd ito na l E m pl oy ee s Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Figure 3-7 shows that 44% of respondents indicated that they will need land to expand their business. Of those respondents, 48% indicate that they will need one or fewer acres for expansion and 27% indicate that they will need two to three acres. The mean number of acres that respondents need is 3.2 acres. Page 30 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Figure 3-7. Number of acres needed by respondents that planned to expand their business in the next five years. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 0 to 1 2 to 3 4 to 5 6 to 7 8 to 9 10 or more N um be r o f A dd iti on al A cr es Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Sixty-two respondents indicated that they will need more building space to expand their business. Figure 3-8 shows the amount of additional building space that respondents thought they would need for business expansion. Slightly more than half of those respondents indicated that they would need less than 3,000 square feet of building space for their expansion, with 13% needing less than 1,000 square feet and 39% needing between 1,000 and 2,999 square feet. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 31 Figure 3-8. Square feet of building space needed by respondents that plan to expand their business in the next five years. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Less than 1,000 1,000-2,999 3,000-4,999 5,000-9,999 10,000 to 19,999 20,000 to 50,000 Sq ua re F ee t o f A dd ito na l B ui ld S pa ce . Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Respondents were asked what areas of assistance are most needed to help their business grow and succeed, shown in Table 3-12. The most common types of assistants that respondents need were: reduction of health care costs, reduction of regulations and fees, streamlining the permitting process, reducing taxes, and employee education and training. Page 32 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Table 3-12. Type of assistance that would most help businesses grow and succeed Type of Assistance Number Percent Reduce health care costs 93 51% Reduce regulations & fees 76 42% Streamline permitting processes 72 39% Cut/lower taxes 69 38% Employee education and training 44 24% Availability of capital 43 23% Improve transportation infrastructure 43 23% Provide affordable housing 39 21% Increase land availability 35 19% Communications infrastructure 33 18% Employee retention 32 17% Information on local market characteristics 28 15% Employee recruitment 27 15% Information about available resources 25 14% Financial support 24 13% Networking groups/business clusters 20 11% Wage issues/overtime issues 19 10% No assistance needed 9 5% Other 7 4% Not sure 6 3% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Key Findings • Most respondents are small businesses, with four or fewer employees and annual revenues of $500,000 or less. About one-third of the businesses have been in Clatsop County for 30 years or more. • Less than 10% of survey respondents rated Clatsop County as an excellent place to do business. About 35% of respondents rated the County as a good place to do business and about 45% rated it as a fair place to do business. Slightly more than 10% rated the County as a poor place to do business. • When asked whether the County is a better place to do business now that it was five years ago, 32% of respondents thought the County is a better place to conduct business, 16% of businesses thought the County is a worse place to do business, and 16% thought that conducting business in the County is both better and worse. Twenty-nine percent of respondents thought that conducting business in the County has not changed in the last five-years. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 33 • Business respondents think that quality of life characteristics, including recreation opportunities, quality of life, environmental quality, and community safety, have positive effects on Clatsop County as a place to do business. • Business respondents think that regulatory practices, the tax burden, economic issues, and lack of a well-trained labor force have a negative effect on businesses in Clatsop County. • Thirty-nine percent of respondents thought the County government is somewhat supportive or very supportive to local businesses, 29% thought the government is somewhat unsupportive or very unsupportive to local businesses, and 33% thought the government is neither supportive or unsupportive to local businesses. • Fifty-three percent of businesses indicate that they plan to expand in the next five years. Eighty percent of these businesses plan to expand in Clatsop County. They expect to hire an average of 9.2 new employees, need an average of 3.2 acres for expansion, and need an average of an additional 3,000 square feet of floor space. Page 34 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 35 Chapter 4 Economic Development Policies This chapter focuses on residential and business opinions about potential economic development policies. CPW asked respondents to both surveys a set of broad questions about support for economic growth. We then asked specific questions about respondents’ perceptions concerning types of economic development policies. The results from the residential survey are presented first and are followed by the results from the business survey. Finally, we compare the results of several questions about economic development policies that CPW asked in both surveys. Residential Opinions about Economic Development Policies Figure 4-1 shows residents' opinion of what Clatsop County's policy concerning economic growth should be. About 47% of respondents thought the County should encourage economic growth and 36% of respondents thought that the County should accommodate and manage economic growth. Relatively few respondents (3%) thought that the County should discourage economic growth. Figure 4-1. Broad policies for economic growth 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Not sure It depends Accommodate/manage economic growth/It depends Encourage econ. growth/It depends Discourage economic growth Accommodate/manage economic growth Encourage economic growth Po lic y Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Page 36 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results The survey asked respondents their opinion of who should promote economic development in Clatsop County.11 Figure 4-2 shows that 71% of respondents thought that economic development should be promoted by a combination of the County government, local city governments, and local chambers of commerce. Six percent of respondents thought that no one should promote economic development and that the market should be left to work on its own. Figure 4-2. Residential opinions about who should promote economic development 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% No one, let the market work on its own Not sure Others Combination of County and city governments, & chambers Local chambers of commerce Local city governments Clatsop County government Ec on om ic D ev el op m en t P ro po ne nt s Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Figure 4-3 shows that 80% of residents either "strongly agree" or "agree" that the County government should work to attract new businesses. Eleven percent of residents were neutral about whether the County should work to attract new businesses and about 6% of respondents "disagree" or "strongly disagree" with the idea that the County government should attempt to attract new businesses. 11 Respondents could select more than one option for who should promote economic development. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 37 Figure 4-3. Should the County government work to attract new businesses 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Not sure Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree nor Disagree Agree Strongly Agree R an k Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 The survey asked what new types of business the County should try to recruit to the area, if it was working to bring new businesses into the area. Table 4-1 shows that the top three choices of businesses were high-tech, education or training, and health services. The County currently has little or no high-tech business. And the results in Chapter 2 about the need for additional education and training indicate that residents perceived a lack of education and training opportunities. The respondents indicated little need for more lodging; eating and drinking establishments; and finance, insurance, and real estate businesses. Page 38 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Table 4-1. Respondents' opinion about the type of businesses that the Clatsop County government should attract Types of Businesses to Recruit Number Percent High-tech 127 48% Education or Training 120 45% Health Services 119 45% Wood Projects Manufacturing 101 38% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing 100 38% Other Manufacturing 87 33% Transportation, Communication 86 32% Construction 78 29% Business Services 75 28% Retail Trade 75 28% Food Processing 72 27% Wholesale Trade 58 22% Lodging 37 14% Eating/Drinking Establishment 37 14% Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 26 10% Other 24 9% Other Services 7 3% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 The survey asked respondents whether the County government should use financial incentives, such as tax abatements or loans, to attract new businesses. Figure 4-4 shows that 19% of respondents "strongly agree" with this idea and 30% of respondents "agree" with it. Twenty-two percent of respondents were neutral about using financial incentives to attract new businesses. Nearly one-quarter of people were not in favor of using financial incentives to attract new businesses, with 15% of respondents disagreeing and 9% of respondents strongly disagreeing with the idea. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 39 Figure 4-4. Respondents' opinion about whether the County should use financial incentives to attract new business 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Not sure Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree nor Disagree Agree Strongly Agree R an k Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 As a follow-up question, the survey asked respondents who strongly agreed or agreed with using financial incentives what types of financial incentives should be used to attract new businesses. Nearly 70% of respondents indicated that the County should use tax breaks, 53% indicated the County should use fee waivers, and 50% think the County should use loans to attract new businesses. Forty percent of respondents thought that the County should use grants to attract new businesses. Page 40 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Figure 4-5. Type of financial incentives that respondents think Clatsop County government should use 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Other Grants Loans Fee waivers Tax Breaks Ty pe o f I nc en tiv e Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 When asked if they think that there are barriers to economic development in Clatsop County, 70% responded that they thought there are barriers to economic development. Table 4-2 shows generalizations of the types of barriers that respondents listed. A full transcript of respondents' answers can be found in Appendix B, under question 16. There was no particular barrier that respondents specified with a high frequency. The most common categories of barriers were: transportation issues, government attitude, and a negative attitude towards growth. The concerns in the "other" category were varied and included concerns about taxes, the government, and the environment. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 41 Table 4-2. Barriers to economic development as reported by residential survey respondents Barriers to Economic Development Number Percent Transportation issues 35 13% Other 23 12% Government attitude 21 11% Negative attitude to growth 21 11% Community attitudes 16 8% Rural Location 13 7% Lack of skilled workers 13 7% Desire for a diverse economy 11 6% High cost or lack of available land 11 6% Lack of well paying jobs 9 5% Regulations, planning, or permitting 7 4% Need less focus on environmental quality 6 3% Lack of good port facilities 2 1% Need more focus on environmental quality 1 1% Need better automotive transportation 1 1% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 The survey asked a series of questions to assess residents' opinions about what economic development policies and strategies the County should have. Table 4-3 shows the responses, ranked by the mean score (where 1=strongly agree and 5=strongly disagree).12 The questions that had the lowest scores (i.e. the strongest agreement) were that the County should: have strong policies to maintain environmental quality, actively recruit businesses, have policies that help to create more affordable housing, help retain and expand existing businesses, market itself to new businesses, and streamline the development permitting process. The policies and strategies with the least agreement were that the County should: assist businesses in identifying new markets, provide employee-training opportunities, represent firms at local trade shows, provide employee recruitment services to businesses, provide assistance to businesses facing financial difficulty, and engage in public/private partnerships with businesses. 12 The value for the answer "not sure" is not included in the calculation of the characteristics' mean. Page 42 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Table 4-3. Residential respondents' opinions of potential economic development policies for Clatsop County Economic Development Policies & Strategies Strongly Agree Agree Neither Disagree Strongly Disagree Not sure Mean The County should have strong policies to maintain environmental quality. 40% 40% 16% 3% 0% 1% 1.84 The County should actively recruit businesses. 33% 42% 16% 6% 3% 1% 2.04 The County should adopt policies that will create more affordable housing for workers. 23% 52% 17% 5% 1% 2% 2.07 The County should take steps to help retain and expand existing businesses. 23% 52% 18% 4% 2% 1% 2.08 The County should market itself to new businesses. 25% 47% 17% 8% 2% 2% 2.13 The County should streamline the development permitting process. 24% 41% 23% 6% 1% 4% 2.15 The County should provide financial incentives to 20% 34% 26% 13% 4% 2% 2.47 The County should reduce development fees. 17% 29% 34% 10% 4% 6% 2.52 The County should provide financial incentives, such as tax breaks, waivers, loans, or grants, to businesses currently located in the County to encourage business growth. 18% 33% 26% 16% 5% 3% 2.56 The County should have more industrial lands available for development. 17% 36% 23% 15% 6% 3% 2.57 The County should assist businesses in identifying new markets. 11% 41% 30% 12% 4% 2% 2.58 The County should provide employee-training opportunities. 14% 38% 25% 18% 4% 1% 2.59 The County should represent local firms at trade shows. 13% 29% 34% 15% 6% 2% 2.71 The County should provide employee recruitment services to businesses. 8% 31% 34% 19% 5% 2% 2.82 The County should provide assistance to businesses facing financial difficulty. 8% 24% 42% 20% 4% 2% 2.86 The County should engage in public/private partnerships with businesses. 7% 24% 32% 22% 8% 6% 2.99 Percentage of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Business Opinions about Economic Development Policies Figure 4-6 shows business opinions of what Clatsop County's policy concerning economic growth should be. The 61% of respondents thought the County should encourage economic growth and 20% of respondents thought that the County should accommodate and manage economic growth. Only one respondent (less than 1%) thought that the County should discourage economic growth. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 43 Figure 4-6. Business respondents' opinion of what Clatsop County's policy concerning economic growth should be 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Not sure It depends Accommodate/manage economic growth/It depends Encourage econ. growth/It depends Discourage economic growth Accommodate/manage economic growth Encourage economic growth Po lic y Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 The survey asked respondents their opinion of who should promote economic development in Clatsop County13. Figure 4-7 shows that 74% of respondents thought that economic development should be promoted by a combination of the County government, local city governments, and local chambers of commerce. Five percent of respondents think that no one should promote economic development and that the market should be left to work on its own. 13 Respondents could select more than one option for who should promote economic development. Page 44 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Figure 4-7. Business respondents' opinions about who should promote economic development 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% No one, let the market work on its own Not sure Others Combination of County and city governments, & chambers Local chambers of commerce Local city governments Clatsop County government Ec on om ic D ev el op m en t P ro po ne nt s Percent of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Eighty-six percent of respondents thought that there are barriers to economic development in Clatsop County. Table 4-4 shows generalizations of the types of barriers that respondents listed. A full transcript of respondents' answers can be found in Appendix D, under question 12. The most common categories of barriers were: streamlining regulations and need for greater focus on economic development by the government. The responses that we classified as "other" cover a wide range of issues, including concerns about taxes and fees, government, and poor community attitudes. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 45 Table 4-4. Barriers to economic development as reported by business survey respondents Barriers to Economic Development Number Percent Other 86 24% Streamline Regulations 69 20% More focus on economic development 60 17% Reduce tax burden 21 6% Make government more efficient 16 5% Improve transportation 15 4% Improve roads 14 4% Improve attitude to growth 13 4% Address social problems 12 3% Encourage well-paying jobs 9 3% Tax incentives 6 2% More focus on environmental quality 5 1% Improve port facilities 5 1% Increase tourism 5 1% Less focus on environmental quality 4 1% Improve housing availability and affordability 4 1% Improve Internet access 3 1% Increase regional focus 3 1% Increase workforce training 2 1% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 The survey asked a series of questions to find business's opinions about what economic development policies and strategies the County should have. Table 4-5 shows the responses, ranked by the mean score (where 1=strongly agree and 5=strongly disagree).14 The questions that had the lowest scores (i.e. the strongest agreement) were that the County should: streamline the development permitting process, actively recruit businesses, help retain and expand existing businesses, market itself to new businesses, have more industrial lands, and reduce development fees. The policies and strategies with the least agreement were that the County should: have policies that help to create more affordable housing, represent firms at local trade shows, provide employee- training opportunities, engage in public/private partnerships with businesses, provide employee recruitment services to businesses, and provide assistance to businesses facing financial difficulty. 14 The value for the answer "not sure" is not included in the calculation of the characteristics' mean. Page 46 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Table 4-5. Business respondents' opinions of potential economic development policies for Clatsop County Economic Development Policies & Strategies Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Not sure Mean The County should streamline the development 43% 36% 12% 3% 1% 5% 1.79 The County should actively recruit businesses. 51% 27% 13% 5% 2% 2% 1.79 The County should take steps to retain and expand existing businesses. 35% 48% 12% 4% 1% 1% 1.87 The County should market itself to new businesses. 30% 47% 9% 10% 3% 1% 2.08 The County should have more industrial lands available for development. 27% 35% 21% 9% 3% 5% 2.21 The County should reduce development fees. 28% 25% 33% 6% 2% 6% 2.25 The County should provide financial incentives to attract new employment. 29% 31% 19% 13% 3% 4% 2.28 The County should have strong policies to maintain environmental quality. 25% 32% 29% 10% 4% 1% 2.35 The County should provide financial incentives, such as tax breaks, waivers, loans, or grants, to businesses currently located in the County. 27% 30% 19% 16% 4% 5% 2.38 The County should adopt policies that will create more affordable housing for workers. 20% 28% 32% 11% 7% 2% 2.56 The County should assist businesses in identifying new markets. 17% 30% 31% 14% 4% 3% 2.57 The County should represent local firms at trade shows. 16% 23% 28% 20% 9% 3% 2.81 The County should provide employee-training opportunities. 12% 24% 28% 27% 8% 1% 2.95 The County should engage in public/private partnerships with businesses. 12% 24% 23% 23% 16% 2% 3.05 The County should provide employee recruitment services to businesses. 11% 18% 30% 29% 9% 2% 3.07 The County should provide assistance to businesses facing financial difficulty. 10% 13% 33% 30% 11% 3% 3.21 Percentage of Respondents Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 The survey asked respondents to evaluate a series of policies and processes in terms of their impact on Clatsop County as a place to do business. Table 4-6 shows the business managers' evaluation of these policies and processes. None of the policies or processes were rated as having a positive impact on business by more than 8% of respondents. Local tax policies were rated as negative by 34% of respondents and utility system development charges were rated negatively by 38% of respondents. Building permits, infrastructure development, land use application, and land use code were all rated as having a negative impact on business by more than 45% of respondents. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 47 Table 4-6. Business respondents' evaluation of the impact of these policies or processes on Clatsop County as a place to do business Policies and Processes Positive Neutral Negative Not Sure Building permits 6% 31% 47% 17% Infrastructure development (i.e. roads, airport, sewer) 8% 39% 46% 8% Land use application 6% 29% 49% 16% Land use code 6% 28% 46% 20% Local tax policies 6% 45% 34% 16% Utility system development charges 4% 42% 38% 16% Other 7% 7% 36% 50% Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Comparison of Residential and Business Opinions about Economic Development Policies Both the residential and business surveys asked respondents the following questions: what they think the County government's policy towards economic growth should be; who should work to promote economic development; whether there are barriers to economic growth and what they are; and their opinions of specific economic development policies and strategies. The following section offers a comparison of the results of these questions for the two surveys. Figure 4-8 shows a comparison between resident and business opinions about what the County's policy concerning economic growth should be. In general, the responses on these questions were similar except that business respondents think that the County's policy towards economic growth should be to encourage it more frequently than respondents to the residential survey. More respondents to the residential survey thought that the County's policy should be to accommodate and manage economic growth. Few respondents on either survey indicated that the County's policy should be to discourage economic growth. Page 48 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Figure 4-8. Comparison of business and residents opinion of what Clatsop County's policy concerning economic growth should be 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Not sure It depends Accommodate/manage economic growth/It depends Encourage economic growth/It depends Discourage economic growth Accommodate/manage economic growth Encourage economic growth Po lic y Percent of Respondents Residential Business Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Figure 4-9 shows that respondents to both surveys agreed that economic development should be promoted by a combination of County and city governments and the local chambers of commerce. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 49 Figure 4-9. Comparison of business and residents opinions about who should promote economic development 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% No one, let the market work on its own Not sure Others Combination of County and city governments, & chambers Local chambers of commerce Local city governments Clatsop County government Ec on om ic D ev el op m en t P ro po ne nt s Percent of Respondents Residents Business Source: Clatsop County Resident Survey, 2004 Business respondents indicated that they think there are barriers to economic development more frequently than residents but respondents to both surveys perceived that there are barriers to economic development in Clatsop County. Business and residential respondents had very different concerns. Businesses perceived regulations and the lack of focus on economic development by the government as significant barriers. Residents perceived transportation, government attitudes, and a negative attitude about growth as barriers to economic development. Business and residential respondents' opinions differed about the policies that Clatsop County should have for economic development. In general terms, residential respondents agreed more with the following policies and strategies than business respondents: • The County should have strong policies to maintain environmental quality. • The County should adopt policies that will create more affordable housing for workers. • The County should provide employee training opportunities. Page 50 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • The County should provide assistance to businesses facing financial difficulty. In general, business respondents agreed more with the following policies and strategies than residential respondents: • The County should streamline the development permitting process. • The County should have more industrial lands available for development. • The County should reduce development fees. • The County should actively recruit businesses. Business and residential respondents generally had the same level of agreement with the following policies and strategies: • The County should market itself to new businesses. • The County should assist businesses in identifying new markets. • The County should engage in public/private partnerships with businesses. Key Findings • A large majority of businesses and residents are in favor of economic growth and think that the County should either encourage economic growth or accommodate and manage it. About 47% of respondents thought the County should encourage economic growth and 36% of respondents thought that the County should accommodate and manage economic growth. Relatively few respondents (3%) thought that the County should discourage economic growth. • Businesses and residents think that economic development should be promoted by a combination of County and city governments and the local chambers of commerce. • Respondents perceive that there are barriers to economic development in Clatsop County. Businesses perceived regulations and the lack of focus on economic development by the government as significant barriers. Residents perceived transportation, government attitudes, and a negative attitude about growth as barriers to economic development • Residential respondents are more in favor of economic development policies and strategies that enhance the quality of life and provide better job training. Business respondents are more in favor of economic development policies and strategies that reduce regulation and fees, increase the Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 51 amount of industrial land that is available, and actively recruit new businesses • Nearly half of residential respondents think that the County should use financial incentives, such as tax abatements or loans, to attract new businesses. The majority of these respondents support the use of tax breaks, fee waivers, loans, and grants to attract new businesses to the County. Page 52 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 53 Appendix A Residential Survey Methodology and Survey Instrument This appendix contains a copy of the survey instrument for the Clatsop County Residential Economic Development survey. The survey was administered in November and December 2004. Following is a discussion of the survey methodology. The Residential survey focused on: (1) issues about growth and quality of life; (2) issues relating to living in Clatsop County; (3) potential economic development policies; (4) potential expansion of the Clatsop County jail15; and (5) respondent demographics. CPW administered the survey by mail to 1,200 residents of Clatsop County. The sample was taken from the voter registration list. The sample was stratified by voter precinct to ensure the sample was geographically representative. Survey recipients were randomly selected from each precinct, based on the number of voters in the precinct proportionate to the total number of registered voters. To increase the survey response rate, a post card was mailed about one week before surveys were sent out. A reminder post card was mailed about one week after the survey was mailed. CPW received 265 valid responses, eleven undeliverable surveys. The response rate was 22.3%. 15 Results from questions about potential expansion of the Clatsop County jail are presented in a separate memorandum to the County, rather than in this report. November 2004 Dear Resident of Clatsop County, We need your help! Clatsop County is in the process of developing an economic development strategy. The Community Planning Workshop at the University of Oregon is conducting the survey on behalf of Clatsop County. The County is asking residents their opinions and attitudes growth, quality of life, and economic development in the County. We encourage you to complete the enclosed survey of your opinions. This survey will be an important part of understanding what growth and economic development policies residents support. The more responses we receive from residents, the better informed we will be to address key issues about our local economy. All responses will be kept confidential. The results of this survey will be used to review economic development strategies. To encourage you to complete and return the survey, we will enter your name in a drawing for one of four $25 gift certificates to Fred Meyer. Please fill out the enclosed form after completing the survey, and include it with your survey—or mail it in a separate envelope. If your form is drawn, the Community Planning Workshop will send you a $25 gift certificate to Fred Meyer. This offer is valid on or before December 1, 2004. Limit one per family. Your opinions are important to us. Please return your completed survey no later than Wednesday, November 24th, 2004 in the enclosed postage paid envelope. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please feel free to contact Beth Goodman, Community Planning Workshop Project Manager at 541-346-3653. Thank you for your participation! Sincerely, Bob Parker Director Community Planning Workshop COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER 1209 University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403-1209 T (541)346-3889 F (541) 346-2040 http://darkwing.uoreong.edu/~csco/ An equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Page 1 Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Instructions: Clatsop County is interested in better understanding the attitudes and opinions of residents related to growth and economic development in the County. The survey has been sent to 1,200 residents of Clatsop County. The Community Planning Workshop at the University of Oregon is conducting the survey on behalf of Clatsop County. The County will use the results to develop economic development policies. This survey is intended to reflect the opinions of local residents. You should complete the survey based on your individual opinions and experiences living in Clatsop County. Please read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Return your completed survey in the enclosed postage-paid envelope by Wednesday, November 24, 2004. Thank you for your time! Note: Your participation is voluntary and your returned survey indicates your willingness to take part in the study. If you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant, please contact the Office of Human Subjects Compliance, University of Oregon, 5219, Eugene, OR 97403, or call (541) 346-2510. First, we’d like to ask some questions about growth and quality of life: Q-1. Between 1990 and 2000, Clatsop County's population grew from 33,301 to 35,630, an average increase of 0.6%. The State projects that the County will have a population of about 41,788 by 2020 if current population trends continue. This will represent an average annual growth of approximately 0.8% or around 308 people per year. How do you feel about this projected growth? … Acceptable … Growing too quickly … Growing to slowly Q-2. How important do you think each of the following characteristics is to establishing a high quality of life? Characteristic Very Important Important Neutral Unimportant Very Unimportant Not Sure Affordable Housing … … … … … … Variety of housing choices … … … … … … Parks … … … … … … Access to recreation … … … … … … Quality education system … … … … … … Access to higher education … … … … … … Diverse economic base … … … … … … Living wage jobs … … … … … … Environmental quality … … … … … … Natural resources and habitat protection … … … … … … Access to a performing arts center … … … … … … Variety of shopping opportunities … … … … … … Transportation options … … … … … … Variety of health care choices … … … … … … Other (specify): ___________ … … … … … … Page 2 Next, we would like to ask some questions about living in Clatsop County: Q-3. Is Clatsop County better off than it was five years ago? … Yes … No … About the same … Not sure Q-4. Are there sufficient opportunities for job training and higher education in Clatsop County? … Yes (skip to Q-6) … No Q-5. If you answered "no" to Q-5, what types of job training or education would be most helpful. (Please check all that apply.) … Business and finance † Maintenance and repair … Higher education † Restaurant or food services … Forest management † Health care … Adult literacy † Trade (such as carpentry or plumbing) … Office and administrative support † Agricultural education … High-tech † Other technical … Professional † Management … English language † Spanish language … Other (please specify): Q-6. Please rate the current quality of the following services and amenities in Clatsop County. Characteristic Very Good Good Neutral Poor Very Poor Housing affordability … … … … … Variety of housing choices … … … … … Parks … … … … … Access to recreation … … … … … Quality of the education system … … … … … Access to higher education … … … … … Diversity of the economic base … … … … … Availability of living wage jobs … … … … … Environmental quality … … … … … Natural resources and habitat protection … … … … … Access to performing arts center … … … … … Variety of shopping opportunities … … … … … Transportation options … … … … … Variety of health care choices … … … … … Other (specify): ________________ … … … … … Page 3 Q-7. What percentage of your shopping do you do in Clatsop County? … 100% to 75% … 75% to 50% … 50% to 25% … 25% or less Q-8. Which of the following products and services do you purchase in Clatsop County if they are locally available? (Please check all that apply.) … Medical services † Legal services … Dental services † Clothing and shoes … Recreation services † Furniture and appliances … Insurance services † Auto parts and accessories … Banking services † Pharmaceuticals … Investment services † Computers and electronics … Travel services † Office supplies Q-9. If you shop outside of Clatsop County, what are your reasons for doing so? (Please check all that apply.) … Price † Product quality … Hours of operation † Customer service … Parking availability † Close to work … Selection † Close to other shopping Next, we would like to ask some questions about economic development policies: Q-10. Please indicate what you think the Clatsop County government's policy should be towards economic growth. … Encourage economic growth … Accommodate/manage economic growth … Discourage economic growth … Not sure … It depends (explain): … Encourage economic growth/It depends … Accommodate/manage economic growth/It depends Q-11. Who do you feel should be working to promote economic development in Clatsop County? (Please check all that apply) … Clatsop County government … Local city governments … Local chambers of commerce … A combination of Clatsop County government, local city government, and local chambers of commerce … No one – let the market work on its own … Not sure … Others (please specify): Page 4 Q-12. Do you agree that the Clatsop County government should work to attract new businesses? … Strongly Agree … Agree … Neither Agree nor Disagree … Disagree … Strongly Disagree … Not sure Q-13. If Clatsop County government was to try to recruit new business into the County, what types of business should the government work to recruit? (Please check all that apply.) … Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing † Transportation, Communication, Utilities … Construction † Finance, Insurance, Real Estate … Business Services † Health Services … Food Processing † Wood Projects Manufacturing … Lodging † Retail Trade … High-tech † Education or Training … Eating/Drinking Establishment † Wholesale Trade … Other Services † Other Manufacturing … Other (please specify): ________________________________________________ Q-14. Do you think that the Clatsop County government should use financial incentives, such as tax abatement or loans, to attract new businesses to the County? … Strongly Agree … Agree … Neither Agree nor Disagree (skip to Q-16) … Disagree (skip to Q-16) … Strongly Disagree (skip to Q-16) … Not sure (skip to Q-16) Q-15. If you answered "Strongly Agree" or "Agree" to Question 15, what types of financial incentives should the Clatsop County use to attract new business? (Please check all that apply.) … Tax Breaks … Fee waivers … Loans … Grants … Other … I did not “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” with Question 15 Q-16. Do you think there are barriers to economic development in Clatsop County? … No … Yes ÆWhat are they? Page 5 Q-17. Please check the box that best represents your opinion regarding what Clatsop County government should do as local economic development policies and strategies. Statement Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Not Sure The County should actively recruit businesses. … … … … … … The County should reduce development fees. … … … … … … The County should have more industrial lands available for development. … … … … … … The County should have strong policies to maintain environmental quality. … … … … … … The County should streamline the development permitting process. … … … … … … The County should provide financial incentives to attract new employment. … … … … … … The County should provide financial incentives, such as tax breaks, waivers, loans, or grants, to businesses currently located in the County to encourage business growth. … … … … … … The County should adopt policies that will create more affordable housing for workers. … … … … … … The County should take steps to help retain and expand existing businesses. … … … … … … The County should provide assistance to businesses facing financial difficulty. … … … … … … The County should provide employee recruitment services to businesses. … … … … … … The County should provide employee- training opportunities. … … … … … … The County should engage in public/private partnerships with businesses. … … … … … … The County should market itself to new businesses. … … … … … … The County should represent local firms at trade shows. … … … … … … The County should assist businesses in identifying new markets. … … … … … … Page 6 Next, we would like to ask you some questions about the County's jail facilities: Q-18. Do you think the County needs to increase the capacity of its jail? … Yes … No (skip to Q-22) … Not sure Q-19. Which of the following options do you think the County should use to increase the capacity of its jail? … Build a new jail … Enlarge the current jail … The County does not need to increase the capacity of the jail Q-20. Would you vote to approve a bond levy to fund increasing the capacity of the jail or building a new jail? … Yes … No (skip to Q-22) … Not sure Q-21. How much would you be willing to pay in additional property taxes per year to fund increasing the capacity of the jail or building a new jail? … $25 per year … $35 per year … $50 per year … I would not be willing to pay additional taxes for this purpose. Finally, we would like to ask you some questions about yourself: Q-22. What is your age? _____ years Q-23. What is your gender? † Male † Female Q-24. How many people live in your household, including yourself? _____Adults (18 and over) _____Children (17 and under) Q-25. Which of the following best describes where you live in Clatsop County? … Astoria † Warrenton … Seaside † Cannon Beach … Gearhart † Hammond … Arch Cape † East County … Other unincorporated Clatsop County Page 7 Q-26. For the purposes of comparison with U.S. Census data, please estimate your 2003 total household income before taxes: … Under $5,000 † $25,000 to $29,000 † $50,000 to $54,999 … $5,000 to $9,999 † $30,000 to $34,999 † $55,000 to $59,999 … $10,000 to $14,999 † $35,000 to $39,999 † $60,000 to $74,999 … $15,000 to $19,999 † $40,000 to $44,999 † $75,000 to $99,999 … $20,000 to $24,999 † $45,000 to $49,999 † $100,000 or More Q-27. Do you rent or own the home in which you presently live? … Rent … Own Q-28. What is the highest level of education that you have completed? … Grade School † Some College … Some High School † College Graduate … High School/GED † Post Graduate Work Q-29. Please share any additional comments that you about quality of life, growth, or economic development in Clatsop County. ALL RESPONSES WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL Thank you for completing the Clatsop County Economic Development survey! Page 62 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 63 Appendix B Open-ended Questions from the Residential Survey This Appendix presents the written comments from the open-ended questions from the Residential survey. On some questions, we have categorized the comments according to theme. Q-2. How important do you think each of the following characteristics is to establishing a high quality of life? • Develop high tech infrastructure to support Economic Development. • None • Strong law enforcement. • Keeping traditional jobs – fishing, logging, etc. • Entertainment • Affordable and quality childcare. • The arts. • Control immigrant numbers. • Tax base affordable. • Balanced and fair news reporting. • Affordable Healthcare. • More than one grocery store in Astoria (city). • Openspace on the river – no channel deepening. • Responsive government. • Performing Arts Theater. • Good police, fire, and emergency services • Jobs • Historic Preservation • Rental affordable • Radio stations Page 64 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Clatsop County needs more access to caring physicians, hospitals, and clinics. Especially on the North coast. Q-5. If you answered "no" to Q-5, what types of job training or education would be most helpful. (Please check all that apply.) • Basic math and language skills. • All of the above. • Require Spanish people to learn English. • Teacher’s helper. • Lodging industry. • Teaching jobs. • Telecommunications • Alternative power • Environmental Services • Tech schools • Have good job unsure about training opportunities • Retail • Parenting • Better College • Environmental Studies (This area provides a great lab). • Need more college classes more affordable and more evening classes. • Not aware of opportunities that are available. • Chef • Hospitality industry • Environmental Studies • No Child Left Behind Schooling • Medical • Insurance and Real Estate classes • Good Teacher’s training Q-6. Please rate the current quality of the following services and amenities in Clatsop County. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 65 • Reliable transportation to Portland City Center and Airport. • Libraries – Disturbed that County/Cities charge each other – rather than support each other ant the County as a whole. • Too many Police. • Very poor in Cannon Beach. • Keeping traditional jobs – logging, fishing, etc. • There needs to be more indoor choices for parents of pre- school-ers and children, winter weather is harsh. We need quality childcare at affordable prices. • The arts. • River walks. • Police, fire, and emergency services. • Star Gazing – Recently limited by too much Halogen lighting and development. • Rental Q-10. Please indicate what you think the Clatsop County government's policy should be towards economic growth. • Environmentally sustainable industries (green industries) • With concurrent quality of life • Government should not interfere • Should not have a Gas plant in Warrenton • Environmentally friendly – sustainable growth that fits in with local area economy and directions of the County. • Protect the little stores – they always stood by us. • Not at the cost of quality of life here. • Non-tourist economic growth is needed – no more “Trend Wests”. • If they don’t sacrifice habitat protection for growth. • Bring in more resources like Wal-Mart • On what type of facility or product and if they pay a living wage for families. • What type of economic growth Page 66 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Growth – environmentally safe new businesses and manufacturing • Encourage manufacturing of products. • Not damaging current industries or potential ones. • On adequate infrastructure development, especially vehicle traffic management. • I think that forestry and manufacturing need to cooperate and develop an industrial base. • Labor for the young people. • Logging without clear cutting should be encouraged. • Encourage, but in appropriate locations – not strung out on transportation corridors. • If it doesn’t damage the environment. • I’d love to see Eco-tourism enhanced. • Support existing businesses, not recruit new ones. • Not at expense of environment and with planning and adequate roads. • No more low paying tourist jobs. • On the type of development – it needs to be environmentally sensitive. Q-11. Who do you feel should be working to promote economic development in Clatsop County?) • Reducing tax burden then let local market dictate – no government programs for growth. • Everyone who will benefit from it. • Let the market work on its own – an idea that works fairly well but if our County has a major problem for many of its people a total effort is a good idea. • Citizens – Salem government (State of Oregon). • Community should be involved. • Government combination with the help of a committee of local citizens. Volunteers not hand picked friends of government officials. • Private citizen groups or committees. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 67 • Clatsop Community College. • Local offices of appropriate state agencies (e.g. Dept of Forestry, Extension Service). • Special interest group within #3 (Check box: A combination of Clatsop County government, local city government, and local chambers of commerce.). • State and Federal and Forest Industries. • There is too much government. • State government • Port officials • Everyone should work together to promote economic development. • All – governments and private sector should work together. • No government. • Individuals Q-13. If Clatsop County government was to try to recruit new business into the County, what types of business should the government work to recruit? • Not sure. • Increased Port facilities in Astoria to promote living wage jobs. • I’d love to see ecotourism enhanced. • Home Depot, Wal-Mart, for low income families. • Manufacturing • Shipping • Recreation for kids. • Local butchers/meat market. • No CalPine or LNG. • Shipping containers and cruise lines. • Home Depot, Lowes, Krispy Kreme, WTEL, Car wash, furniture. • Monthly promotion of activities. • Technical training schools and businesses to use these new trades. Page 68 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Boat manufacturing • Shipbuilding and shipping. • Just a few grocery stores. • Anything that would bring good paying jobs. • Diversity • The proposed Natural Gas facility is a must. • LNG • Wal-Mart with food center. • Keep working with the movie industry. • Strongly feel Port should be used in out economic growth. • Good, healthy, affordable family eating establishments. • Wind farms/Electric generation on Port property. • State-wide better court system to deal with those causing problems. Many thieves are never prosecuted. Too many are free to cause more trouble. • None • Light industry • Services which support tourist industry. • Tourism and retirement destination. • Wal-Mart and WinCo Foods. • None • Don’t • Clean industries • Shipping (Rail, Boat, Plane via Astoria) • Carpentry and Commercial Painting • Apprenticeships and mill related trades and training. Q-16. Do you think there are barriers to economic development in Clatsop County? Less Focus on Environmental Quality • Roads into area, govt policies on environmental issues that put nature before people (i.e. fish, birds, trees, -- losing jobs because of these protected things Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 69 • You put bird, animals, and stream waterways before people. Bring in industry and let the people who work there spend their money here. Not tax the businesses • There's only so much room for new growth, without taking from the wildlife. • Environmental groups -- local opposition • Fear of environmental impact of development. • Too much "Save the wetlands". How about save the economy and jobs. More Focus on Environmental Quality • Geography – i.e. mountains, ocean, wetlands, lack of a 101 bypass, need to maintain the pristine quality of the environment • Geography – i.e. mountains, ocean, wetlands, lack of a 101 bypass, need to maintain the pristine quality of the environment • We need to protect our natural resources -- still many opportunities Government Attitude is Negative or Discourages Growth • Non-progressive mentality by local government • Non-progressive mentality by local government • Leaders wanting to live in the past • Astoria City govt -- too dictatorial too much under the table business -- Canon Beach lack of honesty • Local government -- and the "I have mine group" • Government officials • Slow to make decisions -- "old philosophy" -- those who do not want change -- change comes to fast. "Dragging feet" • No economic planning • Too many radical environmentalists, lack of authority to grant tax breaks, etc by any one central agency (i.e. Port Authority being challenged by everyone over CalPine. • Unsure except that local businesses seem to be strongly against it. • County bias against small businesses Page 70 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Too many hard-heals that want things to stay as they are and won’t see that fishing and timber jobs are gone -- can't survive on few months of tourism. • Personality conflicts in governmental affairs in conflict. • Clatsop County and city government are at odds with the citizens on absolutely everything. All you need to do is look at the schools, ODOT, (Seaside and Astoria), Safeway, Bypasses and etc. You can't get anyone to agree anything here unless it's free money. Museums do very well. We have a lot burger flippers and very little family wage. No cannery, no jobs. You got a long way to go. • Planning Commission and inability to accept change. • Too much government interference. • The "Old boys" of local gov. that don't want change. • Politics not letting in some businesses due to restrictions being too tight an hard to obtain. • Narrow minded leaders who don't want to see change. • Our local government not promoting and encouraging big businesses into the area. • Forefathers have a definite problem accepting new businesses, even though local economy has gone down the toilet. They forget not everyone is wealthy that in fact most of us live day to day to payday. It's sad that the local hard workers don't have the final say. • Not a lot of money in local government to help promote getting new businesses here. • Environmental • Clatsop County gov. Negative Government Attitude About Growth • People don't seem to want this area to grow • Public Attitude • Very vocal individuals who want no growth or industry , including the local newspaper (Daily Astorian) • Some older people do not care about progress. • "No can't do it. It's never been done before mentally" -- Narrowness of the County government. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 71 • Baby Boomers who don't want to see anything change. It prohibits growth fo the next generation • Local populace refuses to allow expansion of economic base. • The attitude of the locals who distrust progress, change and outsiders. Also the lack of major travel routes for trucking or railroad to carry products and reliable bus, air, and rail travel for tourism. • Those who want to keep Clatsop County as it is. • Some people believe that we live at the end of the earth. • Attitudes • Maybe, lack of proper perspective amongst some making decisions about economic development. I hear a lot of rumors around and about from local citizens who believe this is the case. • Public opinion • Some people who don't want growth in area. • Local small business owners don't want other businesses in. • The old die-hard establishments don't want new development - - that's why our children grow up and move away. They say "it's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there". • To many people oppose change in our area. We need someone who could change their minds. Someone who lets them know the new is for them and the future of Clatsop County. • There are many people like me who enjoys what we have. No interest in change unless real significant. To me changes is not always proper. • Locals resist change, however I don't want big box retail here. I want to keep our unique architectural features, culture, and history. • People don't want industry in same areas. • Attitude of "old guard" toward change • Fear of change Land - High Cost or Lack of Availability • Land too expensive and govt cost too high • Infrastructure , inexpensive land and surfaces • Land Page 72 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Land restriction • Land availability • Lack of land • Land • Affordable business space • Developable land • The cost of land for new building • High cost of land/building • Appropriate land for expansion Lack of Good Port Facilities • Remote location, poor reputation of State of Oregon as business friendly, hostility toward business shown by U of O students and faculty and Eugene anarchists, ecoterroism in Columbia County and elsewhere in Pacific Northwest. Hostility of County population to "smokestack" industry, lack of railroad freight service and top-quality highways, unproductive, inactive port (shipping). • Port facilities Regulations • Permit process take to long • Planning process • Coordinated planning and systematic identification and pursuit of desirable companies • County Land Use and Planning Departments and Tax Incentives • Nay Sayers; Those who "have theirs" and don't much care about others; strong spirit of contentiousness, endless paralyzing debate about almost every significant potential development or opportunity. • Cumbersome permit process • Obtaining licenses and other requirements through the County and State is a gruesome process. The rules are conflicting and the time factor obscene • Building and Land Use ordinance/permit hassles, lack of Dept. communications between each other and public. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 73 • Zoning, building codes • Permitting process Roads and Automotive Access • Limited access to the area for cargo transport Lack of Skilled Workers • Skilled workers • Lack of education • Trained workforce • An educated workforce is necessary and lacking. Assisting CCC to educate more at an affordable price is critical. • Education level of workforce • Uneducated labor pool, not enough qualified workers • Education is still weak. • Low educational attainment • Work force • Quality of workforce • Lack of skilled workers in the area -- ex: computer/high-tech field • Educated workforce • Skills and training of local population • Low education -- lack of incentives • Untrained, undereducated available workforce; poor quality of life services for families. • Unskilled workforce. Transportation Issues • Transportation into and out of area • Transportation • One is transportation: lack of bus, air, and rail services. • Location and transportation system • Lack of shipping/transportation to Portland which prevent Astoria from becoming a sea port. Page 74 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Lack of transportation • Transportation • Location -- distance from markets precludes commodities production -- rail line doesn't see to be commercially viable. • rail infrastructure • Transportation • Too far from an airport -- transportation • Rail/roads/airport • Transportation • Location related to access to high population centers • Rail and air • Transportation issues • Isolation of community • Transportation (roads, rail, air) • Not located by a major airport • Location/transportation • Transportation infrastructure (roads) • Road quality • Lack of proper transport • Shipping/transportation should include regular train service for freight and passengers, pipelines (which could go on Highway 30 right-of-way), and making highway 30 a four-lane divided all weather highway. • Improve Astoria and Seaside airports and maintain regular service • Portland is losing shipping due to various including Columbia River channel -- deepening the channel will not help that much. Astoria could become a sea port working with Portland to keep Oregon in the shipping business. • Port of Portland competition with Port of Astoria and transportation infrastructure (e.g. rail freight); economic barriers to a certain extent (e.g. lower median income level than urban centers). Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 75 • Our location is isolated, River is good but Portland isn't going to give up anything. • Lack of transportation infrastructure…poor highway system, no rail, no air and what seems to great resistance by some strangers of the community, save that it's their belly that getting scratched. • No viable railroad • Transportation • We need a By-Pass! A local focus on a by-pass could promote our local area. By-pass! By-Pass! By-Pass!!! It is not conducive to a cozy comfortable place for tourists with log trucks and semi-trucks rattling through downtown Astoria. WE NEED A BY-PASS!!! • Develop and refurbish Astoria train depot -- use it. It is a wonderful building. Would add so much to the area. Get a preservation group right on it. • Lack of Well Paying Jobs • Certain groups are against any change that would create living wages. • Lack of full time jobs -- I believe there are some people in Portland who would strongly object to a major port facility in Astoria. • Lack of Living Wage jobs • All of the "Big boys" want to keep out any development. All than is coming in is low paying jobs in the tourist trades (gift shops). People cannot support themselves or a family on these low wages. • Low wages so good people don't stay, isolated from metro Portland • Wages are too low Desire for diverse economy • Poor economic planning in the USA. Corporate dominate over small businesses. • They need more stores like Wal-Mart, Bi-Mart, etc. • Need to think out of box -- not the way things used to be • Too much emphasis on tourism. Page 76 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Lack of viable industry • Other than tourism and local Coast Guard and businesses there isn't really anything here for people to do to make more than minimum wage. Also -- do we really wan tot make Astoria into another Lincoln City area or S. California strip? • Good shopping -- schools -- (No arts/ culture) • Clatsop is a tourist Co. with a crowded, overpopulation during the summer and spring and, almost shutting down during the winter. In the Heavy, ocean-front towns in Clatsop Co., most prime areas are taken or otherwise unavailable. • The idea that tourism is the answer -- it is not. • Need to attract outside interest to build businesses in the County for growth. • Too reliant on summer tourists. How about attracting conventions, meetings to this beautiful area all year around. It's nice here in the winter time too!! The entrance to downtown with it's empty buildings is a blight end is the first impressions of the City of Astoria, natural beauty of the surrounding landscape entering is fantastic. Then you see old empty store fronts. Community Attitudes • Many strong influential families who want to maintain village like atmosphere • "Good old Boy" Core of power group managers most decisions which are planted to their own personal gain -- rather than the benefit of all citizens and for most part ignore the impact that decisions has on the population. • Treat newcomers equally -- not charge them more because they're not local • Mind set • People are reluctant to change • People -- like a Super Wal-Mart voted out so travel to Longview WA or Newport OR • The "Good old boys" • As strong resentment by local people for new people to come. • Those who want no industry to move here. • Nay Sayers (we don't want anything new people) The need for new people and new ideas in positions of a authority. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 77 • Old boy network think only of money, not about quality of life. • Good old boys society • "Old school thinking" • Laid back attitudes • Long time attitude that customers will take what's here and won't go to Portland or use the internet -- However, this does seem to be changing. • It's still in the good old boy network and they should get new blood from out of the area in these positions Location • Rural nature • Remoteness • Portland • Proximity to I-5 • Sparse population • Largely rural areas -- many retired people. • Location -- 100 miles from metropolitan area. • Location • Location remote -- too far to markets. • Perhaps distance from metro area. • Climate, location • Location • Geography -- access to the area land Other Environmental • Environmental • Wetlands/ fill it in. • Some of the private citizen's property not wanting businesses in their backyard; Ecology preservation of wetlands; wildlife pressures. • Environmental quality, large growth concern • Environmental quality, large growth concern Page 78 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Department of Environmental Quality Taxes • High taxes • Tax • High taxes, high construction costs, fees. • Taxes, Historical Society • Housing Issues • Housing, too much protected land. • Housing for young families -- single parents • Housing • Housing • Affordable housing Citizen Participation • Enlistment of the county community (citizens) in development • Residents should be more informed in detail about the facts (from a neutral source) whenever a new business make overtures to the County. Government • Powers that be are both unimaginative and knuckle dragger. They need to get out of the 1950's • Lack of motivation by city council; lack of educating the community re:benefits • Local government -- self satisfaction -- not willing to try other ideas. • Local government -- self control. Not willing to try other ideas. Other • Space • Most businesses and healthcare providers do not seem to have the resources to train their staffs in customer service. The result is a lack of professionalism. To be causal is one thing -- to not know what you are supposed to do is another. • Fear. Lack of understanding of needs of working people • Not enough promotion of area Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 79 • People attitude -- need to be educated • Hard to get grants without a lot of trouble or the people trying for grants are not versed on what they need • Old and the young • Lack of internet connections • I don't know • I don't know • Money • Longshore Union -- they control the waterfront and drive away business. • Our tax base is high now, citizens should not supplement any business. • Our County, whether people realize it or not, is hurting socially because of economics. • Limited resources are available , i.e. fishing and forestry • Services and everything else it high • Not sure • Goods inland • There is only so much availability. Would be nice to update and redo what we have. For instance we have the new Safeway, east end of Astoria. Go towards town needs to improve -- part of Astoria needs to be redone, but then you have a parking problem. Just like Seaside's parking problem in the summer. Maybe a better place for Saturday market. • Don't know • Do businesses encourage competition? • We want it as it is now • Employees who don't go out of their way to help • Not enough money to go around to all agencies that need it to stimulate economic development -- need another way to bring in money like sales tax • Finances • The area doesn't attract nor keep educated people. The lack opportunity drives people away. Page 80 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Q-29. Please share any additional comments that you about quality of life, growth, or economic development in Clatsop County. • One of the things I love about Cannon Beach is that it is a planned city with a design review board. Attractive areas will attract good business and good people. I think it is important to establish values that include a healthy environment and an orderly, aesthetic sense of place. • Medical is hard to get for assisted, we need more here to help the growth around instead of only seasonal work for the locals from Astoria to Cannon Beach! • Bringing in new, tacky franchises fast food especially ruins the look of the area, and opportunity for small, privately owned stores to succeed. Clatsop Co. is beautiful – don’t ruin it – fill existing buildings instead if building new ones. Rent is too high for small businesses, also for low-income year round residents. Healthcare for low income non existent, landlords not fulfilling obligations with no easy recourse for tenant, no jobs in the winter, wages low year round, too much development on Hwy. 101 in Gearheart (may be good thing but looks tacky) • An eclectic area with acceptance of whom you are. Pristine and clean. Ideal area to live. Beauty forever changing. Please do not get over populated! • Having lived most of my life in Charleston S.C. I can see so many parallels between the two. Balanced economic development with focused attention to quality of life issues resulted in Charleston’s successful growth and development. I believe that the same is possible for Clatsop County. There are so many citizens who love this area both for what it is and what it can become tomorrow. • Employment in the Tourist Business is Min Wage. We need a real industry base. Things are improving, as 10 years ago we had 1 Log Truck running a day & now we see up to 16 an hour. Need Lower Taxes and cheaper housing in area. Overpaid high taxes only support inefficient government workers. • It’s imperative that the quality of our life not be compromised by the wrong kind of development. We do not need or want outside corporations moving into the county to pollute and compromise our county in order to make a quick profit or to take advantage of our rural, low-density life style. • Clatsop County is known for its beauty and this is what attracts people. Quality of life is important; however being a metropolitan area is not the answer. Construction has taken Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 81 over the area. We do need quality living wage jobs and diverse housing for all. In order to retain what attracts others to our county is a difficult balance, which must be retained. • Oregon’s shipping future requires Astoria to become a seaport working closely with the port of Portland. If money to improve Hwy. 30 is not currently available right–of–way could acquired (brought) gradually with available funds. Call it long range planning. Astoria could become a boat/ship building/repair site. Clatsop Community College has good maritime & welding departments, which could be enlarged. Clatsop Community College should regain its electronics program as electronics is at the core of high tech. Clatsop Community College Computer programs should be enlarged. I have more to write than a single sitting will allow. Please supply me with e-mail address, surface mail address, & if possible toll free phone number. Thank You Fred K. Eldred, PO Box 205, Astoria, OR. 97103- 0205 (< fredeldred@hotmail.com >) (503)325-1039 message phone. PS – I have been thinking about these things since my arrival in Clatsop County on Feb. 16, 1978. FKE • We love Clatsop County! • Go & grow forward- don’t take one step forward, in whatever you do, and take two steps backward. Too bad there is such an abundance of wetlands around to stop development of housing, etc. • The recent reaction to Calpine’s proposal to locate a plant in Warrenton and the Port of Astoria’s lease to Calpiner shows the absolute need of governmental bodies to enlist public comment and SUPPORT BEFORE a development, including a lease, is implemented. • Your Jail should not be a pleasure place for them to read, body build and hang around. They should pay board and room some. How about working on something. Jail now is no big deal. It should be a big deal and cost them a lot. Boot Camp type living so when they get out, they do not want to go back. • Keep the beauty – Turning Aegorhort into Beaverton by the Sea is not why we live here - & to develop willy-nilly defeats the purpose of this area – There needs to be a balance between growth and keeping a high degree of life – Quality. • More services for old people. • The city of Astoria needs a Trailer Park for visitors to park their travel trailers. Page 82 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • I’m from Newport where there has been a LNG plant for years w/out problems – Let’s get it here, fight for it. I like the small town of Astoria but taxes are astronomical – awful • Increased business opportunities and Growth would provide additional jobs to local residents to foster a better economic climate. However Training and education would need to be available to prepare the workforce. Goods and services also must grow to meet the needs of an influx of businesses. Managed resources and services should stay proportionate to population in order to maintain quality of life in the community. I feel strongly that expansion is necessary but must be managed and balanced responsibly with public services. • We need public transportation between Astoria and Portland. Bus service is very limited; too bad they took our ite railroad bridge. Portland to Seaside train would be a huge attraction plus an environmentally good means of transporting goods and people. • New to Area still learning about the growth and economic development for this County. • I hope you get some clear positive direction from this survey, and more importantly, make a multi-year strong commitment to act on it. • We need to offer university level classes at the community college to prepare students who transfer to U of O or Portland State. Not enough intellectual stimulation for young people here. Encourage a private college to move here. • Community needs more wholesome recreational activities. Such as dances and get togethers. When will the county have a conference center? We need to have use of a center not only to draw people to town but also as a public place for get togethers (like Cannon Beach). Also we need a “welcome” area for port ships that dock in town. • I think the roads in the county are marginal. Businesses must be able to ship and receive goods quickly and affordably. There is no High Speed Rail in the Columbia River gorge to get products to the Portland web and east. Jobs here are mostly low pay-recreation jobs. I’d like to see higher paying manufactory and service jobs. There are no major corporate HQs in the area. • Good services; 2. If I were a prospective businessperson or looking to expand a current business here, I would be put off by the endless, strident criticism and editorially biased reporting of the Daily Astorian. It injects constant anti- Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 83 business venom into the community.; 3. Clatsop Co. Gov’t. needs to protect us from the extreme attitudes embodied in measures 34 and 37 and needs to hold the line as much as legally possible against 37. • The concept of the county as being a business recruiter is one I have never considered in the terms used in this questionnaire. The county should be a facilitator of development by helping applicants through the maze of requirements. I see the county as an organization to serve residents with a court, sheriff dept., tax assessor/collector and planning to name a few. The economic development commission is an unclear entity but I perceive their duty as facilitators of growth and development. The county should not be doing the work of the chamber of commerce and business people. • We need a larger variety of restaurants and discount clothing stores. • I very much appreciate the quality of life in an incorporated city rather than the random development along strips of highway. Lets’ not let care rot happen, I like a “square” town with sidewalks. • Henry Wallace under FDR said, “Gravest thing we need to watch is over population.” How many is over population, controlled development our estuary, control tourism. Too many DUI’s Mr Paul Kearny (Sheriff) Helped DUI’s home as county did not have funds to feed and jail. He worked for the people to keep them out of jail; limited the small jail funds. Police should walk the beat more and catch our youth cutting tires and keying vehicles. • Careful planning should be encouraged. If you want to capitalize on tourism – then work at making the riverwalk a draw and other beautiful experiences. Industrial Opportunities should be kept outside and away from city congestion. We have serious problems in C.C. due to weather and alcoholism; need we bring more people here for unemployment and increased problems? • I would like to see the port of Astoria used more for import and export purposes. • It seems inevitable that tourism and retail are where the County is heading. To control that growth through cultural tourism seems more likely to protect the environment and the excellent life style of the area. Clatsop Community College should be a major player in the future economic development. • The county relies too much on forest products to the detriment of tourism, fishing industry, water quality and quality of life. Page 84 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results We are not leaving enough old growth (none left) and health natural forests for the future generations. Sustainability must become important. Education should not be dependent on cutting forests. • Rent is much higher than Long View there is not enough senior retirement homes. The hospital is very badly run in at least some departments & there are not enough choices in medical insurance. • We’re having the biggest Salmon runs passing our town. I’m pleased to see all the Salmon coming back. I’m wondering why we are just letting them all go to waste. • We feel the trend west development was a horrible compromise for Seaside. It created low wage jobs and totally ruined what Seaside was about. Wealth people can take away the beach/view from the residents. In Seaside if you have enough money, you can take the view away from your neighbor by building behemoth 3 story homes that ruin the aesthetic of the entire neighborhood and ruin wetlands. We realize Seaside is a tourist town. The reason is the beautiful location. If rich folks buy up and build up all the oceanfront property and close it off to the public then what is left? Seaside needs family wage jobs that don’t destroy the environment. The only family wage jobs are with the government or real estate developers. We need jobs, art, education, a McMenamins, and strong preservation of our natural beauty. We’re proud Oregonians! We need larger libraries and a regional library system. We need to protect our Beaches for everyone! • Q-17 “The County Should…” – All these are things the county “should” do, possibly, but funding isn’t available to do everything. I don’t think economic development / growth and environmental protection / quality of life are mutually exclusive. • The downtown commercial / retail stores will not thrive and grow with the one-way streets. Too many travelers only see half of the merchants, possibly not seeing something that may have made them stop and get out to look; however, it may be located one street over going a direction they may choose not to follow. • We are happy to see the refurbishing of old buildings and the construction projects in and around Astoria (partially spurred on by the upcoming Lewis and Clark celebrations) and, particularly, the new small businesses that have opened up in the last couple of years. Downtown Astoria would benefit enormously by forcing the harels to relinquish their Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 85 destructive grip on their decaying old buildings and allow someone to restore those crumbling areas to useful productive properties. Is there any way the county can step in and help? Only time will tell. • None of us want the traffic problems that come with big populated areas. Most of us retirees moved here with desire for a slow pace. Smaller city remains safer – we don’t need muggings and dangerous living conditions • Quality of life is far more important than Growth and Economic Development • Quit giving jobs to Green Card toting Aliens. The Port of Astoria should be a gold mine for commerce Local Services such as medical need to be improved, sorry I don’t have an obsession for this but I firmly believe 90% of residents would rather be transported to PDX than be treated locally for serious illness / injury. • I’m very upset about what the County and Port of Astoria did with Calpine. We the voters didn’t have any say about giving the land on the Skipanon away to Calpine and I mean give away. I’m going to fight this project to the end. I believe in economic development. But not that kind and not that way. We should have had a vote. If the majority wanted it I wouldn’t have been quite as mad. Ask us what we want before you make all the decisions. • In 1985 there was no such thing as a “rush hour” in Clatsop County. Now there is. It doesn’t seem likely that the 0.6% population growth accounts for the increased traffic on the roads (& consequent road improvement projects $$) so where are all the people coming from? Quality of life has decreased since 1985. More people, fewer living wage jobs (on a percentage basis), and a higher cost of living (higher housing costs & food costs). It seems like the county is becoming just another rat colony where the developers develop what they want, where they want, how they want to the detriment of the environment and the population’s mental health. • We need more development downtown not just antique stores & the like. Some low priced clothing stored and that kind of thing, where you can spend some time with a friend. There really is nothing. • If we can maintain and support our two biggest industries – Fishing and Tourism; we don’t have to introduce other industries to our area. Many other industries would scar the landscape and hurt tourism. Page 86 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • I am a Democrat so I am responding about the way George Bush runs the finances of the government. I am dependent of the Federal Government – Social Security and Veterans Pension – I look for cuts in my $40,000 income shortly. • I believe economic growth should be generated by the established industries in this area; (Lumber, fishing, & tourism). If a manufacturing base can be developed around these industries, the quality of life would be the least impacted. With the possibility that the value of the dollar may not maintain its pre-eminent value in the world manufacturing may again occur in the USA, inspite of the trade agreements that are currently limiting production in the USA. • We find County staff friendly and customer oriented. • Growth is fine as long as it is slow and doesn’t destroy our beautiful area. The quality of life needs improvement for a lot of people in this area; jobs that pay a living wage. We don’t need more shops or golf courses. • It is time for some citizens of Clatsop County to pull their heads out of the sand. We have too few living wage jobs, thus a high % of the people living at or near poverty level. The City and county governments should do everything in their power to encourage industry that pays a living wage. In many ways the world has passed us by and that’s not a good thing. • We should have a transfer shipping from Astoria to Portland; also the gas docking and storage station in Warrenton is strongly encouraged. Keep our air quality clean. • It is a wonderful to live in Clatsop County. I was born in Salem, Oregon, in the Willamette Valley. I have lived on the north Coast for 30 yrs. The closeness of our region to outdoor activities and close proximity to larger metropolitan communities are good here. • Although it seems this survey addresses governmental services, I must state the need in our area for accurate local news reporting. The local newspaper needs competition. Editorial decisions eliminate critical opinions, which do not agree with the publisher. More free or affordable promotions for school and church and charitable organizations would promote a feeling of encouragement amongst the populace. • Seaside had a huge timeshare resort open in the past year, which has significantly raised housing costs. This is going to become a serious problem that no one has realized they need to address. The value of our house went from $150,000 to $300,000 in two years! There are no good jobs in this town and Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 87 my husband and I can only afford to live here ‘cause both of our incomes derive from outside the county. All the maids and dishwashers for Gearhart and Cannon Beach have to live in Seaside because of housing costs. Where will they go when rents start to spiral? • Due to current Traffic Problems we do NOT need to encourage more tourism. We also need to better enforce vandalism and littering laws on tourists. • I think that if there were more opportunities / programs that would provide job training, education counsel and/or start programs that kept petty criminals out of the jail, and gave them a way to better their life, plus helping others. (The need for more jails would be less.) Rehabilitation is more productive than incarceration • I like the new changes that have been incorporated within the welfare system. I have recently had to take advantage of the program and was pleasantly surprised at the trend towards educating people more deeply and also the present understanding that people need time for change and need help and support during times of transition. Also, again I stress the need for more jail space in Clatsop County. However costs and practicality should determine how the space is developed. The county should be circumspect and consider all the options and educate us about them before deciding how to proceed. It needs to be done properly and reasonably. I say educate us so in case there is some local vote on it that we citizens vote understanding what we are choosing. We should be educated with honesty. I am a bit (A LOT – TRULY) frustrated with the political process everywhere. Often times I feel I am voting blindly about issues. How can I cast an educated vote without proper understanding? I write about this because I remember within the last few years voting about jail space. There is too much propaganda in politics everywhere. If rumors are true there are wrong and misguided attitudes amongst our decision makers concerning growth, (of course, maybe those propagating this idea are wrong and misguided! Everyone has got an opinion and how difficult it is to know the truth of the matter!) may they look within and honestly question their decision according to truth and proceed according to what is good and right. Thank you for an opportunity to give some of my insights! Hope it helps. • Why did Wal-Mart get closed out? We need jobs and good shopping. This is crazy, A retired Realtor. • Recreation, I don’t drink, smoke or do drugs and there is very little to do for entertainment. Like dancing, as I don’t like Page 88 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results alcohol and smoke I don’t go to bars. Please give us some affordable clean fun. • Tear down or clean up the older buildings. Have people be responsible to improve their buildings and area. Keep the area clean and neat. Make education a quality of life, having our schools offer a good trades training program. For kids that don’t want to go to college. • Astoria is a wonderful eclectic mix of people. It is on the verge of significant and dynamic changes, which brings opportunities and challenges. Astoria and the county had been economically depressed for at least 20 years ’75 – ’95. As a result a lot of infrastructure was not maintained, improved or built! This included transportation, water & sewer, utilities (phone), and more (hwy, rail, shipping, jail, college, schools, etc.). That means we now not only have to play catch up, but move forward at the same time. So, we are financially incapable of sustaining our future independent of outside sources. Money has to be pumped in to keep our community thriving. But how we maintain good land standards and manage growth is critical to our quality of life. We can’t forsake the former to serve the latter. All community leaders must share the responsibility of Clatsop’s economic growth and livability. Our community faces a serious drug & alcohol problem that gone ignored or overlooked for 40 years! It is the cause of high property crime, burglaries and more. Our leaders need to get the community involved at all levels to get this problem under control. We have too many low-income wages and housing for a community our size. We need to educate our workers to maintain jobs and get off welfare and unemployment roles. We have plenty of land set aside for industrial use & we have plenty of empty buildings that can be used for new business. Let’s explore all options (except bringing in Wal-Mart!); look at all sides and make decisions for the good of the community, environment and future operations. P.S. About the jail ??? Not sure we need to spend $22 million on a new facility. Can we explore using an existing building, like the Spexarth Bldg. I’d rather see us figure out how to stop drugs from coming into the county and educate the community first, and at the same time look at economically viable options for incarceration. Thank You! • I live in a really expensive town most of the people that live here full-time don’t make very much money. It is so important that local governments remember that. Childcare is #1 with me. IN Cannon Beach we must maintain the non-profit Cannon Beach Children’s Center. It can only be done with continued Support of the local government. Housing is another issue. It is nearly impossible for the average working family to Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 89 purchase a home here. I believe there is a drug problem in many parts of Clatsop County that needs to be addressed too. • The county is in traffic gridlocks. Time to renew efforts to bet bypass through Astoria and replace Hwy. 30. • The administration of Clatsop County government is very poor. There is little or no accountability. Each department is run as a fiefdom. There is much dissatisfaction because of misuse of public funds. When questions are raised about waste, fraud and abuse in county government, the public officials are unresponsive and hide behind their authority. The county does not need economic development. It needs better administration and accountability. It needs to use the monies it has better by reordering its priorities and instituting a system of accountability. For example, instead of dealing with citizen’s complaints about its services and personnel in a straightforward manner, the county hired a public relations officer. That money would have been better spent if the county had appointed an ombudsman. • The education of the work force is not good. • I understand that the property taxes in Astoria are at the top of Oregon Cities. Fixed or low-income families cannot afford to stay in their homes. City and county officials keep adding to our tax burden. We cannot afford a new jail, college, or any other tax increasing projects. • We live in a place of great beauty and should always remember this and not compromise it in the name of economic development. One paper mill is enough in this county! • There is not enough help for the older people so improve job availability or improve hourly wage to build up a livable retirement income!!! • There is too much emphasis on tourism – we have enough! Tourism inflates costs of housing, foods, etc. for all; while creating mostly minimum wage jobs. • From years of being in business and serving on many committees I can appreciate the need for more information. I have a little different attitude than many in that even though I am a goal setter, I can enjoy, appreciate, and be very thankful for what most folks take for granted. I look for the good and find a lot of it. I do not have problems because I do not look for them. Attitude makes peace of mind, or misery. My opinion of Clatsop County is that I have lived exactly where I wanted (moved here in ’60), and I worked at exactly what I wanted to do. What more do I want?? I may not have helped with the committee’s expectation of this survey, as I am Page 90 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results very happy every day. Time will come when that may not be true, yet I hope I will continue to be thankful for what I have had and not be selfish for even more. • In Response to the Jail Construction consider savings by expanding current facility, i.e. Infrastructure, already in place, no expense to transport to court house, reduced liability, less hiring expense, no need to purchase and maintain transport vehicles and less likelihood of escape. Instead of constructing a golf course on Port property (I’m not aware of a shortage of golf courses around here) why not a wind farm? That is something of benefit to all, & gets used all year regardless of weather, provides good paying employment and good transferable job skills, training for which, for the most part, can be obtained at the community college. The LNG Farm sounds interesting if safety and environmental issues can be addressed…Hopefully the county will miss this opportunity to miss an opportunity. What happened to my DUCKS?? Next year!! • Daily transportation or shuttle service to and from PDX / Vancouver would allow people to live here work elsewhere. Amtrak, Light rail, plane – we need more than one time. Better local bus transportation. Different amounts for different parts of the county are not economically fair. Better communication of services. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 91 Appendix C Business Survey Methodology and Survey Instrument This appendix contains a copy of the survey instrument for the Clatsop County Business Economic Development survey. The survey was administered in November and December 2004. Following is a discussion of the survey methodology. The Business survey focused on: (1) business climate; (2) perception about the Clatsop County government and economic development; (3) potential economic development policies; (4) plans for business expansion in the next five years; and (5) respondent demographics. CPW administered the survey by mail to 1,200 businesses in Clatsop County. The sample was drawn from the Employment Security 202 database provided by the Oregon Employment Department. This database includes records for all businesses with employees that are covered by unemployment insurance. This database allowed the survey to be randomly distributed to a broad range of business types and size. The survey was addressed to "business manager" and sent out twice. The second survey was mailed about two weeks after the first mailing of the survey. CPW received 183 valid responses, 314 undeliverable surveys. The response rate was 20.7%. Page 92 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results November 2004 Dear Business Manager, We need your help! Clatsop County is in the process of developing an economic development strategy. Clatsop County is asking local businesses their opinions and attitudes about potential economic development strategies that the County is considering. The Community Planning Workshop at the University of Oregon is conducting the survey on behalf of Clatsop County. We encourage you to complete the enclosed survey of your opinions about Clatsop County as a place to do business. This survey will be an integral piece in understanding Clatsop County as a place to do business. The more responses we receive from business owners like you, the better informed we will be to address key issues with respect to our local economy. All responses will be kept confidential. The results of this survey will be used to review economic development strategies. Your opinions are important to us. Please return your completed survey no later than Wednesday, November 24th, 2004 in the enclosed postage paid envelope. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please feel free to contact Beth Goodman, Community Planning Workshop Project Manager at 541-346-3653. Thank you for your participation! Sincerely, Bob Parker Director Community Planning Workshop Page 1 CLATSOP COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SURVEY Instructions: Clatsop County government wants to better understand the attitudes and issues related to economic development for businesses in the County. Consequently, this survey has been sent to 1,200 local business representatives throughout the community. The County is working with the Community Planning Workshop at the University of Oregon to administer the survey. Clatsop County will use the results of this survey to review its economic development policies. This survey is intended to reflect the opinions of local business leaders. The person who makes primary business decisions at your business should complete the survey. You should complete the survey based on your individual opinions and experiences in conducting business in Clatsop County. Please read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Return your completed survey in the enclosed postage-paid envelope by Friday, December 10th, 2004. Thank you for your time! Note: Your participation is voluntary and your returned survey indicates your willingness to take part in the study. If you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant, please contact the Office of Human Subjects Compliance, University of Oregon, 5219, Eugene, OR 97403, or call (541) 346-2510. First, we would like to ask some questions about your perceptions of the business climate in Clatsop County: Q-1. Overall, how would you rate Clatsop County as a place to do business at this time? … Excellent … Good … Fair … Poor Q-2. How has Clatsop County changed as a place to conduct business from five years ago (or since you began conducting business in the County)? … Better … Worse … Unchanged … Not sure … Both better and worse Q-3. Is Clatsop County economically better off than it was five years ago? … Yes, Why? … No, Why? … About the same … Not sure Page 2 Q-4. The following is a list of characteristics that can affect views of the local business climate. Please rate these characteristics in terms of their effect on Clatsop County as a place to do business. Affect Characteristic Very Positive Somewhat Positive Neutral Somewhat Negative Very Negative Not Sure 1. Access to markets and customers … … … … … … 2. Affordable housing … … … … … … 3. Availability of capital … … … … … … 4. Availability of land … … … … … … 5. Availability of raw materials … … … … … … 6. Availability of technology … … … … … … 7. Community attitudes … … … … … … 8. Community safety … … … … … … 9. Competitive pressure from other businesses … … … … … … 10. Cost of doing business … … … … … … 11. Cost of living … … … … … … 12. Parking … … … … … … 13. Diverse economic base … … … … … … 14. Economic growth potential … … … … … … 15. Environmental quality … … … … … … 16. Growth management policies … … … … … … 17. Infrastructure … … … … … … 18. Local government regulations … … … … … … 19. Local tax policies … … … … … … 20. Medical facilities … … … … … … 21. Permitting requirements … … … … … … 22. Population density … … … … … … 23. Public education system … … … … … … 24. Quality of life … … … … … … 25. Recreation opportunities … … … … … … 26. Shopping facilities … … … … … … 27. State’s fiscal situation … … … … … … 28. State and Federal regulations … … … … … … 29. State and Federal tax policies … … … … … … 30. Sustainability … … … … … … 31. Traffic Congestion … … … … … … 32. Transportation system … … … … … … 33. Utilities cost … … … … … … 34. Vital downtown … … … … … … 35. Workforce availability … … … … … … 36. Workforce quality … … … … … … 37. Other (specify): ________________ … … … … … … Page 3 Q-5. Using the list of characteristics presented in Q-4 or other characteristics, please indicate the top three strengths and weaknesses of doing business in Clatsop County. Strengths Weaknesses 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. Next, we would like to ask some questions regarding your opinions about Clatsop County government and economic development: Q-6. Please indicate how supportive the Clatsop County government is to local businesses. … Very supportive … Somewhat supportive … Neither supportive nor unsupportive … Somewhat unsupportive … Very unsupportive Q-7. Please list the top three steps the Clatsop County government could take to improve the county as a place to do business. 1. ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________________________ Q-8. What are the three things that make Clatsop County most attractive to employers? (Please check all that apply) … Availability of raw materials † Well trained labor force … Tax structure † Transportation system … Availability of technology † Tax structure … Access to shipping † County government … Availability of land † Quality of life … Labor pool † Permitting process … Educational system † Natural environment … Housing availability † Business clusters … Access to medical care Page 4 Q-9. What are the three things that make Clatsop County least attractive to employers? (Please check all that apply) … Availability of raw materials † Well trained labor force … Tax structure † Transportation system … Availability of technology † Tax structure … Access to shipping † County government … Availability of land † Quality of life … Labor pool † Permitting process … Educational system † Natural environment … Housing availability † Business clusters … Access to medical care Next, we would like to ask you some questions about economic development policies: Q-10. Please indicate what you think the Clatsop County government's policy should be towards economic growth. … Encourage economic growth … Accommodate/manage economic growth … Discourage economic growth … Not sure … It depends (explain): … Encourage economic growth/It depends … Accommodate/manage economic growth/It depends Q-11. Who do you feel should be working to promote economic development in Clatsop County? (Please check all that apply) … Clatsop County government … Local city governments … Local chambers of commerce … A combination of Clatsop County government, local city government, and local chambers of commerce … No one – let the market work on its own … Not sure … Others (please specify): Q-12. Do you think there are barriers to economic development in Clatsop County? … No … Yes ÆWhat are they? Page 5 Q-13. Please check the box that best represents your opinion regarding what Clatsop County government should do as local economic development policies and strategies. Statement Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Not Sure The County should actively recruit businesses. … … … … … … The County should reduce development fees. … … … … … … The County should have more industrial lands available for development. … … … … … … The County should have strong policies to maintain environmental quality. … … … … … … The County should streamline the development permitting process. … … … … … … The County should provide financial incentives to attract new employment. … … … … … … The County should provide financial incentives, such as tax breaks, waivers, loans, or grants, to businesses currently located in the County business growth. … … … … … … The County should adopt policies that will create more affordable housing for workers. … … … … … … The County should take steps to retain and expand existing businesses. … … … … … … The County should provide assistance to businesses facing financial difficulty. … … … … … … The County should provide employee recruitment services to businesses. … … … … … … The County should provide employee- training opportunities. … … … … … … The County should engage in public/private partnerships with businesses. … … … … … … The County should market itself to new businesses. … … … … … … The County should represent local firms at trade shows. … … … … … … The County should assist businesses in identifying new markets. … … … … … … Page 6 Q-14. Please evaluate each policy or process in terms of its impact on Clatsop County as a place to do business. Local Policies and Processes Positive Neutral Negative Not Sure Building permits … … … … Infrastructure development (i.e. roads, airport, sewer) … … … … Land use application … … … … Land use code … … … … Local tax policies … … … … Utility system development charges … … … … Other:_____________________ __________________________ … … … … Now, we would like to ask you some questions about your plans for growth or expansion of your business: Q-15. Do you plan to expand your business in the next five years? … Yes … No (skip to Q-20) Q-16. If you plan to expand your business in the next five years, will you expand it in Clatsop County? … Yes … No Q-17. Please indicate the number of new employees needed for business expansion in the next five years? ________________ (full time equivalent) Q-18. Please indicate the additional land area needed for business expansion in the next five years? _____________________ (acres) Q-19. Please indicate the additional floor area needed for business expansion in the next five years? ____________________ (sq ft) Page 7 Q-20. What areas of assistance are most needed to help your business grow and succeed? (Please check all that apply) … Availability of capital † Networking groups/business … Communications infrastructure clusters … Cut/lower taxes † Provide affordable housing … Employee education and training † Reduce health care costs … Employee recruitment † Reduce regulations & fees … Employee retention † Streamline permitting processes … Financial support † Wage issues/overtime issues … Improve transportation infrastructure † No assistance needed … Increase land availability † Not sure … Information about available resources † Other … Information on local market characteristics Finally, we would like to ask some questions about the characteristics of your business: Q-21. What is your zip code. _______________ Q-22. Is your company based in Clatsop County? … Yes … No Q-23. How long has your company been operating in Clatsop County? _________ years Q-24. How many full and part-time employees are currently employed by your business? Part-time employees: _______ Full-time employees: _______ Q-25. Please indicate the type of industry or profession that most accurately describes your business. (Please check only one.) … Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing † Transportation, Communication, Utilities … Construction † Finance, Insurance, Real Estate … Business Services † Health Services … Food Processing † Wood Projects Manufacturing … Lodging † Retail Trade … High-tech † Education or Training … Eating/Drinking Establishment † Wholesale Trade … Other Services † Other Manufacturing … Other (please specify): ________________________________________________ Page 8 Q-26. Please indicate your gross revenues for the most recent complete fiscal year. … Under $500,000 † $5 million - $10 million … $500,000 - $1 million † Over $ 10 million … $1 million - $5 million † Don’t know Q-27. Please share any other comments you have in the space below. ALL RESPONSES WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL Thank you for completing Clatsop County’s Business Survey! Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 101 Appendix D Open-ended Questions from the Business Survey This Appendix presents the written comments from the open-ended questions from the Business survey. On some questions, we have categorized the comments according to theme. Q-3. Is Clatsop County economically better off than it was five years ago? Comments from answers of "Yes" Good Economy • Growth in business sector • I think so but have no facts • Development=business=jobs • More business, more vision • More economic (/) (14) • More businesses in the area and better access • More selections of services and restaurants • More employment Poor Economy • Less Jobs • New developments, housing, retail, etc. Positive Attitude towards Growth • Attitudes are leaning toward growth • Tourism • Tourism (Lewis and Clark) • We seen an increase in new businesses • Many new businesses in the county • New development, sense of moving forward • Influx of tourists Page 102 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • New businesses and people coming to area • Hope and change CofC activity • Introduction of trend west, Lewis and Clark, more short (/) (21) • Further expansion • A lot of construction activity • More development • It appears that there are more tourists; Sunday market in Astoria and the addition of many cruise ship arrivals • More vitality, many changes in positive direction • New business, business expansion, general growth of exposure for county • Population growth and business • More building, strong tourism • More business, more stable employment • More growth not dependent on timber alone or on fishing Lewis and Clark Celebration • Money coming into area for Lewis and Clark • Lewis and Clark expedition publicity Increase in public investment • Outside investment, urban renewal in Astoria, Lewis and Clark Celebration • New buildings, renovations • More hotel rooms, better restaurants, spruces up cities • Entrepreneur investment • Increased investment in infrastructure and private enterprise • More investments have been made Increase in tourism • Tourism, cruise ships, L+C explore train • Tourism • Accent on tourism Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 103 • Tourism destination • New businesses resulting in new tourists • Tourism • Tourism, new developments • More visitors • Because of tourists • Tourism has increased everyone to offset lack of other industry • Tourism increase • Focus has been more on visitors and less on resource extraction • Cruise ships, larger tourist population • Increased tourism and increase development Well paying jobs • Attracting more professionals, entrepreneurs and people working out of their homes Other • Since there are no real jobs the people that move here usually already have money • Increased interest in the area, revitalization of commercial areas • More business minded, opening up to change • Fish and timber market are avail more • Retirement people and their money • Second home buyers • Ocean condition, sport and community • More out-of-town interest and investment Comments from answers of "No" Poor economy • Depressed • Bad economy, competition of same types of businesses city has no $ it seems Page 104 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • No industry, no jobs, low wages • More poverty, drugs, crime, poor • Loss $ from timber revenue • Costs for government up lot more than economy up Growth • Lack of consumer confidence/traveling since 9/11 • More retired = more resistance to development • Loss of jobs, youth authority and state police. No new jobs created Need to improve natural resource availability • Timber and fishing down • Fishing and logging restrictions • No fishing, no lumber, no industry, no new jobs Public investment • State funds to counties are less Too much regulation • Environmental restrictions • Government regulations, restrictions — public art, business attitude • Tightening regulations • More restrictions have been placed on fishing, forestry, and land use • Fishing and timber restrictions • Government regulations, fees, taxes • City planning and development in some areas (Warrenton) is poor and inexperienced • Too many land use restrictions Increase in tourism • We have gone from a resource based economy creating wealth and with good paying jobs to a service based (tourist) economy that is close to min wage levels. Our demographics are changing as a result. We have a large “art community” also and typically they oppose industrial development Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 105 • Transition to service (tourism) many of my customers are experiencing shorter seasons and fulltime employment • Industry based on tourism is subject to economic downturns • Summer business has been slower • Fewer tourists coming, those that do spend less • Tourist based business area Lack of well-paying jobs • Loss of living wage jobs, i.e. man., logging, fishing • They have only come up with service jobs no higher paying work than min wage • Too much minimum wage employment • Family wage jobs have been displaced by part-time minimum wage jobs • Continued trend of fewer family wage jobs • Fewer family wage jobs, cannot survive on tourism • Lack of jobs, not as many conventions • Unemployment • Low incomes • Lack of family wage jobs, lack of development • No growth of family wage jobs • No new family wage jobs • No wage earning jobs for families Other • Less jobs • Merchants spending less money on advertising • Can’t seem what direction to take • Downturn in Oregon economy is felt here • High unemployment/low wage jobs • Drugs/alcoholism are up, services are down, tourism is down • No new industry • Need more small business not large Page 106 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • No development • Still loosing natural resource based jobs, less local ownership of large employers • Negative in the North, positive in the South Q-4. The following is a list of characteristics that can affect views of the local business climate. Please rate these characteristics in terms of their effect on Clatsop County as a place to do business. • Very negative • Drug and alcohol problems • Land use • Drug problems throughout the county and the related problems • Drug/alcohol activity Q-5. Using the list of characteristics presented in Q-4 or other characteristics, please indicate the top three strengths and weaknesses of doing business in Clatsop County. Strengths Access to markets and customers Access to customers Access to markets and customers Access to markets Access to markets and customers Access to markets and cost Access to markets and customers Affordable housing Affordability Affordable housing Affordable housing Affordable housing Affordable housing Housing Low cost of living Availability of capital Availability of capital Availability of capital Availability of capital Availability of capital Availability of capital New capital is coming now Availability of land Ability to expand if no regulation Availability of land Avail land Available land Availability of land Available land for developments Availability of land Land availability Availability of raw materials Availability of raw marterials Raw materials Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 107 Availability to natural resources Raw materials Close to fish Raw materials Availability of technology Availability of technology Available technology Community attitudes Community attitude Community attitudes Community attitude Community attitudes Community attitude Community attitudes Community attitude/safety Community attitudes Community attitudes Community attitudes Community attitudes Desire to grow well Community attitudes Positive attitude (S. County) Community attitudes Positive image Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety Community safety/attitudes Community safety Less crime Safety Police and fire protection Competitive pressure from other businesses Competitive pressure No competition (limited) Competitive pressure Cost of doing business Cost of business Cost of doing business Cost of business Cost of doing business Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Low cost of living Parking Parking Parking Diverse economic base Diverse economic base Good support of industries Diverse economic base Economic growth potential Page 108 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Econ. Growth potential Economic growth potential Economic growth (S. County) Economic growth potential Economic growth potential Economic potential Economic growth potential Economic potential Economic growth potential Economic potential Economic growth potential Good people/diverse interests Economic growth potential Good potential Economic growth potential Growth Economic growth potential Growth potential Economic growth potential Growth potential Economic growth potential Growth potential Economic growth potential Growth potential Economic growth potential High % of seafood (/) (8) in port Economic growth potential Lots of opportunity Potential for growth Potential Environmental quality Beautiful area Environmental quality Beautiful place to be Environmental quality Beauty natural Environmental quality Better environment to live Environmental quality Clean environment Environmental quality Environment Environmental quality Environment Environmental quality Environmental qualities Environmental quality Environmental quality Environmental quality Environmental quality Environmental quality Environmental quality Environmental quality Environmental quality Environmental quality Environmental quality Environmental quality (natural) Environmental quality Environmental quality of life Environmental quality Great place to develop for all its environment Environmental quality Natural and scenic beauty Environmental quality Natural beauty Environmental quality Natural beauty/beaches/open spaces Environmental quality Open natural spaces Environmental quality Scenic draw Wonderful environment Scenic location, unique Growth management policies Growth management Growth potential Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 109 Growth management policies Infrastructure Infrastructure Local tax policies Local tax policies No tax Medical facilities Health Care Medical facilities Medical facilities Medical facilities Medical facilities Population density Pop. Density Population density Population density Population density Population density Population density Population density Population increasing Public education system Clatsop Community College Public education system Good public education Public education system Great schools Public education system Local college Public education system Public education Schools Quality of life Beautiful area in which to live and work, quality of life Quality of life Environmental quality Quality of life Environmental quality Quality of life Environmental quality Quality of life Environmental quality Quality of life Good place to live Quality of life Livability Quality of life Livability Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Page 110 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life Quality of life/recreation Quality of life Quality of living Quality of life Quality of location Quality of life Slower pace of living Recreation opportunities Great tourism places for guests to visit Recreation opportunities Out of towners looking for rec Recreation opportunities Quality of life Recreation opportunities Recreation Recreation opportunities Recreation Recreation opportunities Recreation Recreation opportunities Recreation Recreation opportunities Recreation Recreation opportunities Recreation Recreation opportunities Recreation Recreation opportunities Recreation Recreation opportunities Recreation Recreation possibilities Recreation Recreational opportunities Recreation helps to bring in shoppers Recreational opportunities Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 111 Recreation opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreation opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreation opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreation opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreation opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreation opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreation opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreation opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreational opportunities Recreational/historic opportunities Recreational opportunities Shopping facilities Shopping facilities Traffic Congestion Low traffic Traffic congestion Traffic Traffic congestion Traffic Transportation system County and port entities vision Transportation system Good transportation Transportation system Transportation Utilities cost Utilities cost Vital downtown Vital chamber and community Vital downtown Vital downtown Vital downtown Vital downtown Vital downtown (improving) Vital downtown Vital downtown, Cannon Beach Vital downtown Workforce availability Available work force Workforce availability Lrg untapped labor force Workforce availability People eager to work Workforce available Workforce quality Workforce with ethic Workforce quality Education Workforce quality and availability Many people need more work, more than minimum wage Other Emphasis on historic preservation Great restaurants Plays with historic value Unique coffee shops Page 112 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Growth potential Inexpensive Increasing economic vitality Livability Large to new construction Uncongested Room for growth Local govt support Pacific Ocean Location Beautiful area Low competition Fresh air Good health care available Weather Good lighting uptown River Good schools thru junior college/good medical access Large tourist population People looking for value Little competition Plenty of parking Strong chamber/tourist promotion People work together (S. County) Tourism Familiar with local agencies Tourism related activity Knowing your clients Tourism summer strength Unknown Large percent part time homeowners Weaknesses Access to markets and customers Access to markets Access to markets Access to markets/customers Access to markets and customers Distance from large city Access to markets and customers Access Distance to market and shipping Far off I-5 corridor Access to markets Access to customers/market Access to shipping Affordable housing Affordable housing Cost of housing Available housing Affordable housing Affordable housing Affordable housing Affordable housing Affordable housing Housing Affordable housing Limited housing Permitting requirements Affordable housing Affordable housing Affordable housing Availability of capital Availability of capital Availability of capital Availability of land Availability of land Availability of land/Infrastructure Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 113 Availability of land Avail. Of land Limited land Available of land No land for new buildings Availability of land Availability of land Availability of raw materials Varying available raw products Access to supplier Raw materials Availability of raw materials Availability of technology Availability of technology Technology Availability to technology Technology Limited technology Avail. Of technology Availability of technology Availability of technology Availability of technology Availability of land Community attitudes Community attitudes Community attitudes Closed door attitude Community attitude Negative attitudes toward industry Community attitudes Anti manufacturing attitude of county and cities No reason for high school grads to stay Ambivalence of community Negative attitudes Community attitudes Attitudes Community attitudes Community attitudes Community safety Community safety Competitive pressure from other businesses Not enough computer business Cost of doing business Cost of doing business Cost of doing business Cost of doing business Cost of doing business Cost of doing business Simplify permit process Cost of doing business Simplify local regulations Increased costs E.G. insurance Cost of doing business Cost of doing business Cost of doing business Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living Cost of living, Cannon Beach Cost of living Parking Parking if doing business in Astoria Parking Page 114 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Parking Parking Parking Parking Parking Parking downtown Parking Parking Parking Parking Parking Parking Parking Parking Parking Parking Diverse economic base Diverse economic base Diverse economy Poor economy Diverse economic base Lack of economic base Diverse economic base Diverse economic base Diverse economic base No industry or jobs, most float part into Portland Diverse economic base Low diversity in eon base Diverse economic base Economic base Diverse economy Diverse economic base Diverse economic base Eliminate the hidden taxes (franchise taxes, etc.) No industry Economic growth potential Lack of growth Economic growth potential Economic growth Limited knowledge to proceed economic development Economic growth potential Stagnate economy Growth management policies Growth management policies Struggle between growth and environment is harmful Development control Growth management policies Growth management Infrastructure Infrastructure Infrastructure Infrastructure Weak infrastructure Infrastructure/transportation Infrastructure Infrastructure Infrastructure Local government regulations Regs. on business Government regulations Local gov regulations Gov’t regulations Local govt regs Too many land regulations Local govt regulations Local government (good old boy) Unhelpful local govts, especially Gov’t regulations Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 115 Astoria Land use Local government regulations Local regulations (too many) Regulation Government regulations Regulation Local government regulations Government policies favoring preservation Local government regulations Local governmental regulations Dealing with county regulations and lack of county to enforce them Government regulations Local gov. regulations Government regulations Too many regulations Local government regulations Land use Local government regulations Local tax policies Local taxes Local tax policies Taxes Tax policy Local tax policies Property taxes Local tax policies Taxes High taxes Tax high no assed value (N. County) Tax policies Local tax policies Taxes Tax policies Medical facilities Trained work staff-medical professionals Medical care/Insurance costs Medical facilities No good medical facilities Lack of urgent care medical facility Medical facilities Health care providers Limited medical facilities Permitting requirements Permitting/inspections Permit requirements Getting permits County is a permitting nightmare Permitting requirements Building permit process in Warrenton appalling Permit process Permit requirements Arduous permit process Permitting requirements Permitting requirements Permitting requirements Permitting requirements Permitting requirements Permitting requirements Permitting requirements Permitting process Permit requirements Permitting Permit and fee process Permitting requirements Permitting Population density Population density Limited population Page 116 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Population density Public education system Higher educational opportunities Public education Public education system Public education Public education system Public education Education Public schools Astoria Poor educational system Education system 1-12 Uneducated leaders and uneducated voters Recreation opportunities Not enough recreation Shopping facilities Shopping facilities Shopping facilities Shopping facilities State’s fiscal situation States fiscal situation State’s financial situation State financial situation State’s fiscal situation States fiscal situation State’s fiscal situation State fiscal situation State fiscal situation State’s fiscal situation State fiscal situation States fiscal situation State fiscal situation State’s fiscal situation State fiscal situation State fiscal situation State and Federal regulations State and Federal regulations State and Fed regulations Staying competitive in a place where state employment laws are not enforced State and federal regulations State regulation (too many) State and Federal regulations State and federal regulations State and federal regulations Need more government support to allocate more salmon to commercial sector State and federal regulations State/fed regulations/taxes State and fed requirements State and Fed regulations State and fed regulations State and Federal regulations State and federal regulations State regulations State and Federal tax policies State/Fed tax policies Educational system Hi taxes State and local tax policy State and Federal policies State and Fed policies Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 117 Tax State and fed tax policies State and federal tax policies Sustainability Sustainability Traffic Congestion Traffic Traffic congestion Traffic Transportation Traffic congestion Traffic Traffic congestion Summer traffic Traffic congestion Traffic congestion Traffic and/or transportation Traffic Traffic congestions Traffic can be bad during special events Traffic Traffic Traffic congestion Traffic congestion Transportation system Road system access to Interstate 32 Lack of railroad and air service Transportation in and out of area and within area Transportation Interstate transportation Bad transportation system Transportation Road and traffic conditions Hwy 30 upgrade with Astoria and Seaside by pass Transportation cost is high Underdeveloped airport Transportation handicap Transportation Transpiration system Bad streets and roads Transportation system Utilities cost Utilities cost Utilities too costly Utilities cost Utilities cost Utility cost Utility costs Vital downtown Retail downtown Vital downtown Vibrant downtown Workforce availability Workforce quality Workforce availability Jobs Getting people to actually work Availability of quality workforce Limited workforce Workforce availability Workforce availability Workforce available Work force availability Available workers Workforce quality Labor pool Lack of well trained workforce Page 118 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results Workforce availability Workforce availability Workforce availability Workforce quality Uneducated population Workforce quality Workforce quality Workforce quality Workforce quality Not many qualified workforce Workforce quality/alcohol/drugs/theft Local training Workforce quality Workforce quality Specialized workforce Workforce quality No qualified workers Workforce quality Workforce quality Workforce quality Workforce quality Poor labor pool Workforce quality Qualified workforce Other People are poor Drug subculture Income of average household Drug and alcohol climate Low wages Influence of drugs Work force quality No labor pool in summer Public agency attitudes Too seasonal Attitude of community Seasonality Community attitudes Too short a tourist season Retirees don’t want change Seasonality Lack of willing state/federal government Poor local leadership Antagonism towards commercial fish in media Retail diversions No growth at all cost (N. County) Small town limited developed resources Desire to keep old property, no value (N. County) Diversity Unwillingness to allow technical growth Newer housing sale/rent Citizen no-growth pressure Hi taxes City governments lack of vision Available land Lack of leadership form community leaders Lack of logistically availability Availability of good jobs Parking Not enough jobs Building inspector turnover No jobs that pay 25+ The port Most work is seasonal and part time No selection Loss of timber/fishing jobs High prices Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 119 Limited family wage jobs Poor hours Unemployment, low wages Isolated and looked down on by Portland Limited employee pool Sustainability Lack of effective economic development Natural resources Community/residents shortsightedness Availability of technology Weather Weak local newspaper Weather Q-7. Please list the top three steps the Clatsop County government could take to improve the county as a place to do business. More Focus on Economic Development • Target companies with family wage jobs in recruitment • Aggressively market light industry at Port of Astoria • Business relocation search com • Be pro business • Actively seek family wage paying industry • Hire econ development specialist • Make econ development a priority • Promote economic development • Be more aggressive in inviting businesses into county • Let Port of Astoria lead county on economic development • Control type of business coming into county (limit max super stores) • Initiative and compensation for new businesses • Develop riverbank area for shops and tourists • Bring in some industry • Diversify economic base • Expand/shoulder businesses relating to raw materials i.e.: boat building • Get serious about economic development • IRB financing Page 120 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Bring new industry • Stay out of the way of new business • Encourage new businesses • Make available industrial sites • Support workplace training program • Advertise for clean businesses and manufactures to move here • Encourage growth and development • Welcome manufacturing businesses • Open land to all new ventures • Economic planning and development • Look beyond traditional econ dev e.g. beyond recruiting • Continue to develop/promote marine recreation and tourism • Go out and attract business • Encourage entertainment type businesses to cater to (/) (118) • Try to bring industry • Encourage Walmart to come • Marketing • Push for more industry/good paying jobs • Use local businesses as #1 supplier • Foster and economic development business park • Push for more industrial businesses to diversity economy • Be more open minded especially to new business • Help to provide capital • Create more competition • Get business to come i.e. Fred Myer, Costco. We need businesses that will employ and train our people here • Diverse economic base • Bring in more diverse businesses Walmart or BiMart • Release state economic development funds to cities • Allow new business in Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 121 • Stop encouraging new businesses that only offer minimum wage jobs • Do not bring in big box stores • Promote economic activity to create jobs • Actively recruit business development • Promote to industries other than tourism • More business that don’t depend on tourism • Be aggressive with a game plan to go after diverse, clean, profitable businesses that will be here for years to come Less Focus on Environmental Quality • Back off on wetlands issues • Ignore environmental nuts • Stop the environmental agenda • Not set aside valuable useable land as park space • Support regional medical center More Focus on Environmental Quality • Relief of wetlands • Continue responsible and historically oriented development/clear up river walk • Do not support environmentally damaging businesses • Better wetland regulations • Environmental consciousness Make Government more efficiently and/or less costly • Have town hall meetings to meet commissioners and receive input • Cooperation between government units • Change leadership (including Dept. Heads). Too many retired busy bodies as commissioners. No vision, leadership • Be more respectful and responsive to citizens complaints of waste, fraud and abuse • Listen to their constituents • Operate like a business Page 122 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Advocate to both state and federal agencies for more local allocation of resources • Quit acting like “Gestapo” to business owners and empl • Elect more experienced commissioners • Cut overhead • Quit spending money don’t have • Interfere less • Meet/talk/ask for help/advice • Too many want this to be a retirement/art community • Elect a new more moderate board of commissioners • Be less of a ‘good ol’ boys” government • Use fair bidding practices • Review what we do now and find out what is effective and what isn’t Improve Attitude about Growth • Open their eyes to the benefits of change, progress and modernization • Encourage growth for business • Forget the past and how it used to be • Be more accessible (i.e. more friendly and helpful) • Change attitudes to we’re here to help not cause obstructions • Improve community attitudes towards big business • Help to change community attitudes towards allowing better shopping facilities • Pro growth • Be business friendly • More overall support of downtown business • Business friendly • Improve the year round business outlook • Improve the business climate and attitude Improve Affordability and Quality of Housing Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 123 • Acquire better housing market • Develop affordable housing re: wages and jobs structure • More affordable housing (increase labor pool) • More affordable low-income housing Improve Internet Access • Improve access to technology • Improved internet Develop and/or Improve Port Facility • Attract shipping to Astoria instead of Portland • Airline + reduce Port of Astoria security issues • Not too much growth, keep small • Improve product shipping options • Better cooperation w/ Port for economic development • Port of Astoria seems underutilized Increase Regional Focus • Find a way to have Seaside, Warrenton, and Astoria work together • Get the communities to work together better Simplify or Streamline Regulations • Less building permit hassles • A stable permitting & inspection dept. • Easier to get permits • More lenient local government regulations • Get this land use stuff figured out so the pent up demand can start materializing • There’s avail land but too many restrictions • Stream line all operations • They use it as a weapon, permitting and community process need to be changed • Remove roadblocks (regulations and permitting process to development) Page 124 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Reduce time for land-use permits • Better at enforcing codes • Less regulations on planning/permitting • Speed up the permit process • Cut unnecessary regulations • Change zoning laws • Simplify permit process • Business friendly • Simplify permit • Ease permitting requirements and costs • Streamline building permits • Develop fast track for new businesses to develop • Stop acting like the Nature Conservancy • Streamline permitting • Reduce regulation on land requirements • Less regulations • Attempt to get around negative State regulations • Zoning • Permitting • Improve permit process • Make the process for expanding business easier • Do away with some of the permits and bureaucracy • Make the permit process less cumbersome • Ease land restrictions • Charge less for permits • Permits are bad • Local government regulations bad • Streamline permit process • Streamline planning/permit process. Clarify requirements to intended parties early in process Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 125 • Lane use, every mud puddle is not a wetland • Less restrictive permit process • Lessen regulation difficulties • Perimeters work for the public not against • Cut county red tape • Make permitting process easier for business • Relax regulations • Simplify the building permit process • Plan land use on local level • Speed up permitting • Lead with state and federal official on changing unfair regulations • Cost of doing business • Decrease time spend waiting for inspectors/permits • Bring city permitting agencies in line with county agencies and get rid of the folks that don’t have any ideas what their purpose is • Permitting process • Centralize the permit approval system • Speed up the approval and services process for plant permits • Get rid of some of the unnecessary paperwork • Decrease regulations • Limit regulations • Permits • Reduce regulation • Growth management policies • Streamline fee and permit process Improve and/or Develop Roads • Master plan to handle future traffic • Promote solutions to clogged Hwy 101 • Develop traffic plan for all major roads Page 126 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Deal w/ODOT’s stifling of Hwy 101 corridor development • Better roads • Road maintenance • Research possible bypass between Astoria and Seaside • Solve traffic congestion • Reduce summer traffic congestion • Develop infrastructure • Highway congestion, get big trucks out of downtown areas • Support a by pass so unnecessary traffic could less damage our livability and tourism • South County/Seaside traffic congestion • Improve infrastructure Address Social Problems • Reduce meth abuse • Small group of special interests control all levels of government • Attitude of its citizens • Convince cities/citizens to expand their mindset to think county wide rather than individually • Work on changing attitudes to be in favor of business • Affordable heath insurance • More money to day care and pre-school programs • Crime rate reduction • Clean up drug problem • More “public” forum (no communication w/business) • Hold people accountable (no discipline for poor/error etc.) Reduce Tax Burden • Lesser local taxes • Tax relief on business investment • Tax incentives for SO + employers • Eliminate taxes, eliminate welfare office Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 127 • Eliminate taxes, cut welfare handouts • Do not increase taxes, do not enroll new welfare recipients • Tax cuts in initial set ups • Property tax reductions for manufacturing companies • Do not raise taxes • Lower taxes • Give incentives for business to bring jobs • Reduce property taxes • Eliminate taxes and over regulation that doesn’t lead to anything but stopping development • Tax breaks • Limit taxes • Taxes • Lower taxes and fees • Lower taxes Offer Tax Incentives to Businesses • Give a break to new businesses w/tax relief • Reduce permit fee for new businesses • Tax incentives to major/minor business ventures • Tax incentives • Tax breaks for new business • Give incentives Increase Tourism • Find a way to bring in more tourists in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May • Encourage tourism to flourish • More winter type events to draw tourists • Continue to support tourism • Increase tourism interest in North County Improve Transportation Page 128 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Upgrade rail line between Portland and Coast • Promote air and trains to county • Work to develop transportation infrastructure e.g. Astoria bypass • Improve transportation • Transportation (i.e. Highway) • Create bypass routes to reduce congestion • Improve transportation • Improve infrastructure i.e. airport development in Seaside • Better transportation so local people can travel more efficiently • Help redevelop the Ports of Astoria • Regional air service • Railway seems underutilized • Improve transportation (roads) • Improve infrastructure • Hwy 30 bypass Encourage Well-Paying Jobs • Encourage development of family wage jobs • Go after family wage jobs • Attract a core employer paying $20/hr wage • Encourage new jobs with living wage • Add jobs • Create more jobs • Be more aggressive in attracting businesses with family wage jobs • Attract family wage jobs • Be an ambassador for new family wage jobs and industry Increase Workforce Training • Educate staff to current regulations • More education Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 129 Other Parking • Improve parking • Parking • More parking downtown Astoria • Provide more parking for shoppers • Create more downtown parking • Improve parking in all towns • Parking Education • Improve college quality/offerings [at] Tech center • More support for Clatsop Community College and MERTS • Improve educational access and staffing • Educating • Site a new location for community college • Move the community college off the hill • Improve schools • Education • Improve the community college • Improve community college • Improve the community college programs Infrastructure • A better infrastructure • Reduce gov’t costs • Build and new correctional jail facility • Invest in the parks and recreation areas • Help develop industrial park • Improve access to technology for the area • Help Warrenton with water and sewer issues Page 130 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Improve the State’s vision of our area so that ODOT will improve the roads and bridges • Continue to improve Astoria in general • By-pass downtown Astoria • Do not enlarge existing Hwy 101 • By pass of Astoria #1 Government • Too much government • Less government • Push state gov to get out of the way • No to ODOT Financial • Find a way to reduce cost of advertising in visitors guide • Increase the budget for the sheriff department • Doing business within the county spend money locally • Cut cost of doing business • $$ Public Participation • Adopt a services oriented policy towards the public • Stop trying to operate below public radar • Engage the local businesses better • Let citizens become more involved in decision making • Involve the public in all master planning efforts Government Attitude • Not be so aloof • Listen better • Don’t be obstructive to business • A more “modern” attitude towards growth • Local officials need to be more approachable and not so nasty to local business owners Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 131 Other • Help with increasing utilities expenses • Tell Corps of Engineers to piss off • Maintain way of life on the coast • Work harder to say yes than to say no • Working relationship w/state (maybe of their control) • Prosecute absent landlords who neglect their property • We need more availability of materials both raw and man made • Strategic planning • Conference Center support • Consistency • Assure that they will never compete with private business • Quality day care • Improve ethical standards among local leaders • Strong manager, weak community for government • Assist in saving marketing assistants • Shorten time on expansion • Research other avenues of development beyond tourism • Spread the wealth, South County’s $’s don’t equal return too much goes to Astoria • Enforce regulations • Reduce crime • Better shopping facilities • Help control rising utility costs • Respect property rights • Change charter to elect commissioners at large • Foster working relationship with Coapoe Engineers • Recreation opportunities • Sustainability Page 132 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Better advertising of county resources • Educate residents on why tech. and tourist growth is a positive • Help create more large events (volleyball, Hood to Coast, Sandcastle, etc.) • Advertising campaign promoting local history, museums, etc. targeting Pacific NW • Leave measure 37 as it was meant to be • Enforce building codes and standards and higher levels than presently enforced Q-10. Please indicate what you think the Clatsop County government's policy should be towards economic growth. • Growth without compromising quality of life or environment. • Need fobs industry • Encourage compatible economic growth • Responsible, historically oriented, focused economic growth • With clean industry • We don’t want to loose our quality of life • Government shout stay out of private business • Economic impact vs. social impact • Non-tourist and family wage • Keeping in mind that most residents want to keep the place naturally beautiful Q-11. Who do you feel should be working to promote economic development in Clatsop County? • Port of Astoria • Everyone • Port Commission, lots of land is owned by the Port and should be utilized • Let the business people promote economic development and the other agencies stand ready to assist us not and then. • Government should respect good science and reduce restrictions on utilizing natural resources and land. News Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 133 services can change anti-business mentality, i.e. Daily Astorian and local radio reporting. • Port Q-12. Do you think there are barriers to economic development in Clatsop County? Less Focus on Environmental Quality • Environmentalists • Environmentalists keep business out • Tree hugger’s • County and State agencies have kept the coastal strip as pristine as possible to encourage tourism, this in turn has kept economic growth from happening • “destruction” of quality of life and environment • Environmental issues • Environmental concerns More Focus on Environmental Quality • Development must be balanced with environmental protection. Some industries are not able to achieve that balance Negative Government Attitude About Growth • Lack of unified approach between local municipalities • assisted by state and sometimes local government. • Local government • Govt interference and (/) (31) • Same “no” citizen, satisfied with present situation, relish change • The county has no expertise or fortitude to carry out economic growth. I implore you to le the Port lead the charge. They have what it takes. • See question 11 • ODOT LUBA • Need a plan w/a hired executive director with know how • Citizens/govt (some) only desire certain types of economic development (tourism) this county needs industry to build jobs Page 134 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Local government • Local city governments do not welcome new business. The refused to let Home Depot, Walmart come in. the supply would be cheaper if we have more business • Fragile environment. Community mistrust of government and big business • Leaders that have their own agenda and loyalties • Negative Attitude Towards Growth • lots of people with negative attitudes towards growth • Clatsop County continues to discourage growth and makes it hard for businesses to grow by fighting them every step of the way • don’t want things to change • Community attitude • community stagnation • Too much negativism • Fairly influential residents who don’t want economic growth, fearing the change • Attitude • Tree huggers or older people who have made their money and don’t want to see any change • Attitude concerning growth • Backwards attitude • Old timers, close minded individuals afraid of moving forward • Climate that discourages new businesses • Citizens are afraid of change • Vocal minority who are anti-business, anti-development, anti anything • Certain small cities wanting to stay small • Individuals clinging to the past who have continuing interest in land, buildings or other key individuals. I think the Port of Astoria is at times because of tax base which shows a minimal return, while if left in hands of tax payers it might have greater economic impact on county Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 135 • Older, vocal people do not want change • Attitudes towards tourism, change, and newcomers • This area wants to remain a tourist attraction with minimum wage service jobs • Some community attitudes that discourage certain kinds of business • Negative attitudes in the community • Lack of positive attitude • Some towns do not want any changes. They are unwilling to have any large companies come in near them • Just attend the Calpine sitting information meetings, vocal anti-anything sep change same with ODOT meetings • Territorial thinking/no vision. We are all one economic enter: from Cannon Beach to Astoria with our collective strengths, diversity and weaknesses • People that will not let development come in. Too many tree huggers • The current leadership commissioners that is stuck in “old” way of doing business based on outdated practices, information, and way of thinking. Need to look at all options that may present themselves. The permit and fee process needs to be streamlined • City views of changing industrial zoned areas to housing on prime river frontal property. General mind set of city • Mot as bad as it was in the past but we discourage almost all economic growth in the county Land - High Cost or Lack of Availability • Lack of land to be used for development • Lack of access to transportation for marketing goods • Land availability • Location • availability of useable land • Land • Lack of land that is given to the whole Page 136 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Perception of remoteness (physically remote) high local “hidden” taxes (phone franchise tax, etc.) • Access to available land for development Lack of Good Port Facilities • The Port district promoting North County, particularly Astoria. Regulations • zoning, lack of shipping • Too much red tape • Land use regulations • Regulations that are ridiculous, time consuming “make work” projects to insure their own jobs. • State and federal regulations unfairly limit responsible growth in fishing, timber in the name of environmental protection. • cost of doing business • Too many government hoops to jump through. Gentlemen’s agreements don’t work here, “just get it in writing” • Permit process • Land use regulations, red tape • Most are afraid to build and/or expand because of all the problems and headache’s involved in the approval and building process • Permits • Regulations, land use laws • regulations • permitting process, too many regs on land use • govt (local) restrictions • Too much administration versus “real” working people being allowed to do their jobs • state permitting process • Lack of available land/land use regulations • Governmental regulations • Restrictive land use Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 137 • Quality of existing development is very low. This will negatively reflect our “built environment.” • Restrictions and governmental control of land use, fishing, logging. Promotion of tourism to the exclusion of real basic production • political and regulatory interference from outside the area • State restrictions and local governments lack of concern for what the citizens want • Permitting process and anti-business attitude of government employees Roads and Automotive Access • access to customers traffic • Traffic congestion, poor roads • Better access to I-5 • Transportation • The narrow corridor though Astoria mountains on one side, rive on the other, need 4 land highway from Portland to Seaside and north • Lack of Skilled Workers • Education • High welfare uneducated population who do not want to work • labor pools with experience • labor [educated] • labor pool • Workforce • Poorly trained labor pool, county doesn’t encourage business and investors outside the • Untrained workforce Transportation Issues • Remote, off I-5 corridor • Location of our city to viable shipping lines • Transportation • Distance from markets, poor highway no rail Page 138 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • No railroads, no air service • alternate access to I-5 corridor • transportation costs • Transportation costs • lack of Astoria bypass • Distance from I-5, no air service • Air transportation (scheduled) • Underdeveloped airport, poor transportation (Hwy 30) to Portland • Transportation • Tourism stopping places parking employee parking Astoria and downtown Lack of Well Paying Jobs • Poorly trained work force, need much more training • high percentage of minimum wages jobs, affordable housing • Lack of wage earning jobs, tourism doesn’t cut it Other Taxes and Fees • High tax — local business leaders are not invited to participate in recruiting • Property tax high • tax structure • Fee’s, fee’s and more fee’s. • taxes • Taxes Government • Governments do not have foresight • Government at levels and is half full of citizens that are not even native to Clatsop County • The ability of local, county, and state agencies to work together without special interest groups • Personals agendas in county and city government Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 139 Attitudes • Old attitude of not wanting any changes, left leaning activist • The people that are here. People that move from other areas and take over government • Very vocal public many who want to keep Clatsop County their own little haven • The people who have homes here but are not residents • Old money not willing to vision or move ahead • Too much depending on government grants and support and opposition to new businesses or growth that would accompany new businesses with to much regulations increasing the cost with no guarantee of success through the regulation maze. Location • Distance from Portland • Population, remote location • Distance from markets Others • lack of raw materials available • Availability of raw materials • Environmentalists (wetlands, conservation areas, etc.) • Environmentalists • Quality work force • Ag identified • Too many groups trying to do it • Assistance is needed to implement small business opportunities • They are beginning to be addresses but it is too early to see the results yet. Positives: Port development, river walk development, downtown restoration, increased cruise ship tourism, establishment of upper-scale hotels and businesses (i.e. Elliott Hotel, Columbia River Day Spa and Valley Barge, etc. ) and development of old cannery sites for tourism • Grants/money/education Page 140 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Seasonal business varies drastically and somewhat unpredictably • Only those businesses that can provide essential products at or near the coast survive and generate profit allowing too much competition for small, independent businesses to grow or survive long term. There seems to be a barrier for small independents and a demand for large, super stores in this retail market. • Small groups making decisions without public forum or input • See the list of negatives • county and private sector • electrical power, reliability • Seaside is going to fail as a business community if the county doesn’t open up land and be slightly more forgiving and positive towards new plans, ideas, etc. We need something besides tourists to sustain this community through the winters. The people and their quality of life are suffering due to lack of industry. • Why would I want my tax money competing with myself? • no one wants to take responsibility for decisions so you play the shuffle game and once you think you have complied the game changes with new rules businesses do not have access to information • Absent landlords • longshoremen • Great Clatsop County as a Portland Public Park (measure 34) yet build dams that destroy fishing • capital • Seasonal • Education • Population base and education • small population • Rain • Not enough diverse things to do when it rains • You have to fish or log • Read the responses elsewhere Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 141 • Example, local (but not minority) opposition to Calpine’s LNG plant Q-14. Please evaluate each policy or process in terms of its impact on Clatsop County as a place to do business. • No growth attitude • Hidden franchise tax • Lack of parking and congestion • Too many hassles to get buildings done • Enforce to employers Q-25. Please indicate the type of industry or profession that most accurately describes your business. • Fraternal organization • Beauty service • Consulting • Outdoor recreation • Retail recreational • Tourism • Consulting engineers • Grocery • Museum • Manufacturer’s representative • Veterinary services • Export • Tourism • Motel industrial laundry • DARiS • Housing authority • Church • Golf course • Auto dealership • Sewing and alterations Page 142 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results • Travel and tourism • Household goods/office moving/relocation • Child care center/preschool • Landscape service • Public accounting • Auto sales and service • Medical • Apartment complex • Post office • Excavation and underground utilities • Pet boarding and retail • Media • Tax preparation • Campground/RV park and grocery store • Auto and truck repair • Lawyer • Real estate sales • Labor organization • Tourism • Accounting • Land development and sales Q-27. Please share any other comments you have in the space below. • Nearly impossible for me to fill this out – Our business is in Cannon Beach, which is completely different than the rest of Clatsop County. • Traffic jams are a deterrent to business. If trucks, movers, busses, etc. were able to go around our cities, the locals and tourists would be much happier and quality of life would improve. It would help both business and our sustainability. Those who choose to go to Warrentown for example would not have to suffer driving through either Seaside or Astoria traffic just to arrive at their destination. Example: Cannon Beach Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 143 • The highways and roads throughout Clatsop County are extremely congested, making our business less safe and productive. Also, there is a great lack of young workforce for our business. Those available are not responsible, ambitious, and dependable. The drug and alcohol problems in the county are immense, especially with the 30 and under population. That further hinders our ability to hire young workers that out business greatly desires. The attitude that tourism can make communities thrive is a weak assumption. Low wage jobs do not attract families, the desired workforce or permanent residents. • The County Commission needs to lead in a positive way. The split vote on Measure 34 show it lacks a clear vision on what is best for Clatsop County as a whole. Even though commissioners are elected by district they need to act in the best interests of all the county particularly those in the private sector who employ the workers and provide the economic vitality that is essential. They were not elected to make Clatsop County a park for Portlanders. The Commission should unify the county as one economic entity. Clatsop County needs leadership that overcomes North County/South County attitudes that would benefit one and hurts the other. Of the South County commissioners are perceived to be anti economic development. Positive economic development attitudes need to state at the county commissioner level. • Too many different agencies trying to do the same thing. Too much duplication in government. Most businesses will deal primarily with local government. County government should concentrate on law enforcement. • I have lived here 7 years and watched the people struggle economically. Homes are run down and in need of repair, it is unfortunate that where their are people the need for jobs exist. Logging and fishing no longer support the area and families who thought they could retire have many years before that can happen. The need to bring industry in exists, unfortunately some will adversely affect the environment. We have a huge meth and crime problem in the areas which threatens small business daily. I have heard and witnessed the permitting issues for building a home. People can’t afford to build and when they do the process is unbelievable. Someone should just sit in the office between the building and land use , what a sad situation. It’s a shuffleboard from one counter to the next with no clear path. No on knows what the other guy is doing. • Having said the county should encourage more business let me qualify, Clatsop Co. has hundreds of small businesses which would be hurt by the entry of a big box store (Home Depot/Walmart). The county must protect the small Page 144 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results businesses from encroachment and financial ruin. 100 small business is better than one big box. Encourage support the small business program through CCC. Provide a forum for cities/communities to work together to promote the whole county and reduce intracounty competition. Reinvent the fairgrounds for a broader use. Tourism is an economic reality. Work w/schools to educate re the “economics of tourism” and why it’s good (not a necessary evil). Work on the county roads that are within cities (e.g. Wahanna Rd reduce to 25 mph). Work for truck bypass. • We could really use one or two additional department stores beside the Fred Myer (i.e. Walmart, Target, etc.) Current tourism promotion is confined to a few select areas instead of promoting the area overall. The current Hwy 101 planned expansion in Seaside is a big mistake! The planned traffic flow will not encourage visitors to “stop” due to the limited access of the plan. • Some of the questions on this don’t apply because this is a government business. • Unified marketing plan for the entire county would help increase tourism industry • With resources including funding, land, labor — Clatsop Care Center Health District would like to replace our existing nursing home, build senior housing/retirement complex with access to services. Our biggest challenge is land availability and infrastructure of land available. • If it were not for those tourists, where would the county be today. Yet no discussion is towards that area. The Port of Astoria only focuses on North County and lets South County serve as the income to develop N. County. What a great balance and source of discontent in the county. • We are against any programs that require additional tax dollars. When given the choice between assistance programs or less taxes, please give us less taxes. • We are a corporation owned business owned and operated through Sara Lee, NC • Look at assessed Values in the County. You will find there is huge difference from North – to – South. Look of reasons since population is even. • We seed help attracting more conventions encourage locals to shop downtown. We absolutely need more parking. • City of Astoria public works and Mayor have no clue what our small business involve. They are out of touch. The city Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 145 administration needs to take a tour of business once every 6 months or more. Small business owners in downtown Astoria have worked very hard to better the city. Astoria business has so much to offer a great selection of shops with quality items to offer. Parking is absolutely insane. Chamber of commerce does nothing for its members. City county employees have all the benefits (free parking close to work) Lets spread out the benefits to the small business owners that make Astoria Shine. • All my children had to move away to find jobs that would allow them to make a good living. All my employees do not make enough money even to get by. Sad isn’t it. • Disband the Economic Development Council (CEDC) – they don’t accomplish anything! Too many people here try to obstruct new businesses and are anti-development. They’ve “got theirs” and “to hell with everyone else!” That includes elected officials – one example is the sale (and subsequent removal from the tax rolls) of the Sunset Beach property. Astoria is in the process of removing another chunk of prime commercial property (the old Safeway) from tax rolls – what is a city doing in the development business anyway? Someone in the private sector such as Randy Stemper or Kirk Fausett, could have done a great job developing that block, without the use of taxpayer funds. Government should not be in competition with private business. • Astoria needs parking facilities the ease of access to some along with their obvious existence and helpful conditions for employee parking. (good and bad) the ‘strip’ south of Wannenton is taking Hwy. 101 frontage- new business environment new land taking goes on more blacktop but shouldn’t some plan be required to recover the vacant land Bldgs. (Sad) just a thought. • Please stop spending tax money on this type of thing. Don’t use tax money to bring more business to compete with me let business operate on its own • Oregon needs to shift the % of taxes paid by business back to where it was 20 years ago instead of making wage earners pay them. • Port of Astoria should be handed the baton to lead the county in economic development. Clatsop County has at best showed a Negative impact on Economic Activity in Clatsop County. The time for change is now! • If anyone knows how to really fix a leak (or maybe?) in a 106 yr. old home…. That would really be helpful. Until I find the source of the leak(s) I hesitate to expand, because the cost of Page 146 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results repairs is unknown at this time. Thank You, Phone # 325-7777 C.C. Maxwell (“a voice crying in the wilderness”) • When you figure out how to get individuals and small groups to sacrifice for the good of the whole, you can then move forward. That being said how do you also keep the whole from running roughshod over the individual? Good luck we need it! • I have done business in Clatsop County for 20 yrs. I find it difficult to compete w/ other businesses that don’t carry workman’s comp. Don’t file 941’s on their payroll don’t pay overtime etc. This Practice is not enforced in Clatsop County at all. There are so many people working with no accountability. They just go into a bank cash a check for cash in a business pay their workers in cash and charge about half of what a licensed and Bonded business charges. • County talks development but doesn’t fund a department or specialist devoted to this. Such a department should be responsible to work with state and public utility development people also should encourage cooperation of cities and Prov. County can be involved in Planning, water and sewer availability and other site preparation so that we’re ready when the opportunity presents itself. A 48-hour response to on inquiry with answers to requested information and assembly of a group of local citizens to respond should be goal of county. • Economic development should preclude Walmart type development. Of particular concern are low wages, no benefits, and employment practices. • My son is a 5th generation Astorian my Grandfather always said if you can make a living in Clatsop County you can make a living anywhere. The only reason my company survives is because 90% of our work is outside Clatsop County, Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Etc. My son went off to college this year when I said goodbye I knew he would be home to visit but he was leaving forever. • The highly seasonal tourism business is a tough thing. We need more reasons to bring tourists to town year round, not just summers and Holidays. Taxes are high – property keeps “appreciating”, but you cannot pay employees with the appreciation – you have to sell the property to access that money. Most employees here are in a tough position. They must work 2 or even 3 jobs to survive in summer – but in winter they are lucky to work at all. Find reasonable businesses that will attract people here in all seasons – It will prosper. • As a business we are looking to expand and move, we are looking at $60,000 per year increase Tax Liability on Property. Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 147 Without a move from our current location, we will fail to be a long term Employer in the County. We have an old and inefficient building; a new building will increase efficiency, but will be far from covering the additional cost of the new Tax Burden. • Overall Healthcare costs are a Major Concern • There is a huge pent up demand for good commercial locations. The county shouldn’t have to put much effort or give away much of anything. There are enough businesses trying to get here but they can’t find suitable locations. I’m being displaced because the price pressure finally got to my landlord. Availability of suitable alternative locations is nil. I expect this to impact me slightly to majorly I’ll end up paying way more for less. In a time of eroding profits I may not be able to survive. • Overall the right things are happening. They just need continued support (including financial) to see them through. Then Clatsop County (in particular I speak of Astoria, OR) will begin to see the results. Overall improvement in education, medical care & insurance costs will be beneficial to business owners and employees alike. It is currently problematic. • I look forward to reading the results of this survey. Still overall the questions were poorly formulated and phrased. Who ever compiled them should do more research instead of using cliché questions. (I hope no one is paying for this particularly not taxpayers) • In my industry the downfall of my type of establishments is too much competition of the same type of business. No one has a problem with the city giving them a LIQ LIS & no one ever says there are too many restaurants etc. But they will say there are too many of these or too many of those etc.! Competition is fine to a point! • Prepare a survey that has a direct bearing on what county government can really do. • Identification and recruitment of compatible small employers is crucial to growth. • The county is doing a very good job of directing the county now & in the future. The major deterrent to growth and improvement of quality of life in Clatsop County is the dismal situation of the State’s Finances. The state does little to support growth in our county and thru decreasing funding for education has put our future to have high quality employees and employers in our area is a crisis. Also land use policies and ODOT policies have either stopped development or Page 148 Community Planning Workshop Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results increased the cost of development of business. So our county will have to continue to fight for the people in our little county and let the state know how its poor handling of our states finances is hurting us! • Confusing Questionnaire, differentiation between doing business within the county, which includes Cities vs. county outside of city. • I need to grow to survive the labor pool is poorly trained and the land to expand is hard to come by. This makes it difficult for my Business. • Too much state control; Land use too restrictive specifically - wetland issues. • I hope that the passage of measure 37 doesn’t become stalled out by legal actions. This measure will allow the areas that are outside the main Hubs and I-5 corridor to hopefully become more stable economically. • Get Government in Control!! Rules, regulations, and taxes are killing small business. • We need smaller government. We need less regulations so we can produce! Get out of our way and we will grow our businesses, which will bring in more tax money! • Calpine seems to be a clean & responsible company. The county should do their own investigation & not to cave in to vocal minority. • We need smaller government. We need less regulations so we can produce! Get out of our way and we will grow our business, which will bring in more tax money! • To maintain business quality the reduction of drug/alcohol usage and prosecution of employee theft. Affordable employee housing in resort communities needed (Seaside, Gearhart, Cannon Beach) to provide stable worker environment. Quality childcare facilities for workers. Easier permit process for owner occupied businesses. Multi purpose community facilities library/housing/college/combined. Senior/drugstore/medical facility combined. Better use of existing lands instead of expansion. Re-use/re-zone for highest possible use. • Bypass downtown Astoria with Hwy • I will close my company next year and relocate to a business friendly state. In five years my business plan calls for 127 employees. I expect to spend 2 million in operating expences, payroll and six million in equipment and facilities in the first year. I have watched this county, the county commission and Clatsop County Economic Development Survey Results CPW March 2005 Page 149 its waste, fraud, and abuse. I would never attempt to put my money at risk with that group of clowns to be abused by land use regulation and development fees and process. I will not have my company pay to makeup for Oregon’s decade of overspending and 18% biannual budget increases. This county has opposed development of shopping centers, industry at the Port, Tongue Point, Warrenton and opposed a super Port. It opposes everything. It will be a pleasure to live in a land of freedom and opportunity next year. • I have recently learned that the Clatsop County Parks and Rec. Department is trying to push through plans to develop a RV Park/Campground less than five miles from us (north on Hwy 101) and less than 1 mile from another private park. This information came from a reliable source that serves as a volunteer on the parks and rec. advisory committee. Despite his and other committee members opposition, the county staff members are trying desperately to push this plan through. The volunteer committee members have been told to be discrete by county staff members (“they don’t want to wave a red flag in front of the public just yet”.) The primary reason the county wants this park is to generate revenue. To generate revenue the county will be competing with us and other private businesses. We have put out life savings into this place, not to mention our blood, sweat and tears. Local government should not compete with private business. • With all due respect you already know what is needed. At trade shows other communities actively recruit us. You need to find an anchor manufacturing company, while keeping us happier here. I think we are now the oldest mfg. company in the county. We have thrived absent any positive help from county or city government. We may be leaving some day. Do you care? Gary Wygil C(/)(181) Equipment 503-861-2273 • Application and permitting process should be as streamlined as possible. Encourage economic development and protect the environment too. They shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. • Calpine seems to be a clan and responsible company. The county should do their own investigation and not to cave in to the vocal minority. • I strongly believe that federal and state regulation and interference based on politics and emotion rather than scientific face and reason have gone a long way to destroy the economic base of our region.