Photo by Tim Hirsch

By TIM HIRSCH
of the Sun

Those purchasing annual parking passes for Cape Kiwanda and other county parks will soon have a little more flexibility as Tillamook County Commissioners, on Jan. 8, approved a plan to change the passes from being based on the calendar year (January-December) to a rolling system where passes will be good for one year from the date of purchase.

“We feel this provides people a lot more flexibility,” said Dan Keyes, director of Tillamook County Parks. “We also feel like our sale of season passes will increase significantly because we increased flexibility.”

Camping fees increase

Another change approved at the same meeting is that overnight visitors enjoying the great outdoors at one of Tillamook County Parks’ campgrounds will soon have to pony up a few more greenbacks. Starting Feb. 1, camping fees will go up $5 year round as the changes also included the elimination of winter rates.

“After some analysis, we didn’t really feel like the winter rates were as much of an incentive to bring people here as is being previously thought,” Keyes told Commissioners. “We also think that our campgrounds are significant enough and beautiful enough that they alone drive our customer base.”

Reasons cited for the increase included higher garbage and water expenses, as well as the conversion of showers from coin-operated to timer switches (complimentary use now to be included in camping stay). In addition, Parks, which is a self-supporting agency, will use the increase to fund a $150,000 transfer to the county as a public safety fee.

Prior to voting unanimously for the changes, commissioners voiced their support.

“I am delighted to pass this, to vote for this,” said Commissioner Mary Faith Bell. “I’m grateful for all your work. I think it’s timely. It’s been a long time since we raised fees, and all of your reasons are sound. (I’m) particularly grateful to Parks that you want to contribute to the general fund for public safety reasons.”

For his part, recently sworn-in Tillamook County Commissioner Paul Fournier applauded changing the annual parking passes to be good for one year from date of purchase rather than being based on a calendar year.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said.

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