NEWPORT, Oregon — The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission will convene Sept. 17 and 18 in Newport to discuss the budget, real estate, recommendations for grant awards, park improvement projects and proposed increases in rate ranges to keep pace with increasing costs.

On Sept. 17, commissioners will tour ocean shore locations and hold a work session on drones, ocean shore policy, a review of construction impacts on the ocean shore and the state of the ocean shore past, present and future from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Hallmark Resort, 744 SW Elizabeth Street, Newport.

On Sept. 18, commissioners will convene an executive session at 8:15 a.m., at the Hallmark Resort in Newport, to discuss real estate acquisition priorities and opportunities and potential litigation. Executive sessions are closed to the public. A business meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be open to the public.

Anyone may attend or listen to the business meeting; instructions on how to listen will be posted on the commission web page prior to the meeting. The business meeting includes time for informal public comment related to any items not on the agenda. Registration is required to speak at the meeting if attending online, and is available online at bit.ly/registerseptember2024commission.

The deadline to register to speak at the meeting virtually is 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16. No advance registration is required to speak in person at the meeting. Time per speaker is limited to three minutes. Please submit written public comments by 5 p.m. Sept. 16 to katie.gauthier@oprd.oregon.gov.

The full agenda and supporting documents are posted on the commission web page.

Notable requests:

• Approval of the recommended grant awards for 2024 Local Government Grant Program:
  • Small grants totaling $884,226
  • Large grants totaling $31,733,800
  • Planning grants totaling $301,990
• Approval of rate range increases for campsites, amenities, day-use parking fees and group sites to keep pace with increasing costs. The rate ranges will give the director the flexibility to increase rates over time as needed. Rates will not start at the top of the range. More information is available on the OPRD website.

Anyone needing special accommodations to attend the meeting should contact Denise Warburton, commission assistant, at least three days in advance: denise.warburton@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-779-9729.

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission promotes outdoor recreation and heritage by establishing policies, adopting rules and setting the budget for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The seven members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. They serve four-year terms and meet several times a year at locations across the state.