Clatsop County updates fairgrounds strategic plan timeline, schedules outreach

Clatsop County staff on Wednesday presented an update to the fairgrounds strategic‑plan process, outlining a schedule for stakeholder interviews, public outreach and a draft plan targeted for early May.

Gail Henriksen, the county’s community development director, said staff have worked with the Fair Board since January, produced a draft existing‑conditions and facilities inventory report and plan to finalize that report and complete stakeholder interviews by the end of March. "We are hoping to hold our first in-person open house sometime in late March or early April," Henriksen told the board.

Fairgrounds manager Kyle Sharpstein said staff are compiling comparables from other event centers and gathering public input to align community expectations with county-identified priorities. Abby Goodman, chair of the Fair Board, said she was pleased with progress and the board’s involvement: "We're making really good progress," she said.

Commissioners asked staff to arrange site visits so members could see maintenance needs and behind‑the‑scenes equipment. Commissioner Webb asked that the county schedule smaller-group tours if coordinating as a group would be difficult. Commissioner Thompson suggested elevating the fairgrounds in the county strategic plan because of their cultural and economic importance.

Staff said the timeline calls for a draft plan available in early May, a second in‑person open house in May and bringing the plan forward for final review and adoption by the board in June. No formal action was taken at the work session.