november
vernonia’s
voice
city news
06
Council Approves First Reading
of Adult Entertainment Ordinance
2007
Before a standing room only crowd, The Vernonia City Council
unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that would
regulate adult entertainment within city limits. The council also
approved first readings to adopt: a resolution establishing fees
for licensing and operation of an entertainment facility; changes
in the Light Industrial Zone; changes to an ordinance establish-
ing adult entertainment facilities as a Conditional Use and add-
ing the requirement of a Site Design Review; and changes to an
ordinance concerning Public Indecency. All of these Ordinances,
changes and resolutions must be read again and approved before
they are adopted.
“Both City Council and the Planning Commission are committed
to not only encouraging new business and economic diversity
but maintain the livability and preserving the health ,welfare, and
safety of the community, a complex balancing act.” said Plan-
ning Commissioner Heather Lewis, who spearheaded the creation
of this ordinance. “This ordinance was created over the period
of sixteen months after collecting, compiling and reviewing court
cases, statistics from other cities, and public testimony. We took
every measure to protect the interests of the community as well
as provide protection of the constitutional rights of prospective
businesses and employees.”
Kline’s Q & A
Vernonia City Administrator M.R. “Dick” Kline has been on the job for more
than a year. In that time he has been working to simplify and clarify the city
budget while untangling a web of personnel, financial and administrative is-
sues that he inherited with his permanent position here. In order to facilitate
better communication with local citizens, as well as a higher profile and more
accessibility, Mr. Kline and Vernonia’s Voice have agreed to provide space
for citizen questions, with answers provided by your City Administrator, Dick
Kline. Vernonia’s Voice will start things off this first month with a question
that seems to be on the minds of a lot of citizens about city personnel.
Q: The City of Vernonia recently changed job descriptions for office per-
sonnel and replaced a popular city employee, City Recorder Kate Conley.
Early in your administration you also relieved the city finance clerk of her
duties. The city has been without a Public Works Director for well over
two years. What is going on with the city employees, and why have there
been so many changes in such a short period of time?
First of all, I’d like to thank the Vernonia’s Voice for the opportunity to speak to
vital community issues in this column. Since the inception of your newspaper
you have been genuinely professional in your approach to covering news at
city hall and sincere in your efforts to learn the facts before publishing opinions
and/or editorials. You are genuinely committed to reporting the news versus
The ordinance would restrict the locations available for an Adult creating it.
Entertainment business by establishing distance guidelines from
residential neighborhoods, other Adult Entertainment establish-
ments, and schools. The Ordinance also places standards on li-
censing requirements and administration procedures. It also sets
regulations for activities that could be conducted as part of a
potential business establishment.
“We were very careful in how we constructed the ordinance,” said
Lewis. “It is multi-faceted in that the regulations are directed only
at well documented secondary effects, while striving to maintain
the constitutional rights of the applicants intact. Also, the sup-
porting documents are all content neutral meaning that they do
not single out adult businesses, and therefore are not discrimina-
tory. We believe that all of the supporting documents will pass
even the strictest scrutiny of the Oregon Appellate Court, as prec-
edent has been set by city of Beaverton in 2000. The final draft
of the ordinance itself might be challenged but was based on
previous ordinances that passed scrutiny at both the ninth district
court and Supreme Court levels.”
In response to your question, the simple reasons for the staff changes at City
Hall are money and priorities. The City has worked itself into an unsustainable
financial position, and significant changes were required to operate within bud-
get while addressing the new needs and challenges facing the City. Improved
internal financial controls are being implemented to further safeguard the pub-
lic’s funds, and personnel dollars have been “freed up” permitting the City to
maintain a five person police department. Providing effective public safety and
secure financial services are two of the main objectives of any City’s general
fund.
Regarding the lengthy absence of a Public Works Director, again look at the
financial condition of the utility departments. Last year a $12/month loan re-
payment fee was implemented in the Sewer Fund to fund loan payments for
sewer system planning. This year an $11.50/month water loan reserve fee was
implemented to rebuild contractually obligated loan reserves in the Water Fund.
Next year the City will face an additional loan repayment schedule in the Sewer
There has been no opposition at the City Council or the two Plan- Fund that could add $15-20/month to the average residential utility bill. After
ning Commission hearings. The second reading of the ordinance that, the City must comply with environmental quality requirements in Phase II
will take place on Monday November 5, 2007 at the Vernonia City of the sewer project and millions of dollars of storm water, water, and road proj-
Council Meeting.
ects just to achieve a minimum acceptable urban standard. Simply put, there is
no money available for more staff in the face of these huge debt obligations and
infrastructure capital needs.
VCLC Announces Mobile
Poetry Wall
Vernonia Community Learning Center Gallery announces the addition
of the mobile Poetry Wall and is seeking submissions for display of
no loger than two pages per submission, with a total of no more than
four pages or equivalent size from people of all ages. No prior publi-
cation experience is necessary. All styles and subjects encouraged.
It is unfortunate that most of the financial news regarding the City of Vernonia
is bleak. For the last year the City Council, appointed committees, and staff
have worked tirelessly to get our arms around the significance and complexity
of these issues so that we can chart a logical course for the future. Significant
progress has been made to this end, but additional hard work and increased co-
operation is needed to truly achieve success. I am hopeful that this community
can refocus its attention and energy on the real issues facing the community and
that success is obtained in the near future.
Submissions can be submitted by e-mail to vclc@vernonia-or.gov, by
mail, or dropped off in person by November 27. Call or e-mail with If you have a question you would like to ask of City Administrator Dick Kline,
questions.
please send them to:
Vernonia’s Voice - Kline’s Q&A
PO Box 55
Vernonia Community Learning Center
Vernonia, OR 97064
939 Bridge Street
- or -
Vernonia, OR 97064
Email news@vernoniasvoice.com
(503) 429-0898
with the subject “Kline’s Q and A”.
The Buckhorn
restaurant &
General store
Family-style dining
Cozy fireplace seating
Lunch & dinner
Full bar
Gifts & UPS Shipping
503-429-3751, 934 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR
11am-9pm, Tues.-Sat. & 11am-6pm, Sunday
lottery games
mc/visa