06
vernonia’s
voice
november
city news
2008
CityNews...
City Council October 6, 2008
Hearing Held on Rate Increases...
The Vernonia City Council held a public hearing to discuss
proposed rate increases for use of city services. Increases
that were discussed included: monthly increases to Residen-
tial Water Rates for dwellings inside city limits of $7.00; in-
creases to Sewer Rates of $16.00; an increase in the monthly
Parks Fee included in the monthly Water/Sewer bill of $1.00,
and an increase to Out of City Library Card charges of $10.00
per year. A final decision was put off until the October 20
council meeting. (See related article this page.)
Mayor Appoints Citizens to Committees...
Mayor Sally Harrison appointed Susan Goodhope to the Li-
brary Board, reappointed Liz White to the Library Board, and
appointed George Tice to the Budget Committee.
Council Approves Agreement with Chamber of Com-
merce...
The city has reached an agreement with the Vernonia Cham-
ber of Commerce to assist with managing it’s business li-
cense program. Under the new agreement the Chamber
would would be responsible for seeking out new businesses,
and notifying current businesses about renewals of licenses.
The city would remain responsible for the actual collection of
fees and enforcement. Under the agreement, the city would
receive the first $7,000 for fees collected, the Chamber would
receive the next $2,000, and any additional funds collected
would be split- 40% to the Chamber and 60% to the City.
The contract will last for three years. The agreement is ex-
pected to provide better collection of required license fees.
The Chamber has expressed that they intend to use funds
generated through the program to market the community of
Vernonia.
City Accepts Block Grant...
City Council approved the acceptance of an Oregon Com-
munity Block Grant in the amount of $500,000 to be used
for flood recovery housing rehabilitation. This grant will be
coupled with a grant to Columbia County, also in the amount
of $500,000, for a total of $1 million dollars, which will be ad-
ministered within Vernonia by the Community Action Team.
Council Expresses Support for Police Department...
The Council passed a resolution expressing it’s commitment
to public safety as a valuable service, and retaining Ver-
nonia’s professional police department with a highly quali-
fied Chief, Sergeant and officers. According to Interim City
Administrator Jim Johnson’s staff report, the resolution was
in response to questions raised from community members
about the future of the department, and in response to the
current vacant Chief’s position.
Addendum Added to Real Estate Sale...
Council approved an addendum to the Real Estate agree-
ment between the City of Vernonia and B&D Holdings for the
sale of twenty acres of city owned property. The addendum
gives the purchasers until June 30th, 2009 to complete the
terms of the agreement and finalize the sale.
City Council October 20, 2008
Council Declares Police Equipment Surplus...
Council approved the declaration of several pieces of police
equipment as surplus including the 2000 Ford Expedition,
which was being used as the K9 unit. The department will
attempt to sell the items.
Council Approves Interview Process for New City Admin-
istrator...
Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson presented his recom-
mendation for an interview process for the new City Adminis-
trator candidates. Council approved the process, which will
include three panels- the Mayor and Council on one; a citi-
zen panel of five that are each appointed by a council mem-
ber; and a third panel made up of city Department Heads,
the School Superintendent, and a City Administrator from
a neighboring city. The interviews were scheduled to take
place on November 8.
Council Approves Budget Changes For City Needs...
Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson presented Council
with a list that city departments have identified as needed
purchases. A discussion was held and the most import needs
were identified including: replacement of the computer server
at city hall, snow tires for police vehicles, purchase of ad-
ditional ICOP Video System for a police vehicle, a retrofit
of equipment from an old police vehicle, and starting on a
Geographic Information System (GIS) including purchase of
computer hardware, software and services necessary to get
started. Council directed Johnson to prepared the budget
changes to begin these purchases.
Council Passes Resolution Establishing Fee Sched-
ules...
Council approved a resolution that established a fee sched-
ule combining a number of separate resolutions into a new
master resolution. The resolution also included the increase
of city fees for services and utilities. (See related article this
page)
Vernonia Increases Use Fees
From Your City Councilman
The Vernonia City Council, at its October 20 meeting, passed rate and use
fee increases, that were discussed earlier at a public hearing before the October
6th city council meeting.
By Brett Costley
Rate increases that were approved include: increases to Residential Water
Rates for dwellings inside city limits of $7.00 per month; increases to Sewer
Rates of $16.00 per month; an increase to Out-of-City Library Card charges
of $10.00 per year; and an increase in the monthly Parks Fee included in the
monthly Water/Sewer bill of $1.00. The increases were scheduled to take effect
immediately.
Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson opened the October 6th public
hearing by explaining why the increases were necessary. Johnson explained
the breakdown of how property tax receipts that are collected by the city are
used-- for operations of the City Police Department, to fund operation of the
Library, for city streets, and to help maintain city parks-- and that the Water and
Sewer systems are fee-based and depend on the fees that are collected monthly
for operations funds. Johnson also explained that about twenty percent of the
water rates, and forty-one percent of sewer rates collected go to debt service
to pay for numerous loans the city has taken out over the years to improve and
maintain the systems.
At the October 6th hearing, Council heard testimony from citizens con-
cerning the rate increases. Concerns were raised for citizens on fixed incomes
paying increased fees, citizens with businesses who pay high rates for small
amounts of use, business owners with two properties-- a residence and busi-
ness-- being charged twice for the Parks Fees, citizens who were flooded and
are not currently in their homes being charged for use, and the generally high
base-use rates which don’t take into account people who use conservatively.
Councilor Cindy Ball explained that the city has not historically invested
in infrastructure. Mayor Sally Harrison explained that there have not been re-
serves set aside, so the city has had to borrow money when upgrades, improve-
ments or repairs have been needed. Councilor Brett Costley explained that a
rate study is being completed over the next six months that will allow the city
to tier charges, and base rates more on usage. It was also explained that of-
fering reduced rates for senior citizens is considered discriminatory and is not
allowed.
Most of you know by now that the city council has raised the utility rates and the parks fee. I’d like
to let you know some of my thoughts and reasoning behind my vote. While none of us wanted to do
this, it was something that had to be done. Our current rates were not enough to generate the revenue to
pay our debt and the operational costs of water and sewer departments. Folks have asked if we looked
at cutting costs and the answer is that there aren’t any substantial cost savings to be found. Staffing and
debt payments make up the vast majority of the budgets. There isn’t really anything we can do about our
debt obligations and our staffing is already bare bones. A small bit of good news is that the $11.50 per
month to rebuild a loan reserve will be dropping off the bill next month.
Many of you wonder why our rates are higher than those in Hillsboro or Beaverton. The answer,
to a great extent, is economy of scale. We are under certain (and changing) mandates from the EPA
and DEQ, and these mandates are not cheap for small cities. Vernonia is not alone: small isolated cities
across the country are facing similar difficulties. City staff and the Public Works Committee are working
hard to bring our sewer system into compliance at the lowest cost to the ratepayer.
Many citizens have asked about a lower base water rate, so that those who do not use much water get
a break. This makes sense from a fairness perspective and also it could encourage conservation. Before
we can do something like that, we need better information on our cost structures to allow us to make
informed decisions on any changes to the base rate and per gallon rate. We have thus planned for a rate
study by our city engineer. The rate study should be complete some time in the first half of next year.
Please note that the rate study will be funded by grant money and not from the water or sewer rates.
The other fee change which affects everyone is that our parks fee will go from $1 to $2 a month.
While this is a doubling of the fee, I think the fee is a relative bargain. Our parks are important to citizens
and also a valuable asset for drawing in visitors. Here we compare very well against our neighbors down
the hill. For example, the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District has a rate of $1.46 per $1000 of
assessed value plus $0.12 per $1000 in bonds, and they are asking for a new bond of $0.37/$1000. That
totals almost $300 a year for a $150,000 house.
On a separate note, I’d like to update everyone on the search for a regular city administrator. The
deadline for applications was a few weeks back and we have narrowed the list down to five candidates.
We will be interviewing November 8th using three panels: council, administration and department
heads, and community members. Stay tuned and perhaps the next issue of Vernonia’s Voice will intro-
duce the new administrator.
SATURDAY
Saturday
TH
NOVEMBER
15 TH
April
12th
Mayor Harrison and Johnson also explained that the $11.50 charge cur-
rently on the city utility bills is being used to replenish a required loan reserve,
and is scheduled to sunset after the November bills are collected.
Texas Hold 'Em
Council approved the rate increases at their regular October 20th meeting.
Included is a stipulation that business property owners who also are city resi-
dents may apply for relief from the $2.00 monthly parks fee, so they only pay it
one time.
AT the Buckhorn Restaurant
These rate increases were recommended by the City Budget Committee
during the budget process before July 1, 2008, and by citizen committees that
advise Parks, Public Works, and the Library.
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