vernonia’s
voice
city news
february
2009
What’s the Plan, Stan?
A Monthly Update on City Planning
By Seth Lenhearts
First, I would like to wish everyone a happy new year and thank the many people who have welcomed me to this
great community. I can only say positive things about the City and the people I have met. The weather on the other
hand…
After snowstorms, power outages and multiple flood warnings, I imagine I am not the only one who was happy to
see 2008 come to an end. I would like to express my gratitude to the many people who worked extremely long hours
and the individuals and groups who volunteered their services. Thanks to their sacrifices, Vernonia was prepared for
what was looking like a very serious event.
Often, emergencies like the one we just experienced tend to bring people’s attention back to the importance of
planning. For me, personally, I decided to enter the field of planning after living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As I watched and lived the mess that ensued, I began asking who the people that make
planning decisions are. In the following weeks, I started working with a downtown revitalization team and eventually
pursued a degree in Land Use Planning, which I completed in the spring of 2008.
This past October I began working with the City of Vernonia as a participant of the RARE program* (Resource
Assistance for Rural Environments). My primary project while working here will be to update parts of Vernonia’s
comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan is a land-use document that provides a framework and policy direction for
the City in areas such as, but not limited to: transportation, housing, parks and recreation, economic development and
public facilities.
So, where are we now on this project? Step one, we are currently working to determine what we have and clarify-
ing the current land situation. Think about it like this: When you go to the gas station and the attendant asks you how
much gas you would like, what do you do? If you’re like me, you first check a couple of things or ask yourself a few
questions before responding. You might ask yourself how full the tank is, how much money you have or how much gas
you will need to get to your next destination? In planning, this is called the “what do you have stage.” Once you have
made that determination, you can then decide what you want or, in this example, how much gas to put in your car.
With city planning, instead of questions related to the gas tank, I am asking questions like, how many acres are
vacant in the city of Vernonia, how many commercial lots are available, what the state of our roads is and how much
land is in the flood plain. Information-gathering questions like these will have to be asked and, more importantly, an-
swered about each section of the comprehensive plan. Although this is a tedious task, it is necessary to know what the
current situation is before we can decide what we really need and want.
Unfortunately, I am almost out of space and have not been able to give much detail about the planning projects
underway. That will have to wait for next month’s article. In the March edition, I would like to discuss an exciting
new tool in Vernonia’s planning arsenal, called Geographic Information Systems (or GIS) and give a summary of what
the Planning Commission would like to achieve in 2009.
Until then, you don’t have to be coy, Roy, just listen to me.
*The RARE program is administered through the University of Oregon’s Community Service Center and receives
much of its funding through AmeriCorps.
07
Vernonia Passes
Dangerous Build-
ing Ordinance
The City of Vernonia has passed an ordinance which is
designed to to allow the city designated building offi-
cial to regulate and control what would be termed “dan-
gerous buildings.” The ordinance defines dangerous
buildings and adopted the “Uniform Code for the Abate-
ment of Dangerous Buildings,” a 1997 publication that
standardizes provisions and procedures for jurisdictions
dealing with building code enforcement issues.
According to the Uniform Code, if properly followed it
will provide building officials with “...the proper legal
steps in abating dilapidated, defective buildings which
endanger life, health, property and public safety....”
“The Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous
Buildings” is an internationally recognized code and ap-
plies to all types of buildings and structures.
According to Interim Vernonia City Administrator Jim
Johnson, the city wants to make sure that all commercial
buildings have been repaired after the December 2007
flood. “We wanted the ability to intervene if we believe
a building is in a dangerous physical condition.”
The City had its legal counsel assist in drafting the or-
dinance, and has included the need for a warrant before
building officials can enter any premises. “We would
need to prove our case to a judge if we believe we have a
reason to enter a building and make sure it is safe,” said
Johnson. “That gives us the protection of an indepen-
dent third party, and makes sure the city isn’t abusing
their powers.”
A Dangerous Building Ordinance, which deals with
structures, is different than a Nuisance Abatement Code,
which is concerned with clean up of garbage, debris, or
other issues with property upkeep. “It is important to
have both,” said Johnson.
The city contracts with The Building Department,
L.L.C., to provide code enforcement and to act as the
city building official.
Local Residents Participate in Ford Institute Leadership Program
The Ford Institute Leadership Program strives to help rural
citizens enhance the vitality of their communities with courses
to broaden the base of community leaders, develop effective
community organizations, and promote collaborations within
the community. The series of classes is the signature program
of the Ford Institute for Community Building, an Initiative of
The Ford Family Foundation of Roseburg, Oregon.
topics as working in groups, conflict resolution, meeting
management, project development, fundraising and vol-
unteer management. A key part of the curriculum is a
community project for which the Institute provides up to a
$5,000 match. The class practices its new knowledge and
skill as it identifies and develops the project.
Vernonia began the first leadership development class in Janu-
ary, and this is the third cohort of classes in Vernonia. Previ-
ous classes graduated in 2005 and 2007.
Rural Development Initiatives, Inc., a nationally recog-
nized non-profit located in Oregon, provides the profes-
sional trainers to deliver the Leadership Development
classes in the communities.
The Leadership Development classes engage a combina-
tion of recognized, emerging and potential leaders, from
teens to seniors, in a 48-hour curriculum to build a net-
work of knowledgeable, skilled and motivated community
leaders. The 16 chapters of the curriculum cover such
The Ford Institute Leadership Program, which was initiated
in the spring of 2003, is presently offering classes in 48 com-
munities, with 1800+ graduates to date. Four new communi-
ties enter the program each spring and each fall. When all
communities are through the program in 2016, there will be
thousands of prepared community leaders; hundreds of strong
community organizations; and scores of collaborations in ru-
ral Oregon and Siskiyou County, California, the Foundation’s
region of service. The vision of the Ford Institute is rural com-
munities across this region with the economic, social, infra-
structure, and environmental qualities that make them great
places to work and live.
The mission of The Ford Family Foundation is “to help indi-
viduals through organized learning opportunities to be con-
tributing and successful citizens and to enhance the vitality
of rural communities.” The Foundation serves communities
under 30,000 in population in Oregon and Siskiyou County,
California.” In addition to the Ford Institute, the Foundation
provides college scholarships and grants for a variety of com-
munity purposes. More information about the Foundation and
the Institute is available on the web at: www.tfff.org.
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