6
city news
july
2009
Vernonia City News...
At the June 1, 2009, City Council Meeting:
Council Approves Extension of Office Trailers-- City Council
approved a request from the Columbia County Unmet Needs
Committee to allow the continued siting of temporary office trailers
until December of 2009, at the corner of Madison and Washington
Streets. Columbia County Unmet Needs is required to periodically
come before council for a review for the temporary use, and stated
that they expect to need the site until at least December of 2010.
In further action, Council passed a motion to try to lease properties
acquired through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, allowing
private or public use for those properties.
Council Hears Report From St. Helens Police on Use of
Force-- Interim City Administrator Jim Johnson read into the
record a report by Officer Jon Eggers from the St. Helens Police
Department concerning a Use of Force Policy Review of an
incident that occurred on March 20 and involving Elliot Graf,
Vernonia Police officer Shawn Carnihan and Interim Police Chief
Mike Kay. According to Officer Eggers’ report, he has been a
certified Taser Instructor since 2004 and currently reviews use
of force/taser deployments for the St. Helens Police Department.
Officer Eggers states in his report that, “It is my opinion that
the use of the taser in this instance is justified according to the
Vernonia Police Department taser guidelines.” He goes on to state,
“It is my opinion based on my training and experience that the use
of the taser in this instance was reasonable, did not cause excessive
injury, and was effective in gaining compliance from Mr. Graf.”
Council Views Updated Police Website-- Council was given a
preview of the updated Vernonia Police Department website that
was prepared by volunteer Colleen Posley. The site provides
access to the Police blotter, access to police department forms,
information about the K-9 officer program, and more information
including information for children and youth. Council also viewed
a video of a national television program called “Better,” which
featured Vernonia K-9 officer Krueger and Chief Kay.
Council Approves Participation in Main Street Program--
Economic Recovery Manager Bill Haack proposed a strategic
partnership between the community and city to align economic
development projects, with an emphasis on Main Street
Development. At the request of Haack, Council authorized Mayor
Sally Harrison to sign a letter of intent for the city to participate in
the Oregon Community and Economic Development Department’s
Main Street Program for one year.
Council Considers Restructuring Police Department-- Interim
City Administrator Jim Johnson introduced to Council the idea
of restructuring the Vernonia Police Department, suggesting
Council consider hiring a half-time Police Chief, and creating
a position of Police Captain. Johnson provided a staff report
explaining the suggested restructuring and possible job duties
and responsibilities. Johnson explained that he has discussed his
suggestion with a number of other professionals who thought this
was an intriguing idea, and that he has also discussed the idea with
incoming City Administrator Bob Young and the current members
of the Vernonia Police Department, all of whom are supportive of
the idea. Council passed a motion authorizing Johnson to prepare
to post a half-time position for Chief of Police and to return on June
15th with a financial analysis for a restructured Police Department.
Council Holds Work Session on New Land Development Code
Work-- City Planner Carole Connell walked Council through
proposed amendments to several land-use ordinances. Connell
explained that the City Planning Commission and city staff have
been working to codify numerous ordinances into one document
and that the Planning Commisssion has held several work sessions
and two public hearings in order to make changes to Ordinance
#711 which details development regulations for the city. A Public
Hearing for the changes was scheduled for June 15th.
City Places Deposit to Hold Property-- Council agreed to place
a deposit of $15,000 on a piece of property to hold the property for
five months, allowing the city to secure funding for a final purchase.
At the June 15, 2009 City Council Meeting:
Council Approved Police Union Contract-- Council approved a
new three-year contract with the Police Union.
Council Holds Hearing and Hears First Reading of Planning
Ordinances Changes-- After a Public Hearing to hear testimony
concerning changes, council heard a first reading of Ordinance #859
which amends sections of Ordinance #711 and repeals Ordinance
#’s 123, 618, 633, 669, 695, 705, 709, 710, 711, 721, 798, 804,
833, and 851 in order to incorporate all land use and development
ordinances into a single Title 9 of the Vernonia Municipal Code.
Council Adopts Budget for Fiscal Year 09-10-- After a public
hearing, Council adopted the proposed budget for fiscal year 2009-
10. The budget includes expenses of $12.4 million. Council also
approved the proposed tax levy rate of $5.8163 per thousand of
assessed value, expected to raise a total tax amount of $590, 207.00.
Council Approves Rate Changes at Cemetery-- Council
approved slight increases to all categories of service fees for the
Vernonia Memorial Cemetery, that were recommended by the
Cemetery Committee.
Council Approves Declaration of Surplus Property-- Council
approved a request by the Police Department to declare numerous
items that are not being used or are no longer needed because of
upgrades as surplus. It included old radios and communications
equipment and firearms that the department has seized and were
forfeited by the court.
Council Discusses Motor Vehicle Response Fee-- Interim Police
Chief Mike Kay introduced the idea of fees that the department
would charge to non-city residents when the department is required
to respond to motor vehicle accidents. Kay explained this is a
concept that has been used in Roseburg to take advantage of a
revised Oregon statute that allows a municipality or county to bill a
non-resident for a public safety response. This fee would be billed
to the insurance company of the party involved and would be an
opportunity to recoup funds expended by the responding agency.
City staff planned to return to council with a more detailed plan.
Council Retains Johnson for Consulting Services-- Council
entered into a contract with Interim City Administrator Jim
Johnson, to retain him for consulting services. Johnson was to be
replaced by incoming permanent City Administrator Bob Young on
June 22. Johnson submitted a proposal that outlined his scope of
work that included: (1) at least a week of transition time with new
administrator Young; (2) continuing to act as the city representative
on the Oregon Solutions Executive Committee; (3) assisting with
Land Use and Streets and Utilities issues with regard to siting of a
new school complex; (4) continuing to be the city’s representative
working with the project engineer to update the wastewater facilities
plan. Council agreed to the proposal, which included an hourly rate
of $50, with a not-to-exceed cost to the city of $10,000 through
December 31, 2009.
Council Approves New Police Position Classifications/
Authorizes Hiring of Half-Time Police Chief-- Council approved
new job classifications for the Vernonia Police Department that
restructures the department to include a Half-Time Police Chief
and a new position of Police Captain. The Department staffing
pattern would continue to include the position of Police Sergeant,
and include two Police Officers, for a total staffing of 4.5 Full Time
Employees (FTE). According to information provided by staff to
Council, this pattern would cost the city $274,636.91 in wages, an
additional cost of $25,223.24, and provide for four FTE positions
to be available to answer calls for service. In addition, Council
authorized the City Administrator to begin the hiring process for a
new Half-time Police Chief, and that the Police Chief is authorized
to hire a Police Captain.
Council Accepts State Revenue Sharing Funds-- Council voted
to adopt Resolution 10-09 to accept State Revenue Sharing Funds in
the expected amount of $13,000.
Council Approves Signing of Declaration of Cooperation with
Oregon Solutions Project-- Council authorized Mayor Harrison
to sign a Declaration of Cooperation with the Oregon Solutions
Project. The Declaration of Cooperation clarifies the city’s roll in
the siting, permitting and development of a new school complex,
and the types of assistance the city may be able to offer the process.
Council Approves Cross Walk Upgrade-- Council gave permission
for ODOT to continue with crosswalk improvements. A sample
installation was put in place just north of City Hall at Weed Avenue.
City to Receive $94,000 for Street Repairs-- Interim City
Administrator Jim Johnson informed Council that the city has been
granted funding from the state to make street repairs to Washington
Avenue between Bridge Street and C Street. Construction of an
overlay should take place this summer.
Council Hears Police Officer
Training Fee Plan-- Interim Police
Chief Mike Kay introduced a plan
to include an additional Police
Officer Training Fee to any fines
imposed by the Columbia County
Justice Court on citations written
by Vernonia Police Officers. Fees
collected would be credited to the
General Fund for the benefit of
police department training and
related expenses.
City and County Receive Flood Relief Grants
The Oregon Economic and Community
Development Department (OECDD) issued
the contracts for the last remaining compo-
nent in the suite of public support planned
and developed by Community Action Team
to assist flood victims in Columbia County
and the City of Vernonia. The contracts, one
for the City and one for the County, each
represent a $500,000 award of Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
The CDBG program is a pass-through of
federal funds administered by OECDD in
the rural portions of the state.
These two long-awaited grant awards will
be used to match FEMA funds set aside to
purchase flooded homes in Vernonia and
Columbia County. Homes will be pur-
chased at their pre-flood value as of De-
cember 1, 2007. Without the CDBG funds,
homeowners would receive only 75% of
their homes value. Once transferred into
public ownership, permanent deed restric-
tions will prevent the properties from being
developed in the future.
Federally required preliminary grant re-
quirements, including environmental re-
views and public notices, are expected to
take 2 to 3 months before individual proj-
ects can be completed. In the meantime,
Community Action Team will work with
both the City and County to select a con-
tractor or contractors who will demolish the
homes once they’re purchased. This con-
tractor selection process, which will be run
concurrent with the federal requirements,
will help the city and county obtain firm
demolition costs prior to making their final
funding requests to FEMA for each project.
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