6
city news
august
2009
Vernonia City News...
At the July 6 Vernonia City Council Meeting:
Mayor Introduces New City Administrator Young-- Mayor
Sally Harrison introduced new City Administrator Robert “Bob”
Young, who was attending his first Council meeting since joining
the city staff. “We want to welcome you. We’re glad to have you
here,” said Harrison.
Mayor Appoints Thomas-Cedergreen to VCLC Committee--
Mayor Harrison, with approval from the Council, appointed
Janelle Thomas-Cedergreen to a vacant spot on the Vernonia
Community Learning Center Committee.
Police Service Level Goals Presented-- Interim Police Chief
Mike Kay presented Council with Service Level Goals that
he and his staff believe they are capable of maintaining with
current staff levels. Goals included: Immediate response to high
priority calls for service; average response time to high priority
calls of less than five minutes; and responses to at least 75% of
calls immediately when they are received. Goals also included
specified amounts of time spent on community activities, like
neighborhood patrols and commercial area patrols.
Police To Enforce Park Rules-- Interim Chief Kay brought
to Council’s attention City Ordinance 761, which provides the
Rules and Regulations and Penalties for the Vernonia Public Park
System. Chief Kay stated that his department is beginning to see
more problems since summer has started, and pointed out that
Ordinance 761 specifies that use of the Park system constitutes
implied agreement by the user to abide by the rules. Kay also
noted that the speed limit in all parks is 5 mph, and will be
enforced. Kay also pointed out that the Ordinance requires dogs
and other pets to be on a leash, for pet owners to clean up after
their pets, and prohibits animals from being allowed in Rock
Creek immediately above the swimming area. There was also
some discussion about where horses were allowed, including
questions about whether horses were permitted on Webb Way
and around Vernonia Lake. Kay said he would return to Council
with more information about horse use. Kay asked Council if
they wanted his department to enforce this Ordinance “..to the
letter.” Council recommended that Police enforce rules during
the normal course of their patrols and be consistent. Kay also
noted that, according to Ordinance 761, persons violating park
rules can be asked to leave Park premises and repeat violators can
be banned from using the park in the future. The Ordinance also
establishes a fine of up to $500 for violators. Kay stated that he
intends to begin enforcing the rules at Vernonia Lake, which has
become a problem area, especially for repeat violators who refuse
to comply with the dog leash rule.
Chief Kay Addresses Rumors, Concerns and Questions--
Interim Police Chief Kay addressed Council and spoke to a
number of issues. He began by speaking to a wish to place a
School Resource Officer on the Vernonia school campus. Kay
noted that, according to computer-aided dispatch records,
between September 1 and June 30 of 2009, there were 200 police
calls for service, along with twenty-four Fire and Medical calls
at Vernonia Schools. Kay stated that the city was only planning
to add this additional officer if funding is provided from a Fast
Cops Federal Stimulus Grant. Kay also provided a copy of the
report from the Portland Police Bureau concerning an incident
involving an explosive device that took place two years ago at
the school. Kay used the report, which he said called the device a
“pipe bomb,” to defend the Vernonia Police Department actions
during this incident, and to defend the perceived need for a School
Resource Officer on the campus.
Kay also addressed the fact that two of his officers were
in attendance at the meeting to respond to the “unjust beating”
they are taking in a local paper. Kay responded to numerous,
what he called “articles”, in the paper. “Unfortunately, we don’t
respond to those, so those perceptions become realities for some
people... I want to respond to that right now.” Kay went on to
discuss two recent letters to the editor from two citizens. Kay
said one citizen claimed in his letter that “..he’s never called for
Police services, that he doesn’t need Police.” Kay continued,
TACK, FEED
AND FARM
“We’ve had sixteen calls for service to his home address since
2002, including one on May 26 of this year for a disturbance.”
Kay noted that eleven of those calls generated police reports. Kay
also addressed another letter from another citizen and said that the
police have had 132 calls for service in a five-year period from
the household of the citizen who wrote that letter. Kay noted one
specific incident which was mentioned in the letter. “...She called
herself and asked for the Sergeant to respond because her son
was out of control with a firearm, and was walking around our
town.” Kay noted that in the letter the citizen claimed that police
threatened to sic the dog on her child. Kay noted that the child is
actually an adult. “I would like to think that one of the things you
would ask us to do is if someone is having an issue and is angry,
walking around town with a firearm-- that the police would deal
with it.” Kay continued, “You want to bash my department, go
right ahead. But let’s be factual about it.”
Kay also spoke to the issue of officers not being
“committed to the community” because they don’t live here.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Kay. Kay noted
that Sergeant Mike Conner doesn’t live here anymore “ ...because
his wife works somewhere else, and he simply chose to drive
up here in the winter, than have her drive.” He pointed out that
“Officer Dalryple...he doesn’t tell anyone---he takes care of his
sick mom. That’s pretty noble, in my opinion.” Kay continued,
“I don’t think it’s right that we bash these guys for not living here
because of other family needs.” Kay concluded his remarks by
noting that during the flood “...we all gave up our homes to be
out there serving this community,” and stating, “It’s not fair for
them to be getting targeted as outsiders. That’s wrong... When
something bad happens, these guys are running towards it. Not
running away, not hiding behind a computer, not writing a letter
to the editor. They’re facing it head-on. And whether you like us
or not, we’re here... What are we going to do if they leave...? The
Sheriffs aren’t coming. The State Police ain’t coming.” Kay’s
remarks were greeted with a standing ovation by Council and
most of the audience.
Kay later addressed one last issue. “I never intended
to put in for the full-time chief’s position. The garbage going
around that my friends on council are grooming me for chief is
just that, garbage.” He also spoke to what he called “...the rumor
going around that I am being demoted for misbehavior. Well, as
you guys know from looking in my personnel file, there is nothing
in there other than letters of commendation. So I want to dispel
that rumor now.”
City Receives Transportation Growth Management Grant--
The City has received a Transportation and Growth Management
Grant in the amount of $56,000, that requires an $8,000 city
match, to update the Transportation System Plan for the city, and
will look at five main things to achieve: Analyze existing traffic
conditions in the city; update street inventories; update roadway
conditions; bike connectivity and other multi-modal methods of
transportation to create safe routes for bicyclists and pedestrians;
creating a Safe Routes to Schools program.
Council Approves Second Reading of Land Use Ordinance--
Council approved the second reading of Ordinance 859, which
repealed Ordinance #’s 123, 618, 633, 669, 695, 705, 709, 710,
711, 721, 798, 804, 833, 851. The new ordinance completes the
codification of land use and development standards into Title 9 of
the Vernonia Municipal Code.
Council Establishes Non-Smoking Area at Swimming Hole-
- Council approved Ordinance #860 which established a non-
smoking area at the Swimming Area at Hawkins Park. Violation
is punishable by an up to $50 fine for first-time offenders.
Council Approves Request to Declare Property Surplus--
Council approved the declaration of miscellaneous playground
equipment and a 500-gallon heating storage tank as surplus
equipment.
At the July 20 Vernonia City Council Meeting:
Council Hears Transportation Update and Request From
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County for Funding Assistance--
City Council heard an update on new public transportation
services being provided for Vernonia by Columbia County Rider
from Columbia County Transit Coordinator Henry Heimuller.
Heimuller explained the new Nehalem Valley Fixed Route that
travels twice a day from Vernonia, Monday through Friday, to the
Willow Creek Station in Beaverton. Heimuller also explained
the new Flex Route Service that is offered from Vernonia to
Scappoose and St. Helens on Tuesdays and Thursdays and makes
a round trip three times a day. Heimuller explained that Columbia
County public Transportation ridership has grown 85% in the past
year, the highest of any system in the state, and that Columbia
County Rider continues to look for more funding to increase
services to the Vernonia area.
Janet Wright, Columbia County Transit Director, made
a request to Council for a community contribution of $5,000 to
help benefit and/or expand service for residents of Vernonia.
Last year, Council approved a $3,500 contribution. Funding
for a Community Contribution was not included in this year’s
approved budget, and Council directed staff to report back with
information about possible sources for funds at the next Council
Meeting.
City Accepted into Main Street Program-- City Administrator
Bob Young informed Council that Vernonia has been accepted
into the Oregon Main Street Program.
Public Works Committee Narrows Choices on Wastewater
Treatment-- City Administrator Young updated council on the
Public Works Committee’s efforts to find a Wastewater Treatment
System to meet the needs of the community. Young informed
Council that the committee has narrowed the choices of systems
and plans from thirteen to four, and will continue to explore those
four plans in more detail.
Council Approves Police Officer Training Fee-- Council
approved the second reading of Ordinance 861, which institutes
fees whenever Columbia County Justice Court imposes fines
for violation of a City of Vernonia ordinance concerning traffic
actions or criminal actions. Fees collected will be used to benefit
the Vernonia Police Department for the purpose of training and
training-related expenses.
Councilors Speak Out About Freedom of Speech-- Councilor
Kevin Hudson read a prepared statement in which he addressed
what he called “...inaccurate information” in a local publication.
“I am disappointed that there continues to be false and inaccurate
information presented in one of the local publications,” he began.
“While there was much misinformation in the latest issue, I am
only going to address one point: There was no attack on freedom
of speech. I want to be very clear about this. I wholeheartedly
support and believe in the right to express your opinions freely
and openly, and encourage everyone to do so.” Hudson went on
to address comments he made during the last Council Meeting.
“I was under the impression that validating facts before you print
them was a fundamental principal of journalism, so I made the
following comment: ‘There is a difference between expressing
your opinion and making false accusations or unsubstantiated
claims.’ It was not an attempt to discourage anyone from sharing
their opinion. It was not a suggestion that the media stop printing
opinions from the public. It was not an attack on free speech. It
was intended to point out a need to get the facts straight before you
print them, and I am sorry to say that need still exists.” Hudson
concluded by handing out copies of his statement to the media.
Councilor Brett Costly also addressed Freedom of
Speech. “I certainly support freedom of speech, but I think some
people maybe don’t quite understand the limitations of freedom of
speech. Freedom of speech actually has a number of limitations.
There can be limitations for obscenity, on commercial and
political speech, and copyright. Finally, there are limitations on
defamation. Freedom of speech does not allow you to lie about
people to defame them. If you are lying about someone to defame
them, freedom of speech gives you no protection.” Costley also
went on to explain that there is a difference between freedom of
speech and freedom of the press. “For good or for bad, freedom
of the press is a much more absolute right,”
explained Costley. Costley went on to detail how,
in order to win a case of defamation against the
press, actual malice must be established, and that,
when writing about a public official, a publisher is
not required by law to fact-check if they believe
information given to them is truthful. “Legally, a
newspaper is better off not checking facts, because
then you can’t prove that they knew it was not true.
I have a feeling some people are taking advantage
of this. When you read something in the paper
about a public official, you might be best to check
the facts yourself, because that paper probably is
not checking the facts.”
Costley concluded his remarks by reading
from a pamphlet about what to do when stopped by
the police. Costley pointed out that the pamphlet,
written not by the Vernonia Police or the National
Patrolman’s Association, but by the ACLU,
instructs people to: not get in an argument with
the police; keep your hands where the police can
see them; don’t run; don’t touch any police officer;
don’t resist even if you believe you are innocent.”
I have to think that if people paid attention to this,
they wouldn’t get tased,” said Costley.
