city news
august23
2011
Vernonia City News...
At the August 15, 2011 Vernonia City
Council Meeting:
Connor Promoted to Interim
Chief—See story on front page.
Council Outlines Process for Hir-
ing City Administrator—Councilor
Randy Parrow asked to discuss the
possibility of hiring Bill Haack as City
Administrator. During the discussion
Mayor Mitchell suggested that Council
wait until the three empty Council po-
sitions have been filled before Council
make any decisions. The three emp-
ty seats are expected to be filled at a
special council meeting on August 29.
Council tentatively scheduled inter-
views with City Administrator candi-
dates for August 30-31.
City Makes Grant Request for Re-
zoning—Council approved a Grant
request from the City Planning De-
partment to the Oregon Department of
Land Conservation and Development.
The grant request is for $6,000 and
will be used to amend the City Plan
and Zone Map and then adjust the land
inventory accordingly. According to
City Planner Carole Connel, the city
has up to ninety parcels that are inap-
propriately zoned and cannot be built
upon because of flood hazards, result-
ing in an inaccurate supply of land for
housing and employment needs, which
could impact the location and size of
the Urban Growth Boundary.
Council Approves Flood Purchas-
es—Council approved the purchase of
three properties as acquisition projects
from the 2007 Flood event. The prop-
erties that have been purchased are 540
Mist Drive, 544-546 Mist Drive, and
550 Mist Drive.
5
Vernonia City Council
Upcoming Meetings
and
City Hall Closures
Due to the Labor Day Holiday, the
next regular Vernonia City Council
Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday
September 6, 2011.
MEETING PLACE: City Hall
MEETING TIME: 7:00 PM
CLOSED MONDAY, SEPT. 5, 2011
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
These dates are subject to change
without notice
On the Shelves: What’s Happening at the Vernonia Library
The 2011 Summer Reading
Program has ended on a high note at the
Vernonia Public Library. The story/craft
time was very well attended leaving
standing room only many days. We
also were delighted to see so many
community members of all ages enjoying
the evening performances brought to
Vernonia during the summer reading
program including Hart’s Reptile World,
Jugglemania!, Christopher Leebrick
– professional storyteller, Washington
County Museum with the School Days
Program, and Knights of Veritas.
The success of the program is
based on the generous donations, time,
and effort by so many in our community.
This year we would like to send a special
thank you to the following businesses and
organizations for donations and financial
support to fund this program: Vernonia
Sentry, Mariolino’s, Black Bear Coffee
Company, Costco, McMenamins, Out
Of This World Pizza, Old Spaghetti
Factory, Vernonia’s Voice, Oregon
College Savings Plan, Vernonia Lyon’s
Club, Vernonia Study Club, and Friends
of the Vernonia Library. A big thank you
to Linda Johnston, Pat Styles, Melissa
Zavales, Barbara Ward, Angela Fields,
Grant and El Donna Williams, and Todd
and Kelli Martinez for going ‘above and
beyond’ to ensure the program was a
success for the children this year.
The Summer Reading Program
is now over but planning is underway
for our preschool story time and our
afterschool program starting in late
September. Information is updated
regularly at the city website, www.
vernonia-or.gov, and as always our
programs are free.
Columbia County Holds Hearings on Transit Rates
Due to decreases in state and federal funding,
community contributions, and because of increased cost
of providing public transit services, Columbia County
has determined that fares must be increased in order to
continue providing public transit in the County.
The reduction in federal/state allocations for
transit services has caused Columbia County to consider
several options which include: reduce service, raise
fares or do a combination of both. After an analysis of
the routes and rider use the County has determined that
a fare increase and the establishment of a zone based
fare system will allow them to continue the current
level of service, however the Citizens Transit Advisory
Committee has indicated that a review of the fare
system should be completed in six months to determine
if further changes are necessary. The last fare increase
occurred in August of 2008.
In order to change the fare schedule and fare
collection method to a zone based system, the public
must be notified and allowed to comment on the
changes. As a result a public hearing was scheduled
for Wednesday, August 10, 201 for the purpose of
considering a proposal to establish a zone fare system
and proposed fare increases for the Columbia County
Rider Transportation System, to become effective upon
adoption of a Board Order.
On August 10, 2011 the Columbia County
Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing for
public input on the proposed changes. Because the
Board felt that further public notice was needed, the
public hearing was held open until Wednesday, August
24, 2011 to allow for citizen comment at the Board
meeting.
Testimony can be provided in person at the
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 meeting of the County
Board of Commissioners, at 10:00 AM.
The Citizens Transit Advisory Committee and
the County Commissioners have both met to review
rider data and discuss recommendations for revisions
in the Transit Fare Schedule. As a result of those
reviews the following recommendations for changes
were made:
Recommendation No. 1: The Transit rider fare
system be changed to a zone based system consisting
of three primary or base zones: Zone 1 representing
North County, Zone 2 representing South County
and Vernonia, and Zone 3, any destination outside of
Columbia County.
In each zone, a base fare would be
charged for each ride and when a rider crosses
a zone an additional $1.00 would be added to the trip
cost. Flex Route fares would increase from $1.50 to
$2.50. and monthly passes would also be increased.
The recommended discounts provided for
youth, seniors, and person with disabilities criteria
would set age requirements for eligibility. A “reduced”
fare under the student and elderly/disabled categories,
would be established for persons ages 12 and under,
ages 62 and over, or having a disability. For students, a
student ID would be required as proof of enrollment in
a college or university.
Recommendation No. 2: Demand Response
rates are increased by 20% from the current rates.
Recommendation No. 3: The Committee also
decided to not recommend any service reductions at
this time, but opted to revisit the fare and service issues
in six months and provide recommendations for any
further fare increases or service reductions necessary to
maintain the system.
For more information contact Columbia
County Transit Administrator Janet Wright at 503-397-
1035.
PUBLIC NOTICE
“Community Action Team of Columbia
County, Inc. (CAT) is seeking proposals from
qualified General Contractors to prepare the
6-building, Blue Heron Hollow Apartment
Complex (located at 600 California Street,
Vernonia, OR) to be elevated approximately
five feet (5’), to elevate the structures,
to install a pony wall system including
supports, to set the building down and
secure it to the new foundation, to raise
the courtyard foundation to grade elevation
specified in plans, and install sidewalks,
stairs, ramps, decks and railings as per
plans and specifications. All Request for
Proposal (RFP) documents can be obtained
by visiting https://www.cat-team.org or by
sending an Email to ddubach@cat-team.
org or calling 503-366-6555. All proposals
are due to CAT at its offices at 125 N. 17th
Street, St. Helens, OR 97051 no later than
5:00 PM on September 6, 2011. There is a
mandatory pre-bid conference at 10:00 on
Thursday, August 25, 2011 at the project site
in Vernonia. Questions should be directed
to Casey Mitchell at 503-366-6550 or via
email at cmitchell1@cat-team.org. CAT
is an equal opportunity, affirmative action
employer, does not discriminate because
of race, religion, color, sex, national origin,
marital status, age if the individual is 18
years of age or older, or disability, and
invites proposals from minorities, women
and emerging small businesses.”
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