city news
At the September 4, 2012 City Council
Meeting:
Mayor Reads Proclamation—Mayor
Josette Mitchell read a Proclamation
from President Barak Obama declaring
the month of September to be National
Preparedness Month.
Council Discusses Use of Empty
Lots—Council had a lengthy discussion
about appropriate and allowed uses of
empty lots the City owns due to FEMA
buyouts. The discussion was precipi-
tated by a request by Jim Neeland, who
owns Archers Afield, Mobile Archery
Store, to park his trailer in Vernonia for
a few days each year and conduct busi-
ness. Vernonia City Administrator Bill
Haack told the council that he was not
comfortable charging any fees for use of
the property until the City adopted a pol-
icy concerning uses of these lots. Coun-
cilor Bruce McNair raised concerns
about encouraging someone to conduct
Vernonia City News...
the same type of business that already
exists in town. McNair expressed he
was not against new business, he just
wanted a level playing field and wants
to protect existing businesses that pay
taxes. Several options were discussed.
In the end it was agreed that the Council
cannot charge for using the lot and can-
not currently restrict someone who has
purchased a business license from con-
ducting business in town on public prop-
erty. Council all agreed with staff that
adopting a policy for these city owned
properties needs to be a priority.
Council Approves Drug Collection/
Disposal Program—Council approved
a new policy addition to the Vernonia
Police Department (VPD) Policy Man-
ual for the collection and disposal of
unused medications. The VPD recently
acquired a receptacle for citizens to use
to turn in medications. The receptacle
will be placed in the lobby at City Hall.
According to the new policy the box will
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
Proposed Amendments to the Vernonia Title 9 Land Development
Code Section 9-08 Habitation of Travel Trailers
LOCATION: This affects the use and
parking of RV’s, campers and utility
trailers anywhere in the City.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the
City of Vernonia File # PAZC12-03
proposes to amend sections of the
current travel trailer provisions in Title
9 Section 9-08 as follows:
•
Allows for temporary
habitation under certain
circumstances
•
Allows for an extension of
time to habitat the trailer
•
Clarifies terms and definitions
used in this section
•
Adds new restrictions for
parking RV’s on public streets
Additional information about the
amendments can be obtained by
contacting Joann Glass at City Hall
503-429-5291 ext. 104, or Carole
Connell at connellpc@comcast.net.
The Public Hearings will be held on
Thursday September 20, 2012 at 6:00
pm by the Planning Commission and
on Monday October 1, 2012 by the
City Council at 7:00 pm in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, 1001 Bridge
Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.
Public testimony is welcome and
written statements will also be
received before the hearing. Public
Vernonia City
Council Meetings
and Closures
City Council Meetings are
scheduled for 7 PM:
Monday, September 17, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
City Closures are scheduled for:
November 12, Veteran’s Day
Dates and times subject to change
due to conflicts of schedules
Hearings are governed by the
Comprehensive Plan Amendment
criteria of Title 9 Section 9.01.09-50.
A staff report will be available to the
public at City Hall one week before
the hearings and may be copied for
a nominal fee. Failure to raise an
issue in a hearing, in person or by
letter, or failure to provide statements
or evidence sufficient to afford the
decision-maker an opportunity to
respond to the issue precludes
appeal to the Oregon Land Use
Board of Appeals based on that issue.
Notice to mortgage; lienholder;
vendor or seller: the City of Vernonia
Title 9 Development Code requires
that if you receive this notice it
shall be promptly forwarded to the
purchaser.
Meetings are accessible to persons
with disabilities. A request for an
interpreter for the hearing impaired or
for other accommodations for persons
with disabilities should be made at
least 48 hours prior to the public
hearing to the City Recorder at 503-
429-5291, ext. 104; TTY 1-800-735-
2900 or at City Hall, 1001 Bridge St.,
Vernonia OR 97064.
The City of Vernonia is an Equal
Opportunity Provider and Employer
be clearly marked, locked and securely
mounted. Medications may be placed
anonymously in either plastic bags pro-
vided or in prescription bottles. Syring-
es/sharps will not be accepted. The Chief
of Police will transport and witness the
disposal at an approved incinerator site.
City Administrator Provides Report—
City Administrator Bill Haack provided
Council with a detailed written report
about activities he is currently working
on for the City. The report included in-
formation about the new school project,
including demolition of the old schools,
road improvements by ODOT and the
Wetland project. He also provided infor-
september11
2012
5
mation about the Wastewater Treatment
Plant Improvement Project, Master Cap-
ital Plan Update, and FEMA Compli-
ance Planning. He also informed Coun-
cil about personnel changes in the Public
Works Department and at the Vernonia
Library. He also informed Council that
there exists a need for a discussion about
policy changes needed for the Water De-
partment. The report contained several
other issues Haack is working on.
Council Approves Flood Acquisi-
tion—Council approved the purchase
and sale agreement for a single property
and approved the use of HMGP funds.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
Proposed Amendments to the Vernonia Comprehensive Plan,
the Plan/Zone Map and Title 9 Land Development Code
LOCATION: Rezones flood prone
properties citywide; expands the
mixed-use Downtown Zone to the
Rose and Weed Avenue area.
Rezones land on California Ave. to
Light Industrial.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that
the City of Vernonia File # PAZC12-
02 proposes to amend planning
documents as follows:
•
Adopts the Vernonia
Economic Opportunities
Analysis (EOA)
•
Modifies and adds
economic objectives and
policies to the Comprehensive
Plan
•
Rezones floodway
and buy-out parcels,
cemeteries and city shops to
Institutional Public IP or Park
Recreation PR
•
Rezones private
properties from residential
to commercial on Rose
and Weed Ave. and from
residential to industrial on
California Ave. to increase
business opportunities
•
Adds a use category
and use restrictions to the IP
Zone for buy-out sites
Additional information about the
amendments can be obtained by
contacting Joann Glass at City Hall
503-429-5291 ext. 104, or Carole
Connell at connellpc@comcast.net
and by viewing the packet at http://
vernonia.trianglegis.com/maps/html
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The Public Hearings will be held on
Thursday September 20, 2012 at 6:00
pm by the Planning Commission and
on Monday October 1, 2012 by the
City Council at 7:00 pm in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, 1001 Bridge
Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.
Public testimony is welcome and
written statements will also be
received before the hearing. Public
Hearings are governed by the
Comprehensive Plan Amendment
criteria of Title 9 Section 9.01.09-50.
A staff report will be available to the
public at City Hall one week before
the hearings and may be copied for
a nominal fee. Failure to raise an
issue in a hearing, in person or by
letter, or failure to provide statements
or evidence sufficient to afford the
decision-maker an opportunity to
respond to the issue precludes appeal
to the Oregon Land Use Board of
Appeals based on that issue.
Notice to mortgage; lienholder; vendor
or seller: the City of Vernonia Title 9
Development Code requires that if you
receive this notice it shall be promptly
forwarded to the purchaser.
Meetings are accessible to persons
with disabilities. A request for an
interpreter for the hearing impaired or
for other accommodations for persons
with disabilities should be made at
least 48 hours prior to the public
hearing to the City Recorder at 503-
429-5291, ext. 104; TTY 1-800-735-
2900 or at City Hall, 1001 Bridge St.,
Vernonia OR 97064.
The City of Vernonia is an Equal
Opportunity Provider and Employer
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