city/community news
Vernonia City News...
At the October 13, 2012 City Council
Meeting:
Council Holds Hearing on Building
Fees--City Council held a public hear-
ing prior to the start of the regular City
Council Meeting concerning proposed
changes to the Building Code Program
Fees. The proposed changes under con-
sideration included increases to fees,
streamlining of fees and changes in the
code to reflect new technology and laws
such as solar installations and fire sprin-
klers. Building Codes in the City of
Vernonia are enforced by The Building
Department, LLC, an outside contrac-
tor. The Building Department has not
increased fees since 2007. Fees were
proposed to be raised about 11%. No
one testified for or against the chang-
es. Council later adopted the proposed
changes by a 5-0 vote.
Council Holds Hearing on City Park-
ing Code—Council continued a public
hearing to discuss proposed changes to
the City Parking Code that had been
recommended by the Vernonia Planning
Commission. Council had previously
opened the hearing on July 16, 2012.
Council also held a workshop and dis-
cussed the issue on October 12, 2012.
According to the written staff report
provided, the City and business com-
munity have found it difficult to comply
with elements of the existing parking
requirements in the downtown district.
According to city code any new build-
ing or change of use in the downtown
zone requires that parking be provided
in accordance with city off--street park-
ing requirements. Many buildings do
not have land available for off street
parking, making occupancy of a new
business impossible without a variance
approved by the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission has proposed
an exception to the parking requirements
that would allow a business or occupant
to request a waiver and pay a $10 fee
per space required. The purpose of the
fee is to establish a parking fund to con-
struct, operate and maintain public off--
street parking for the downtown district.
Council is considering adding a credit
system that would provide a discount to
all businesses based on the current num-
ber of on street spaces available in the
downtown district.
Scott Laird testified against the
amendment, suggesting instead that the
City increase business license fees for
all businesses in the city to spread out
the cost for downtown parking. Clark
McGough testified against the changes
asking why the City would start charg-
ing fees if they don’t yet know the end
cost for the proposed public lots.
Council closed the hearing but
Vernonia Geographic
By Ben Fousek
In this installment, I wanted to discuss land use
rezoning here in Vernonia, but I’m going to hold off for
a month. I continue to work on some of the analysis
and mapping for the Vernonia Economic Opportunity
Analysis. I’m excited to be bringing you some insights
into land use in Vernonia, and why the rezoning project
is important to Vernonia’s future.
Another topic of interest to myself, and many
of you, is the return of salmon to the Upper Nehalem
Basin. Salmon are culturally important to Vernonia, and
the continued success of salmon should be a priority for
all of us. I’m pleased to be helping that effort by pro-
viding geographic information and mapping support to
the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council (UNWC).
While the UNWC has used geographic infor-
mation systems (GIS) for some time now, the full po-
tential of this technology is beginning to have dramatic
effect on the way the UNWC prepares for and executes
restoration projects. The three steps of the process are
1) data collection, 2) analysis, and 3) mapping.
The foundation of any GIS is data. In recent
years, the increased accuracy of data sets, such as the
stream network and digital elevation models (DEM),
have made it much easier to identify areas which are
Vernonia City
Council Meetings
and Closures
City Council Meetings are
scheduled for 7 PM:
Monday, November 5, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
City Closures are scheduled for:
Veterans Day, Mon. November 12
Thanksgiving Day, November 22
Staff Day, November 23
Dates and times subject to change
due to conflicts of schedules
made no final decision on the proposed
amendments to the parking code.
Council Hears From Ridge Riders—
George Bellingham, speaking on behalf
of the Vernonia Ridge Riders, spoke
during topics from the floor. Belling-
ham expressed dissatisfaction with the
City’s handling of a disagreement over
their lease for use of City property at the
horse arena. The City has raised ques-
tions about the validity of the lease. The
Ridge Riders contacted an attorney who
is now in correspondence with the City
of Vernonia attorney. City Administra-
tor Bill Haack told Bellingham that the
City was waiting for a response from the
Ridge Riders attorney. Mayor Josette
Mitchell told Bellingham that, because
the attorneys were involved, Council
could not discuss the matter.
Council Appoints Gwin to Airport
Committee—Mayor Josette Mitchell,
with the approval of Council and based
on a recommendation of the Airport
Committee, appointed Rick Gwin to the
Airport Committee.
Council Approved Final Residential
Buyout—Council approved the pur-
chase and use of funds for what is prob-
ably the final residential buyout of flood
damaged property. Community Action
october23
2012
5
Team representative Dan Brown, who
is overseeing the project, told Council
that there is still a possibility that four
business properties could be purchased
through the program before it is com-
pleted.
Council Approves Changes to Travel
Trailer Code—With the first and sec-
ond readings of Ordinance 885, Council
approved amendments to the city code
that enforces rules for habitation of a
travel trailer. The main change to the
ordinance allows for the temporary use
of a recreational vehicle for occasional
use such as cooking, storage, play and
work that typically occur during daytime
hours. Inhabiting a recreational vehicle
as a dwelling, except where approved, is
prohibited unless the occupant obtains a
permit from the city.
Council Approves Changes to Smoke
Free Workplace Law—With the sec-
ond reading of Ordinance 884, by a vote
of 4-1, Council prohibited the use of
electronic cigarettes within the interior
of facilities owned by the city of Verno-
nia, on outside property that are desig-
nated as tobacco free owned by the City
of Vernonia and in vehicles owned by
the City of Vernonia. Councilor Bruce
McNair voted against the ordinance.
City Information and Updates Available by Email
Citizens who wish to receive meeting information and updates can request to be placed
on an email list at City Hall. Please contact Joann Glass at joann@vernonia-or.gov and
asked to be placed on the “Citizen Notification List.”
in need of restoration. Once an area has been identified
field reconnaissance can be used to pin point locations
for large wood placement, invasive plant mitigation,
and tree planting. Until recently this information had
been collected with hand written notes. With the UN-
WC’s acquisition of a hand held GPS unit loaded with
specialized GIS software we are now able to collect
point data with an accuracy of a few meters, as well as
attribute data and photos. With all the data collected it’s
time to see what the data tells us.
GIS analysis is comparing two or more data
sets by the geographic location of the data or the un-
derlying attribute data. Preparing and executing GIS
analysis is the most complex part of what I do, and
as such, I won’t get into too many details, but rather
give an example of analysis I performed recently. After
acquiring the Rapid Bio Assessment data prepared by
Western Oregon University (RBA is a fancy term for
juvenile fish counts), a specific reach of stream in the
upper Pebble Creek basin was revealed to have lower
than average juvenile fish counts compared with other
reaches in the area. Stream data, such as the presence
of large wood or lack thereof, and locations of invasive
plants, was collected in the field and compared to the
RBA data. It was surprising to find there were some
areas with relatively good stream health, but low fish
counts. Those areas it turns out are just upstream from
areas which are in need of restoration. The conclusion
being, a reach of stream in poor health can affect up-
stream reaches in good health. This information will
help in determining the amount of resources needed
and specific locations of restoration sites to improve
the entire reach.
The mapping component is all about the graph-
ical representation of the data to share with others. Map
production allows the UNWC to better represent pro-
posed projects when applying for project funding, as
well as reporting progress back to the state when a proj-
ect is completed. Of course, maps are very handy for
internal use for an endless number of purposes related
to the operation of the UNWC.
Geographic information is powerful tool for
the continuing work of maintaining and improving
salmon habitat. I hope my contribution to this effort
will ensure we can all continue to enjoy and be amazed
by these creatures into the future.
Vernonia GeoFact: The three Class 6 hydrology ba-
sins that converge in and around Vernonia are: Coon
Creek, Pebble Creek and Lower Rock Creek.
Ben Fousek is the owner of Triangle GIS
Old,
worn out
and rusty?
Need body
work?
Call...
Meyer’s Auto Body
•493 Bridge St•
VERNONIA
503-429-0248
Terry’s
Gym
JOIN
THE TEAM!
503-901-1705
16720 Noakes Rd. Vernonia