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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2015)
city news At the February 17, 2015 City Council Meeting: Vernonia City News... denied the first choice location on Adams Avenue which would have required a street closure every week. Council also Council Discusses Anderson Park agreed to waive business license fees for Issues - Council spent time discussing participating vendors at the market. issues surrounding monthly guests and conditions at Anderson Park. Council Council Passes Two Resolutions - and staff agreed there are concerns and Council Passed Resolution 03-15, changes that need to be made. Council Amending City Council Rules and encouraged staff to enforce rules and Procedures, and Resolution 04-15 clean up the Park. Amending Ordinance 880 which establishes the organization of City Council Approves Property Use for Committees. Both resolutions made Open Air Market - Council approved a minor changes. Resolution 03-15 request from Bill Langmaid for use of the adds an Action Item Summary to property at the corner of Bridge Street City Council meetings in Section 10 and Grant Avenue for use by the Open describing the Order of Business at a Air Market this upcoming summer. The City Council meeting. Resolution 04- site is where the former health center 15 adds verbiage to sections 3 and 7 of building was located. The Open Air Ordinance 880, stating that two members Market will be held on Saturdays from of a City Committee may be appointed June through September. The Council from outside city limits, adding “within City and Ridge Riders Reach Agreement for Arena Use The Vernonia City Council negotiated and approved a Settlement Agreement and a Memorandum of Agreement with the Vernonia Ridge Riders equestrian group for use of the Equestrian Arena at Anderson Park. Council is awaiting final approval from the Ridge Riders legal representative, but both parties have agreed in principle to the terms of both agreements. The Settlement Agreement concerns the dispute between the two parties over the validity of the most recent lease from August 2006 which has regulated use of the site. The Settlement Agreement document mutually rescinds the 2006 lease and all prior agreements between the parties. It also dismisses all claims in the matter that were scheduled to be heard in Columbia County Circuit Court. In addition, the Settlement Agreement states that use of Anderson Park Equestrian Arena will now be governed by the new Memorandum of Agreement between the two parties. The new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) calls for the Ridge Riders to receive twelve days of use at the arena per calendar year which begins February 1. Scheduled clean- up, preparation and maintenance days are exempt. The Ridge Riders will also have two “community benefit days” per calendar year. All other days of use will TREE SALE RAIN OR SHINE Saturday, March 14, 2015 24 species including ’Elite’ Douglas fir, 8:30 AM- western red cedar, noble fir, coastal 1:30 PM redwood, golden- Pacific Pride chain tree, and 19 others. Some (Lawrence Oil) Hwy 30, St. Helens bag quantities Proceeds COLUMBIA COUNTY support SMALL Columbia County WOODLANDS students and staff. ASSOCIATION Information: (503) 556-8800 or (503) 397-5997 be subject to general equestrian permit and fees adopted by the City Council. The MOA requires the Ridge Riders to provide a schedule of their upcoming events by October 1, for the following year. The MOA requires the Ridge Riders to carry $2 million in insurance and maintain active non-profit status. All members must carry a valid Ridge Riders identification when on the premises. The Ridge Riders will be responsible for paying water and electric utilities and for garbage removal. The MOA is subject to renewal every five years. According to the MOA, the Ridge Riders are responsible for maintenance of the arena area and the City is responsible for maintenance of the area surrounding the arena. The City has the right to rent the arena to other users when it has not been reserved by the Ridge Riders. Any improvements that are made to the arena or equestrian area are the property of the City of Vernonia. The Ridge Riders may terminate the agreement at any time with thirty days notice to the City. The agreement may be terminated at any time by mutual consent of both parties. The City may terminate the agreement if the Ridge Riders fail to comply with any terms or conditions within ten days of receiving written notice from the City specifying the nature of the failure to comply. march5 2015 5 Council Moves Forward with Timber Harvest on Mill Site - Council authorized staff to prepare a bid summary to harvest merchantable timber from the old mill site. Potential contractors for the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) project At the March 2, 2015 City Council may consider mining clay to seal edges of the raised lagoons that are part of the Meeting: project and the City intends to remove Mayor Resigns to Accept Assistant any merchantable timber prior to the City Admin Position - Mayor Josette WWTP project starting. Mitchell read a letter to the Council and Administrator Report – audience announcing her resignation as City Mayor in order to accept a staff position Council heard a report from the City as Assistant to the City Administrator/ Administrator on recent work. Council City Recorder. (see full story on front questioned the City Administrator about page) Council President Randy Parrow the meeting he held with downtown was nominated and accepted the role of businesses about streetscape trees and Mayor and Councilor Kim Tierney was instructed him to report to Council with solutions at the April 6 City Council elected the new Council President. meeting. The City Administrator also brought up the idea of a City car for use by staff and was instructed to bring back a cost analysis to Council. the Vernonia School district Boundaries, ” and adding the statement, “In an event there is not a full committee, a quorum relates to its current capacity of members until filled.” continued on page 6 Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures Council Approves Agreement With Ridge Riders - Council voted to approve a Settlement Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vernonia Ridge Riders equestrian group for use of the Equestrian Arena adjacent to Anderson Park, based on acceptance by the Ridge Riders. (see full story on page 5) City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7 PM: Monday, March 16, 2015 Monday, April 6, 2015 City Closures are scheduled for: Monday, May 25, 2015 Memorial Day Dates and times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules Vernonia Police Blotter February 14-28, 2015 REPORTS TAKEN • February 21, 2015 Stolen Vehicle recovered near Stoney Point. • February 15, 2015 Citation for Violation of the Basic Rule 70 mph in a 55 mph on HWY 47 South. CITATIONS • February 15, 2015 Citation for Violation of the Basic Rule 70 mph in a 50 mph on HWY 47 South • February 15, 2015 Citation for Trespass II in the 400 Block of Bridge St. Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 02/14/2015 through 02/28/2015 VPD responded to 19 calls/incidents. Friends of the Library Terry’s Gym Fri, March 13 10am-5pm Sat, March 14 10am - 4pm Vernonia Library 701 Weed Avenue 503-429-1818 JOIN THE TEAM! 503-901-1705 16720 Noakes Rd. Vernonia
