city news
At the June 15, 2015 City Council
Meeting:
Topics From the Floor - Tony Schrader
presented Council with concerns he has
about the Knickerson Ridge Estates
Subdivision. Schrader’s property is
adjacent to the development and he told
Council he has asked the developer to
fix a sidewalk and control surface water
run off. Schrader presented Council with
a packet of information that included
emails dating back to 1998, that he
says shows a pattern of non compliance
and incomplete improvements during
construction by developer Jim Smejkal.
Schrader raised concerns that construction
had occurred on documented wetlands,
that culverts are undersized, that enough
fill and compaction was not provided,
that fire hydrants may not provide
adequate flow and that a creek had
been moved without permits. Schrader
said that documentation concerning
the development appears to be either
missing or is non-existent. Schrader
asked Council to place a moratorium on
all building permits and have the City
reinspect and certify that all construction
standards have been met. Council
instructed staff to investigate the issue.
Council Discusses Livestock/Animals
in City Limits - Staff informed Council
that they have received numerous
complaints from citizens concerning
livestock and farm animals within City
limits. The current ordinance states,
“Livestock or poultry within the City
is limited to not more than two small
animals and five chickens. Roosters
are prohibited in City limits.” Council
instructed staff to amend the ordinance to
clarify the definition of “small animals”
and add language similar to the City of
Hillsboro ordinance which sets limits
based on the size of the property, sets
standards for enclosures and would
require a permit. Citizens who currently
have animals would be allowed to keep
Vernonia City News...
• As of June 5, 2015 the outstanding balances
on active accounts are as follows: 90 day,
$25.49; 60 day, $114.85; 30 day, $1,197.64.
• Door hangers will be on June 29, 2015
• Shut offs will on July 1, 2015
• Updating business license information
Public Works
• The crew worked on the perimeter fence
around the New Spencer field. The fence will
Vernonia City Council
Meetings and Closures
be completed Monday, June 8 th , 2015. The
chain link fence will come down June 9 th or
10 th , 2015.
• The Public Works crew worked on rebuilding
the pieces that make up the Dewey Pool
dam. The dam in now up.
Library
• Circulation Statistics: 1,587 items were
checked out the month of May 2015. By
comparison, 1,566 items were checked out
April 2015 and 1,529 items were checked out
in May 2014.
• The library will be closed Saturday, June
27. Please visit the library at the Open Air
Market from 10 am – 2 pm for Summer
Reading registration, crafts, and books for
sale. Proceeds from book sales go to the
Friends of the Vernonia Public Library.
• 10 new members joined the library in May
2015. Welcome!
• Free wifi is now available at the Vernonia
Public Library! Wifi is being funded through
Nominations Wanted For
“Citizen of the Year”
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7 PM:
Monday, July 6, 2015
Monday, July 20, 2015
The Vernonia Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show Committee is
seeking nominations ”or “Citizen o” the Year” to be recognized
at the 2015 Jamboree celebration on August 7-9.
City Closures
are scheduled for:
Friday, July 3, 2015
I” you know someone who deserves recognition ”or their
contributions to the Vernonia community please ”ill out this
nomination ”orm and drop it o”” in the box at Vernonia City Hall by
July 10, 2015.
Independence Day Holiday
2015
a generous donation by the Friends of the
Library.
City Clerk/Administration
• The assistant to the City Administrator met
with prospective logging companies to have
the pre-bid meeting for the WWTP Timber
Harvest project. The deadline for interested
companies to submit bids was Friday, June
12 th at 3:00pm.
FOR TOWING EMERGENCIES
IN AND AROUND THE
VERNONIA AREA
Polife and County personnel are required
to use a rotation of available providers,
UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY ASK
for a servife by name.
REQUEST TOWING SERVICE FROM
My nomination ”or 2015 Jamboree Citizen o” the Year is:
Dates and times subject to change
due to conflicts of schedules
5
and donation of items previously used
them until they die or property ownership $4,000.
and stored at the Vernonia Community
changes.
Council Moves Forward with Cem-
Learning Center (VCLC), including
Council Approves Water/Sewer Billing etery House - Council moved forward
several sized tables, metal folding chairs,
Change - Council approved Resolution with a plan to sell the former caretaker
and pop-up canopies. The items will
10-15, Amending the Master Fee Sched- house at the Cemetery that includes a lot
be donated to the Vernonia Festivals
ule. No change in the total amount most line adjustment, and the surplus and de-
Committee for future use throughout the
accounts pay has been made. The chang- molition of the shed that is on the proper-
community.
es adjust the amount each customer pays ty so the property can be made ready for
in the water base rate from $36.00 to sale. Council discussed the placement of City Administrator Report - City
$24.50 per month and adds a Water Loan a new storage shed and site for a trailer Administrator Gian Paolo Mammone
Repayment fee of $11.50 per month for a caretaker on the cemetery property was on vacation, but Assistant to the
City Administrator Josette Mitchell
and adds the words “Each residential once the lot line had been adjusted.
and Finance Director Angie Handegard
or commercial account shall pay...” The
Council Approves Timber Harvest Bid
updated the Council on several projects.
change also adjusts the sewer fee from
- Council directed staff to issue a Notice
Council was informed that staff
$53.00 to $36.00 per month and changes
to Award the Timber Harvest at the old
is currently researching timed locks
the Sewer Loan Repayment Fee from
mill site to Northwest Land Designs. The
for restrooms in City Parks that would
$40.00 to $57.00 and adds the words
City received two bids for the project.
automatically lock and unlock restrooms,
“Each equivalent residential or commer-
cial account shall pay...” Council agreed Council Authorizes CDBG Grant allowing better access to park users
to a suggestion from staff that a letter go Process - Council authorized staff to during daylight hours.
out with the next billing to make custom- complete a Project Notification Intake
Council was informed about
ers aware of the change and that the new Form and submit it to CDBG-IFA staff several personnel positions. The open
for the Rose Avenue Project. The Intake Public Works position has been filled.
billing take effect July 1, 2015.
Form is the first step to notify the intent The potential Park Host for Anderson
Council Approves Staff Training -
to apply for funding for the Senior Park has rejected the position; the new
In response to recent events, Council
Center/Food Bank project.
Host at Airport Park has started.
approved a recommendation from CIS,
the City’s insurance carrier, that all staff Council Denies Travel Trailer Permit- Council Enters Executive Session -
attend Sexual Harassment Training. The Council denied a request by Gary Self Council entered into Executive Session
training is free and will take place in to occupy a travel trailer at 1117 Cougar under ORS 196.660(2)(d) “Labor
Girabaldi, OR. City Hall will be closed Street while he helps a family member Negotiations” and (f) “Exempt Public
on August 18 from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM, until they relocate. Self did not have Records.” Upon returning to Open
permission or a signature from the Session, Council instructed staff to move
for staff to attend the training.
property owner on his application.
forward with the negotiated contract with
Council Approves Tractor Purchase -
the Police Union.
Council approved the purchase of a new Council Approves Surplus of VCLC
John Deere tractor with a mower deck. Items - Council approved the surplus
The purchase is part of the approved
2015-16 budget. Cost will be $25,753
Police Blotter June 1 - 15, 2015
and will be financed through Wauna
Credit Union. Payments will be shared REPORT TAKEN
Lake.
by the Cemetery, Parks, Water and Sew-
• June 5, 2015 Report of Violation of a
• June 7, 2015 Citation for no Operator’s
er funds.
Release Agreement in the 1100 Block of
License on East Bridge S.
Grove
St.
Council Approves Computer Upgrade
Vernonia Police Department responds
- Council approved a plan to upgrade • June 6, 2015 Other Agency Assist.
to calls that do not always end in
their IT service for backing up informa-
TRAFFIC
/
OTHER
CITATIONS
Arrest, Report, or Citation. 6/1/2015
tion. The plan includes new hardware,
•
June
2,
2015
Citation
for
Driving
While
through 6/15/2015 VPD had a 123 calls
software, set up and a fireproof safe
for storage, and will cost approximately Suspended and Uninsured near Vernonia for service.
City Department Updates: June 1 - 12, 2015
Administration/Utility Billing
june18
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