city news
july16
Vernonia City News...
At the July 6, 2015 City Council Meeting:
Topics From the Floor – Tony Schrader expressed
concerns about the water pressure for fire hydrants
oat Nickerson Ridge Estates, saying that instead of
installing the required six inch water line, the original
developers only installed a four inch line, which
doesn’t produce the 1,000 gallons per minute required
by the fire code. Schrader told Council that concerns
had been raised by the Fire Chief in 2000 about the
lack of adequate water pressure for hydrants. Schrader
again asked Council to place a moratorium on any new
building permits in the development that is served by
these water lines.
Kristie Freeman praised the work of the
Vernonia Police Department. She also thanked the
Council for improvements in communication between
the City and the community, noting the use of social
media and Vernonia’s Voice. Freeman went on to say
she was not happy with the lack of communication
around Nuisance Violations and asked the City to do
a better job explaining and warning citizens about
potential violations. She also asked the City to be more
fair and provide equal enforcement of violations.
Rick Hobart told Council he is hoping to get
permitted to restart a horse and carriage business, Ne-
halem Valley Carriage Company, and provide rides
around town.
Council Hears Presentation on Tobacco Free Parks–
Ashley Baggett, Coordinator Tobacco Prevention, The
Public Health Foundation of Columbia County, pre-
sented Council with the benefits of creating a policy
that would make all Vernonia Parks tobacco free. A
draft ordinance was also presented. Councilor Kim
Tierney and Parks Committee member Brittanie Rob-
erts will work with Baggett to finalize an ordinance to
bring back to Council.
investigate replacing the trees with smaller and appro-
priate trees in the ground instead of in containers.
Council Asks For Moratorium on Construction at
Nickerson Ridge – After hearing complaints from
Tony Schrader at their June 15, 2015 meeting about
the Nickerson Ridge Estates Development, staff be-
gan to investigate and collect documentation about the
original subdivision development 15 years ago. Staff
reported that all members of staff that worked for the
City at that time and were responsible for approving the
development are no longer employed by the City. The
documentation notes there were several outstanding
shortcomings, yet the development was still condition-
ally approved. Specific concerns were raised about the
lack of proper water pressure at fire hydrants that serve
the development. A Final Plat was approved in 2000
and records indicate all required improvements were
not completed. There are 18 lots in the subdivision.
Six homes have been completed and two are currently
under construction. Council requested staff to place a
moratorium on any new construction following a pres-
sure test of fire hydrants and the gathering of more in-
formation about other outstanding issues. City Admin-
istrator Mammone suggested that the moratorium only
be put in place contingent on approval from the City
Attorney and Council agreed.
Council Approves Reservation System for Ander-
son Park – Staff presented Council with a proposed
online reservation system for Anderson Park. Cost is
$39.95 per month. Staff told Council it would stream-
line the duties of the Park Host and hopefully help at-
tract candidates for that position. Council approved the
new system.
Council Approves Open Air Market Extension –
Council extended the closure and use of Adams Avenue
for the Open Air Market on Saturday mornings for two
Council Discusses Livestock Ordinance - Council more months. (See full story on front page)
heard the opinions of seven citizens concerned about
Council Considers Coffee Stand on City Property
the Livestock Ordinance that regulates keeping and
– Council was asked by staff if they would consider
raising livestock in city limits. Council scheduled a
leasing part of the property at the Rose Avenue Project
workshop for September 14 at 6:30 pm on the issue.
designated for commercial development for a drive-
(See full story on front page)
through coffee business. Staff told Council they had an
Council Discusses Downtown Tree Replacement– inquiry from Sue Hadley, who currently runs a coffee
City Administrator Gian Paolo Mammone brought drive-through in Banks, about the possibility of open-
Council a plan for removing the trees that line Bridge ing a business in Vernonia. Council told staff to pursue
Street in downtown, resetting all the pavers between the possibility at the location along Highway 47 near
the curb and sidewalk, and replacing the trees with the south entrance to town.
smaller trees in large planters. Council asked staff to
2015
5
Council Approves Eagle Scout Project at Spencer
Park – Council heard a presentation from Jared Med-
earis who requested approval to complete his Eagle
Scout Project at Spencer Park. Medearis said he has
been working with City Recorder Josette Mitchell to
plan his project, which would include power washing
the basketball court, repainting the lines, fixing the
chain link fence, removing broken glass blocks and re-
moving graffiti at the covered play shed; cleaning the
play structure, weeding, placing new wood chips, and
replacing the logs surrounding in the play area; moving
benches; and other work in the area. Medearis would
organize some technical work by Public Works staff
and do the rest of the labor with help from volunteers.
Council approved the project and thanked Medaeris.
City Administrator Report – City Administrator
Mammone told Council he was prepared to put the
RFP out for the restroom construction at Spencer Park.
Council approved the purchase of the restroom kit to
be constructed.
Mammone told Council that the new Public
Works employee has started.
Mammone told Council that he has been un-
able to find a suitable candidate for the Planning/GIS
position he had proposed. He suggested the City rehire
Ben Fousek who had been doing GIS work by contract
for the City for the last seven years. He also suggested
the City enter into a temporary contract with a planning
firm that could conduct general planning business for
the City. Council approved a short term, three month
contract with Fousek while a program of work is cre-
ated for the year and also approved a one year contract
with the planning firm.
Mammone received permission from Council
to attend the state wide City Administrators Conference
in Bend. Cost of the conference was $325 with a late
fee. Mammone said total cost would be $500-$600 for
the week; he had not yet secured overnight accommo-
dations. Mammone failed to tell Council that the con-
ference started the next day and that he would be gone
from the office the rest of the work week.
Council Approves Transportation Improvement
Grant Application – Council approved an application
by the City for a State Special City Allotment Grant to
be used for improvements on Knott Street which would
include widening the street to two full lanes for traffic
and adding storm drainage. Estimated cost of the proj-
ect is $75,000.
City Department Updates: June 1 - 12, 2015
Administration/Utility Billing
• As of July 2, 2015 the outstanding balances
on active accounts are as follows: 90 days
$6.69, 60 days $367.86, 30 days $1,168.59
• Reminder no door hangers will be sent out,
and shut offs will on July 15, 2015
• Updating and sending out business license
• 2 new water/sewer services
Police Department-VPD
• June 26th, 2015 - June 30th, 2015: The
total number of Calls for Service and Officer
initiated activity was 51.
• Nuisance Violations: There are currently
204 nuisance violations pending within the
city.
• Open Police Position: The Police
Department accepted applications for entry
level / lateral Police Officer until July 10 th .
We received six applications.
Finance
• June 30 was the last day of the fiscal
year. There will be a lot of prep work being
done over the next few weeks for the audit
in September. Staff is jumping into the
new fiscal year with a few exciting projects
including the WWTP and the completion of
Spencer Park.
• The final contract for the WWTP between
the contractor and the City was delivered
today. Once it has been reviewed by our
legal counsel it will be signed and forwarded
to USDA for their approval. We are hoping to
break ground on the project this month.
• The loan for the new tractor has been
Police Blotter July 1 - 13, 2015
REPORTS TAKEN
• July 1, 2015 Report of Minor in
Possession of Alcohol near Nehalem and
1st Ave.
• July 2, 2015 Arrest on Warrant (x2) in the
1200 Block of Knott St.
• July 2, 2015 Sex Crime report taken
• July 9, 2015 Death Investigation
CITATION/OTHER VIOLATIONS
• July 8, 2015 Citation for failure to
install IID and operating vehicle outside
restrictions near Bridge St. and East Ave.
Vernonia Police Department responds
to calls that do not always end in Arrest,
Report, or Citation. 7/1/2015 through
7/13/2015 VPD had a 156 calls for service.
funded and Public Works has picked it up.
• The City’s IT consultant has been given the
go ahead to order the necessary equipment
to set up our backup system at City Hall.
This will allow us to backup and store the
data offsite which is much safer than keeping
backups in the same location as the servers.
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
Public Works
• Public Works staff cold patched a portion of
Louisiana Avenue this week. This street is in
bad shape and we hope to continue to repair
it as time allows.
• Staff spent many hours moving the
continued on page 6
Vernonia City Council
Meetings and Closures
City Council Meeting
scheduled for 7 PM:
Monday, July 20, 2015
Canceled
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7 PM:
Monday, August 3, 2015
City Closures
are scheduled for:
Friday, August 7, 2015
At noon for Jamboree
Shop Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 - 6:00
Dates and times subject to change
due to conflicts of schedules
