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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 2015)
city news Vernonia City News... At the September 8, 2015 City Council Meeting: asked that it be brought back before the full Council. At the September 8 meeting Parrow stated that he was not in favor of banning smoking in all areas zoned Public Recreation and not in favor of restricting smoking more than it already is. Councilor McNair agreed with Parrow that the Ordinance was too broad. Ordinance 906 died when no Councilor made a motion to approve it. Council Offers City Administrators Contract – Following an Executive Session under ORS 192.660(2) (a) “Employment of Public Officers, Employees, Agents,” Council approved a contract to be offered to Candidate #1 for the open City Administrator position. The contract was signed later in the week with City Recorder, and former Mayor, Josette Mitchell. (See full story on front page.) Council Approves Horse Drawn Carriage Permit – Council approved a permit for Rick Hobart to operate Council Moves Forward on CDBG Application for his horse drawn carriage business, Nehalem Valley Rose Avenue – Following a public hearing to consider Carriage, on designated city streets and at Vernonia an application for a Community Development Block Lake. Grant (CDBG) for the Rose Avenue Project, Council reaffirmed their intention to continue development of Council Approves Parking Design – Council chose the center. The City will make the application for $2 parking design #1 for the area along Highway 47 in front million in funding and be the developer for construction of the West Oregon Electric Cooperative building. The of the new 10,000 square foot Senior Center/Food Bank parking lane has been mistaken for a turn lane. ODOT facility. The project is currently seeking additional provided three options for paint designs for the parking funding from private foundations to complete the ties that mark the spaces. The City will be responsible project. During the hearing seven people spoke in for painting the lines. favor of the City making the CDBG application, Casey Mitchell, Sally Harrison, Brett Costley, Sandy Welch, Council Approves Recognition for Temporary Rosie McCoy, Tobie Finzel, and Erika Paleck. There Worker – Council approved the purchase of a gift was no testimony opposed to the application. Council card for $100 for Matt Harris who has worked as part later, at a September 14, 2015 Special City Council of the Parks/Public Works crew through the Pacific meeting, approved a request to delay required street Northwest Works program. Harris has worked 20 improvements on Weed Avenue and to work with the hours per week since June 8 at no cost to the City and project to help them find money to finish at a later date. has provided “outstanding service” to the community. Harris’s contract expires October 2. Council Rejects Tobacco Free Parks – Council was presented Ordinance 906 Tobacco Free Parks for the Council Approves Wauna FCU Auto Request – second time. The Ordinance would have prohibited Council approved a request from Wauna Federal Credit tobacco use in any city park. The Council had voted Union branch manager Pam Weller to sign Wauna’s 2-2 on the Ordinance when it was originally presented Dealer Certification Application, allowing the local at their August 17, 2015 meeting, with Councilors Wauna branch to park vehicles on their lot that are part Bruce McNair and Mike Seager voting against and of Wauna’s vehicle purchasing program, Auto Answers. Councilors Jill Hult and Kim Tierney voting for; The City Planner determined this is an allowable use in Mayor Randy Parrow was not present at that meeting. the Downtown Zone. Tierney, who has been an advocate for Ordinance 906, in any potential ordinance. They were asked by the audience to not completely disallow any specific species, as someone may want to try and figure out a way to safely raise an animal that is considered unusual or difficult. There is a need to define a “Hobby Farm” versus a “Commercial Farm,” as well as define what is considered livestock. Should there be a limit on the number of rabbits that can be raised, an animal that is often raised in large numbers but is also quiet, confined and almost never generates complaints? Should the slaughter of animals be restricted? Because of severe allergies, should bee keeping be restricted? Should people be allowed to keep smaller breeds of pigs? Should they be allowed to keep roosters? How should immature animals be counted if Police Blotter September 1 - 15, 2015 REPORTS TAKEN • September 7, 2015 Informational report taken • September 7, 2015 Arrest for Violation of a Restraining Order and Criminal Mischief III around E. Bridge St. • September 11, 2015 Report of Criminal Mischief on Bridge St. Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 9/1/2015 through 9/15/2015 VPD had 123 calls for service. Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each month on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Our next issue will be October 1st. 2015 5 Tablet Purchase Complete – Council was informed that purchase of Microsoft Surface 3 tablets for each Council member has been completed. Total cost for five tablets and keyboards was $2,674.95, $475 less than the original estimate. Mayor Appoints Two to Parks Committee – Mayor Randy Parrow, with recommendations from the Parks Committee and approval from the Council, appointed Tim Anderson and Heidi Matheney to the Parks Committee. Topics From the Floor – Larry Bernardi questioned the water bill the Ridge Riders received for water use at the horse arena. Council referred the issue to staff to investigate. Scott Laird, representing the Parks Committee, recommended that Council approve the Tobacco Free Parks Ordinance. The Parks Committee voted 3-0 with one abstention to make the recommendation. Rick Hobart asked Council to approve his request for a permit for his horse drawn carriage business. Ben Fousek, GIS consultant for the City, updated Council on the creation of a job description for his position and a list of proposed projects. Fousek said he is still working on both. Jim Tierney, Executive Director of Community Action Team, asked Council to approve the CDBG application for the Senior Center/Food Bank. Correspondence - Council received a letter from Nick and Beverly Galladay asking Council to reconsider their plan to remove the trees lining Bridge Street in the downtown corridor. Council to Hold Workshop on City Staffing - Council scheduled a workshop on October 12 to discuss City personnel positions and how to meet the current needs of the City. Council Holds Workshop to Discuss Livestock in City Limits continued from front page Council she raises numerous animals, including pigs and chickens and does not want restrictions that would limit her ability to feed her family. Kaitlyn Eyrrick and Jessika Goodman provided Council with first hand experience from the 4-H program and the recommended space needed to raise livestock. Heidi Matheney commented on how neighbors interact with each other when raising livestock. Karin Goodman reminded the Council to consider that Vernonia is a small rural town where people often move so they can raise animals without big city restriction. Dean Smith commented that it is often hard to create regulations that will make everyone happy. The Council noted several concerns that would need to be addressed september17 Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures there are limits placed on the number of animals that can be kept? Councilor Bruce McNair took time to commend the youth that were present and participated in the meeting and encouraged them to continue to stay involved in their community. Council agreed to send staff their concerns and priorities after they had a chance to review all the material provided. Staff was asked to prepare a draft ordinance based on feedback from the Council, which would be discussed with interested citizens at another workshop, scheduled for November 9, 2015. City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: Monday, September 21, 2015 Monday, October 5, 2015 City Closures are scheduled for: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Veterans Day Holiday Dates and times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules NOTICE OF SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET HEARING A public hearing on a proposed supplemental budget for the City of Vernonia, Columbia County, State of Oregon, for the current fiscal year, will be held at 1001 Bridge St Vernonia, OR 97064. The hearing will take place on September 21, 2015 at 7:00 PM. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss the supplemental budget with interested persons. A copy of the supplemental budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after September 21, 2015 at 1001 Bridge St, Vernonia, OR 97064, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. SUMMARY OF PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGES AMOUNTS SHOWN ARE REVISED TOTALS IN THOSE FUNDS BEING MODIFIED FUND: Parks RESOURCE Cash on Hand Revised Total Fund Resources AMOUNT $37,700 EXPENDITURE Spencer Park AMOUNT $12,000 $263,066 Revised Total Requirements $263,066 COMMENTS: Cash on Hand was much higher than anticipated and appropriations were not made to fund the completion of Spencer Park.
