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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2016)
city news At the January 4, 2016 City Council Meeting: Council Revives California Avenue Project - Council heard a presentation from Ben Fousek of the City Planning Department, asking the Council to take action to move forward on the California Avenue Industrial Site Project. Coun- cil reaffirmed their committment to the project and approved several intial ac- tions. (See full story on page 4.) Council Discusses Marijuana Estab- lishments - Council held a discussion with legal counselor Ruben Cleaveland to ask for clarrification about what can and can’t be done in legal marijuana sales and growing establishments. Cleaveland told the Council he believes the Oregon Clean Air Act protects employees from working in an environment where smok- ing anything takes place, and would prohibit a “marijuana club” from oper- ating. Cleaveland told the Council that, according to Oregon’s laws, a retail sales establishment and a grow operation can not operate in the same location. He told the Council that local jurisdictions can establish time, place and manner restric- tions on marijuana sales establishments. Vernonia City News... He also told the Council that in order to ban the sale of marijuana outright within the city, it would have to be placed on the election ballot and approved by local voters. Cleavelend did directly address a potential marijuana establishment at the old Lincoln School, and told Council that language in the conservation ease- ment, that allowed a change of zoning and use at the site, restricts any activities that are against federal law, which would include the sale or growing of marijuana. Council Approves Second Reading of Livestock Ordinance - Council ap- proved the second reading of Ordinance 909, revising restrictions on keeping livestock and domesticated fowl in the City limits. The Ordinance will take ef- fect in thirty days. FEMA does not want any long term guests in the flood plain. There are cur- rently nine guests living at the park who have been informed that they need to move after seven days are up. Council heard from several guests with extenuat- ing circumstances. Council approved a temporary change in policy to reduce the nightly fee for all guests for the month of January to $14. They also gave all guests until the end of the month to move, as long as they are current on their payment. Open Air Market Report - Council re- ceived a report on the success of the 2015 Open Air Market from market manager Bill Langmaid. Langmid told Council the market was very successful at its new location on Adams Avenue and recruited 19 new vendors throughout the season. Council Discusses Long Term Guests Langmaid said the market would look to at Anderson Park - Council discussed return to the same location in 2016 and a ongoing issue with long term guests at start earlier on May 14. Anderson RV Park. City Administrator Josette Mitchell told Council that City Borst Named City Recorder - Stepha- rules limit a camper’s stay to seven days, nie Borst has been named the new City but that exceptions have been made to Recorder. Borst’s first day on the job allow up to three monthly guests. She was January 4, 2016. told Council that the recent storm iden- tified several vulnerable guests and that Topics From the Floor - Amy Cieloha December 8, 2015 Storm Report collection pickup site available on Saturday, December 18 th , 2015. County Emergency Management performed assessments of county resident properties that were affected by the December 8 th event. The County Emergency Management assessed properties in the county in regards to property damage. The County informed the City that none of the properties experienced flooding in livable space; all flooding occurred in outbuildings and other non-liveable structures. Damage Assessment: The City, led by the Vernonia Police Department, with help from City staff, and volunteers, performed a damage assessment for the flood event. The information collected was used to direct support services, and emergency management reporting. The following numbers are provided to illustrate this flood event and the response. 92 Affected Homes, Businesses and City Infrastructure Sites - Includes all identified locations affected by flood inundation, storm water, and ponding. 3 Homes Flooded - A relatively small number of homes (living space) were affected by flood waters compared to previous high water events. 13 Businesses Affected - Most of the businesses were affected by storm water runoff and not directly by inundation. At least 2 of these businesses were directly affected by deficiencies in the City’s storm water system. Due to preparedness and action by business owners, damage and loss was minimal. 10 City Infrastructure Sites - Most notably the collapse of the road bed on State Avenue above the water treatment plant due to storm water runoff. Issues with culverts along Bear Creek continue to cause inundation and storm water problems for homes and businesses along its course. 30 Debris Pickup Sites - The City coordinated an effort to collect non- hazardous waste at approximately 30 locations within a few days of the flood event. “The takeaway from this is that it was a storm event, just like the December 2007 event,” said Fousek during the presentation of the report to Council. “We had a lot of high water which caused problems and we had a lot of rain water. A lot of these sites where we picked up debris from people’s garages or from under homes was not even in the flood zone. It was low lying areas and Vernonia Police Blotter December 7-31, 2015 REPORTS TAKEN • December 9, 2015 Motor Vehicle Accident on Bridge St. non-injury • December 18, 2015 Arrest for Disorderly Conduct, Harassment, Criminal Trespassing, and Resisting Arrest near Adams Ave. • December 21, 2015 Arrest for a Warrant on Keasey Rd. • December 27, 2015 Report of Criminal Mischief III on Riverside Dr. TRAFFIC / OTHER CITATIONS • December 17, 2015 Cited for Driving While Suspended and Driving Uninsured near Rose Ave. • December 24, 2015 Cited for Driving While Suspended and Uninsured near Bridge St. and State Ave. • December 29, 2015 Cited for a Nuisance Violation near F St. • December 30, 2015 Cited for a Nuisance Violation near Weed Ave. Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 12/01/2015 through 12/28/2015 VPD had a 252 calls for service. continued from page 3 areas where water just naturally ponded. We had problems with the Bear Creek corridor in some places which identified a long term project for flood mitigation. The community needs to understand that we can have water damage and flood problems without water coming up from Rock Creek and the Nehalem River.” january7 2016 5 asked about an issue she had previously brought to Council and was told she would receive correspondance from City Legal Counsel. Cieloha also asked whether something could be done on State Avenue to keep cars from sliding over the hill at the bottom of G Street. David Mile introduced himself to the Council as the person attempting to develop a cannabis grow and retail opperation at the old Lincoln School site. He explained his operation is an agriculturally based craft enterprise like a winery, brewery or distillery. Mile described himself as an “entruprenue- rial speculator” looking to “bring a new commercial appeal” to the city, with the intent of making it a destination. Mile told the Council his project would create 20 new jobs in the community, and bring $80,000 in new annual tax revenue. Vernonia City Council Meetings and Closures City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: Tuesday, January 19, 2016 Monday, February 1, 2016 City Closures are scheduled for: Monday, January 18, 2016 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Monday, February 15, 2016 Presidents’ Day Dates and times subject to change due to conflicts of schedules What’s Happening at the Vernonia Library Upcoming Events and get feedback. Food for Fines Fundraiser Book Discussion Group february 1 – 15 Bring non-perishable food or personal care items to the library and $1 in xnes will be forgiven from your account in exchange for each item. All donations, including money paid on xnes during this time period, will be donated to Vernonia Cares. A few suggestions: canned fruit and vegetables, cereals, rice, beans, protein rich foods, personal care items, baby diapers or wipes, toilet paper. fees for Lost or Damaged items can not be waived in exchange for donations. January 25 Last Monday of every month, 5:30 pm Selection for December: Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck Storytimes Baby and ToddNer Time Mondays, 10:30 – 11:15 am Songs, rhymes, books, toys, and bubbles! for ages 0 – 3. Older siblings welcome. PreschooN Storytime fridays, 10:30 – 11:15 am Stories and a craft/activity for children up to age 5. FamiNy Movie Night Thursday, January 28, 6 pm Relax and enjoy a new movie and free popcorn. Call or visit the library for movie title. Library CNosures Ongoing Programs Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10 – 5 Tuesday, Thursday: 1 – 7 Saturday: 10 – 4 Closed Sundays Writer’s Group January 21 3 rd Thursday of every month, 6 – 7:30 pm Opportunity for writers with all levels of experience to get together, write, Closed Monday, January 18 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Library Hours & Contact Phone: (503) 429-1818 E-mail: library@vernonia-or.gov
