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
