city news
april6
2017
5
Vernonia City News...
At the March 20, 2017 City Council
Meeting:
Topics From the Floor – Michal Smith,
owner of Creatures Pet Store, and Holly
Vaughn told Council they would like to
help the City create a Dog Park and said
they would fundraise to organize and
pay for the effort, as well as maintain
the facility once it is in operation. They
asked for the City to consider potential
options for a location. Council later dis-
cussed the issue and agreed staff should
work on the issue with the organizers.
Council Agrees to Cemetery Fee Ad-
justments – After reviewing a site plan
for a new cremation urn plot at the Ver-
nonia Cemetery, Council agreed with a
staff recommendation to adjust cem-
etery fees by removing the open/close
fee.
Vendor Withdraws Proposal – Coun-
cil received a letter from David Sterner
and Richard Traver stating they are with-
drawing their proposal to place a tempo-
rary ice cream cart on City property.
Mayor Appoints Webb to Budget
Committee – With approval from the
rest of Council, Mayor Mario Leonetti
appointed Dale Webb to the Budget
Committee.
City Administrator Report – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell told the
Council that ammonia readings at the
wastewater plant lead her to believe
DEQ will allow the City to install a
smaller number of bio dome units than
previously recommended.
Mitchell told the Council the
architect’s cost estimates for the Senior
Center/Food Bank are higher than was
budgeted, so items that were deemed un-
necessary are being eliminated.
Mitchell said she has received a
permit for work to be done in Bear Creek
for an emergency repair to firm up the
stream bank. Mitchell added that she has
not heard from DSL or ODFW regarding
the illegal culvert replacement upstream
that appears to be causing flooding is-
sues.
City Receives Inquiry About Sale of
Courtyard – City Administrator Josette
Mitchell told the Council the City had
received a letter of inquiry from Sam
and Eleonora Semerjian, owners of the
Blue House Café, asking whether the
City is interested in selling the court-
yard property that sits between their
restaurant and the Community Learning
Center building, currently leased to the
Vernonia Police Blotter • March 9-31, 2017
REPORTS TAKEN / ARRESTS
•  March  9,  2017  Report  of  Theft  and 
Forgery near Weed Avenue
•  March  14,  2017 Arrest  on  a  Warrant 
near Cougar St. and Madison Avenue
•  March  23,  2017 Arrest  on  a  Warrant 
near Jefferson Avenue
•  March  28,  2017  Report  of Attempted 
Burglary  and  Criminal Trespass  II  near 
Cherry Street
• March 28, 2017 Report of Burglary and 
Criminal Mischief on Adams Avenue
• March 28, 2017 Report of Hit and Run 
on Jefferson Avenue non injury
• March 28, 2017 Report of Mail Theft on 
East Bridge Street
•  March  31,  2017 Arrest  on  a  Warrant 
near the Linear Trail
CITATIONS / OTHER
• March 14, 2017 Cited for Driving While 
Suspended  and  No  Insurance  near 
Knott Street
• March 14, 2017 Cited for Driving While 
Suspended near Nehalem HWY South
•  March  18,  2017  Cited  for  Violation 
The Vernonia
Transfer Station
is open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday
from 8am-2pm
April 8 & 22
May 13 & 27
Dates and times are subject
to change due to weather
of  the  Basic  Rule  driving  55  mph  in  a 
posted 35 mph near N Mist Drive
• March 19, 2017 Cited for Driving While 
Suspended near Bridge Street
•  March  19,  2017  Cited  for  Violation  of 
the Posted Speed near N Mist Drive 54 
mph in a posted 35 mph
• March 22, 2017 Cited for Driving While 
Suspended near Nehalem HWY South
•  March  25,  2017  Cited  for  Failure  to 
Obey a Traffic Control Device near East 
Bridge Street
• March 26, 2017 Cited for Driving While 
Uninsured near North Mist Drive
• March 26, 2017 Cited for Driving While 
Suspended near Bridge Street
• March 31, 2017 Cited for Violating the 
Speed Limit driving 53 mph in a posted 
35 mph near North Mist Drive
Vernonia Police Department responds
to calls that do not always end in Arrest,
Report, or Citation. 03/01/2017 through
03/31/2017  VPD  had  354  calls  for 
service.
Vernonia City Council
Meetings and Closures
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
Monday, April 17, 2017
Monday, May 1, 2017
City Closures
are scheduled for:
Monday, May 29, 2017
Memorial Day Holiday
Dates and times subject to change
Vernonia Senior Center for use as a thrift
store. After a discussion, the consensus
of Council was to have staff inform the
Semerjians that the City is not interested
in selling the property at this time.
At the April 3, 2017 City Council
Meeting:
Council Moves Forward with Vendor
Site Preparation – Council discussed
the costs associated with development at
the site of the old Health Center build-
ing at the corner of Bridge Street and
Grant Avenue. The site is being con-
sidered as a spot to allow food vendor
carts to set up and operate during a por-
tion of the year. City Administrator Jo-
sette Mitchell told the Council that the
cost to plane and smooth the concrete
would be about $600, the cost to place
an electric pole would be $1,421, and the
cost to install an electric meter would be
close to $5,000. Mitchell said the City
already has one vendor who would like
to operate in the location who does not
need electricity, one other vendor who
has expressed interest, and one who
removed their proposal after extensive
discussions. After a discussion, Council
agreed to prep and smooth the site and
install the power pole, but wait to install
the electric meter until they have more
interest from vendors.
Dog Park Moves Forward – Council
agreed with the site between Heather
Lane and Ivy Street chosen by a group
of citizens interested in developing a
Dog Park on City property. Council
asked staff to inform neighbors and
look into flood plain regulations for the
site.
City to Evaluate Water Rate Vari-
ables – City staff asked Council to
authorize an evaluation of two variables
which are at the core of the City’s water
rates, the meter multiplier and the water
allowance. Staff said there have been
questions about these two pieces and
the City now has additional informa-
tion they would like to consider in de-
veloping rates for City utility customers.
Council approved the request and asked
for a report in six months.
Council Approves Request to Waive
Park Fees for Bike Ride – Based on a
recommendation from the Parks Com-
mittee, Council approved a request from
the organizers of the Cycle Columbia
County bicycle ride to waive park use
fees for their event on June 17, 2017.
The group requested use of Spencer
Park. The ride is designed to promote
the communities in Columbia County
and is expected to draw 300 riders. Ver-
nonia will be the starting and ending
spot for the one day ride.
Ethics Complaint Unfounded – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell told
Council that an ethics complaint, filed
by David Sterner with the Oregon Gov-
ernment Ethics Commission, was de-
termined to be unfounded. Sterner filed
complaints against the Mayor and two
City Councilors following a City Coun-
cil Workshop on March 13 concerning
his request to place a food cart on City
property. Sterner withdrew his proposal
following the Workshop.
City Administrator Report – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell told the
Council the City Attorney has received
correspondence from the owners of
the Nickerson Ridge Estates housing
development, restating their assertion
that the City accepted the streets when
continued on page 6
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
Proposed Zoning Code Amendment in the City of Vernonia,
File No. PA 17-01
When: April 17 th, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Where: Council Chambers, City of Vernonia, 1001 Bridge Street,
Vernonia, OR
Why: Proposed Zoning Code Amendment to Travel Trailer Provisions
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Vernonia City Council, will con-
duct a public hearing on a request by the City of Vernonia to amend
the Zoning Code as it relates to the temporary habitation of travel
trailers.
SAID PUBLIC HEARING will be held before the Vernonia City Council
on Monday, April 17th, 2017, in the Council Chambers of Vernonia
City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR at or after 7:00 pm, at
which time proponents and opponents of the proposed Zone Code
Amendment will be heard.
A staff report will be available to the public at City Hall one week
before the hearing, and may be copied for a nominal fee. Failure to
raise an issue in a hearing, in person or by letter or failure to provide
statements or evidence sufficient to afford the decision-maker an
opportunity to respond to the issue precludes appeal to the board
based on that issue. Public testimony is welcome, and written
statements will also be received before the hearing.
The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities.
A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other
accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at
least 48 hours prior to the public hearing to Stephanie Borst at 503-
429-5291 ext. 105, TTY 1- 800-735-2900 or at City Hall, 1001 Bridge
Street, Vernonia, OR 97064
The City of Vernonia is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.