Vernonia's voice., July 20, 2017, Page 5, Image 5

city news
july20
2017
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Vernonia City News...
At the July 17, 2017 City Council
meeting:
Council Moves Forward with Smok-
ing Restrictions in Parks – Based on a
recommendation from the Parks Com-
mittee, Council approved a compromise
that restricts smoking in most city parks,
while not banning smoking altogether.
After the Council had previously re-
jected a complete ban on smoking in the
city parks, the Parks Committee returned
with a proposal that would restrict smok-
ing within 50 feet of play structures and
sports fields, and designate smoking ar-
eas at some parks. The recommendation
also called for a complete ban of smok-
ing at Ora Bolmeier and Shay Parks,
while placing no restrictions at Vernonia
Lake and Airport Park. City Administra-
tor Josette Mitchell raised several ques-
tions about the feasibility of implement-
ing specific parts of the recommendation
and Council asked her to work with the
Parks Committee to clarify and simplify
the proposal before bringing it back for
adoption.
Council Schedules City Administrator
Review – Council scheduled an Execu-
tive Session for Monday, August 14 to
conduct the annual review of City Ad-
ministrator Josette Mitchell. Council will
review notes from other City employees
about the City Administrator, and also
compare their own opinions about the
City Administrator’s performance. The
Council will then meet with Mitchell to
discuss their review at a later date.
cussed creating an ordinance that would
regulate parking on City streets and in
public parking lots. Council considered
creating pay-to-park lots around Spen-
cer Park that would be free to citizens
that pay a City utility bill and display a
parking sticker on their vehicle. They
also talked about prohibiting parking on
City property on Rose Avenue in prepa-
ration for the Senior Center/Food Bank
complex construction. Parking at the
former site of the West Oregon Elec-
tric Co-op office at Adams Avenue and
Maple Street would remain free. Parking
a vehicle on a City lot and displaying it
for sale or selling items from a City lot
without authorization, would not be le-
gal. City staff will finalize the ordinance
and bring it back to Council for adoption
at a later date.
City Opens New Food Court
Council Discusses Parking Ordinance
in Workshop – In a workshop follow-
ing their regular meeting, Council dis-
Commissioners to Hear
Comment on Port Westward
Eric Urban has opened his
Dog Park food cart at the
new Vernonia Food Court,
located at the corner of
Bridge Street and Grant
Avenue. Eric will be at the
location several days a week
between 10:00 am and 2:00
pm selling his famous hot
dogs. “I’m really pleased
the City went to the effort to
create this space for small
businesses to operate food
carts,” said Urban.
continued from front page
its reasons for expanding the site.
The Port modified its proposal
to include, among other items, allowing
only those industrial uses that require
access to a deep-water port, and a more
thorough examination of the unused
lands already zoned for industrial use in
the area.
The new proposal was submit-
ted to the county in April, after which
the county notified all individuals who
previously commented on the proposal,
as well as neighbors within 500 feet of
the proposed rezoned lands. The county
has been accepting public comment from
that group to submit for commissioners’
review.
Those who wish to comment
should limit remarks to items specifi-
cally noted in the remand. In addition to
speaking at the August 2 hearing, com-
ments can be submitted to the County
Board of Commissioners before the
hearing by mailing them to the Board at
the County Courthouse, 230 Strand St.
St. Helens, OR 97051.
The Board of Commissioners
may vote on the Port’s application on
August 2, extend the hearing if needed,
or set a date to deliberate at additional
meetings before voting.
The Vernonia
Transfer Station
is open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday
from 8am-2pm
July 22
August 12 & 26
Dates and times are subject
to change due to weather
Vernonia City Council
Meetings and Closures
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
Monday, August 7, 2017
Monday, August 21, 2017
City Closures
are scheduled for:
Noon on Friday, August 4, 2017
Vernonia Friendship Jamboree
Dates and times subject to change
On the Shelves
By Shannon Romtvedt
For this year’s Summer Reading
Program, Build a Better World, we
have a record number of participants
with 149 kids signed up! Last year, we
had 104 in the program. Reminder
to Summer Readers: bring in your
reading time logs sometime between
July 25 and August 12 to enter prize
drawings and earn a free ticket to
the Oregon Zoo. Thank you to all
our Summer Reading sponsors and
volunteers for making it such a great
program this year.
The Friends of the Library
Jamboree Book Sale is coming up
and the Friends are looking for book
donations and volunteers. All gently
used books are accepted for the sale.
Please no magazines, VHS tapes, or
text books. If interested in helping
with the book sale, contact the
Library (503) 429-1818.
Please help us in welcoming
our new part-time Library Aide,
Jamie Adams. Jamie will be helping
primarily with children’s programs
and will be filling in at the check-
out desk. Jamie is in the process of
moving to Vernonia. She is originally
from Batavia, Ohio, from a family
of 12. Jamie moved to Oregon to
be with her husband, Jess Adams,
in October 2015. She is currently
working at the Hillsboro First Baptist
Church as the Children’s Coordinator.
In the fall, Jamie will be taking online
classes through PCC, planning to
transfer credits into a Psychology
program. Her hobbies include
reading and currently, fixing up her
house in Vernonia. We are excited to
have Jamie with us.
Upcoming Events
Jamboree Parade
Contact the Library if you and your
kids would be interested in riding
with the Library in the Jamboree
Parade on Saturday, August 5. Please
do so ASAP so we know how many
will be joining us. We also need
parent help to prep for the parade!
Friends of the Library
Jamboree Book Sale
Friday, August 4, Noon - 7:00 pm,
Saturday, August 5, 9:00 - 11:00 am
AND Noon - 5:00 pm
Make sure to come to the Book
Sale this Jamboree weekend. $2
for Hardbacks, $1 for Paperbacks.
All proceeds benefit programs and
services for the Library. Look for free
book coupons handed out during
the parade and available at the
Jamboree Information Booth.
Family Movie Night
Baby and Toddler Time
Thursday, July 27, 6 – 7:30 pm
Featuring: Smurfs: The Lost Village
(PG, 90 min.)
Relax and enjoy a new movie and
free popcorn at the Library!
Mondays, 10:30 - 11:15 am
Songs, short stories, toys, and
bubbles for 0 - 3.
Summer Reading Party
Thursday, August 10, 6 - 7 pm
Celebrate completing the Summer
Reading Program. Join us for ice
cream, crafts, and activities. Thanks
for Reading!
Ongoing Programs
Knitting Group
Saturday, August 19, 10 am
For new, intermediate, and
experienced knitters. Come to the
Library, and knit! Adults, teens,
and older children welcome. An
experienced knitter will be on hand
to teach beginners. Materials for
beginners provided.
Preschool Storytime
Fridays, 10:30 - 11:15 am
Stories and a craft/activity for up to
age 5. Older siblings welcome!
Did You Know? Eclipse Viewers
Planning to look to the sky for
the Total Solar Eclipse on August
21, 2017? The Library still has
free Eclipse viewers to give away,
provided by Star_Net (Science and
Technology Activities and Resources
for Libraries). Ask at the Library if you
would like some for your family.
Library Closures
The Library will be closed Saturday,
August 5 for Jamboree. We will be
open for the Friends of the Library
Book Sale only that day.
Book Discussion Group
Hours & Contact Info
Last Monday of every month,
5:30 pm. Selection for July 31:
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Mon, Wed, Fri 10 am – 5 pm
Tues & Thurs 1 pm – 7pm
Sat 10 am – 4 pm
Closed Sundays
Writer’s Group
Thursday, July 20, 6-7:30 pm
Third Thursday of the month. For all
levels of writing experience. New
members always welcome.
Phone: (503) 429-1818
E-mail: library@vernonia-or.gov