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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2019)
city news february21 2019 5 Vernonia City News... At the February 19, 2019 City Council Meeting: Council Approves Grant Application – Council approved Resolution 01-19 authorizing an application to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for a Local Government Grant to build a skate park at Spencer Park. Council Discusses Bear Creek Flood- ing – Council discussed the causes and potential remedies to flooding on Bear Creek that has been occurring whenever we experience a heavy rain, most re- cently on February 12. Councilor Bruce McNair pointed to recent logging in the watershed above town on Cory Hill as a big part of the problem. Councilor Dale Webb, who walked the creek bed dur- ing and after the event said undersized culverts and infill in the creek bed are also contributing. City Administrator Josette Mitchell told the Council and several property owners adjacent to the creek who were in attendance, that the City cannot work in or disturb the creek bed without approval from the Oregon Department of State Lands. She said property owners will need to seek a so- lution, but added the City could work in conjunction with the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council to seek funding and Police Blotter January 16, 2019 - February 19, 2019 Reports Taken/Arrests • January 16, 2019 Arrest on a Warrant near Stoney Point Road • January 16, 2019 Report of Theft III near Jefferson Avenue • January 17, 2019 Report of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm • January 25, 2019 Report of Found Property near California Avenue • January 26, 2019 Report of Theft III near Bridge Street • January 26, 2019 Report of Outside Agency Assist near Nehalem HWY North • January 26, 2019 Report of Outside Agency Assist near Nehalem HWY North • January 30, 2019 Report of Motor Vehicle Accident near Nehalem HWY North with injury • February 5, 2019 Arrest on a Warrant near Nehalem HWY South • February 17, 2019 Report of Stolen Vehicle Recovery near East Bridge Street Citation/Other • January 19, 2019 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 54/35 mph near Nehalem HWY South • January 24, 2019 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 65/45 mph near Timber Road • January 25, 2019 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 82/55 near Lone Pine Road • February 5, 2019 Cited for Driving Outside Restrictions near Bridge Street • February 6, 2019 Cited for No Operators License and Failure to Use Safety Belt near Bridge Street • February 6, 2019 Cited for Violation of the Basic Rule 75/55 mph near Nehalem HWY South • February 7, 2019 Cited for No Drivers License and No Insurance near Jefferson Avenue • February 9, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended near Weed Avenue • February 10, 2019 Cited for No Drivers License and No Insurance near North Mist Drive • February 10, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended, Careless Driving, and Driving Uninsured near Bridge Street • February 11, 2019 Cited for Driving While Suspended and No Insurance near Grant Avenue • February 12, 2019 Cited for Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance near Bridge Street • February 14, 2019 Cited for Driving Uninsured near California Avenue • February 14, 2019 Cited for Driving Uninsured near California Avenue • February 18, 2019 Cited for No Operators License near Bridge Street Vernonia Police Department responds to calls that do not always end in Arrest, Report, or Citation. 1/01/2019 through 1/31/2019 VPD had 268 calls for service. 2/01/2019 through 2/19/2019 VPD had 229 calls for service. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Vernonia is requesting approval of an Annexation of two parcels of land, and road right of way in Spenser Park. SITE LOCTION: The subject site is surrounded by Spencer Park and bisected by California Street. The two parcels to be annexed include portions of Assessors Map 4N 4W 04CA Tax Lots 600 and lot 700, which total 0.47 acres, and includes the annexation of the portion of California Street right-of-way between the two above mentioned tax lots, of approximately 0.33 acres, for a grand total of 0.77 acres. Said Public Hearings will be held by the Vernonia City Council on Monday March 4, 2019. Information about the application can be obtained by contacting Stephanie Borst at City Hall 503-429-5291. If you receive this notice in error you shall promptly forward it to the owner or purchaser. The Public Hearings will be held at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064. Public testimony is welcome, and written statements will also be received before the hearing. 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 State Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA, or to seek damages in circuit court). Chapters of the Vernonia Land Use and Development Code applicable to this application are as follows, and can be found on the City’s web site www.vernonia-or.gov. • Chapter 9-01.02-50 Zoning of Annexed Areas • Chapter 9-01.10-50 Type IV Procedures All meeting locations are 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 the City Recorder at 503-429-5291; 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. potentially help with restoration work. Council Hears Info About Changes to C.C. Rider – City Recorder Stephanie Borst provided the Council with updat- ed information on changes to rates and routes for Columbia County Rider, the local public transportation system. Borst confirmed C.C. Rider is doing away with the fixed route to Washington County and will replace it with on-demand ser- vice which will require riders to sched- ule a ride. Rates are: Vernonia - Willow Creek $6 each way, with monthly passes available for $150 ($130 for seniors/stu- dents); Medical Transport rate based on milage, example: Vernonia to St. Vincent Hospital $9; local on-demand transport $2.20 per person each way, route must be within 5 miles of city limits. Council Retreat Facilitator – City Re- corder Stephanie Borst presented a pro- posal from Sarah Singer Wagner Con- sulting, who comes highly recommended by other cities around the state, to facili- tate a goals and priorities workshop for the Council. Total cost for the one-day workshop is $4,960. Borst confirmed that the City has $18,000 available in their budget for “Professional Services.” Several members of the Council balked at the cost (Councilors Allen, Webb, and McNair) and asked staff to look for a less expensive alternative. Council Appoints Two to Rate Review The Vernonia Transfer Station is scheduled to be open on the nd 2 and 4 th Saturdays January - October 8:00 am - 2:00 pm February 23 March 9 & 23 Dates and times are subject to change due to weather Committee – Council voted to appoint Councilors Dale Webb and J.R. Allen to the Rate Review Committee to work with staff and participate in the annual evaluation and adjustment of city utility rates. Mayor’s Report – Mayor Rick Hobart told the Council that the members of the Senior Center Board again expressed their thanks to the City for the work they have done to build a new Senior Center. Hobart announced that he will be naming a “Citizen of the Month” at the second Council meeting each month. He presented a certificate for Elea- nor Thompson for January and one to Gretchen Lindauer for February. City Administrator Report – City Administrator Josette Mitchell told the Council that the State Legislature is at- tempting to restrict how small cities in Oregon can use a third party as building officials. The City currently contracts for building permit inspections, and any change to current regulations would be cost prohibitive to small communities. Mitchell said she has written a letter and said a hearing would be occurring in Sa- lem on February 20. Topics From the Floor – Randy Parrow addressed the Council about numerous flooding events on Bear Creek over the last several years; the last event occurred on February 12. Parrow provided pho- tos that showed as much as 12”-15” of standing water. Council later dis- cussed the issue in more detail. Vernonia City Council Meetings City Council Meetings are scheduled for 7:00 pm: Monday, March 4, 2019 Monday, March 18, 2019 Dates and times subject to change NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Consideration of a Type III Review For Variance Request When: You are invited to attend and comment at the Planning Commission public hearing on Thursday March 7, 2019 at 7:00 pm. Where: Council Chamber, City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 Why: To consider a request by Terry Goodrich proposing a variance (File #VAR 19- 01) to allow access to 2 landlocked properties as required by Code Section 9-01.04-20. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Vernonia Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing regarding File # VAR 19-01. A copy of the request is available for inspection at Vernonia City Hall located at 1001 Bridge Street, and may be copied for a nominal fee. The Public Hearing is governed by the Vernonia Title 9 Land Development and Zoning Code Sections: • Section 9.01.10-40 Type III Procedures • Section 9.01.08 Variances 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 state Land Use Board of Appeals based on that issue. Public testimony is welcome, and written statements will also be received before the hearing. The Public Notice will be onsite at City Hall, Vernonia Library, and on www.vernonia- or.gov Notice to mortgagee, lien holder, vendor, or seller: The City of Vernonia Title 9 requires that if you receive this notice it shall be promptly forwarded to the purchaser. 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 public hearing to Nicolas Welch at 503-429-5291, 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.