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.