city news
june6
2019
5
Vernonia City News...
At the May 20, 2019 City Council
Meeting:
includes required liability insurance by
the lessee of $1 million.
Council Approves Water Curtailment
Ordinance – After some confusion,
Council voted 4-1 to approve Ordinance
921, which revised and streamlined the
current ordinance for water curtailment
measures. The updates included bulk
water curtailment at level 4 and sets a
timeline for changing the level of curtail-
ment. Prior to the final vote Councilor
Bruce McNair made a motion to repeal
the current Ordinance, which effectively
ended any water curtailment options by
the City. Council voted to approve the
motion 3-2, with Mayor Hobart, and
Councilors McNair and J.R. Allen vot-
ing in favor. Following the vote, Mayor
Hobart recessed the meeting. Follow-
ing the return to the meeting Councilor
McNair said he doesn’t agree in prin-
ciple with water curtailment measures
and Mayor Hobart said he was confused
about what he voted on. Council then
voted to reconsider McNair’s motion
which failed by a 2-3 vote with Council-
ors Dale Webb, Susan Wagner, and Ho-
bart voting against it. Council then voted
to approve the first reading of Ordinance
921 by a 4-1 vote, with Councilor Allen
voting against it, and Councilor McNair
saying he was voting yes with protest.
Council Approves Traffic Restriction
Plan in Spencer Park – Based on a
recommendation from the Parks Com-
mittee, Council unanimously approved
a plan to restrict vehicle traffic flow in
Spencer Park. The Parks Committee
expressed concern about damage to the
park, as well as safety to park users. The
plan calls for the installation of a gate
and bollards which would restrict traffic
on the track, and provide four parking
spaces for unloading and handicapped
access. Council approved spending up to
$800 to implement the plan.
Council Approves Funds for Play
Structure – Council voted 4-1 to ap-
prove Resolution 6-19, for the re-ap-
propriation of Parks Funds, transferring
$10,000 from a reserve fund to opera-
tional materials for the purchase of a
new play structure for Anderson Park.
Councilor Webb voted against it.
Council Approves Funds for Cem-
etery House Work – Council voted
unanimously to approve Resolution
7-19, transferring $4,800 from contin-
gency to contract services. The City
received a bid from Robert Watts Con-
struction for grading, concrete removal,
and gravel at the house next to the Me-
morial Cemetery the City owns and is
planning to sell.
City Moves Forward with Sale of
Cemetery House – Following a Public
Hearing at which there was no public
testimony, the Council voted unani-
mously to proceed with the process to
list and sell the house the City owns next
to the Memorial Cemetery. Council au-
thorized staff to spend up to $600 to ad-
vertise the listing. The City will list the
property with a minimum acceptable of-
fer of $95,000.
Council Approves Hanger Lease –
Council voted unanimously to approve a
revised lease agreement for City owned
hangers at the Vernonia Airport, which
The Vernonia Transfer
Station is scheduled
to be open on the
2 nd and 4 th Saturday
January - October
June 8 & 22
July 13 & 27
Dates and times are subject
to change due to weather
Council Approves Vacation of Alley
– Following a Public Hearing at which
there was no public testimony, Council
unanimously approved a request to va-
cate a portion of the alley between State
Avenue and the unbuilt East Avenue,
J Street, and I Street. The request for
vacation was made by Jake and Kathy
Wolfe because a house was unintention-
ally built in the alley right-of-way and
the owners intend to sell the property.
City Administrator Report – City Ad-
ministrator Josette Mitchell told Council
she had met with Five Star Construction,
who submitted the low bid to build the
new Senior Center/Vernonia Cares facil-
ity, in order to find cost savings in the
project. Mitchell told the Council there
is still a gap between funding and the
cost, which she believes can be filled
with foundation grants.
Mitchell told the Council the
opening of the Archie Dass Dog Park on
May 18 was a success, and said the City
still needs to finalize the gravel parking
area and install garbage cans.
Mitchell told the Council she is
continuing to work with the Vernonia
High School Project Based Learning
class to install an informational sign at
Spencer Park that would be used by the
City, School District, and Fire District.
Mayor Proclaims EMS Week – Mayor
Rick Hobart read a proclamation declar-
ing May 19-25, 2019 as EMS Week.
Mayor Names Smith Citizen of the
Month – Mayor Rick Hobart named
Trish Smith, a Metro West employee,
volunteer with the Vernonia Ambulance
Association, and volunteer with the Ver-
nonia Rural Fire Protection District, as
the May Citizen of the Year.
Topics From the Floor – Brady Rom-
tvedt asked the Council to replace the
play structure at Anderson Park.
At the June 3, 2019 City Council
Meeting:
Council Sets Camping Fees – After
Vernonia City
Council Meetings
and Closures
City Council Meetings
are scheduled for 7:00 pm:
Monday, June 17, 2019
Monday, July 1, 2019
City Closures are scheduled for:
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Independence Day Holiday
Dates and times subject to change
discussing the issue with members of
the Jamboree Committee who were
in attendance, Council voted 5-0 to
approve a flat rate of $100 per team, or
$1,600, for the softball tournament to
use Spencer Park for camping during
Jamboree. The softball tournament will
also pay a $450 facilities fee to the City
for use of the ball fields.
Council Approves Second Reading
of Water Curtailment Ordinance –
Council approved the second reading of
Ordinance 921 by a 3-2 vote, revising
water curtailment measures in the event
of water shortage emergencies. Coun-
cilors Bruce McNair and J.R. Allen vot-
ed against the Ordinance.
Council Approves Plan for Bench,
Cover at Spencer Park – Council ap-
proved a plan presented by Rick Ho-
bart, to construct a bench and a 10’ x 24’
shelter in Spencer Park at the site of the
Washington Grade School Monument.
Hobart, the current Mayor, declared a
conflict of interest, and did not partici-
pate in the discussion, which he turned
over to Council President Bruce McNair,
except to answer questions about the
project. Hobart is using lumber recov-
ered from the Washington Grade School
deconstruction to build the bench and
shelter, and said he expects it to be com-
plete by fall 2019.
Mayor Appoints Wheelock to Parks
Committee – Based on a recommenda-
tion from the Parks Committee, Mayor
Rick Hobart appointed Jason Wheelock
to the Parks Committee.
City Administrator Report – City
Administrator Josette Mitchell told the
Council she is still working with the
contractor for the Senior Center/Food
Bank regarding cost reductions, and is
looking for foundation grants to make
up the funding gap.
Mitchell said new playground
equipment has been ordered for Ander-
son Park, and said when installed, the
play area will be moved inside the camp-
ing loop near the covered picnic area.
She said the goal is to have it installed
by July 4.
Mitchell said the Intercultural
Society of Vernonia is planning a free
family event at the Greenman Grand-
stands for 4 th of July.
Mitchell informed the Council
that production crews for the upcoming
Disney movie The Water Man would
be filming around Vernonia during the
week of June 3. The film is about a boy
who sets out on a quest to save his ill
mother by searching for a mythic figure
said to have magical healing powers.
The film is directed by David Oyelowo
and stars Rosario Dawson, Maria Bello,
and Alfred Molina.
Council
Schedules
Communica-
tion Workshop – Council scheduled a
follow-up workshop for Monday, July
7 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm to discuss com-
munication within the Council and with
staff.
Mayor’s Report – Mayor Rick Hobart
thanked everyone for their help in host-
ing the Memorial Day Ceremony at the
Memorial Cemetery.
Topics From the Floor – Ernie Smith
told the Council that the Jamboree soft-
ball tournament brings as many as 500-
1,000 people to Vernonia, which benefits
the Jamboree as an event, helps the ven-
dors, and increases traffic in businesses.
He encouraged the Council to work with
Jamboree and the softball tournament to
set reasonable camping fees at Spencer
Park.
Vernonia’s Voice is published on
the 1 st and 3 rd Thursday. Look for
our next issue on June 20.
Vernonia Police Blotter
May 13-31, 2019
Reports Taken/Arrests
• May 15, 2019 Report of Vehicle
Impoundment near River Street
• May 16, 2019 Report of Found Property
• May 19, 2019 Report of Outside Agency
Assist
• May 20, 2019 Report of Vehicle
Impoundment near Nehalem HWY South
• May 26, 2019 Report of Reckless Driving
near Nehalem HWY South
• May 28, 2019 Report of Criminal Mischief
near 1st Avenue
• May 30, 2019 Arrest on a Warrant near
East Bridge Street
• May 30, 2019 Report of Unlawful Use of a
Motor Vehicle and Theft II near East Bridge
Street
Citations/Other
• May 13, 2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended near Washington Avenue
• May 15, 2019 Cited for No Insurance near
Nehalem HWY South
• May 18, 2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended near Bridge Street
• May 19, 2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended and Violation of the Basic Rule
72/55 mph near Nehalem HWY South
• May 19, 2019 Cited for Driving Uninsured
near State Avenue
• May 19, 2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended and Driving Uninsured near
Cougar Street
• May 21, 2019 Cited for Failure to Carry
Proof of Insurance and Violation of the
Basic Rule 70/55 mph near Nehalem HWY
South
• May 21, 2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended and Failure to Carry Proof of
Insurance near Nehalem HWY South
• May 22, 2019 Cited for Driving Outside of
Restrictions near East Bridge Street
• May 22, 2019 Cited for Failure to
Display Plate and Failure to Carry Proof of
Insurance near Weed Avenue
• May 26, 2019 Cited for Ordinance
Violations near 1st Avenue
• May 27, 2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended near Timber Road
• May 27, 2019 Cited for Failure to Carry
Proof of Insurance near Lone Pine Road
• May 27, 2019 Cited for Driving Uninsured
and Violation of the Basic Rule 73/55 mph
near Nehalem HWY South
• May 28, /2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended near Riverside Drive
• May 30, 2019 Cited for Driving While
Suspended and No Insurance near Grant
Avenue
Vernonia Police Department responds
to calls that do not always end in Arrest,
Report, or Citation. 5/13/2019 through
05/31/2019 VPD had 308 calls for service.