Applications Sought for Rainier Senior and Multigenerational Housing Committee

Housing
Committee

Applications are currently being sought for the City of Rainier's new Senior and Multigenerational Housing Committee.

The committee will serve as a subcommittee of the Rainier Planning Commission, and will be tasked with the following:

• Examining the possible rezoning of some properties to encourage more housing development;
• Developing a possible text amendment for the Central Business District code to allow for more flexibility; and
• Examine properties that could be added to the city's Urban Growth Boundary to facilitate more housing development.

The committee will consist of representatives of the city council and planning commission and interested citizens. It is expected to meet at least 10 times per year and will make recommendations to the Planning Commission about ways to expand the availability of senior and multigenerational housing within the City of Rainier.

Members will be appointed by the City Council at its September 12 meeting. The committee is expected to have its first meeting in late September or early October.

Anyone interested in applying can download an application from the city's website or at city hall at 106 West "B" Street. They can be submitted via email to sjorgensen@cityofrainier.com.

Applications will be accepted until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6.

City Hires Allen Snider as new Librarian

The City of Rainier is pleased to announce that R. Allen Snider of Mirrored Lamp LLC has been hired as its new librarian.

Snider grew up in the Portland area, where his passion for reading and books first started. He remembers the excitement of the Scholastic Book Fairs at his school and used those to help build his personal library. That collection is now up to 1200 volumes and books still sit on a bookshelf that was made by his grandfather.

Snider graduated from Milwaukie High School, with honors, in 2004. He attended Portland State University and studied areas such as philosophy, linguistics and English and also worked in the school bookstore.

From there, he went to the University of Washington and earned a bachelor's degree with honors in 2013, with an emphasis on Latin and Greek. While at UW he also worked as a language learning lab assistant.

In 2015, Snider did master's work at the University of Georgia, where he studied Latin and Greek. He also taught Latin and Writing for UGA's Franklin College.

Snider returned to the Pacific Northwest and the University of Washington and completed a master's capstone in information management in 2017.

His library experience began many years ago when he was a circulation and reference volunteer at the Multnomah County Library's Woodstock branch, where he processed returns and retrieved holds.

Snider first started as a substitute librarian with the Rainier School District earlier this year and spent the past few months transitioning into his new role.

"The City is happy to have someone with Allen's experience and education working in the library," City Administrator W. Scott Jorgensen said. "He brings a level of expertise and customer service that continues to serve the library's patrons well."

Lewis and Clark Bridge Joint Replacement Project

Sign up for project updates by email here:
bit.ly/lewisandclarkbridgeupdates

City Ordinance 1086 & 1087

In recent months, the Rainier City Council has passed two ordinances in response to citizen complaints about ongoing code violations within city limits. Both are now officially in effect.

Ordinance 1086 was passed unanimously by council at its May 2 meeting. It adopts the codification of the city's municipal code enforcement procedures and was based on a similar ordinance used by the City of St. Helens.

The ordinance establishes procedures for the issuance of warnings, citations and the filing of liens against the properties of persons found to be in violation. It establishes penalties of between $150 and $500, with every day of a violation considered a separate offense. The minimum penalty or fine for a third or any subsequent violation is $1,000.

At its June 6 meeting, council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 1087. Passage of that ordinance had been recommended by the Planning Commission at its March 23 meeting.

Ordinance 1087 was based on ordinances from multiple other jurisdictions, including Longview, Washington and Aurora and St. Helens, Oregon. It seeks to limit the use of RVs and other nonpermanent structures for permanent human habitation, as such use is detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the persons residing in them and the public at large. Ordinance 1087 also regulates on-street parking of RVs within city limits.

However, it still allows for the safe, comfortable and sanitary use of RVs for short-term and temporary habitation.

Under Ordinance 1087, RVs are not allowed to be parked on city streets for more than 30 minutes between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. They may be parked in front of the property longer than that if they're owned by the resident or a guest, but not for longer than 14 days per calendar year. The RVs also must not interfere with traffic or create a hazard by obstructing drivers' views. Porches and awnings and related structural projections may not be constructed adjacent to or attached to an RV.

RVs are required to be mobile and operable on inflated wheels and licensed with the Department of Motor Vehicles. They are not allowed to be lived in unless specifically approved by the city. But a private residentially zoned property is permitted to use an RV to house guests no more than 14 days in a calendar year. RVs may also be brought to a lot by a guest for no more than 14 days per calendar year.

Temporary siting and occupancy of an RV may be allowed at the discretion of city staff and must comply with code, with lawful connection to city water and sewer approved by the public works director. A denial may be appealed to council.

The minimum penalty for violation of Ordinance 1087 is $250 per violation, with each day of offense counting as a separate violation. A third or subsequent violation is a minimum of a $1,000 fine.

Rainier Welcomes New Officer

Phillip George, 31, will be sworn in as the newest Rainier Police Department officer at the city council's June 27 meeting.

George joins the department after a year-long recruitment process. He grew up in Rainier and attended high school locally before graduating from Newberg High School in 2009.

From there, George joined the U.S. Army and conducted two tours of duty in Afghanistan as a medic with the airborne infantry.

He concluded his military service in 2016. His post-military career included stints doing armed security at Boeing's Seattle facility, as a wildlands firefighter in Kalama and with the Transportation Security Administration at Portland International Airport. Most recently, George worked as a metal trade journeyman with the Pipefitters Local 290.

George has deep roots in the community. His great grandfather was a doctor in Clatskanie, and his father, Russ, served as an officer with the Rainier Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies.

"The thing I'm most excited about is continuing my father's legacy," George said. "I know the community and I understand its people and its history."

City Administrator W. Scott Jorgensen said the city plans to send George to the police academy from October to February.

"We're happy to have Officer George joining our police department," Jorgensen said. "His lifelong familiarity with Rainier will serve its residents well for years to come."

Applications Sought for Rainier Library Board

Library Board

Applications are currently being sought to fill a vacancy on the Rainier Library Board.

The board consists of five members and one alternative who are nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. It is expected to meet at least 10 times per year and is charged with making recommendations to the council about rules and policies for the efficient, effective operations of the library, its services and program.

Anyone interested in applying can download an application from the city's website Board and Commission Application (pdf) or at Rainier City Hall 106 West "B" Street. Applications can be submitted via email to sjorgensen@cityofrainier.com

Board member terms are for four years. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

For more information on the board, follow this link.

Rainier Planning Commission Vacancy

Planning
Commission

The Rainier City Council is currently accepting applications for the Rainier Planning Commission (volunteer position). The Planning Commission advises the Mayor and City Council on planning, zoning, land use and development matters. Applications are available at City Hall, 106 West "B" Street, Rainier, Oregon 97048 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by calling 503-556-7301.

Commissioners are expected to attend one regular meeting per month. Other meetings may also be scheduled, as needed.

The position is vacant until filled and will be appointed by the City Council at an upcoming meeting.

Rainier Mayor, Council Candidate Filings Open June 1 for November Election

Wednesday, June 1 is the first day that incumbents and other interested parties can file for local office in order to run for positions in the November 8 general election.

The Rainier City Council will have four positions on the November ballot, along with the mayor's position. Council positions 1, 3,4 and 5 are for four-year terms that begin January 2023 and expire January 2027. The mayor's position is a two-year term that begins January 2023 and expires January 2025.

Any candidate must be a qualified elector with 12 months of residency within Rainier city limits prior to the general election.

In order to file, you must pick up SEL 101, 121 and 338 forms at city hall, fill them out and return them to the City Administrator. Once the administrator verifies that residency requirements are met and assigns a petition number, candidates will then be allowed to collect signatures to qualify for the ballot. The city municipal code requires 25 valid signatures from registered voters from within Rainier city limits. Candidates are advised to collect more signatures than are required in order to meet the qualifications.

Under the Rainier Municipal Code, the petition shall be filed with the Administrator not more than 100 days nor less than 62 days before the day of the election.

The deadline to file for any of these positions is August 30. Candidates wishing to file a statement for inclusion in the voter pamphlet must do so by September 1. Those statements are done through the Columbia County Clerk's office.

For more information, call city hall at 503-556-7301 or email sjorgensen@cityofrainier.com.

RAINIER MAYOR'S TASKFORCE FOR COVID VACCINATIONS Mar 17, 2021

Have you tried finding a Covid Vaccination but are having a hard time figuring it out?

Please call City Hall between the hours of 09:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday and leave your contact information with staff. A local dedicated volunteer on the Taskforce will help you schedule a vaccination.

Please note we do not give the vaccination.
We will do our best to help you find one.