[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6168234,"mediaKeyId","5408395-5e6f0b8b00584c399d64fbf4ff9524d2","parentId",5408395,"title","Residents raise safety, liability and contractor concerns over riverfront events and city boat","audioSeconds",275,"startMs",234000,"endMs",509000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408395-5e6f0b8b00584c399d64fbf4ff9524d2&start=234&end=509","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408395-5e6f0b8b00584c399d64fbf4ff9524d2/thumbnail_234000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6168234/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/Residents-raise-safety-liability-and-contractor-concerns-over-riverfront-events-and-city-boat","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168234-648032fb41449465605c0e4ead0c58d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770512020&Signature=hYHNTT2NKjizwRTBDrnbc-KqLKDCP9x9bNahPM5nVk2R2CKe-jTb8OmNx1VzpMmLi50GmQ6-5xIwwcvIRRRlQT6Naak2BcE7TK8s2IfKVbsbMm4oyTK4twSQZ5CPBJ7GAp5Tkg6BPztISxzIRmofCcr7zhcp3G6N13Xwxk3gWXYQMbQOKAquWpQhAXGpz83u6yxTPse4LxYIxDqvCnp5wZaK~A~kk6FDeilKa~VRyk1YtRUoxs-h20F2~r~8llR~jtPGin~7gqLbcO1pB2G6VhClHM0Na3dkrzp5HaKCTCW23N9Vn09B7Moon-ofTn6Yv41FCiBgiaxrL-7xOuVCsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of St. Helens, OR","date","2025-07-17T01:57:52Z","article","Several St. Helens residents used the July 16 public-comment period to raise safety and liability concerns about recent riverfront events and a city-owned boat, and to criticize the tourism contractor the city is using for events.

Joel Warner told the council he attended the 13 Nights festival and said the dance surface used previously had been removed and replaced by a sidewalk cutting through the dancing area. Warner said the change led to injuries and called the condition a liability: “They took the dance floor out, and they put a sidewalk right right in right in the middle of the dance floor,” and he reported seeing people roll ankles and one person break an arm.

Jim Coleman urged the council to sell the citys boat, arguing the vessels design and use do not match city needs. Coleman said the city paid “200 plus thousand dollars” for the boat and advised, “I suggest you sell this boat.” He warned of liability if the boat is used to carry passengers to a sand island and noted that city-owned parks and the Oregon Marine Board provide insurance coverage for those areas.

Other public commenters criticized the contractor Treadway. A speaker who identified as Bridal said the contractor was the problem behind several event issues, including fireworks and the dance-floor installation, and accused the contractor of poor performance.

Additional public concerns raised during the comment period included a reported fire on a barge during the Fourth of July celebration and a FOIA request submitted by resident Nicholas Helmick seeking communications involving council members and city staff. Shauna Harrison and other residents also spoke about water and sewer service fees, worried about higher bills and the fairness of charging sewer fees for outdoor watering.

Why it matters: public commenters described both acute safety incidents at city events and longer-term financial and contractual concerns. Council members were put on notice about potential liability and public dissatisfaction with event management, and residents asked for follow-up information and document review.

Council response and next steps: the speakers asked the council to investigate the dance-floor removal, the barge fire extinguisher claim, and the citys use of the boat and contractor arrangements. No formal council action was recorded on these specific complaints at the July 16 meeting; public-comment items were referred to staff follow-up.

Ending: Residents asked for clearer oversight of event contractors, more public information about the barge incident, and consideration of selling the boat rather than continuing operations that some described as risky.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","071625 City Council Regular Session","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters at the July 16 council meeting reported injuries from a replaced dance floor at a riverfront event, urged the city to sell a problematic boat, and criticized the citys contractor performance and public-safety planning.","taxTitle","St. Helens, Columbia County, Oregon","taxId",52788,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6168238,"St. Helens council directs staff to draft ballot measure requiring voter approval for new nonutility fees",94,2078000,2172000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408395-5e6f0b8b00584c399d64fbf4ff9524d2&start=2078&end=2172","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408395-5e6f0b8b00584c399d64fbf4ff9524d2/thumbnail_2078000.jpg","/articles/6168238/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/St-Helens-council-directs-staff-to-draft-ballot-measure-requiring-voter-approval-for-new-nonutility-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168238-74b3cee66606a75a87c4b2af3d2bdd97/orig.mp4?Expires=1770512020&Signature=YvGYOJ-veXMqV0uEi-o13z2c52JaHAE9x3o7ltnGX5~dk7ASx5lOAc-CKWLvLJbiHB5E0x7gpANk072ysBNDFntjbsb4SNxmuviAD2LdJCv1ycudz9oEbJ19lNXnvDMZtNzS~GrdQQH5qxKAW4VMoG57Z4sevReFOh~qjGEAt-scm5a0lcPu--f5zmtK3n~YKOYLjV2u-zCaBKVlRrv8Qz2umxLipboBPvLF5~dh8zoT8xIYcezfa8~6CR942Ik8qcRmjSsA7OTyHtbWOcXQD~lePN5HbQsBAvQetvhyvhf2dQaFe~fnP~bUxzdxQF35U3RSTb3POYdDOdGXEOcbCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Helens City Council on July 16 directed staff to draft a ballot referral that would amend the city charter to require voter approval for any new fees placed on utility bills that are unrelated to utility service.

The motion, which passed unanimously, asked staff and council to prepare referral language for council review and to return it for further discussion before a final action to place the measure on the ballot.

Why it matters: supporters said the change would protect voters from what they described as fee increases made without direct voter input and would add transparency to how the city attaches nonutility charges to utility bills.

What the council voted to do: Councilor Gunderson moved to “direct staff and council to draft a referral measure for the ballot that abends the city charter by requiring voter approval of any new fees on the utility bills that are unrelated to the utility service and to bring that referral measure text to the city council for further review and discussion.” The motion was seconded and passed; recorded votes were Councilor Sandeep — aye; Councilor Hubbard — aye; Councilor Gunderson — aye; Mayor Jennifer Massey — aye.

Discussion and context: during the work-session item and later discussion, councilors and residents asked that any referral include a sunset or paydown clause so that fees tied to loan payments would expire once the loan was repaid. Councilor Sandeep asked for a sunset provision; council members said they had discussed language that would include the original purpose, initial amounts, and an expiration after obligations were met.

Public comment and background: multiple residents, including Nick Florey and Adam Schape, urged that voters be given a direct choice on fee increases and recommended a temporary freeze on new fees until a council-approved reserve target is met.

Ending: Staff will draft proposed ballot language for council review; the council did not set a final election date during the July 16 meeting.","Council voted to send language to staff for a ballot referral that would amend the city charter to require voter approval before the council adds new fees to utility bills that are unrelated to utility service.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6168243,"St. Helens council adopts universal fee schedule, delays erosion-control fee",332,1401000,1733000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408395-5e6f0b8b00584c399d64fbf4ff9524d2&start=1401&end=1733","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408395-5e6f0b8b00584c399d64fbf4ff9524d2/thumbnail_1401000.jpg","/articles/6168243/St-Helens/Columbia-County/Oregon/St-Helens-council-adopts-universal-fee-schedule-delays-erosion-control-fee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168243-1ee505d0d4b0ef0fc853d5d4a4ae8fc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770512020&Signature=Jwyh6azglqVaIJeNgmfcSGS86wuAm6-W4PGuLzCXRibFtBpK-OifeSmsJSKMwwB-Q4hBioRioe0CaXfHxXG8SMTS5laGlRHvXBgUpnc~By-u-rHeSRk21bdDZHKCnqZCskvc1BTAxBCddEeVTy19ts-g9gQJAKTrUEHA9XirG4DjYOnbUXY40suoDFR7s5VCb8p5I-qmFbid0n7JjQfgjVrJwLdXbk7QmIiuSnIz~NNnb5ld5~2sj7z29RmfzossHDbKtm5J14nuPJ178mldf47joQZULGdRKUUCYtcYkokqYbRADhLoivZUsQw3vSXhLaQ1E9R8KsL4aC~-ay2u9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Helens City Council on July 16 approved Resolution 2048 to adopt a universal city fee schedule, but removed items related to erosion-control fees for later consideration.

Councilors voted to adopt the new fee schedule after discussion and public comment about proposed new and increased fees. The council approved the resolution with the explicit exclusion of erosion-control items so staff can return with additional information.

Why it matters: the universal fee schedule collects many city service charges in one document and includes fees residents said can affect utilities and household budgets. Several speakers during public comment urged limiting new fees or sending any new fees to voters. Council discussion also referenced the committee review process and the need for a clearer plan before approving erosion-related charges.

Council action and votes: the council moved to approve Resolution 2048 with erosion-control items excluded and the motion passed. The roll call as recorded: Councilor Sandeep — aye; Councilor Hubbard — no; Councilor Gunderson — aye; Mayor Jennifer Massey — aye.

What council members said: during discussion Councilor Lisonbee said she would “be okay with pulling out the erosion for now until we've had more time to discuss it and take a look at it.” Members noted that many fees on the schedule are ordinary permit or service fees, but that the erosion item was new and merited further review.

Public comment: residents repeatedly urged restraint on adding fees and recommended using budget cuts or reserves instead. Nick Florey said, “I think adding limitations to that. Once the loan is paid, when does that drop off?” Adam Schape urged a spending freeze, saying, “Let's freeze all the fees so everybody can afford it.”

Next steps: staff will return to council with the erosion-control fee item for separate discussion and vote. The adopted universal fee schedule replaces the prior schedule referenced in Resolution 2004.

Ending: The council’s vote finalizes the bulk of the updated fee schedule while delaying the new erosion-control charge pending more analysis and public input.","The City Council approved Resolution 2048 adopting a universal fee schedule but removed proposed erosion-control fees for separate review after public and council concerns about new utility-related charges.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents raise safety, liability and contractor concerns over riverfront events and city boat

St. Helens council directs staff to draft ballot measure requiring voter approval for new nonutility fees

St. Helens council adopts universal fee schedule, delays erosion-control fee