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Kiwanis urges support for Columbia Pacific Food Bank; Chamber raises safety concerns around historic train-station site
Summary
During public comment the Kiwanis Club asked the city to consider financial support for the Columbia Pacific Food Bank, and the South Columbia Chamber’s executive director raised safety and property concerns around the historic train-station building and requested city guidance.
During the visitor-comment period, Dr. Margaret Trinchard Smith, identified herself as president of the St. Helens Noontime Kiwanis Club and thanked the city for parade support while urging broader financial support for the Columbia Pacific Food Bank.
"This year's parade theme is 'Show Off Your Wheels.' It should be a ton of fun," Smith said, and she asked council to consider the Kiwanis letter proposing significant financial support to the food bank. Smith warned that federal funding and USDA food deliveries expected in Oregon have been withdrawn, increasing demand at local food banks.
A second public commenter, introduced as the new executive director of the South Columbia Chamber of Commerce (name not specified on the record), said unsheltered individuals around the historical train-station property — leased from ODOT Rail — are creating safety and tenant concerns. She described trash, loitering, smoking and occasional small fires around cars and said she had filed repeated nonemergency reports. The commenter asked the city for guidance on legal options for signage (no loitering/no smoking) and prosecution and requested additional police patrols; she said the Chamber and its tenant SAFE (a nonprofit serving abused women and children) are prepared to install cameras but asked how evidence would be handled and whether signage with an enforceable penal code could be provided.
Why it matters: Kiwanis’ food‑bank request highlights increasing local demand for food assistance; the chamber’s complaint raises safety and property‑use questions that affect downtown businesses, historical property stewardship and public-safety resource allocation.
Next steps: staff recorded the public comments and said they would follow up with the speakers; council and staff indicated they would consider the Kiwanis proposal and provide guidance to the Chamber about enforcement options and available city resources.
