Citizens For Florence announced it has received the 2001 Circuit Rider Grant from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (OLCV-EF).  The grant is awarded to nonprofit organizations to help them expand their grassroots organizing skills and increase participation of the community in environmental issues.  The “Circuit Rider”, or mentor, will be providing training to CFF volunteers beginning in April, and continuing until September.  CFF was one of only four organizations statewide to receive the grant this year.

“We’re really honored that a statewide organization such as OLCV recognizes our efforts to improve our community, and is willing to give us a hand,” said Zane Ziemer, president of Citizens For Florence.

According to their web site, the OLCV-EF  is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to providing education and training to increase the effective participation of environmentalists in the political arena and to educate legislators, the media and the public about environmental issues.   “OLCV-EF has initiated a number of programs including the Oregon Conservation Network, a coalition of organizations across Oregon that monitors the State Legislature’s activities as they relate to the environment. We also produce the annual Environmental Handbook , an overview of environmental issues in Oregon, for the Oregon Legislature, candidates for public office, and citizens,” said Caroline Fitchett, of OLCV.

The OLCV’s web site is www.olcv.org and the Citizens For Florence web site is
www.citizensforflorence.com

Media Contact: Caroline Fitchett, 503-965-5131; Zane Ziemer, 541-997-9095.

1000 Friends of Oregon and Citizens For Florence will file a legal challenge to an ordinance adopted by the City of Florence to implement Measure 7.  1000 Friends of Oregon is the largest land use watchdog group in Oregon.  Citizens For Florence is a local, grassroots organization founded in 1997 to protect the livability of Florence.  The two groups contend the city’s newly adopted ordinance authorizes development which is  prohibited by local zoning and state land use laws.  Florence is not alone in this type of challenge.  Dozens of city councils and county commissions around Oregon have adopted similar ordinances establishing procedures for the processing of payment claims under Measure 7.

According to Robert Liberty, executive director of 1000 Friends, "Many of these ordinances purport to allow local governments to 'waive' (i.e., not enforce or apply) any regulations that might give rise to Measure 7 claims.  Nothing in Measure 7 gives cities and counties the power to override or waive the state land use planning laws that protect farmland, forest lands, and coastal resources; curb urban sprawl; and require planning and zoning for affordable housing and economic development."

"We understand the difficult position local governments have been put in by the passage of Measure 7, but we cannot sit on the sidelines and allow the laws that have made our state a great place to live to be gutted," said Liberty.

“We’re appealing the Florence ordinance at this time because state law requires appeals to be filed within 21 days after a land use decision becomes final, or the decision is forever insulated from appeal,” said Zane Ziemer, president of Citizens For Florence.  Other cities whose ordinances have been appealed include:  Baker City, Beaverton, Central Point, Cornelius, Cottage Grove, Dundee, Eugene, Garibaldi, Hood River, Independence, Keizer, Lake Oswego, Lebanon, Lincoln City, McMinnville, Milton-Freewater, Newport, Philomath, Scappoose, Seaside, Turner, West Linn, and Wilsonville.

According to Liberty, the City of Florence can avoid litigation by repealing the waiver provisions of their "Measure 7" ordinance.  Other cities and counties that have repealed or modified their ordinances in this fashion include Jackson County, Hood River County, Brookings, Columbia City, Creswell, Dallas, Detroit, Falls City, Idanha, Stayton, and Vernonia.