YOUR GOVERNMENT: Salem City Council to vote on extending state of emergency for homeless services
The Salem City Council meets Monday to vote on extending the state of emergency for homeless services and visit several land use issues.
In a special order of business, the council will vote on adopting the declaration of emergency relating to unsheltered residents to Dec. 31, 2023.
The declaration, which was first adopted in January 2020, would continue the vehicle camping pilot program and the suspension of certain city laws to permit micro shelter villages, warming centers and emergency shelters.
The council will consider a supplemental staff report on a petition to privatize a public right-of-way for a Hyundai Dealership to use for parking and vehicle storage.
DEW Investments submitted a petition to vacate the 6,858 square foot passage, located at Southeast Cross Street west of Southeast 20th Street, according to a Nov. 14 staff report. They seek to get rid of multiple gates, crossing and fencing along the property.
The staff report recommends that the city council deny the petition based on existing policies, and goals to improve public transportation accessibility.
Approval would, they recommend, require determining that the right-of-way is not needed for future public traffic, bike or pedestrian use. The staff report says that the area could potentially be used for pedestrian crossing in an area with limited options.
The council will also hear information about a proposed 6-lot subdivision at 4120 Kurth St. S. and a 129-unit multi family residential development at 5205 Battle Creek Rd. S.E.
They will also have their first reading on an ordinance to approve a 2-acre annexation at 3821 Ibex Street N.E. for future expansion of Fisher Road Park. They will also read an ordinance for the annexation of a 0.83 acre territory on 3880 Mahrt Avenue S.E., to change to commercial zoning.
The council will have its second reading on an ordinance to annex a 1.95 acre area at 5536 Skyline Rd. S. for multi-family residential zoning.
To participate: The meeting will be held virtually at 6 p.m., and will be streamed live on Capital Community Media’s YouTube Channel. It is also available to Comcast Cable subscribers on CC: Media Channel 21.
Public comments are due by 5 p.m. Monday, to [email protected]. To provide public comment and testimony during the meeting via zoom, pre-register before 2 p.m. here.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
