The Salem City Council is scheduled to meet on Monday, Feb. 13, to set its course for the year, consider raises for police employees and vote on whether to reallocate $1.1 million in federal housing funding.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m., and will be both in-person at the council chambers and available to watch online.
To comment remotely, sign up on the city website between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday. The meeting will be livestreamed on the City of Salem YouTube channel, with translation to Spanish and American Sign Language available.
For written comments, email [email protected] before 5 p.m. on Monday, or on paper to the City Recorder’s office at the Civic Center, 555 Liberty St SE, Room 225. Include a statement indicating the comment is for the public record.
READ IT: AGENDA
2023 Policy Agenda
The council will consider its 2023 policy agenda, which lists its priorities for the year. The plan was developed during the fall, partly with feedback from the community satisfaction survey.
Its top priority is responding to the sheltering crisis, followed by planning, community engagement and sustaining infrastructure and services.
The agenda lists several policies to address homelessness, including garbage collection and working with local nonprofits and Salem Livability Services to connect people with services and transitional housing.
If the council approves the year’s plan as expected, it hopes to complete construction of the Sequoia Crossings and Yaquina Hall, which would provide an additional 112 units of permanent supportive housing operated by the Salem Housing Authority.
The 2023 policy agenda also includes investing in the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance to improve regional capacity. The group coordinates homeless services and housing opportunities in the region, and is among those that conducts the annual Point-In-Time Count for the region.
The “Planning for Our Future” segment has a particular focus on the Transportation System Plan. The plan includes improving streets, biking and pedestrian options throughout the city, and will require “substantive community outreach” this year.
It also includes the launch of an evaluation of the river and creeks, part of a larger plan to improve riparian areas in the city. The city also lists its climate action plan as a priority.
The city also wants to lower traffic speeds in neighborhoods with more speed bumps, lower limits and add more stop signs.
Under community engagement, the city is looking to open a customer service center at the civic center and public works shops complex, and introduce an engagement and communications plan to improve participation from residents and expand neighborhood associations.
The city has until the summer to balance its budget, with several funds – including the general fund – set to run out of reserves by 2028 if no changes are made.
Police Department raises
The council will consider a 3% raise for all sworn police employees ranks, including police officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and deputy police chief, retroactive to Jan. 1.
The move aims to address hiring and retention, according to a staff report.
There were 22 vacancies in sworn positions within the department as of Jan. 4, which has led to coverage issues and increased overtime, according to the report. There is a staff turnover rate of 11% from agency transfers, retirement or separation.
Salem police officers make between $32.46 and $42.60 per hour, according to the city website. The staff report says that current pay is 7% below market rate, and the city aims to be within 5% of comparable cities.
If approved, the staff report forecasts a cost for police raises of $389,309 for the current budget year, to be covered from savings from unfilled jobs.
If approved, executive assistants and recreational seasonal jobs would also see an increase effective Feb. 13.
Executive assistant pay is currently more than 10% behind the market with a proposed raise of $4,472 to $6,009 per month in pay grade B05, and from $4,915 to $6,609 in pay grade B08.
Seasonal recreational jobs include program aides, who would see a $1 hourly raise to $14.50. Recreation coordinators in the higher pay range would see an increase from $18 to $22.97 per hour.
Federal housing funding reallocation
The council will conduct a public hearing and vote on shifting $1.1 million of federal HOME Investment Partnership Funds from the canceled Applegate Terrace Housing project to two other projects now underway.
The Applegate project was intended to add 48 units of affordable housing for veterans, with support from multiple sources. The city didn’t receive the necessary state funding, according to the staff report.
If the transfer is approved, the 60-unit Sequoia Crossings project on Northeast Broadway would receive $450,000 to add three additional units and the 34-unit Cottage Apartments would get $650,000 for two units for veteran housing.
The council will also hear the Planning Commission’s annual report from 2022.
Training agreement between the Fire Department and Chemeketa Community College
The council will also consider approving an agreement between the Fire Department and Chemeketa Community College’s Emergency Services Program to provide students with work experience. The agreement is part of a long-standing relationship, and lasts three years.
Under the agreement, the fire department would station an engine and three staff at Chemeketa’s training facility and allow at least one student in the fire protection program to work alongside them. The agreement includes up to 1,320 staff hours of training and guidance to the students, and making equipment available.
The college will be responsible for assuring the cadet firefighters are “immunized, trained, and fully equipped” before joining an engine company, and provide tuition to the city.
Positions on state legislation, Minto Island events and more
The council will also vote on an updated list of its positions on bills pending before the Oregon Legislature.
Salem is supporting the expansion of photo radar for traffic, funding for behavioral health, bridge maintenance and an increase in the amount landlords pay to tenants for terminating a lease without cause. The city has a list of legislative policy statements accompanying it.
The council will hear information about the impact of large events at Minto Island Conservation Area during bird nesting season, March 1 through Aug. 1. A proposed amendment would allow for two large events with 3,000 participants per season, rather than one event with a cap of 1,000 people during nesting season.
As the new public works building nears completion, the council also will consider changing the lease of office space at 471 High Street S.E. to a month-to-month rental starting in March. The change will allow the city to end the lease when the new city building is ready for staff to move in.
The council will also consider the appointment of Melissa Parker to a two-year term as a judge pro tempore of the Salem Municipal Court. Parker has been recommended by Municipal Court Judge Eleanor Beatty.
Parker is a graduate of Willamette University’s College of Law, and has been judge pro tempore at the Monmouth Municipal Court since 2018, according to her resume.
Mayor Chris Hoy will make a motion to retain a federal lobbyist to help the city apply to federal grants and other funding from Washington D.C.
Councilor Linda Nishioka will make a motion asking staff to prepare a report considering the continued allowance of short-term rentals in residential areas. These are single-family residents used for commercial lodging, where the owner does not live on the property. The council could consider limiting or prohibiting their use, depending on the report’s findings.
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.
