Councilors approved increases to garbage rates, delayed a vote on state lobbying priorities and moved ahead with proposed sign code and parking code changes at their Monday, Nov. 13, meeting.
Increased garbage collection rates – APPROVED
The council approved rate increases requested by the Mid-Valley Garbage and Recycling Association, meaning Salem residents, businesses and medical providers will pay more for waste collection starting Jan. 1.
Most residential customers in Marion County would see an annual increase of around $22.20 next year, and $19.80 a year in Polk County according to the staff report.
Councilors approved the increases in a 7-2 vote, with councilors Trevor Phillips, Deanna Gwyn, Vanessa Nordyke, Micki Varney, Virginia Stapleton, Linda Nishioka and Mayor Chris Hoy voting in favor, and councilors Jose Gonzalez and Julie Hoy opposed.
The association is composed of six solid waste management haulers working in Salem, and the rates were determined using city consultants and the consumer price index, according to a staff report. The report lists prices and rate comparisons.
Gonzalez said he wanted to push back against accepting the rates as requested each year, which Ryan Zink, the city’s franchise administrator, said city staff do throughout the process by asking for justification per increase.
Councilor Hoy said she did not think it was the right time to increase fees given voter frustration with expenses.
Several councilors expressed interest in waiving or reducing the fee for households to downsize to a smaller garbage receptacle, which is around $20-$30 for the new bin. Councilor Virginia Stapleton said the Salem City Council Solid Waste Committee plans to consider policies after rates are established.
See details of the proposed prices by service each year here.
Salem’s positions on state policy – VOTE POSTPONED
Councilors unanimously decided to postpone a vote on the city’s list of priorities for the state and federal government during the 2024 legislative session, which starts Feb. 5, and positions on proposed legislation.
Councilor Julie Hoy proposed the delay, and said she wanted to see it address Measure 110, which decriminalized user quantities of illegal drugs and directed part of the state’s marijuana tax revenue toward expanding addiction treatment services.
The city’s legislative committee will be discussing the topic during their Friday, Nov. 17 meeting, and will incorporate it into the list for council consideration.
The committee approved its nine-page list of priorities and statements on Oct. 20.
Top state priorities include obtaining $9 million a year to sustain sheltering programs and $2.1 million a year for the Navigation Center, a 75 bed shelter that connects people with housing, employment and other stabilizing resources.
Priorities for the state also include studying an extension of Westside Express Service passenger rail, from TriMet, between Wilsonville and Salem.
Federal priorities include money for water infrastructure improvements, like $25 million to the upper and lower Bennett Dams, as well as bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and parks and roads.
Police settlement – APPROVED
Councilors unanimously approved a $95,000 settlement with a Salem man who alleged in a lawsuit that police grabbed him as he was gambling in a north Salem bar in 2018, tackled him to the ground and struck him.
The city reached the settlement with Jose A. Carmona-Perez, 43, on Oct. 13, nearly four years after he sued the city and three of its police officers in Eugene U.S. District Court.
Public hearing on parking codes – ADVANCED TO LATER VOTE
Councilors unanimously approved moving forward with changes to parking codes and to allow more single-room housing, to comply with state climate requirements. Councilors advanced the ordinance to a vote at a later meeting.
The ordinance would require climate mitigation, like tree cover, solar panels or contributing to a renewable energy fund, when developing parking lots larger than a half-acre. It would also allow existing parking lots to be converted into park and rides.
The changes would also allow single-room occupancy housing in all residential, commercial and mixed-use zones, which have private living spaces but shared kitchens and/or restrooms.
Public hearing on sign codes – ADVANCED TO FIRST READING
The city is looking to update, clarify and amend its sign code which will affect the size and places that businesses can put up signs.
Councilors unanimously approved a motion from Phillips that increased the proposed maximum size allowance for signs in windows near public streets from 20% of surface area per window to 50% of the total window space on the building’s facade.
Nishioka also asked that city staff look into options for capping the number of outdoor signs and look at ways to limit light pollution, which they will return with information on in the next meeting.
The proposed amendments come after several years of planning, and a public hearing held by the Planning Commission in May where commenters raised concerns about outdoor advertising signs, temporary signs, public art and light pollution.
The changes would also extend the time period for sign permit extension requests from 90 to 180 days.
It would also change standards for illuminated signs to measure brightness through foot-candles rather than lumens. Foot-candles describe the amount of light that reaches a surface, and are a more standardized and accessible measurement recommended by the International Sign Association, according to a memo from Community and Urban Development Director Kristin Retherford.
Billboards in some mixed use zones of the city are proposed to be removed, but existing signs would be allowed to be maintained and repaired. Much of Southeast Commercial Street is zoned mixed use zoning, according to the city’s interactive zoning map.
Climate planning – APPROVED
Councilors approved an agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation to do regional scenario planning, as required by new state rules aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The planning will focus on transportation changes, including transit, parking and roads, and determine local and regional performance targets, and a plan for community engagement. The goal for the region is a 20% reduction from 2005 emission levels and 30% by 2050. The city council in 2020 adopted its own targets of a 50 percent reduction from 2016 by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050 according to a June staff report.
Other agenda items
-An application for $25 million in federal funding to make improvements to the Upper and Lower Bennett Dams at the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility. Improvements would restore habitat in the North Santiam River and protect the long-term water supply, according to a staff report from Martin. – UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
-Annexing 48-acres at 7006 Sunnyside Road S.E. and 7102 Cains Place S.E. in the South Gateway neighborhood. The council will decide whether to move the request onto a first reading at a later council meeting. – UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ORIGINAL STORY:
Salem residents would pay about $20 more per year for garbage collection if the city council approves requested rate increases for private haulers at their Monday meeting.
Councilors on Monday will also consider the city’s lobbying plans for the next legislative session and two public hearings on code changes.
READ IT: Agenda
How to participate
The council meets Monday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. in-person at the city council chambers, 555 Liberty St. S.E., room 220, with the meeting also available to watch online. The meeting will be livestreamed on Capital Community Media’s YouTube channel, with translation to Spanish and American Sign Language available. Anyone may attend the meeting to listen or comment.
The public comment portion of the meeting takes place after opening exercises, such as roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, and residents are invited to comment on any topic, whether it appears on the agenda or not. If a public comment does not relate to an agenda item, it may be saved for the end of the meeting.
To comment remotely, sign up on the city website between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday.
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. S.E., Room 225. Include a statement indicating the comment is for the public record.
Increased garbage collection rates
Salem residents, businesses and medical providers could see higher waste collection rates, with the council considering increases requested by the Mid-Valley Garbage and Recycling Association.
The association is composed of six solid waste management haulers working in Salem, and the rates were determined using city consultants and the consumer price index, according to a staff report. The report lists prices and rate comparisons.
Most residential customers in Marion County would see an annual increase of around $22.20 next year, and $19.80 a year in Polk County according to the staff report.
The council will consider new rates that, if approved, would cause increases on Jan. 1, 2024 and again on Jan. 1, 2025.
The proposed rates for Jan. 2024 are as follows:
Marion County: 5.35% increase for roll cart services.
Polk County: 5.61% increase for roll cart services, 8.19% increase for container services and 7.98% increase for drop box services
Medical waste: 21.5% increase for low-volume collection, 32.3% increase for high-volume and 29.9% increase for hospital collection.
The rates would increase further on Jan. 1, 2025:
Marion County: 3.35% increase for roll cart services, 2.85% increase for container services and 0.27% increase for drop box services.
Polk County: 3.79% increase for roll cart services, 4.33% increase for container service, 4.79% increase for drop box services.
Medical waste: 2.8% increase for low-volume collection, 6.5% increase for high volume and 14.3% increase for hospital collection.
See details of the proposed prices by service each year here.
In October, the Salem City Council Solid Waste Committee recommended the rates. The committee was formed this summer and includes councilors Virginia Stapleon, Deanna Gwyn, Linda Nishioka, Micki Varney and Julie Hoy as an alternate.
Salem’s positions on state policy
Councilors will consider the city’s priorities for asks to the state and federal government during the 2024 legislative session, which starts Feb. 5, and positions on proposed legislation.
They will also consider authorizing the city’s legislative committee to act on behalf of the council during the session to adopt positions on bills. The committee is made up of Mayor Chris Hoy and councilors Stapleton, Vanessa Nordyke, Trevor Phillips and alternate Nishioka.
The committee approved its nine-page list of priorities and statements on Oct. 20.
The list is organized into eight policy areas: economic development, finance, revenue and cost of service, human resources, land use, public safety, right of way management, homelessness and affordable housing and environment.
Top state priorities include obtaining $9 million a year to sustain sheltering programs and $2.1 million a year for the Navigation Center, a 75 bed shelter that connects people with housing, employment and other stabilizing resources.
Priorities for the state also include studying an extension of Westside Express Service passenger rail, from TriMet, between Wilsonville and Salem.
The list includes payment in lieu of taxes, where the state would pay the city for the costs of providing public safety services to state property, a frequent point of discussion as the city attempts to address its budget shortfall.
Federal priorities include money for water infrastructure improvements, like $25 million to the upper and lower Bennett Dams, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and parks and roads.
Police settlement
Councilors will consider a $95,000 settlement with a Salem man who alleged in a lawsuit that police grabbed him as he was gambling in a north Salem bar in 2018, tackled him to the ground and struck him.
The city reached the settlement with Jose A. Carmona-Perez, 43, on Oct. 13, nearly four years after he sued the city and three of its police officers in Eugene U.S. District Court.
Public hearing on parking codes
There will be a public hearing on whether to change parking codes and allow more single-room housing, to comply with state climate requirements. Councilors will decide whether to advance the ordinance to a vote at a later meeting.
The ordinance would require climate mitigation, like tree cover, solar panels or contributing to a renewable energy fund, when developing parking lots larger than a half-acre. It would also allow existing parking lots to be converted into park and rides.
The changes would also allow single-room occupancy housing in all residential, commercial and mixed-use zones, which have private living spaces but shared kitchens and/or restrooms.
The city eliminated minimum parking requirements earlier this year as part of the state’s requirements, meaning all new developments, citywide, are not required to create off-street parking spaces.
Public hearing on sign codes
The city is looking to update, clarify and amend its sign code which will affect the size and places that businesses can put up signs. Councilors will continue a public hearing after opting during the last meeting to extend the process to hear more input from impacted residents and businesses.
The proposed amendments come after several years of planning, and a public hearing held by the Planning Commission in May where commenters raised concerns about outdoor advertising signs, temporary signs, public art and light pollution.
Among the proposed changes are limiting the amount of space painted or attached signs can take up in a window if it’s within 30 feet of a public street. The limit would be 20% or less of the window’s surface area. It would also extend the time period for sign permit extension requests from 90 to 180 days.
It would also change standards for illuminated signs to measure brightness through foot-candles rather than lumens. Foot-candles describe the amount of light that reaches a surface, and are a more standardized and accessible measurement recommended by the International Sign Association, according to a memo from Community and Urban Development Director Kristin Retherford.
Billboards in some mixed use zones of the city are proposed to be removed, but existing signs would be allowed to be maintained and repaired. Much of southeast Commercial Street is zoned mixed use zoning, according to the city’s interactive zoning map.
Climate planning
Councilors will consider an agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation to do regional scenario planning, as required by new state rules aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The city would contribute staff time to support the project, and ODOT will provide consultant support. They’ll conduct regional scenario planning to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars to meet state targets, according to a staff report from Public Works Director Brian Martin.
The planning will focus on transportation changes, including transit, parking and roads, and determine local and regional performance targets, and a plan for community engagement. The goal for the region is a 20% reduction from 2005 emission levels and 30% by 2050. The city council in 2020 adopted its own targets of a 50 percent reduction from 2016 by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050 according to a June staff report.
Information on “forever chemicals”
Counselors will hear a presentation about what the Public Works Department is doing to address issues related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, called forever chemicals.
The group of chemicals are used in a variety of products that resist heat, oil, stains and water. They build up over time and don’t break down in the environment, and can lead to various cancers and health issues according to a staff report from Public Works Director Brian Martin.
The city is currently meeting all regulations related to managing the chemical, Martin said, but plans to monitor legislation around the issue to make updates to testing and managing it in drinking water, landfills and wastewater.
Other agenda items
-An application for federal funding to make improvements to the Upper and Lower Bennett Dams at the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility. Improvements would restore habitat in the North Santiam River and protect the long-term water supply, according to a staff report from Martin.
-Annexing 48-acres at 7006 Sunnyside Road S.E. and 7102 Cains Place S.E. in the South Gateway neighborhood. The council will decide whether to move the request onto a first reading at a later council meeting.
-Review September’s purchases.
-Review appointments, including Robert Rooney to the Center 50+ Advisory Commission, Robert Marshall to the Human Rights Commission and Geoffrey Tiffany and Erin Zysett to the Salem Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
SUPPORT OUR WORK – We depend on subscribers for resources to report on Salem with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Subscribe today to get our daily newsletters and more. Click I want to subscribe!
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.
