During their meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, the Salem City Council approved appointments to the revenue task force, faster upgrades to a dangerous intersection and the next steps for renovating the Willamette University baseball and softball fields.
Councilor Trevor Phillips was absent on Monday, making every unanimous vote 8-0.
Appointments to the city’s Revenue Task Force – APPROVED
Councilors unanimously approved a 25-person revenue task force with two alternates who will seek new money sources for the city to address its budget deficit and sustain services.
They include business owners, former city councilors and state employees, with representation from each ward and two outside Salem.
The task force will have its first meeting on Jan. 30, where members will hear about the process and goals for the team. They will be meeting at least once a month before providing recommendations around July.
Read more about the members of the newly formed task force here:
Road project – APPROVED
Councilors unanimously approved a new project to improve the intersection at South Liberty Road and South Davis Road, which Mayor Chris Hoy said during the meeting has been one of the biggest sources of community feedback in his seven years on council.
“This intersection is right by Crossler Middle School, and it is only a matter of time before we have a middle schooler or someone getting hit there,” said Councilor Deanna Gwyn, whose ward is bordered by the intersection.
Design would start in February for construction in 2025, due in part to lengthy equipment delivery times.
The project will include a new traffic signal and other improvements, at an estimated cost of $1.7 million. It will be funded by the Safety and Livability Bond that voters approved in November 2022, which included this project for a later date.
Improvements to water treatment infrastructure – APPROVED
Councilors unanimously approved projects at two city water treatment facilities to repair lighting and a bridge.
Councilors approved upgrades to lighting at the Willow Lake Water Pollution Control Facility, replacing degraded equipment requiring frequent repairs. The project will cost $70,000 and the city will apply for up to $18,200 from the Energy Trust of Oregon to offset costs. The project will save an estimated $6,700 a year in energy and maintenance costs.
Councilors also approved an application for federal funding to replace a bridge at the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility, which disinfects water from the North Santiam River to provide Salem’s drinking water. The project will cost an estimated $12.3 million, and if awarded the federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program would fund $9.2 million.
Sleepy Hollow water supply public meeting – APPROVED
Councilors unanimously approved scheduling a public hearing about how to bill property owners for the cost of converting the private Sleepy Hollow water system into the city’s public water supply.
The project was completed in December 2023. City officials assessed the cost at $5,000 per property, after a city contribution of $130,000 and a State of Oregon contribution of $414,00 according to a staff report from Public Works Director Brian Martin.
The public hearing will be on Feb. 26, and will seek comments on the $5,000 assessment to property owners. The total project cost was $768,108.
Renovating the Willamette baseball and softball stadiums – APPROVED
The city, Willamette University and the Salem Baseball Club plan to renovate the university’s baseball and softball stadiums and make them available to the club for a potential summer-league of collegiate players. Willamette owns the baseball stadium, which sits in the city-owned Bush’s Pasture Park.
Councilors unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding to enter into negotiations for the renovations. The baseball stadium is located at 730 Mission St. S.E., and the softball stadium is at 501 14th St. S.E. The project would improve turf, fencing and lighting, and the city is not expected to spend any money for it.
Salem’s priorities for the state and federal governments – APPROVED
Councilors unanimously approved amendments to the set of state and federal priorities that they approved in November.
Amendments include adding a priority to support Measure 110 reform, specifically seeking to expand opportunities for addiction treatment and to deter public drug use.
Other agenda items
-Councilors unanimously approved a transfer of $260,200 from contingency into the budget for unanticipated expenses, including repairing a water leak at city hall in December 2023 that was impacting the mechanical room, and the fire department leasing a fire engine and ladder truck to respond to calls, according to a staff report from Chief Financial Officer Josh Eggleston.
-Councilors approved a proposal for the facilitated performance evaluation and salary setting for City Manager, Keith Stahley. The proposal, from Daniel Keen Consulting will cost an estimated $9,900, last two to three months. It will include a report from the consultants and interviews with Stahley and each council member.
-Councilors unanimously approved changes to council rules, as recommended by the city rules committee which includes Mayor Chris Hoy and Councilors Virginia Stapleton, Deanna Gwyn and Trevor Phillips working with City Attorney Dan Atchison. The changes include requiring in-person attendance at executive sessions and limiting public testimony to one person per group, such as a neighborhood association.
Original story:
During its meeting on Monday, Jan. 22, the Salem City Council will consider appointments to the revenue task force, road improvement projects and plans for renovations at the Willamette University baseball and softball fields.
READ IT: Agenda
How to participate
The council meets Monday, Jan. 22, 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. 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.
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.
Appointments to the city’s Revenue Task Force
Councilors will consider approving candidates to the Revenue Task Force, who will seek new money sources for the city to address its budget deficit and sustain services. The Board and Commission Appointments Committee has recommended a 25-person task force with two alternates.
During a Tuesday, Jan. 9, meeting from 1-3 p.m., the Board & Commission Appointments Committee discussed the applicants’ life, work and volunteer experience and the diversity of the overall makeup of the group. Their recommendations include at least two people from each ward, and two from outside Salem.
The task force will have its first meeting on Jan. 30, where members will hear about the process and goals for the team. They will be meeting at least once a month before providing recommendations around July.
Road project
Councilors will consider a new project to improve the intersection at Liberty Road South and Davis Road South. Brian Martin, public works director, said in a staff report that increasing traffic in the area has created a need for the project. If approved, design would start in February for construction in 2025.
The project would include a new traffic signal and other improvements, at an estimated cost of $1.7 million. It would be funded by the Safety and Livability Bond that voters approved in November 2022, which included this project for a later date.
Improvements to water treatment infrastructure
Councilors will consider projects at two water treatment facilities to repair lighting and a bridge.
At the Willow Lake Water Pollution Control Facility, councilors will consider a project to upgrade the lighting, which has degraded and requires frequent maintenance according to a staff report by Martin. The project would cost $70,000 and, if approved, the city would apply for up to $18,200 from the Energy Trust of Oregon to offset costs. The project would save an estimated $6,700 a year in energy and maintenance costs.
Councilors will also consider applying for federal funding to replace a bridge at the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility, which disinfects water from the North Santiam River to provide drinking water. The bridge, built in 1965, is the only access point to the facility and is not up to strength and seismic standards according to a staff report from Martin.
The project would cost an estimated $12.3 million, and if awarded the federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program would fund $9.2 million. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management has indicated that the bridge replacement is a good candidate for the grant, according to Martin.
Sleepy Hollow water supply
Councilors will also consider scheduling a public hearing about how to bill property owners for the cost of converting the private Sleepy Hollow water system into the city’s public water supply. The water system served 44 homes and a community system, supplied by a community well. Due to elevated levels of arsenic found in 2012, the community voted in 2019 to connect their water supply with the city.
The project was completed in December 2023, and assessed to cost $5,000 per property, to contribute to the total project cost of $768,108. The city will contribute $130,000 and the State of Oregon will contribute $414,00 according to a staff report from Martin.
The public hearing would be scheduled for Feb. 26, and would seek comments on the $5,000 assessment to property owners.
Renovating the Willamette baseball and softball stadiums
The city, Willamette University and the Salem Baseball Club plan to renovate the university’s baseball and softball stadiums and make them available to the club for a potential summer-league of collegiate players. Willamette owns the baseball stadium, in the city-owned Bush’s Pasture Park.
Councilors will consider a memorandum of understanding to enter into negotiations for the renovations. The baseball stadium is located at 730 Mission St. S.E., and the softball stadium is at 501 14th St. S.E. The project would improve turf, fencing and lighting.
Salem Baseball hopes to play in the West Coast League, which spans the Pacific Northwest including Canada. The city doesn’t expect to provide financial support, but may be asked to allow encroachments into the park, according to a staff report from Scott Archer, deputy city manager. Negotiations could last 10 months.
Salem’s priorities for the state and federal governments
The city’s legislative committee, which meets monthly between state legislative sessions, has suggested several amendments to the set of state and federal priorities that councilors approved in November.
Amendments include adding a priority to support Measure 110 reform, specifically seeking to expand opportunities for addiction treatment and to deter public drug use. Additional points seek to support tenant protections at mobile home parks, improvements to airport infrastructure and new playground equipment at Riverfront Park.
Other agenda items
-Andrea Castañeda, superintendent of the Salem-Keizer School District, will give a presentation about the district’s ongoing and upcoming financial challenges. It is an informational presentation, with no council action
-Councilors will consider transferring $260,200 from contingency into the budget for unanticipated expenses, including repairing a water leak at city hall in December 2023 that was impacting the mechanical room, and the fire department leasing a fire engine and ladder truck to respond to calls, according to a staff report from Chief Financial Officer Josh Eggleston.
-Councilors will consider a proposal for the facilitated performance evaluation and salary setting for City Manager, Keith Stahley. The proposal, from Daniel Keen Consulting will cost an estimated $9,900, last two to three months. It would include a report from the consultants and interviews with Stahley and each council member.
-Councilors will consider adopting changes to council rules, as recommended by the city rules committee which includes Mayor Chris Hoy and Councilors Virginia Stapleton, Deanna Gwyn and Trevor Phillips working with City Attorney Dan Atchison. The changes include requiring in-person attendance at executive sessions and limiting public testimony to one person per group, such as a neighborhood association.
-Councilors will hear an update on the Sustainable City Year Program in partnership with the University of Oregon. Students plan to do community education and marketing, and work on ways to add electric vehicle charging and improve the city’s operations fee software, according to a staff report from Stahley.
-Councilors will hear the 2023 annual report of the Climate Action Plan.
-The council will see a list of city purchases made in December 2023.
-They will also see an annual report from the Salem Urban Renewal Agency.
-The accounting firm of Grove, Mueller & Swank will resent their financial audit of the city for the 2023 fiscal year, which found that the city was “in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America,” but did not include formal findings or recommendations for improvement.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.
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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.
