On Monday, March 25, Salem’s city councilors gave a green light to a plan for a new urban renewal area in north downtown and the city fire department’s takeover of citywide ambulance operations.
Though the meeting did not include an agenda item on the Salem Public Library, library supporters filled the seats after last week’s budget committee meeting spurred concerns about deep cuts to the library. Salem Reporter plans to post a separate story about that aspect of the meeting, public testimony and with additional reporting, on Wednesday.
North downtown urban renewal area – APPROVED
The Urban Renewal Agency Board, which is made up of the city council, unanimously approved the start of a process to form a new urban renewal area in Salem’s north downtown area.
When an urban renewal area is created, it freezes the assessed property values inside its boundaries, and thus the amount of taxes the city, county and other local government entities can collect. When property values go up over time, the additional taxes collected beyond that frozen point go toward the urban renewal district for planned redevelopment projects. Such taxes would normally go to the city’s general fund and pay for general city operations like police and fire.
When redevelopment projects are complete, the urban renewal area closes and the taxes go back to the other jurisdictions, according to the city’s page on the subject. Salem currently has seven urban renewal areas.
Kristin Retherford, Community Planning and Development Director, said it wouldn’t impact the general fund as it currently stands, because the area captures funds from growth in value. She said when the plan is completed in 25 years, that value would return to the general fund.
The proposed new North Waterfront Urban Renewal Area would be between the Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal Area, which covers much of south downtown, and the North Gateway Urban Renewal Area which starts by the Oregon State Fairgrounds. See a map here. The exact boundaries have yet to be determined.
It would be in Councilor Virginia Stapleton’s ward, who said she was excited about it.
“Front Street is a huge challenge, and I feel strongly that this will help us really achieve our goals in this area which is dense urban housing for our city, and revitalizing that whole area,” she said.
The next steps include research and public outreach. City staff will make a draft plan, financial report and map of the proposed boundary. Retherford said the plan will go before the council for approval in about nine months to a year.
City takeover of ambulance service – APPROVED
Councilors unanimously approved Fire Chief Mike Niblock’s recommendation that his department take over Salem’s ambulance service, replacing Falck Ambulance. He proposed the city move the service back to the fire department when Falck’s contract expires in July 2025.
After hearing from Falck paramedics who said they had not been informed of the plan for their future employment, councilors also made clear that they want to see a city recruitment plan for retaining Falck’s 80 Salem staff.
Niblock said Falck has not provided its required 1,030 hours a week of ambulance service for the past year. The fire department had to put crews on publicly-paid overtime to staff agency medic units to cover for gaps.
During the meeting, Falck’s director for the region acknowledged that they had failed to meet their contracted hours, but said they’d recently made changes to improve recruitment such as more competitive wages. He said recruitment challenges are a nationwide issue. Other Salem-based Falck employees testifying called the timeline rushed, and said the company had recently hired five medics.
Tom Hoffert, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce CEO, said he was not taking a position on the issue but asked that councilors delay their decision which makes for a notable expansion for the city.
Tim Murphy, CEO at Bridgeway Recovery Services, urged councilors to allow the Salem Fire Department to take over the ambulance operations. He said that as a detox clinic they frequently call for an ambulance, and that Falck has not sufficiently answered them.
“We just feel that we got better service with Salem fire,” he said.
Several Falck paramedics testified saying they had not seen a plan for recruiting their unionized employees or what the transition would look like.
During the meeting, Niblock clarified that the transition will not impact the general fund because there is a separate emergency services fund. He also emphasized that unlike Falck, any profit made will return to the city, for investment down the line in things like a mobile crisis unit.
He said that the city will be in a better position to raise wages for the paramedics since it would control all hiring and recruitment, cutting out the middleman. He said they plan to recruit them.
“We’ve heard a lot of things tonight about what they’re going to do, what they’re going to do, what they’re going to do. For the last 27 months we’ve been hearing the same thing. Overpromise and underdeliver,” he said.
City Manager Keith Stahley compared the council’s decision on Monday to that of the city airport, which also had plenty of unknowns when they approved $2 million last January for its improvements before securing a commercial airline.
“We’ve done the work to understand that there’s an opportunity here that we should take advantage of,” he said.
Councilors unanimously approved an amendment proposed by Councilor Micki Varney to ask the fire department to present a draft plan for the transition by May 13, and to establish a committee overseeing the transition. She said it should include goals, a timeline and a recruitment and retainment plan.
Niblock said the department would get started on that the next morning.
Before passing the change of management unanimously, Mayor Chris Hoy reiterated his support for the change.
“I certainly have questions, and I’m looking forward to the process going forward. But I do think that any time you try to operate a government and you subcontract some of the services to a for-profit company, there are challenges. Especially when you’re dealing with people’s lives,” he said.
Updating capital improvement, streetlight policies – POSTPONED
Councilors unanimously voted to postpone updates to several city policies on transportation, streetlights, capital improvement and utility funding. The updates, recommended by the Finance Committee, would establish clear rules to promote financial stability, and correct spelling and grammar according to a staff report.
Councilor Deanna Gwyn asked that the council postpone its decision on the changes until after the budget is finalized. She said she thinks it would make more sense to adopt all fund policies around the same time.
Perimeter security at the airport – APPROVED
Councilors approved the installation of a perimeter detection system, like a virtual fence, between the airport’s operating area and the adjacent Garmin Aviation Technologies campus, at the urging of the Transportation Security Administration.
“This will save Garmin and the Airport from the cost and management of hundreds of airport ID badges and enhance perimeter security on the east and southeast side of the airport,” Public Works Director Brian Martin said in a staff report.
It will cost the city an estimated $100,000. The money would come from the airport’s “unanticipated projects” budget from the year, which totals $125,000. Martin said building a physical fence would have cost $400,000.
Sleepy Hollow water supply – APPROVED
Councilors gave their final approval to bill property owners for the cost of converting the private water system serving the Sleepy Hollow community. Councilors unanimously moved the issue forward during the March 11 meeting.
The water system served 44 homes and a community center, 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 work was completed in December 2023 and assessed to cost $5,000 per property, with the full project costing $768,100. The city will pay around $129,000, the state will contribute $414,000, and the rest will be billed to property owners, according to a staff report by Brian Martin, public works director. Property owners would pay with either a lump sum, payment plan or by having a lien placed on the property.
Other items
-Councilors approved an initial property tax exemption to Micronesian Islander Community, a non-profit property owner planning to build 41 low-income housing units on Northeast Commercial Street. The pre-development exemption would last ten years, and could be renewed for up to ten. During the meeting, Executive Director Jackie Leung, a former Salem city councilor, said that it will include the first center for Micronesians in the continental U.S., offering a space for cultural and educational programs.
-Councilors approved an extension the city’s lease with Church at the Park from May to December at their 2640 Portland Road N.E., site, used for safe parking and a community outreach office.
-Councilors approved a two year, seven month lease with North Valley Hay & Farms, whicho has been farming the property at 2301 Orchard Heights Road N.W. under a permit. The site is planned for the future Grice Hill Park but the city is saving money by not having to maintain it in the meantime, according to Retherford.
ORIGINAL STORY:
North downtown’s potential for urban renewal development and the future of Salem’s ambulance service are on the agendas for the Urban Renewal Agency and Salem City Council’s Monday meeting.
To participate
The council meets Monday, March 25, 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 begins with the Urban Renewal Agency board, which consists of the entire city council.
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.
To comment remotely, sign up on the city website between 8 a.m. and 4 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.
A new urban renewal area
The Urban Renewal Agency Board, which is made up of the city council, will consider whether to begin the process of forming a new urban renewal area in Salem’s north downtown area.
When an urban renewal area is created, it freezes the assessed property values inside its boundaries, and thus the amount of taxes the city, county and other local government entities can collect. fWhen property values go up over time, the additional taxes collected beyond that frozen point go toward the urban renewal district for planned redevelopment projects. Such taxes would normally go to the city’s general fund and pay for general city operations like police and fire.
When redevelopment projects are complete, the urban renewal area closes and the taxes go back to the other jurisdictions, according to the city’s page on the subject. Salem currently has seven urban renewal areas.
The proposed new North Waterfront Urban Renewal Area would be between the Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal Area, which covers much of south downtown, and the North Gateway Urban Renewal Area which starts by the Oregon State Fairgrounds. See a map here.
The proposed area would be eligible because of its changing economics, with growing redevelopment opportunities, and its active uses and vacancies, according to a staff report from Kristin Retherford, Community Planning and Development Director.
“As the downtown Salem becomes built out, interest is growing in development and redevelopment opportunities within the north waterfront/north downtown area,” she said.
If the board approves, city staff will make a draft plan, financial report and map of the proposed boundary.
About 11% of the city’s total acreage is part of an Urban Renewal Area, Retherford said. The McGilchrist area is expected to complete in 2024, and North Gateway is expected to finish in 2026.
READ IT: Urban Renewal Agency agenda
READ IT: City Council agenda
City takeover of ambulance service
Councilors will consider Fire Chief Mike Niblock’s recommendation that his department take over Salem’s ambulance service, replacing Falck Ambulance. He proposed the city move the service back to the fire department when Falck’s contract expires in July 2025.
Councilors considered the issue at their March 11 meeting, but decided to postpone the vote.
Niblock said Falck has not provided its required 1,030 hours a week of ambulance service for the past year. The fire department had to put crews on publicly-paid overtime to staff agency medic units to cover for gaps.
Falck has asked the city to pause the decision “until the community and stakeholders have had the chance for input and the financial analysis and risk to the City can be properly calculated,” said David Patterson, Falck’s director for the region in an email to Salem Reporter.
In a letter to council dated March 20, Patterson said the claims of unmet service hours did not include time providing life support. He also questioned the consultant’s revenue calculations.
He also said if the city makes the decision to end Falck’s service 15 months before the contract expires, it would have “devastating effects” on their ability to recruit and retain employees.
Councilors will also consider whether to apply for $1.2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to buy three ambulances to support the new model.
The city currently has three ambulances, and ordered two more using money from the bond voters approved in the fall of 2022. A total of eight ambulances would be required if the new model is approved, according to a report from Niblock.
“Adopting a city-led (advanced life support) transport model represents a comprehensive approach to expanding the ambulance fleet and improving the quality, reliability, and timeliness of emergency medical services provided to Salem’s residents,” Niblock wrote.
Updating capital improvement, streetlight policies
Councilors will consider whether to update several city policies on transportation, streetlights, capital improvement and utility funding. The updates, recommended by the Finance Committee, would establish clear rules to promote financial stability, and correct spelling and grammar according to a staff report.
The Capital Improvement Program was last updated in 2008. Proposed changes include doubling the threshold for Capital Improvement projects to $100,000, meaning less expensive projects would not need to be included in the city’s five-year Capital Improvement Program plan.
The changes would also clarify allowable uses for the streetlight funds, which pays for replacing street lamps and poles, and establish that the fee should be adjusted annually based on construction costs.
Perimeter security at the airport
Councilors will consider whether to install a perimeter detection system, like a virtual fence, between the airport’s operating area and the adjacent Garmin Aviation Technologies campus, at the urging of the Transportation Security Administration.
“This will save Garmin and the Airport from the cost and management of hundreds of airport ID badges and enhance perimeter security on the east and southeast side of the airport,” Public Works Director Brian Martin said in a staff report.
If approved, it would cost the city an estimated $100,000. The money would come from the airport’s “unanticipated projects” budget from the year, which totals $125,000. Martin said building a physical fence would have cost $400,000.
Sleepy Hollow water supply
Councilors will have their final vote on an ordinance that would bill property owners for the cost of converting the private water system serving the Sleepy Hollow community. Councilors unanimously moved it to the final vote during the March 11 meeting.
The water system served 44 homes and a community center, 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 work was completed in December 2023 and assessed to cost $5,000 per property, with the full project costing $768,100. The city will pay around $129,000, the state will contribute $414,000, and the rest will be billed to property owners, according to a staff report by Brian Martin, public works director. Property owners would pay with either a lump sum, payment plan or by having a lien placed on the property.
Other items
-Councilors will consider whether to approve an initial property tax exemption to Micronesian Islander Community, a non-profit property owner planning to build 41 low-income housing units on Northeast Commercial Street. The pre-development exemption would last ten years, and could be renewed for up to ten.
-Councilors will consider extending the city’s lease with Church at the Park from May to December at their 2640 Portland Road N.E, site, used for safe parking and a community outreach office.
-Councilors will consider a two year, seven month lease with North Valley Hay & Farms, who has been farming the property at 2301 Orchard Heights Road N.W. under a permit. The site is planned for the future Grice Hill Park but the city is saving money by not having to maintain it in the meantime, according to Retherford.
-Councilors will hear an update on the Revenue Task Force, which started meeting in January and in July will present its options for new ways to bring money into the general fund that pays for city functions like police, fire and the library. There have been two community focus groups on the subject so far, and three town halls and a poll are planned for April to collect public input on the subject.
-Councilors will hear a progress report for projects funded by the Safety and Livability Bond measure which voters approved in 2022. Work has started to realign the intersection of Southeast 22nd Street and McGilchrist Street, and pavement work has started on Southeast Commercial Street. Design has started for projects on the Mill and Pringle Creek Bridges, and for several road rehabilitation projects.
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.
