On Monday, the Salem City Council approved acquiring property so the city can build enhanced pedestrian crossings at three locations that have high vehicle traffic.
Councilors also approved a property tax break for a planned downtown apartment building for a decade, costing Salem about $45,000 in its first year.
READ IT: Agenda
Pedestrian safety projects – Approved
Councilors unanimously approved property acquisitions so the city can build enhanced pedestrian crossings at three locations in Salem.
The new crossings would be installed at North River Road near River Road Park, State Street at Southeast 21st Street and Northeast Lancaster Drive near Northeast Weathers Street. The areas have high pedestrian and vehicle traffic, said Public Works Director Brian Martin in a staff report.
The projects are in the design process.
Tax break on 105-unit apartment development – Approved
Councilors unanimously approved a 10-year property tax exemption for a downtown 105 unit apartment complex at 277 High Street N.E., the location of the former Salem City Hall. The approval included a condition that new transparency requirements are put in place to prevent worker exploitation on job sites.
The city would forgo about $44,758 in taxes in the first full year, according to a staff report from Community Planning and Development Director Kristin
The tentatively named “High Street Apartments” will have 105 units and 29 onsite parking spots. Read our coverage of the decision.
City run ambulance – Approved
In March, councilors unanimously approved Fire Chief Mike Niblock’s recommendation that his department take over Salem’s ambulance service, replacing Falck Ambulance when their current contract expires in July 2025. On Monday, they unanimously approved borrowing $6 million from the city’s Building & Safety Fund to cover startup expenses for the new model.
The money would buy and outfit seven ambulances and update the city’s three existing ambulances, radios and tablets.
The loan would be paid back to the fund over the next decade at around $740,063 per year.
Appeal on 405-unit multi-family residential development – Approved
The city approved a request to build a new multi-family apartment complex with thirty-three buildings and 405 units at 4650 Hazelgreen Road N.E. On March 15 an appeal was filed by a neighboring property owner requesting the developers install landscaping and a barrier such as a fence or a wall.
The appellant and the developers came to an agreement allowing the development to proceed with a new fence.The council unanimously voted in favor of proceeding.
Councilor Stapleton removed from committee assignments at her request
Mayor Hoy removed City Councilor Virginia Stapleton from her committee assignments on Monday at her request. Stapleton is running for the Oregon House of Representatives and she requested to be removed from her committee roles to dedicate more time to her campaign.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Salem City Council will vote on Monday to construct enhanced pedestrian crossings at three locations that have high vehicle traffic.
Councilors will also decide whether to exempt a planned downtown apartment building from property taxes for a decade, costing Salem about $45,000 in its first year.
READ IT: Agenda
To participate
The council meets Monday, May 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. 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 public record.
Pedestrian safety projects
Councilors will consider approving property acquisitions so the city can build enhanced pedestrian crossings at three locations in Salem.
The new crossings would be installed at North River Road near River Road Park, State Street at Southeast 21st Street and Northeast Lancaster Drive near Northeast Weathers Street. The areas have high pedestrian and vehicle traffic, said Public Works Director Brian Martin in a staff report.
The projects are in the design process.
The council will also consider an application for up to $10 million in funding through the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, which would go toward 19 crosswalk improvement projects.
The projects, identified in a staff report from Martin, include intersections on Northeast Lancaster Drive, Northeast Market Street and more. The planned safety improvements include central medians and flashing signs. The project locations were chosen for factors like road type, history of crashes and proximity to schools, parks and transportation, Martin said.
Accepting the grant would require that the city use up to $2.5 million from the Safety and Livability Bond as a match to construct the series of new crosswalks.
Tax break on 105-unit apartment development
Councilors will decide whether to approve a 10-year property tax exemption for a downtown 105 unit apartment complex at 277 High Street N.E., the location of the former Salem City Hall. The council voted to postpone the decision in their last meeting. The city exemption is estimated to be $44,758 in the first full year, according to a staff report from Community Planning and Development Director Kristin Retherford.
Councilors voted 7-1 during an April 22 meeting to postpone a decision on the exemption. Councilor Micki Varney said she wanted time to consider the feasibility of increasing the number of affordable units in the project. Councilor Jose Gonzalez voted against the motion, and said he didn’t want to delay the project or add costs given that city staff had already recommended it.
The tentatively named “High Street Apartments” will have 105 units and 29 onsite parking spots. Councilors will decide whether to approve the application, and whether to direct city staff to request that other taxing districts like the Salem-Keizer School District agree to exempt the multiple family residential portion of its tax payments.
The city can exempt developments from property taxes to incentivize new housing when properties meet city criteria for benefitting the public.
The property meets eight of the city’s 19 public benefit requirements, which is enough to qualify for the exemption, according to Retherford. They include rental rates “accessible to a broad range of mixed incomes.” The apartments will rent for $1,375-$1,995 a month, according to a staff report. Other benefits include open space in the form of a rooftop deck for gatherings, and developing an underutilized or blighted property.
City run ambulance
In March, 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. Councilors also asked the chief to develop a recruitment plan to keep Falck’s 80 staff in Salem.
On Monday, councilors will consider whether to borrow $6 million from the city’s Building & Safety Fund and transfer it to the city’s Emergency Services Fund to cover startup expenses for the new model.
The money would buy and outfit seven ambulances and update the city’s three existing ambulances, radios and tablets.
If approved, the Building and Safety Fund, with a balance of over $15.7 million, would still be able to cover its own expenses and reserve requirements while the loan is being repaid, said Chief Financial Officer Josh Eggleston in a staff report. The loan would be paid back over the next decade around $740,063 per year.
Appeal on 405-unit multi-family residential development
The city approved a request to build a new multi-family apartment complex with thirty-three buildings and 405 units at 4650 Hazelgreen Road N.E. On March 15 an appeal was filed by a neighboring property owner requesting the developers install landscaping and a barrier such as a fence or a wall.
According to the appeal, the fence and landscaping should include at least one tree and a six-foot tall, decorative and obscuring fence or wall, which would rule out chain link fencing.
A staff report indicates there are issues with the possible placement of the landscaping and barrier. Councilors will have to decide whether to change, accept, or deny the original request it previously approved.
Virginia Stapleton removed from committee assignments
Mayor Hoy will remove city councilor Virginia Stapleton from her committee assignments on Monday.
Councilor Linda Nishioka will replace her on the Solid Waste Committee, and serve as chair, and will also take her place on the Salem/Keizer Area Transportation Study Policy Committee, the Water/Wastewater Task Force and the Downtown Advisory Board.
Micki Varney will replace her on the Mid-Willamette Area Commission on Transportation, the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance and the Climate Action Plan Subcommittee.
Stapleton announced her campaign as a Democrat for House District 21 in March, and is not seeking reelection to the Salem City Council. Epidemiologist and political newcomer Celine Coleman and Paul Tigan, a communications strategist who has had leadership roles on the city’s budget committee and Grant Neighborhood Association, are vying for her seat.
Sustainability in Salem
Councilors will hear an update about Salem’s partnership with the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program. Students have spent the year working city projects in their classrooms, including making recommendations on how to prioritize parks and recreation funding, studying the feasibility of a boardwalk for beavers on the Minto-Brown Island Park’s floodplain areas and how to make the city operations fee more equitable, according to a staff report from City Manager Keith Stahley.
Other items
- The city council will also make appointments to the Community Police Review Board, Salem Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Salem Public Library Advisory Board, and will recommend an appointment to the Salem Planning Commission.
- Councilors will hear an annual Historic Landmarks Commission report containing Salem Historic Landmarks Commission accomplishments from 2023, and the commission’s work plan for 2024.
- Counselors will announce appointments to the Salem Human Rights Commission, Center 50+ Advisory Commission, Salem Cultural and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board, and the Salem Public Art Commission.
Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.
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Joe Siess is a reporter for Salem Reporter. Joe joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and primarily covers city and county government but loves surprises. Joe previously reported for the Redmond Spokesman, the Bulletin in Bend, Klamath Falls Herald and News and the Malheur Enterprise. He was born in Independence, MO, where the Oregon Trail officially starts, and grew up in the Kansas City area.
