Council President Linda Nishioka wants to see a team of ambassadors fanning out across downtown Salem to serve as an additional resource helping business owners deal with issues related to homelessness.    

Her pitch will be a topic of discussion at the next Salem City Council meeting on Monday, April 27, when Nishioka will make the case for initiative she has hoped to see for over a year, she said. 

Nishioka said she brought up an ambassador team in the past, but funding and priorities at the time were more aligned with expanding the city’s cleaning crews and the police department’s Homeless Services Team. Those two teams were expanded earlier this year, and the city also stood up a mobile crisis response team pairing a county-funded mental health professional with emergency workers through the fire department.

Despite those expansions and the progress that came with them, Nishioka said there are still gaps that need to be filled. She said having an ambassador program similar to the ones in Portland, Eugene, Bend and other cities is a way to do it. 

“Even with our expanded service …we still will find frustration in the downtown businesses and probably even beyond,” Nishioka said. “Where those that are unsheltered have a nice little enclave to sleep for the night, and yet they are not getting up when people are coming to work…There is still frustration from those business owners that don’t quite know what to do in that situation.”

Nishioka said an ambassador team could be an opportunity for the city to be more proactive in its approach to the issues downtown. If the idea takes off, it could be expanded to other parts of the city such as northeast Salem, an area that also struggles with unsheltered homelessness. 

“What I am hoping to see if we can find is an ambassador program so that there is a presence there, or even a quick call, not needing to go through the 911 call center that is already overburdened, but finding a mechanism to reach out and say, ‘Hey, I need a little help, there’s somebody here.’ Especially if there needs to be a mild cleanup from the area,” Nishioka said. “They could have somebody that is either patrolling, that is already onsite, or somebody nearby who they can contact who can help them with that situation.”

Nishioka said she’d hope some of the businesses in the area would be willing to chip in to help fund such a program, and depending on what makes sense, the ambassador team could be city-run or private. 

If the council approves on Monday, city employees will be directed to evaluate the feasibility of such an ambassador program including identifying what services it would provide, how much it would cost, where it would be deployed and how it would be funded. 

Staff would also look into ways to integrate the program with Clean, Safe and Healthy Salem, and would provide different options for a future pilot program. 

Councilors on Monday will also consider developing a plan for other downtown initiatives including bringing more events and investment into safety, cleanliness and in making the area pleasant for visitors, a staff report from Assistant City Manager Courtney Knox Busch, said. 

The plan follows work done on the 2011 Downtown Strategic Action Plan that was designed to “not only improve the physical environment but also enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors,” the report said. 

“These improvements make downtown Salem a more desirable place to shop, dine, and explore, which in turn boosts tourism, property values, and job opportunities,” the report said. “For decision-makers, the plan serves as a roadmap to ensure funds are spent in ways that maximize impact and align with the community’s long-term vision.” 

The report said many of the projects were focused on Riverfront Downtown Urban Renewal Area funding. That work was updated in 2017. 

“Much has changed in our community during the last nine years. Building a new, comprehensive vision for downtown Salem can provide a strategic focus for future investment and prioritize immediate next steps for the city and its partners,” the report said. 

Some initiatives would include improving streets, sidewalks and lighting, expanding public spaces, developing properties and housing, and supporting local events and programming.

Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected].