7/17/18 Minutes

Members: Bill Thorp, Valorie Freeman, M. Bryant Baird, Paul Gehlar

Organizations: Denyc Boles, Salem Health; Lori Beamer and Jayne Downing, Center for Hope and Safety; Raleigh Kirshman, Union Gospel Mission

City and County Representatives: Darron Mumey, Salem Police Department; Stacy Nelson, Public Works; Councilor Cara Kaser

Guests: none

The regular meeting of the CANDO Board of Directors was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the First Christian Church at 685 Marion Street NE, Salem.  The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.

The minutes of the June meeting were approved by unanimous consent.

Officer Mumey of the Salem Downtown Enforcement Team reported that, aside from three sets of kids becoming separated from their parents, there were no problems at this year’s Cherry Fest NW, operated by the Hoopla Association.  The festival had a beefed-up private security presence to accompany the newly permitted sale of hard liquor.  Likewise, River Rock went smoothly, except for one individual who had to be persuaded he did not require the lead singer’s autograph.  Hoopla 2018 tips off August 4th.  Everyone was reminded to be careful driving, and not to let the warm weather and long days cause us to relax behind the wheel.  He said there are nine individuals currently enrolled in the LEAD program, which no longer requires a person be criminally charged in order to participate.  Questions for Officer Mumey concerned the need for social service outreach to individuals gathering near the Center Street Safeway, and whom to call about graffiti in the neighborhood.     

Councilor Kaser reported that a rise in construction costs for the new public safety facility is requiring the City to consider using $2M in urban renewal funds to cover certain public/community amenities, specifically, a large community meeting room, restrooms, the plaza in front of the facility and artwork.  The sixth meeting of the Downtown Homeless Solutions Task Force still has not been scheduled due to lack of meeting space, but she hopes it will take place by month’s end. [Secretary's note: the meeting has since been scheduled for 6p, August 1, Regional Public Library, Anderson Room.]  The purpose of the meeting will be to develop recommendations to the City Council. UGM CEO Dan Clem has agreed to meet with the neighborhood and business groups to work out the details of a good neighbor agreement, which she wants reduced to a signed writing, and followed by regular check-in meetings.  She thinks the City might be willing to act as convenor. The City Council adopted the State Street Corridor Plan, and Councilor Kaser intends to move to have it implemented as soon as practicable.   

In public comment, Paul Ghelar shared design drawings and floor plans for the four-story mixed-use building under construction at the corner of Front and Court Streets.  It will be called The Court Yard, and provide 40 1-2 bedroom apartments downtown. CB Two’s drawing below.

Also in public comment, the Chair passed along information given him about the 2018 High Street Hustle, which will take place August 11th, and Denyc Boles responded to CANDO’s concerns about cigarette butts and other litter accumulating on the CANDO side of the Winter Street bridge, saying there had been a misunderstanding with the City about how far the no-smoking zone extended.  (It extends all the way to Pringle Pkway/Bellevue.) She assured the board that the problem would be addressed through a campaign beginning August 1. A trash receptacle will also be placed in the area. Boles also shared that signs had been ordered and parking on the east side of Church street would be limited to three hours, unpaid, within the next couple of weeks.  

The board heard presentations by Stacy Nelson on the City’s Clean Streams and Clear Choices Initiative, and by Jayne Downing about the Center for Hope and Safety’s development of the old Greyhound Bus station next door, which will soon be razed to make room for Hope Plaza, a three-story, mixed-use building intended to serve survivors of domestic violence and sexual exploitation no longer under safety threats.  The project, which is set to begin construction in 2020, envisions first floor businesses offering services such as job training. The upper floors will consist of meeting rooms and 20 low-income apartments, with an interior courtyard.

In new business, Sarah Owens’s motion to submit a letter of intent to apply for a Salem Parks Improvement Fund grant to install bike fixit and mutt-mitt stations in the vicinity of the Salem Convention Center passed unanimously, with the understanding that Parks Chair Erma Hoffman would work with the appropriate agencies to carry the project through to completion.

There being no other business before the board, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m.