5/17/22 Minutes

Members: Deb Comini, Woody Dukes

Organizations: none

City, County and State Representatives: Gregory Walsh, City of Salem Emergency

Manager; Irma Dowd, City of Salem Neighborhood Services.

 

Guests: Keith Higgins, Eugene

 

The regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

 

The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference. The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer

were present.

 

The agenda and minutes of the April meeting were approved unanimously.

 

Councilor Stapleton was unable to attend but sent the following by email:

 

A few big things that are in process right now are the budget for this coming year,the project list for the bond, and Our Salem. Each of these are coming before Council in the coming meetings this month and next, so a very busy time indeed.In taking a look at the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) for the next five years, it's amazing to see all the work that will be happening in your area [Central Salem]. Over $28 million for street improvements, parking structure upgrades and repairs,the continuation of the streetscaping project, and a water main replacement. I look forward to seeing those get completed. 

 

The bond continues to make [progress], we had a great meeting yesterday where we talked about the project list. I'm advocating for money to be set aside for protected bike lanes with the projects being focused on missing links in our bike network (the last two blocks to the 12th Street Promenade from Union Street is one example). 

 

Next Monday the Council will vote to move the project list forward and to put forth another poll to Salem residents. Over the summer there will still be time to make adjustments after gathering more community feedback. 

 

The budget has been moved from the Budget Committee onto a full Council vote. No changes were made by the committee.Interviews for the City Manager position will be on June 2nd, they will still be confidential until we get down to the finalist. At that time the city will do more outreach to local groups, including neighborhood associations.

 

The board heard a presentation from Greg Walsh on emergency preparedness for

businesses. When asked about emergency preparedness for those in multifamily housing –

which is where most CANDO residents live – he said that his presentations to multifamily

owner/operators generally reveal vulnerabilities they would prefer not to discuss. (CANDO

had previously asked for a presentation on emergency preparedness for multifamily.)

 

Michael Livingston’s motion to spend up to the current balance of our communication funds to

renew CANDO’s sponsorship of Northwest Human Services’ Mid Valley Resources website at

the Silver level passed unanimously.

 

There being no further business before the board, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:48.

4/19/22 Minutes

Members:  Deb Comini

Organizations: none

City, County and State Representatives: Virginia Stapleton, Ward 1 Councilor;  Matthew Gill, Salem Police Department Community Action Unit  

 

Guests: Linda Nishioka, Ward 2 City Council candidate;  Spencer Todd, Marion County District Attorney candidate

The regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6:02 p.m., on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.  The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference.  The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.  

The agenda and minutes of the March meeting were approved unanimously.

Sergeant Gill  apologized for recent absences at CANDO meetings and said he or another officer from the Unit would attend regularly in the future.  Although the problems homelessness creates for the police are “community-wide,” the Unit is not “giving up on downtown.”  The police will begin escorting service providers & outreach workers into homeless camps before the camps get “out of control.”  About 70% of the Unit’s resources will be dedicated to the safety of homeless camp clean-up efforts.  There is a new “transparency portal” on the Police Dept website.  The Unit is now fully staffed, and officers will be patrolling downtown on bikes.

Councilor Stapleton reported that a recent internal audit concluded that the City needs to fill 300 staff positions.  Council approved issuing a request for qualifications to set up a mobile crisis response program.  The council will hold a work session on the proposed bond measure on May 16. Currently, $25 million for “affordable housing” is in the proposal.  The Budget Committee begins its series of meetings tomorrow.  Chief Womack has asked for 6 additional officers.  

Spencer Todd introduced himself during the time for comments from interested citizens and invited questions and comments.

The board heard a presentation from Linda Nishioka, City Council candidate for Ward 2 (unopposed) and current Downtown Advisory Board member.  Nishioka said she looks forward to attending CANDO meetings and working with Councilor Stapleton.  Her priorities for downtown are resolution of homelessness problems, public safety, economic development and tourism.  

There being no further business before the board, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:45.