Thursday, June 22, 2023

6/20/23 Minutes

 

Individual Members: Deb Comini, Woody Dukes, Carol Hendrix
Organizations: none
City, County and State Representatives:  Robert Dowd, Salem Police Department; Deanna Gwynn, Ward 4 Councilor; Courtney Knox Busch, City Manager’s Office;  Linda Nishioka, Ward 2 Councilor
Guests: none

The regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.  The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference.  The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.  

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

Sgt. Dowd, the new head of the Community Action Unit, reported that the Unit, while not abandoning other areas, is focusing efforts on the downtown, specifically, violent crime around UGM, The ARCHES Project and the transit mall.  The landscape median near The ARCHES Project has been cleared of tents.  The Unit has also been covering the numerous summer events that occur downtown.  Sgt. Dowd reported increased teen-aged gang violence traveling to downtown from the east side of town.  The violence is taking place at the Salem Center Mall and at the transit mall.  The 6-member Unit is returning to 6-day/week coverage of downtown (M-Sat, noon to 10p typically).

Councilor Nishioka reported that Council will be considering revenue measures in July and that she would be offering a substitute motion on the proposal to remove certain overlay zones in Ward 2.  She said residents of the South Central Area Neighborhood want to retain overlay zone height restrictions so as to keep the neighborhood looking as it does.  Removing height restrictions allows for higher density which is needed to support mass transit and the City’s Climate Action Plan goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  

In interested citizen comments, Carol Hendrix reported concerns about HOAP clients remaining after hours and problems she was having with her rental property across the street.  Sgt. Dowd responded to her concerns in some detail, explaining the constitutional limitations on police and what action his Unit would be taking under what conditions.  He also shared information on new homeless housing/shelter programs.  

There being no further business before the board, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:54 pm.

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