4/16/24 Minutes

  

Individual Members: Woody Dukes, Deb Comini, Rosa Leonardi, Kourtney Linebaugh, Sarah Van Woy 

Organizations: none  

City, County and State Representatives:  Robert Dowd, Salem Police Department Community Action Unit; Linda Nishioka, Ward 2 Councilor

 

Guests: Paul Tigan, Ward 1 Candidate 

The regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.  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.

Sgt. Dowd reminded everyone of upcoming meetings on the City’s community resilience initiative and budget deliberations, noting that without the necessary revenue increases, the CAU would be eliminated in July 2025.  He also talked about the various preparations taking place for summer activities and answered questions about the fatal shooting in Bush Park last month.     

Councilor Nishioka reported that Public Works is now assisting with graffiti removal and spoke at length about some of the budget tradeoffs that Council is considering.    

During citizen comments, Paul Tigan shared personal details, aspirations and thoughts about Salem by way of introduction. 

There being no further business before the board, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:57.

3/19/24 Minutes

Individual Members: Woody Dukes, Deb Comini, Rosa Leonardi, Luke Harkins, Kourtney Linebaugh, Sarah Van Woy 

Organizations: Laurie Beitzel, Salem Keizer Education Association Community Outreach  

City, County and State Representatives:  Virginia Stapleton, Ward 1 Councilor; Linda Nishioka, Ward 2 Councilor; Irma Coleman, City of Salem, Neighborhood Services 

Guests: none

The regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.  The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference.  The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.  

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

Councilor Stapleton reported that the Budget Committee had held a preliminary meeting on March 14th and there will be another preliminary meeting on the 21st.  The regular meetings begin April 17th.  She said Council is considering bringing its ambulance services back within the fire department and will be voting on that in April. Councilor Nishioka added details on the plans for resuming ambulance service, and offered a few words about the aftermath of the recent shootings of three teenagers in Bush Park.   

During citizen comments, Laurie Beitzel spoke about teachers’ efforts to secure a contract and asked for the community’s support. 

The Chair’s motion to spend up to the current balance of the Communication Fund 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 6:43.

2/20/24 Minutes

Individual Members: Woody Dukes, Deb Comini, Rosa Leonardi, Kourtney Linebaugh 

Organizations: Erik Anderson, Elsinore Theatre

City, County and State Representatives:  Robert Dowd, Community Action Unit, Salem Police Department;  Steve Williams, Salem Public Works

Guests: none

The regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.  The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference.  The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.  

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

Sergeant Dowd reported that he is temporarily filling in various roles formerly filled by Deb Aguilar who has been promoted to Deputy Chief, but will continue to liaise with CANDO.  He also said that the Community Action Unit has been working to curtail the unlawful public use of drugs in the downtown area.    

The board heard presentations by Erik Anderson on the Elsinore Theatre’s proposed facade upgrades, and by Steve Williams, Salem Public Works, on the City’s application for a grant to fund planning of improvements to the railroad grade crossing on Front Street. The project will include crossing gates and associated signals, and improvements to Front Street in that area for pedestrians, bicycles and transit.  

Bryant’s motion to provide the City a letter in support of the Front Street railroad crossing planning project passed unanimously. 

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

 

1/16/24 Minutes

 

Individual Members: Woody Dukes, Deb Comini, Rosa Leonardi, Larry Dillenbeck, Kourtney Linebaugh

City, County and State Representatives:  Virginia Stapleton, Ward 1 Councilor; Linda Nishioka, Ward 2 Councilor, Robert Dowd, Community Action Unit, Salem Police Department;  Aaron Edleman, Public Works

Guests: none

The regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.  The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference.  The Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.  

The agenda and minutes of the November meeting as submitted to the City (i.e., without the item of unfinished business erroneously added to agenda sent out by the City) were approved unanimously.

Sergeant Dowd reported that the Community Action Unit is operating with reduced staffing and somewhat reduced coverage of downtown, that Community Medical Services on Church Street which offers addiction treatment services, is now open for business.  

Councilor Stapleton reported on the Council’s recent activities and her intention to seek Council support for additional pedestrian safety measures in the downtown, including a “pedestrian lead” on downtown traffic lights.  Councilor Nishioka reported on the Council priorities adopted for the coming year and said that the City had received a grant of $2.8M from the U.S. Department of Transportation to “help guide future investments for walking, biking or driving” in furtherance of its Vision Zero (pedestrian deaths) initiative.  She also reported that Council had exempted the Salem Civic Center Improvement Project from the competitive bidding process, among other things.  She said the City had received 160 Revenue Task Force applications.  

The board heard a presentation by Aaron Edelman with Public Works on the City’s City 2024 Pavement Rehab and 2025 Bridge Rehab projects.

There being no further business before the board, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 6:51. pm.