Monday is the last Salem City Council meeting of 2024 — and the last meeting of the outgoing mayor and three city council members.
The terms for Mayor Chris Hoy and City Council members Trevor Phillips, Virginia Stapleton and Jose Gonzalez end on December 31.
The council will meet again on January 13, with Councilor Julie Hoy being sworn in as mayor and Councilors-elect Shane Matthews, Paul Tigan and Irvin Brown taking office. Councilwoman Vanessa Nordyke, who won re-election in an uncontested race, is returning for her second full term.
Julie Hoy’s seat representing Ward 6 in East Salem will remain vacant until a special election takes place on May 20, 2025.
Salem City Council agenda items
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A vote on authorizing eminent domain proceedings to acquire right-of-way and easements of 1690 Winona Court NE for construction in connection with the 2022 infrastructure bond. The bond’s bridge rehabilitation project strengthens four bridges throughout the city to eliminate tax restrictions. Eminent domain proceedings may be necessary to move forward with construction of the 17th Street NE bridge over Mill Creek. According to staff reports, the city has unrecorded title to the portion of the property needed to make improvements and has attempted to negotiate with the property owners. The owners have now sought legal advice, but staff are hopeful that a final agreement can still be reached.
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A vote on changing the utility funds’ financial policies to maintain adequate cash balances.
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A vote on the reappointment of Sara Williams, Lynda Olson and Russell Barnett III as municipal judges pro tempore for two-year terms.
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A vote on appointments to the Downtown Advisory Board, Salem Public Library Advisory Board, Salem Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Salem Planning Commission and Citizens Advisory Traffic Commission.
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A public hearing on the renewal of Salem’s tourism promotion area for another five years. In 2019, the City Council approved an economic improvement district for a tourism promotion area in Salem. The TPA is a 2% fee on overnight stays in Salem, with up to 95% allocated to the city’s destination marketing organization, currently Travel Salem. Oregon law requires the district to be reviewed and renewed every five years.
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An informative report on the Salem Climate Action Plan 2024 Annual Report.
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An informative report on the annual evaluation of the city’s Floodplain Management Plan.
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An informational report on the Planning Administrator’s decision regarding an application for improvements at Willamette University’s baseball field. The case has been appealed by neighbors who want to reduce the risk to Bush’s Pasture Park’s camas flower and mitigate the impact on the park and local residents. If the municipality does not initiate a reconsideration, the appeal will be handled by counsel.
How to Join the Salem City Council Meeting
The meeting is at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held in person at the Salem Civic Center City Council Chambers, 555 Liberty St. SE, and can be viewed on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American sign. Language and Spanish.
Anyone who would like to provide personal comments can register for the schedules at the room entrance before the start of the meeting.
Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net by Monday at 5 p.m. Or pre-register Monday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom.
For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow @wmwoodworth
This article originally appeared in the Salem Statesman Journal: The next Salem City Council meeting will be Mayor Chris Hoy’s last
