TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Bond Oversight Steering Committee
SUBJECT:
title
Summary of recent activity and progress on 2022 voter-approved Safety and Livability Bond measure.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure; Strong and Diverse Economy; Welcoming and Livable Community.
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SUMMARY:
summary
In 2023, the City established an oversight committee to guide spending, timing, and prioritization of projects to be funded with the voter-approved Safety and Livability Bond measure. Also in 2023, the first of three bond sales occurred, design work began on several bond-funded projects, and fire trucks and equipment were purchased. City Council received quarterly updates from the Bond Oversight Steering Committee in since 2023.
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ISSUE:
Receive a progress report on the 2022 Salem Safety and Livability Bond measure.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Voters approved ’Salems safety and livability measure <https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/shaping-salem-s-future/2022-community-infrastructure-bond> in November 2022, setting in motion a ten-year plan for $300 million in infrastructure investment in Salem. As part of the community conversation about the measure, voters were assured the City would establish a committee to provide oversight and accountability about spending proposed in the measure.
’Salems Bond Oversight Committee <https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/boards-commissions/other-advisory-groups/bond-oversight-steering-committee> met for the first time on February 24, 2023. The Oversight Committee includes Mayor Chris Hoy, Councilors Stapleton and Varney, community members Bob Cortright and Mike Herron. Councilor Nishioka serves as an alternate. Altogether in 2023, the Committee met nine times to receive updates and consider criteria to prioritize future projects to construct missing sidewalks, repair sidewalks, improve pedestrian crossings, and mixed-use paths and trail projects. In 2024, the Oversight Committee’s work continues on a monthly meeting basis.
Since the last update, the following activity has been accomplished on the 2022 Safety and Livability Bond.
Streets and Sidewalks. In all, $157 million of the 2022 Safety and Livability Bond was envisioned to construct new streets and replace or add signals for traffic flow; repair bridges; build new pedestrian crossings; and install sidewalks and bicycle routes.
• McGilchrist Complete Street. The realignment of the intersection and construction of a new traffic signal at 22nd Street SE at McGilchrist Street SE was completed in July of 2024. The first phase of work is complete including a new stormwater facility, replaced culvert crossing at the east fork of Pringle Creek, and paving from 19th to 22nd Street. The second and third phases of construction are anticipated for 2025 through 2027. All right-of-way acquisition has occurred for Phase 2 work, with construction in 2025. Work planned for Phase 3, including the railroad crossing, is on schedule. More information about the McGilchrist Complete Street project <https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/shaping-salem-s-future/safety-and-livability-bond/mcgilchrist-complete-street-project> is available on the City’s website.
• Commercial and Liberty Street SE pavement rehabilitation. Pavement rehabilitation work on Commercial Street SE from Fabry Road SE <file:///G:\Courtney\BOND\vement%20rehabilitation%20of%20Commercial%20Street%20SE%20from%20Fabry%20Road%20SE%20to%20the%20Interstate%205%20ramps> to the Interstate 5 ramps and Liberty Street SE from Mill Street SE to Trade Street SE is nearing completion with striping as the next step.
• Pavement work on Liberty Street SE is almost complete including new pavement and striping for Liberty Street SE, from Mill Street SE to Trade Street SE, with new sidewalk on west side and ADA-compliant curb ramps, and a new support slab for the Liberty Street bridge. Next, look for enhanced designated bicycle stopping area (bike box) with tubular markers to separate from vehicle traffic at Trade St.
Affordable Housing. In all, $10 million of the 2022 Safety and Livability Bond was envisioned to support affordable housing projects. Due to bond requirements, these funds can only be expended on improvements that will stay in City ownership for the life of the bond.
• Evergreen Apartments. At their November 12 meeting, the Steering Committee approved $2.5 million of bond funds for the Evergreeen Apartments project. The SHA owned and operated Evergreen Apartments project will provide 26 to 28 units of permanent supportive housing, owned by Salem Housing Authority with services provided by Northwest Human Services. The funds will serve as the 25% required match for $10 million federal grant sought by Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance for this project. Northwest Human Services donated the land.
• in June 2024, Salem’s Bond Steering Committee recommended City Council allocate $3 million of bond funds for a 183 unit affordable housing project in southeast Salem. Bond funds will help with required offsite improvements to street, water, and sewer infrastructure for the development.
Civic Center Seismic Retrofit. In January 2024, City Council approved design-build as the contracting method for this work. The design-build team of Howard S. Wright Construction, Hacker Architects, CBTwo Architects, and KPFF structural engineers will design and construct the project. The team has investigated options for seismic stability of the building and how other project goals articulated in the Civic Center master plan can be achieved. Safety and Livability Bond funds are not an eligible use for the cost of relocation of City functions during construction. Staff is exploring temporary space options for relocated staff and services. Relocation is in anticipation of construction beginning as soon as the summer of 2025.
Council meetings will be held in Loucks Auditorium. Staff is working with Capital Community Media to prepare for this change in venue.
On December 3, the project team is convening a conversation about the scope of the Peace Plaza work within the Civic Center project. Inviting members of our community with a particular interest in Peace Plaza, like the Friends of Peace Plaza, and advisory boards and friends groups for Salem Parks, Arts, and Library.
Staff plan to return to City Council with a draft design plan for the updated City Council Chambers at the January 27 City Council meeting.
Streets and Sidewalks. In all, $28.4 million of the 2022 Safety and Livability Bond would replace restrooms at Cascades Gateway, Northgate, McKay School, Bush’s Pasture, and Wallace Marine Parks and construct new trails, covered areas, playgrounds, pickleball courts and dog parks.
• Minto-Brown Island Park parking lot paving <https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/shaping-salem-s-future/safety-and-livability-bond/minto-brown-parking-improvements>. Paving and stormwater drainage improvements are complete at Minto-Brown Parks Parking Lot 2, which serves the dog park area, and Parking Lot 3, which provides parking for the river access area.
• Replacing Multi-Use Athletic Courts. Court surfaces at River Road and Sumpter School Park are under construction with an expected completion in November of 2024. Improvements include:
• New asphalt surfacing.
• Installation of new tennis posts, nets, and anchor straps.
• Striping for pickleball on either side of each tennis net.
• Addition of benches, waste receptacles, and drinking water fountains.
• Enhanced walkways for improved court accessibility.
• Replacement of fencing.
Design Underway. We are staging other projects for construction beginning spring 2024 and beyond. Design of the following construction projects is underway:
• Mill and Pringle Creek Bridges to strengthen bridges to meet new Federal Highway Administration and ODOT load rating requirements.
• Commercial Street (from South of 12th Street Cut-Off SE to Boone Road SE), Silverton Road, and Doaks Ferry Road pavement resurfacing of the roadway and replacing non-compliant Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramps. Construction is anticipated for these projects in 2025 and 2026.
• Marine Drive NW. This project will extend Marine Drive from Harritt Drive NW to 5th Avenue NW and include a new multi-use pedestrian path connected to Wallace Marine Park. The new street will include two travel lanes, a sidewalk on the westerly side, a 12' multi-use path on the easterly side, stormwater treatment facilities, and streetlights. An initial phase of the project will be constructed this year at Harritt Drive NW to coincide with the Applegate Veterans Housing project. Construction of the remaining portion of the project is planned to begin in 2027.
• Davis Road S improvements from Liberty Road S to Skyline Road S are planned near the end of the 10-year bond program. However, an early phase of the project has begun design to construct a new traffic signal at the intersection of Davis and Liberty with construction planned for 2025.
• Livingston Park: Land use approval has been granted. Construction is anticipated in 2025.
• Morningside Park: Land use approval has been granted. Construction is anticipated in 2025.
• Highland Park: Community outreach and review set to begin. Anticipated construction in 2025.
• Hoover Park: Community outreach and review set to begin. Two design options include a soccer mini-pitch system, which would be a first for the Salem park system. Anticipated construction in 2025.
• Riverfront Park: Bond funded playground improvements have been combined with a $770,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to help design a more inclusive and accessible playground for all residents. Construction is anticipated in March of 2026.
• Geer Park: Dog park, shelter, and sports fields. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in June 2025.
• McKay Park: Restroom, shelter, and sports fields. Design work has begun with construction anticipated in 2025 or 2026.
Local Contracting Update. The Steering Committee receives regular updates on the local vendor participation in the bond projects. As of November 2024, 70% of bids by amount awarded have been awarded to local vendors from Marion and Polk Counties. Staff will continue to conduct outreach in advance of each construction season with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Latino Business Alliance, and the Salem Capital Connection.
BACKGROUND:
The City plans to issue two more bond sales within the next ten years to support ’Salems safety and livability measure <https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/shaping-salem-s-future/2022-community-infrastructure-bond>, passed by voters in November 2022. In addition to fire trucks and equipment, the bond includes investments in Salem’s streets, sidewalks, parks, two new fire stations to improve responses times, affordable housing, purchase of sites for affordable housing and branch libraries, cybersecurity for City operations, and Civic Center seismic improvements. Because payments for existing bonds are decreasing in the future, the City committed to keeping Salem's bonded tax levy rate at or below the 2022 rate of approximately $1.20/$1,000 of assessed value.
Courtney Knox Busch
Chief Strategy Officer
Attachments: