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 updates from the Bond Oversight Steering Committee in April, August, and December of 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.
The ’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:
• McGilchrist Complete Street. The first phase of the work is underway to realign the intersection of 22nd Street SE at McGilchrist Street SE, improve to stormwater facilities, and build a replacement crossing over the east fork of Pringle Creek. The second and third phases of construction are anticipated for 2025 through 2027. 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. This pavement rehabilitation work - on Commercial Street SE from Fabry Road SE <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 advertised for contractors to submit bids for construct in 2024.
• Minto-Brown Island Park parking lot paving <https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/shaping-salem-s-future/safety-and-livability-bond/minto-brown-parking-improvements>. Work is underway at Parking Lot 2, which serves the dog park area, and Parking Lot 3, which provides parking for the river access area. To prepare for the paving and stormwater drainage improvements, some mostly diseased and non-native birch trees were removed. The contractor will begin reconstructing the parking lots when whether allows this spring with work expected to be wrapped up in both parking lots by Fall 2024.
• Design Underway. We are staging other projects for construction beginning spring 2024 and beyond. Design of the following construction projects is underway:
o Mill and Pringle Creek Bridges to strengthen bridges to meet new Federal Highway Administration and ODOT load rating requirements.
o 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.
o 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.
o 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.
o Replacing multi-use athletic courts at Highland, Hoover, River Road, Morningside and Sumpter parks
o Playground Structures at Morningside, Livingston, and Riverfront Parks.
o Geer Park dog park, shelter and sports fields.
• Civic Center Seismic Retrofit. On December 11, 2023, Salem City Council received an update on Civic Center master planning effort <https://salem.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6444436&GUID=763B6034-9AD8-4CC1-9540-37DDD6023103&Options=&Search=> to develop a vision and blueprint for future use of the building. The master plan focuses on delivering the commitment of a resilient, safe and secure Civic Center. If possible, within the scope and budget, the project may also result in a more inviting, accessible and modern facility with a more flexible work space for a 21st century work environment. In January, City Council approved design-build as the contracting method for this work. Proposals have been received from four design-build teams to design and construct the project. The selection process will conclude in April with construction to begin as early as 2025.
• Local Contracting Update. On January 31, 2024, the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Salem hosted a well-attended Contractor Forum to raise awareness of local contracting opportunities. Staff are scheduled to brief Latino Business Alliance membership at an April meeting of the group. Staff will also regularly conduct outreach with 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
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