TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Mayor Julie Hoy
SUBJECT:
title
Motion from Mayor Julie Hoy to direct staff to coordinate with ODOT to formulate a plan to address cleaning and maintenance of ODOT right-of-way within Salem
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
end
MOTION:
I move that City Council direct the City Manager to coordinate with ODOT to formulate and implement a plan to improve the cleanliness and maintenance of ODOT right-of-way within Salem.
DISCUSSION:
The plan should increase both the frequency and quality of ODOT’s cleaning efforts. ODOT has historically scheduled clean ups for its right-of-way within Salem approximately every six weeks, however more recently those clean ups occur less often. Even then many ODOT owned properties within the city may not be addressed when their crews are in town. Further, the quality of ODOT’s cleaning is not consistent. In many instances, ODOT crews may leave substantial amounts of trash and junk behind.
The City has created the right approach to maintain public areas through the SOS and HST teams. These teams use an informed approach to addressing illegal camping on public areas. The HST officers provide proactive policing and have familiarity working with unsheltered populations and have had significant success in gaining voluntary compliance with camp occupants to leave areas where camping is illegal, and access services to work toward getting off the street and into a successful outcome. The City’s teams work collaboratively with area non-profit service providers to ensure that unsheltered individuals have access to the services they need.
This motion was submitted after 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2026, after the deadline provided by Council Rule 5(j). The rule provides, that any item of new business provided after this deadline may be added to the agenda as an addition but shall not be acted upon at the meeting where first presented.
Therefore, I am not asking Council to take action on this motion at tonight. The motion will appear on the January 26, 2026 council meeting agenda for Council’s consideration and action.
body
Attachments:
None.