TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH:
FROM: Legislative Committee
SUBJECT:
title
Support for commuter rail study proposal to extend TriMet’s Westside Express Service commuter line to Salem, in 2023 Oregon Legislative Session.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance; Natural Environment Stewardship; Safe Community; Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure; Strong and Diverse Economy; Welcoming and Livable Community.
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SUMMARY:
summary
The 2023 Oregon Legislative Session is set to begin January 17, 2023 and end by June 25, 2023. On September 26, 2022, the Salem City Council adopted Legislative Committee recommended priorities to pursue during the session and policy statements to guide Salem’s response to draft legislation during the 2023 Session. When the subject of proposed legislation is outside the scope of the policy statements, the City Council’s Legislative Committee reviews bills identified as critical by City staff and recommends to City Council the position the City should take on critical bills.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council approve the Legislative Committee’s recommendation to support commuter rail study proposal to extend TriMet’s Westside Express Service commuter line to Salem, in 2023 Oregon Legislative Session?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Approve the Legislative Committee’s recommendation the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session recommendation to support commuter rail study proposal to extend TriMet’s Westside Express Service commuter line to Salem, in 2023 Oregon Legislative Session.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The Legislative Committee met on January 6, 2023 to receive an update on the upcoming Legislative Session. Members participating included Mayor Hoy and Councilors Gonzalez, Phillips, and Stapleton. Councilor Nishioka was present for the discussion. In addition to the update, the Committee also considered whether to offer the City’s support a commuter rail study proposal to extend TriMet’s Westside Express Service commuter line to Salem, in 2023 Oregon Legislative Session. The scope of the proposed ODOT-led is discussed further in House Bill 2662 (Attachment 1) and in materials summarizing the initiative (Attachment 2).
On September 26, the City Council approved the following funding priorities for the session:
• Funds for River Road Slide Mitigation ($20 million, one-time)
• Funds for Peace Plaza public square ($2 million, one-time)
• Funds to sustain sheltering program ($9 million annually) and Navigation Center ($2.1 million annually); and
• Funds for a sobering center ($1 million for two years operations).
Council also approved priorities for:
• A photo radar fix that would include Salem as a City able to use the technology similar to Senate Bill 560 from the 2019 Session,
• Support an effort to capture cost of future recreational vehicle demolition at point of sale or point of licensing - similar in scope to Senate Bill 4066 from the 2021 Session, and
• Support a payment from the State of Oregon to Salem for public safety services associated with its facilities in Salem, in lieu of taxes - similar in scope to HB 4036 from the 2022 Session.
BACKGROUND:
As positions are developed for individual bills, the Legislative Committee will recommend the City Council adopt positions in opposition or support. Before any official representing the City of Salem can attempt to influence legislation on an issue, the City Council must adopt a position related to that matter. To continue a coordinated and unified response during the upcoming session, and in accordance with Council Policy No. G-1, the Mayor and Councilor are asked to communicate the nature of their legislative contacts to staff via an email to Courtney Knox Busch (cbusch@cityofsalem.net <mailto:cbusch@cityofsalem.net>). Staff will forward the communication to the City’s lobbyist, the Legislative Committee, and City Council as appropriate.
Courtney Knox Busch
Strategic Initiatives Manager
Attachments:
1. House Bill 2622, proposed for 2023 Legislative Session
2. Fact Sheet: Commuter rail study proposal to extend TriMet’s Westside Express Service commuter line to Salem