TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Legislative Committee
SUBJECT:
title
Priorities for 2022 Oregon Legislative Session
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council approve the City of Salem’s priorities and policy statements for anticipated legislation resulting from the 2022 Oregon Legislative Session?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Approve the City of Salem’s priorities and policy statements for anticipated legislation resulting from the 2022 Oregon Legislative Session.
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SUMMARY:
The 2022 Oregon Legislative Session, a short 35-day session, is set to begin February 1, 2022. Before session begins, the Legislative Committee of the City Council considers priorities to pursue during the session and policy statements to guide Salem’s response to draft legislation. Bills proposed for consideration during the session are expected to be released in January 2022. 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.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The Legislative Committee met on December 10, 2021 to consider priorities for the coming session and policy statements to guide Salem’s response to proposed legislation. The Legislative Committee is Mayor Bennett and Councilors Andersen, Hoy, and Lewis. Councilor Gonzalez serves as the alternate.
The Legislative Committee is recommending four priorities for the short session:
1. Complete construction of the navigation center. Costs to retrofit an existing building have increased due to fire and life safety standards for sheltering or temporary housing, unanticipated increases in construction prices, supply chain challenges, and facility requirements for this type of use. Assistance will ensure the navigation center meets state, regional, and city homelessness policy objectives.
2. Secure flexible disposition of State of Oregon property for sheltering use on a temporary or permanent basis. As we continue to explore sites for micro-shelter villages and other temporary housing options, access to State-owned property would help us respond to the local sheltering crisis.
3. Construct regional 9-1-1 center. Salem’s Willamette Valley Communications Center provides 9-1-1 dispatch services to 29 police and fire agencies. The City provides this critical regional service in a leased building that is not built to today’s seismic standards. Legislative support is needed to build a permanent home for this critical regional emergency service.
4. Celebrate Salem Civic Center’s 50 years. Prepare Peace Plaza for 50th anniversary - August 18, 2022 - and years to come as an attractive, welcoming community asset. Funding for this work would restore the fountain and add greenspace and accessible parking to Peace Plaza area.
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, 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>). The email should identify the date of the legislative contact, the legislator(s) with whom contact was made, bill(s) discussed, and a summary of the position(s) and comments shared. 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. 2022 Legislative Policy Statements