TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Councilor Linda Nishioka, Ward 2
SUBJECT:
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Motion from Councilor Linda Nishioka concerning open house events.
Ward(s): All
Councilor(s): All
Neighborhood(s): All
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MOTION:
I move to direct staff to provide staff support and City resources to host an open house for south Salem, Wards 3, 4 and 7, north Salem, Wards 1,5 and 6, central Salem, Wards 1 and 2, and west Salem with Wards 1 and 8, with the Mayor in attendance for each.
DISCUSSION:
• Councilor Nordyke’s concept is excellent and straight to the point means of improved communications and outreach.
• “Open House” may be the better title for these communications outreach programs.
• Four events are proposed with up to three councilors and the Mayor for each event to keep the number of Councilors and Mayor under a quorum.
• The neighborhood associations within the wards designated for each event would be primary, but attendees from all neighborhood associations and residents from all of our community are welcome.
• Budgetary concerns are real, but the funds directed to our Neighborhood Associations for community engagement will be utilized.
• This will enable the city staff to communicate priorities, projects, or policies soon coming or underway.
• Information on what is planned and how it may impact an area.
• This should reduce staff time and city resources by presenting specific information to a larger audience.
• May help with informing residents of potential upcoming development proposals in their area.
City Manager’s note:
City staff have estimated that costs for each event will be approximately $5,000, in addition to staff planning, preparation, and attendance at the events.
If Council passes this motion, staff will return to Council with a comprehensive report providing more details for each event, format, potential dates, and topics. Councilors and neighborhood associations for each event will be an integral part of the planning process to ensure that event agendas fully capture the scope and focus of specific agenda items and the format for the events.
Topics for each event could include: Salem in Motion (Salem’s long range land use and transportation planning project), Emergency Preparedness, Parks Planning, Affordable Housing and Homelessness, Community Events, Bond Projects updates, and how to connect to and interact with the City, as well as items of interest to specific areas.
Some topics, such as land use applications pending at the time of the event, cannot be discussed due to state and City land use regulations.
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Attachments:
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