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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 2016)
SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 38, NO. 8 SECTION A NOVEMBER 25, 2016 $1.00 Council denies Keizer Chamber request for parade fee waivers By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes A Keizer Chamber of Commerce request that city offi cials waive fees and other costs associated with the Hol- iday Lights Parade was snuffed out at the Keizer City Coun- cil meeting Monday, Nov. 21. The Keizer Chamber re- quested waivers for fees total- ing $5,805 related to police staffi ng, public works costs and temporary use permits among others, but councilors were not in a giving mood. One city councilor even ex- pressed frustration at the ask- ing. “The chamber did come to council a month ago and we were honest about what we could waive and what we couldn't. I'm a little dis- appointed that they came “I think we all love this event, but we have a city to run and we have to be diligent with the money we have.” — Kim Freeman, Keizer City Councilor and asked for it anyway,” said Councilor Kim Freeman. “I think we all love this event, but we have a city to run and we have to be diligent with the money we have.” Danielle Bethell, executive director of the Keizer Cham- ber of Commerce, asked the city council to consider fee waivers at a previous meet- ing and, while no action was taken, councilors made it clear that waivers would be unlikely. At the time, Mayor Cathy Clark said she wanted to hear from River Road North busi- nesses about their success dur- ing the parade before dipping into city coffers in support of it. At the meeting Monday, the biggest topic of discussion was a request to waive $4,000 for police staffi ng. Granting such a waiver would subtract from the city's general fund which is already stretched thin, and even a $4,000 ex- pense could create a shortfall down the line. “I feel like that during the budget process in May would be the proper time to ask for a waiver like this. I will be a no vote on waiving anything,” said Councilor Amy Ryan. The fees the Keizer Cham- ber was requesting waivers for generally fell into two cat- egories hard costs and fore- gone revenues. In addition to the $4,000 for police staffi ng, there were another $1,300 in costs to the Keizer's Pub- lic Works Department that would have to be absorbed. Other costs – $50 for an ap- plication fee and $275 in tem- porary use permits – would simply have resulted in less revenue. Councilor Bruce Anderson said he was impressed with the Chamber's discussions regard- ing the decision to take on the parade, and would have sup- ported many of the fee waiv- ers, but not the police staffi ng. “The police staffi ng is a bridge too far, but I think looking at the other fee waiv- ers are reasonable,” Anderson said. In the end, the only waiver the Chamber left the meet- ing with was worth $180, which covers the costs of parade coverage on Keizer's public access cable channel, Keizer 23. Keizer 23 funds are sourced outside the general fund. The parade is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Keizer church hosts OSP outreach KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Trooper Shelly Squibb talks with Sol Rivera, Patty Echeverria and Diana Alvarez at Inglesia Luz Del Valle Church during a law enforcement outreach event Thursday, Nov. 17. All-Class Reunion PAGE A3 Stuffing the bus PAGE A5 By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Oregon State Trooper Cris- tian Cuevas was only called in to meet with his high school counselor once, and it remains something of a sore point. “They only wanted to ask me why I wasn't picking up my free bus passes,” said Cuevas at Inglesia Luz Del Valle Church C. Cuevas in Keizer Thursday, Nov. 17. Cuevas took part in a outreach event at the church on Dearborn Avenue Northeast intend- ed to connect local Latino youth with potential job opportunities in law enforcement. Rev. Jose Dominguez arranged the gathering, which drew about three dozen attendees, as a follow-up to a community event in August to talk about com- munity relations with local law enforcement. One of the concerns that arose from the earlier conversation was the lack of diversity among the local law enforcement while minority populations continue to grow. Cuevas, a native of Chile, talked about his path to the Oregon State Police, which he felt was probably refl ected in the experience of today's youth. “I wish my councilor had brought me in to Please see OUTREACH, Page A10 City recognized for Mecha-cow proposal bicycle friendliness meets resistance By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Keizer has earned an honorable mention as a bicycle-friendly city from the League of American Bicyclists (LAB). It was announced last week in Washington, D.C., that Keizer joined 33 other communities throughout the nation in the honorable mention category of recognition. Platinum, gold, silver and bronze designations are also available should city offi cials decide to pursue them. Oregon has 11 communities that rank bronze or higher. Ashland (gold), Corvallis (gold) and Bend (silver) also received designations this time around. An honorable mention recognizes Keizer’s efforts toward improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies. The Bicycle Friendly City (BFC) program provides a benchmark for communities to evaluate those conditions and policies, while highlighting areas for improvement. A trio of city volunteers were the driving force behind the application to LAB. Hersch Sangster, Pat Fisher and John Henry Maurice, all members of Keizer's Traffi c, Bikeways and Pedestrian Safety Committee, took on the effort with the blessing of the city council. “We really tried to play devil's advocate as we went through the checklist of qualifications,” said Sangster. “And we came out better than we expected. This is a big thing for the city.” More than an honorable mention or a metal designation, the group wanted a baseline assessment of where Keizer stood in relation to other cities in the LAB program. In addition judging the application to the program, LAB offi cials sought out input from residents who use Keizer's bikeways through an online survey and then selected some responders to Please see BIKE, Page A10 has on-hand so fundraising By ERIC A. HOWALD would be required. Of the Keizertimes Before the conversation The Keizer roundabout opened just three months moved toward approval, the ago but the Keizer Public idea met with resistance Arts Commission is already during discussions. Commis- trying to fi gure sioner Jessi out what to put Long said the in the center of “There’s idea of cows it. something gave her pause. Commis- “ T h e r e ’s sioners dis- about cows something cussed the po- tential of the that screams, about cows that screams, ‘Let’s space and even ‘Let’s mess mess with it,’” one proposal Long said. “I from a Keizer with it.’” think maybe sculptor with — Jessi Long, a windmill a piece along Keizer Public Arts or a piece the River Road Commissioner of farming North art walk. equipment Rick Smith, a salvage artist who crafted might be a better idea.” When ideas for an old the Iron Glory sculpture of the American fl ag near Copper truck or piece of farming Creek Mercantile on River equipment were fl oated, Road North, submitted a City Councilor Amy Ryan proposal to construct a trio opposed. “I hesitate to say a truck of salvage-metal cows that would stand in the middle of or farm vehicle because when I was growing up the intersection. Smith's proposal called people always complained for $2,000 in materials and about the old, rusty trucks supplies and $7,500 in labor, in the fi eld there,” said Ryan, but he would donate half the city council liaison on of the latter amount to the the committee. She also opposed the cow project for a total cost of $5,750. That amount is more idea given the affi nity for the than the Arts Commission herd that calls the property next to the roundabout home. The family that owns that property petitioned the city earlier this year to rezone it paving the way for 112 apartments. The request was approved in September, but construction is likely a ways off. Ryan proposed a Celtic sculpture as an alternative, and said the commission should be prepared to replace or repair anything that goes on the site Nate Brown, Keizer's community development director, said concern about cows might be overblown. “The cows are a sensitive issue, but people have had some time to adjust to the idea and I don't think we should be too concerned offending someone,” he said. Brown said that whatever art takes up residence on the roundabout should be substantial. “Anything small could be more easily vandalized. The beefi er it is, the better,” Brown said. Commission chair Beth Melendy tasked commis- sioners with brainstorming alternative ideas they could approach Smith with. Please see COW, Page A10 Keizer kids blazing trail PAGE A11 Lady Celts lock sights on title PAGE A12
