Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (May 12, 2017)
MAY 12, 2017, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A11 FEE, continued from Page A1 “My experience was that we had questions about put- ting it on the ballot, but the majority of people I talked to said they trusted the council,” Ryan said. A vote has two potential consequences, if city staff were ramp up the effort to place an ordinance on the November ballot, it will incur additional costs (about $1 per registered voter according to City Re- corder Tracy Davis). Deciding to wait for a 2018 election, in which the city could forego the per-voter expense, defers needed maintenance and re- pairs for at least another year. Councilor Bruce Ander- son said he was uncomfortable with any action given the city’s lack of conversation about how to create greater funding for the Keizer Police Department. He was joined in his concern by Councilor Kim Freeman. “The people I talked to said they love their parks, but they said police come fi rst. I want to have that conversation before we move this forward,” Free- man said. Mayor Cathy Clark coun- tered she did not want the conversation to become an either/or proposition. Police offi cials have come up with a plan for what they need, but the past year was spent collect- ing information from residents about the parks because they are “the experts,” she said. “We have good information and we know what our (parks) needs are. In my mind, wait- ing another year would not be responsible. The safety and maintenance issues are critical,” Clark said. Ryan was the only coun- cilor to voice support for a structured fee increase from the outset. “If we increase incremen- tally, people can prepare for it,” Ryan said. Councilor Laura Reid, who played her hand close to the vest all night, was most inter- ested in how residents would be billed. Reid asked several ques- tions regarding how the bill- ing would be handled. From a monetary point of view, the cheapest method would be to include a fee as a line item on existing utility bills already is- sued by the city. Creating an additional bill sent with the current bills would cost an ad- ditional $1,500 to $17,600 de- pending on whether it was an- nually or monthly. An entirely separate billing would cost a minimum of $9,200 for an an- nual statement or $111,300 for 12 monthly statements. “Having the separate bill might give us more fl exibility to ask for people to increase their contribution,” Reid said. Clark said previous attempts to collect funds in that man- ner had rapidly diminishing returns and e-payment systems have made it unlikely many residents even open their bills. While the motion to have staff draft an ordinance passed unanimously, Anderson and Freeman reaffi rmed their res- ervations in how it was being handled. “I will support moving for- ward to draft an (ordinance), but that doesn’t mean I am supportive of the (ordinance),” Anderson said. Freeman said she hoped the council would begin discuss- ing a fee to support the police department sooner rather than later. “All (Chief John Teague) needs is for me to tell him when and he will be ready. We can have that robust discussion quickly,” said City Manager Chris Eppley. HOUSE, continued from Page A1 The Salem Police Depart- ment Bomb Squad was also called to the scene to investi- gate a suspicious device found among a stockpile of fi rearms, at least two were stolen. The largest of the weapons was a PTR-91F, a .308 caliber semi- automatic rifl e with bi-pod and scope. Police went in at the early hour because they suspected the occupants had fi rearms and presented an imminent danger. It also prevented inter- ruption to students getting to TRIAL, continued from Page A1 Robertson was discovered out- side the apartment waving her school at Cummings Elemen- tary School (385 feet away) and McNary High School (901 feet away). Lara-Alvarez is charged with: three counts of pos- session of oxycodone, one count of heroin possession, one count of methamphet- amine possession, one count of cocaine possession, one count of manufacturing mari- juana extract, two counts of theft by receiving, one count of tampering with evidence, maintaining a place where controlled substances are used and six counts of delivery of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a school. His bail was set at $405,000. hands and screaming. Caden was found unresponsive under a blanket inside. Two days later, an autopsy determined the boy had been strangled to death. Pcblic testimony on parks fee a mixed bag Jerry McGee said the fi rst 10 minutes of his conversations with residents regarding the fee were spent trying to convince them that there was no connection between the parks fee and the city utility bills. Including a fee as a line item with existing bills is the cheapest way for the city to collect it. “Don’t try to save a few pennies by includ- ing it with the water bill,” McGee said. McGee also encouraged the council to be reasonable with the amount saying a $4 fee would double the amount available for parks and few agencies see their budgets increase by that much. Keizerite Hans Schneider said it didn’t mat- ter whether the council or residents see the amount as a fee or a tax. “I don’t view this as a fee or a tax, it’s an investment in the city of Keizer. My vote is for this investment in this community,” Schneider said. By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes About 15 Keizer residents and at least one from Salem turned out to offer public com- ment on a proposed fee to create dedicated funding for Keizer parks Monday. May 8. The testimony offered was wide-ranging and touched on numerous aspects of the fee, but even supporters seemed to have reserva- tions regarding how to proceed. Keizerite Bill Quinn suggested that a vote would be a stronger indicator of support among residents than the survey the city spent three months asking for response to, but wanted to see additional stipulations. “The thing is that if you impose the fee, I suggest that you take away the $360,000 (for parks in the current budget) and put it toward the police. If you are going to have a fee go out for a vote and get the true feeling of the people,” Quinn said. Garry Whalen, a former member of the Keizer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board said, “solid, predictable funding is critical be- cause the parks are on life support.” However, Whalen championed the idea of tying a parks fee to the amount available in the city budget. “If the parks budget was reduced from $300,000 to $150,000, then the fee should also be reduced by 50 percent. A fee properly- structured will benefi t our whole community,” Whalen said. Jesse Borghesi, treasurer for a Salem rugby club that makes frequent use of Claggett Creek Park for their intramural league, had glowing reviews of his group’s interactions with Keizer parks staff. “The staff at the parks department are excel- lent and easy to work with. Anything that sup- ports the parks is a good thing,” Borghesi said. Rhonda Rich said the fee should be billed to property owners annually. She added that while she does not support fees and taxes, she fi lled out the recent survey and said she would be willing to pay a $2 monthly fee. Allen Barker said outside forces acting on the Keizer city budget, such as payments to the Public Employees Retirement System that consume most of the 3 percent increase in property taxes, have made for an untenable situation. “The Keizer budget doesn’t support the parks at the level it needs to be done. Citizens themselves are taking care of the parks,” Barker said. Daniel Miedema was one of the most ef- fusive supporters of the fee. “The idea of a community or city is to share the burden of expensive tasks. I strongly sup- port the fee. Anything that keeps the parks up and running in my mind is fantastic,” Miedema said. Business&Services LAWN SERVICES MEMORY CARE NURSING & REHAB FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR OVER 39 YEARS COMPLETE LAWN & GARDEN CARE Yard cleanups, mowing, pruning, bark dusting, and more! Our family serving your family 24-H OUR S KILLED N URSING • T HERAPY • W OUND M ANAGEMENT L ONG T ERM C ARE • D EMENTIA C ARE • A WARD W INNING A CTIVITIES D ELICIOUS H OMEMADE F OOD • L OVELY S URROUNDINGS • C ARING S TAFF 4062 A RLETA A VE NE • K EIZER , OR • 503-390-2271 WWW .S HERWOOD P ARK . COM CALL TODAY - 503.304.8849 CR 1229 CR PLUMBING REAL ESTATE SAND & GRAVEL The McVays are Keizer Windsor Rock PRODUCTS Born, raised, & residing in Keizer, the McVays have 27 combined years of experience with Coldwell Banker. They know this market and are here to help! Topsoil, Crushed Rock Round Rock Pea Gravel BRIAN & APRIL McVAY Your goals are their priority You haul or we deliver Prompt Service - Saturday until noon 503.510.6827 Phone quotes 393-8920 mcvaythree@gmail.com 824 Windsor Island Rd. N. • KEIZER CR 0512 CR SAVE YOUR LIFE REAL ESTATE TURF & GARDEN Ken Ream 503-881-5335 Carolyn Ream 503-551-3656 FITZMAURICE FERTILIZER, INC. Creating Change Starts With Us! You have options — we are different. We go above and beyond what most Realtors will do. If selling, we help you paint, pressure wash, move you, and help you with staging your home. If buying, there are two of us always available to meet your needs and help you through the process. We Specialize in Fertilizers & Weed Control We also carry Pest Control Products 4195 Salem Industrial Dr NE Salem 503-393-2121 FIND OUT MORE AT www.KenReam.JohnLScott.com CR NC VEHICLE GRAPHICS VETERINARIAN YARD & GARDEN VETERINARIAN NOW OFFERING ACUPUNCTURE AND CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES SCREEN PRINTING VEHICLE WRAPS EMBROIDERY & MORE! McKinley Landscape Maintenance, LLC Owner 4975 River Road North D R .S HERI M ORRIS Keizer, OR 97303 Team & Fan Wear • Banners Stickers • Window Tinting 503-393-7462 wvah.net FIND US BY Point S Tires 3818 River Rd N, Keizer B.Sc., DVM, Diplomate, ABVP No Appt. Necessary CR CreeksideVetKeizer.com 503-393-0285 503-935-1893 LCB #9309 113 McNary Estates Dr N, Suite B – Next to Don Suklis State Farm Insurance McKinleyLandscapeLLC.com 503.390.5222 Mon & Fri: 8am - 6pm, Tue -Wed-Thu: 8am-9pm, Sat: 8am-4pm, Sun: 11am- 4pm 503.991.5316 CR 0630 CR CR
