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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2019)
SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 40, NO. 25 SECTION A MARCH 22, 2019 $1.00 Committee fl oats 4th option for bikes, peds along River Road By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Members of the Keizer Traffi c Safety, Bikeways and Pedestrian Committee found all of the recently-proposed enhancements to bike and pedestrian traffi c on River Road lacking at its meeting Thursday, March 14. “My main concern is that all three of the options have operational or safety problems. If not for motor vehicles, then cyclists and pedestrians. The one that got the highest marks confl icts with current accepted design policy,” said Pat Fisher, a committee member. As part of efforts to rethink development along Keizer’s major commercial corridors, consultants to the city unveiled three options for improving multimodal traffi c. One option would involve removing the turn lane from the center of River Road and using the recouped The Keizer Traffi c Safety Committee put forth a new option for redesigning non- vehicle traffi c fl ow on River Road North. The proposal would mean narrower lanes and a multiuse sidewalk for both bikes and pedestrians on each side of the street. River Road SIDEWALKS 5’ 10’ * EXISTING ROAD LANES 12’ KEIZERTIMES Candace Johnson 10’ * *approximate PROPOSED space to install sidewalks and buffered bike lanes. Another option is narrowing lanes and installing a multiuse sidewalk on one side of the street. The fi nal option put forth by consultants is narrowing lanes and installing unbuffered bike lanes. Members of the traffi c safety committee preferred another solution during talks at the meeting. The group put forth a recommendation to the city to install multiuse sidewalks on both sides of the road. That means bikes and pedestrians would be traveling on the same sidewalk, but have plenty of maneuverability. Ideally, cyclists would travel in a “lane” nearest to the street with pedestrians taking an inside lane. The idea would mitigate the primary fl aw in having only one multiuse sidewalk proposed by consultants: bikes traveling both ways on one side of the street. “Cyclists going both ways would be introducing another safety hazard because drivers are not used to looking both ways for cyclists,” Fisher said. “It also doesn’t fi t the context with so many driveways.” The number of entrances to businesses and other properties along River Road creates hurdles for any new solution, but it’s a problem the city inherited. “[Marion] County devel- oped River Road substan- dard and we are stuck with it. To do it right, we would need to purchase right-of-way and there’s no money,” said Hersch Please see ROAD, Page A5 Boys lead off with 5-0 win PAGE A14 Find out what’s in that purple truck PAGE A5 Parks board seeks boost to matching grant fund stallation of benches and tables By ERIC A. HOWALD while working with a sponsor Of the Keizertimes A conversation about in- from the city council or parks stituting a parks improvement board,” said Lawyer. The idea was also informed fund aimed at assisting youth projects turned into a plan by a conversation with City Councilor Dan to ask for a Kohler. One $5,000 increase recent Keizer to a matching Eagle Scout, grant program and a liaison administered to the Keizer by the Keizer Parks Board, Parks Adviso- was looking for ry Board at a a service proj- meeting Tues- ect and ended day, March 12. Inspired by — Robert Johnson up taking his some of the Keizer parks supervisor time and tal- ent to Salem past projects because the completed neighbor to with a match- ing grant fund, Board Member the south would offer funding Matt Lawyer brought forth an up front instead of reimburse- idea to create a similar pro- ment. Lawyer suggested begin- gram directed at youth with a ning with a $2,000 annual few changes. “[The fund would] en- allowance for the program. able and encourage youth However, whereas adults and to participate in the volun- other groups must pay for im- teer experience by paying for provements out-of-pocket and maintenance projects or in- Please see PARKS, Page A5 “You still want to encourage a matching effort.” READY FOR DUTY Submitted John Hartzell got a personal tour of the Keizer Police Department recently. In addition to meeting numerous offi cers, he got to try out some of the department hardware like a riot shield and the department’s heavy-duty door knocker. McNary senior is defining service PAGE A8 Clark lauds city’s efforts at Chamber lunch Mayor Cathy Clark delivers the annual State of the City address at a Keizer Chamber of Commerce luncheon Tuesday, March 12. KEIZERTIMES/ Eric A. Howald By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes From livability and development to what’s be- ing done to assist some of Keizer’s most vulnera- ble residents, Mayor Cathy Clark is feeling good about the future of the city. “We are on a good course to our future. We are known for showing up, speaking up, getting involved and getting it done,” said Clark in her annual State of the City address during a Keizer Chamber of Commerce luncheon Tuesday, March 12. “By coming together to create it, we will have something to celebrate every day.” Clark covered a lot of territory in the speech while trying to hit on all the high notes that show the work being done. In regard to livability issues, Clark said the groundwork is being laid to decide how the city should approach its expected growth, either through higher density development or expan- sion of the Keizer Urban Growth Boundary. The lack of available developable spaces is turning the screws on Keizer’s renters. Keizer was recently tabbed as one of numerous rent-bur- dened cities in the state. “At the end of the day, our [growth] will be unique because our situation is unique,” she said in a nod to the city’s shared UGB with Salem. “I’m looking forward to hearing what options are available to get [housing] demand and supply into better balance.” She’s also looking forward to some sort of res- olution for west Keizer residents taking fi re from a recreational shooting range. The city is currently an intervenor in a lawsuit seeking a permanent injunction and legislative fi xes are on the docket in the 2019 Oregon Legislative session. PAGE A14 Please see CITY, Page A5 This spring, we’ll be expanding to a FULL SERVICE CLINIC in Keizer. We’re bringing Orthopedic care, closer to home. to better serve the Keizer community Girls tennis shows heart 5825 Shoreview Lane, Keizer • 503-540-6471 1600 State Street, Salem • 503-540-6300 ®