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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2019)
PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, MAY 10, 2019 5 residents of SE Keizer: KeizerFEST isn’t welcome File Celebrate with Mom at KFD breakfast The Keizer Volunteer Firefi ghters Association will hold its annual Mother’s Day Breakfast from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Sun- day, May 12 at the Keizer Fire Station 661 Chemawa Road NE. The menu will include pancakes, eggs, and ham. Attendees will also be served milk, coffee and orange juice. The cost for this years breakfast is $6 for adults and $3 for children under the age of 12. All proceeds from the event will go to programs and events sponsored by the Keizer Volunteer Firefi ghters Association. It’s not often a declaration during pu- bic testimony shocks the members of the Keizer City Council, but members of the Southeast Keizer Neighborhood Associ- ation (SEKNA) pulled out a doozy on Monday, May 6. Joe Tillman, SEKNA’s messenger and a volunteer in city committees, read a brief statement that left no room for interpre- tation: “Due to the blatant disregard of the concerns of residents and business- es, KeizerFEST is no longer welcome in the neighborhood. We really thought this would be a wonderful thing and it has been less than so.” Tillman told the council that a vote was taken at the last meeting of SEKNA and it was unanimously decided to de- liver the message to the council. When asked how many members of SEKNA attended the last meeting, Tillman said four, until he was corrected by a member of the audience that there were actually fi ve members in attendance the night the vote was taken. Sherrie Gottfried, an employee of The Grass Hut II, was the audience member who offered the correction. The Grass Hut has had longstanding disputes with the Keizer Chamber of Commerce, the organizer of KeizerFEST, over the closure of roads leading to their business during the annual event. KeizerFEST headquar- ters are located at the Keizer Lions Club property which sits cater-corner to Grass Hut II. At an April meeting of the Keizer City Council, Gottfried presented informa- tion to the council about lost business and concerns over disability parking. She said that the given reasons for closing the street, for safety and ADA parking, did not comport with what happened in the space. Closing the street led to accidents and near-misses and there were never any signs put in place to delineate where handicapped parking was available. Moreover, Gottfried’s documents show Grass Hut II lost about a third of its regular foot traffi c during KeizerFEST weekend and about 20 percent of its ex- pected revenue. KeizerFEST organizers plan to reduce the size of the closure this year and that appeared to alleviate some of Gottfried’s concerns until the SEKNA vote was pre- sented to the council. Council members appeared stunned by the announcement that KeizerFEST wasn’t welcome, but Councilor Marlene Parsons leapt to the defense of the Keizer Chamber and chided SEKNA for repre- senting the vote as having more weight than the fi ve people who attended its most recent meeting. “The Chamber has worked with busi- nesses to get a positive result. I think what needs to happen is a conversation with all 37,000 residents of Keizer. I think that needs to happen with the citizens and you guys in the forefront of that,” Parsons said. “I know that they are working hard to please everybody and every neighbor,” added Mayor Cathy Clark. Council takes fi rst steps toward charter review By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes The Keizer City Coun- cil took the fi rst steps toward forming a city charter review committee at its meeting Monday, May 6. The council wants the committee to take a fresh look at the city charter with one goal being the removal of an- ti-LGBTQIA language that has been in place since 1993. The council determined that the committee will be comprised of seven members, two of whom will be appoint- ed city councilors and the re- maining fi ve will be registered Keizer voters. The council still has to adopt a resolution that formally creates the commit- tee, but those interested in vol- unteering will apply through the city’s Volunteer Coordinat- ing Committee. “We have a tremendous wealth of expertise in our community and the oppor- tunity to bring them in for a short-term project,” said May- or Cathy Clark. Councilor Roland Herrera, one of the most ardent sup- porters of removing Section 44, the anti-LGBTQIA sec- tion, said he would like to see a focus put on diversity as the committee is formed. “We had one group look at the charter after this language was added and they recom- mended no changes,” Herrera said. While the revising or re- moval of Section 44, is a pri- ority, the task force is expect- ed to look at other potential changes that would bring the city charter in line with others in the state. Voters will have to approve any proposed changes, but the city can place a mea- sure on the ballot at a reduced cost in 2020. Section 44, which was ap- proved by Keizer voters in 1993, prohibits the city from: extending minority status to individuals based on sexu- al orientation and expending funds that “promote homo- sexuality or express approval of homosexual behavior.” Voters approved the measure with a 55 percent majority. The Oregon Legislature has already passed a measure making all such local provi- sions unenforceable, but then returned to the issue in 2017 with a statute putting any lo- cal government that tried to enforce on the hook for court challenges. Despite the neuter- ing, the language has remained in the city’s founding docu- ment for 25 years. Sam Goesih CLU, Agent Sam Goesih Ins Agiy Ini 3975 River Road North Keizer, OR 97303 Bus: 503-393-6252 Web: SamGoesih.iom State Farm , Bloomington, IL 1211999 to better serve the Keizer community This spring, we’re expanding to a FULL SERVICE CLINIC in Keizer. We’re bringing Orthopedic care, closer to home. ® 5825 Shoreview Lane, Keizer • 503-540-6471 1600 State Street, Salem • 503-540-6300 Join us MAY 14 TH for our ribbon cutting ceremony. At Hope Orthopedics of Oregon, we’re dedicated to outstanding accessible orthopedic care. As part of that commitment we are proud to be opening a new clinic in the Keizer community. Our highly trained specialists are bringing orthopedic care, closer to you. Our surgeons, PAs, and Nurse Practitioners have experience in subspecialty orthopedic care, joint replacement, and sports injuries. We also offer comprehensive therapy services with highly trained professionals who will work with you to speed your recovery and allow you to return to the things you most enjoy doing. With our services available closer to home, you can spend more time doing the things you love. Hope Orthopedics, where expertise & compassion meet.
