Salem City Council will hear an update on plans to improve plans to improve safety and livability in downtown and northeast Salem and feedback on the plan since a July 21 work session. Both areas experiene a high number of calls for police and emergency support. The goal is to foster a welcoming community where residents and businesses thrive.
Key actions include:
- Immediate actions: Increased police visibility through overtime assignments
- Short-term proposal for review at September 17 work session:
- Expanding the Homeless Services Team to seven-day coverage
- Piloting a co-response model with paramedics and mental health clinicians
- Long-term strategies for Fiscal Year 2027:
- Restoring a downtown bicycle police team
- Expanding outreach services
Challenges to these strategies include limited resources, state law changes and gaps in available services.
Staff are also working with businesses, residents and community groups to explore solutions including:
- Ambassador programs
- Reducing drug distribution
- Improving cleanliness
City Council will review funding options at a September 15 Work Session. Community engagement will continue this fall as part of the City’s Strategic Plan process.
Grant Funds for Tree Planting
The City Council will also consider a $70,000 appropriation from the General Fund in connection with a grant for tree planting. Staff learned after the budget process that a grant from Fiscal Year 2025 would be continued into Fiscal Year 2026.
Supplemental Budget for Center 50+ Grant
The City Council will consider adopting a resolution to adjust the 2026 budget for Center 50+. A multi-year grant, provided through Friends of Center 50+, would fund additional limited-duration employees to focus on outreach, volunteer expansion and other services. To use the donation, the City needs to increase expenditure authority in the Local Option Levy Fund.
