SALEM, Ore. — The Salem City Council will receive an update Monday night on the city’s ongoing efforts to address substance use through prevention, treatment and enforcement as part of a broader agenda that also includes public hearings on two major contracting proposals, several proclamations and a report on the city’s urban forestry work.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, March 23, at Loucks Auditorium. The Salem Housing Authority will also meet.
Substance use remains a major concern in Salem, with city officials citing its impact on public health, safety and overall livability. In response, the city has launched a strategy aimed at assessing and improving how services are delivered by working with community partners.
That work includes mapping available resources, identifying gaps in service and clarifying which agencies are responsible for prevention, treatment and enforcement. Early findings point to gaps in enforcement capacity and underscore the importance of partnerships, particularly because treatment services fall largely outside the city’s direct responsibilities.
City staff have created an assessment tool to help guide that effort and are working with Marion County and other regional partners to better align resources, improve coordination and avoid duplication of services. Officials say outreach will continue, with staff expected to return to council later with recommendations for a coordinated plan.
Council members will also hold a public hearing on a request to waive standard competitive bidding requirements for the Franzen Reservoir Liner and Cover Replacement Project. The city is seeking to use a Construction Manager At Risk alternative contracting method, which would bring a contractor into the design phase to provide input on cost, scheduling, materials procurement and other design considerations.
In a separate public hearing, the Salem Housing Authority will consider a similar request related to the redevelopment of Glen Creek Apartments, an affordable housing property. That exemption would allow the agency to use a construction manager/general contractor during the design phase in an effort to reduce costs and improve amenities. Officials said the contractor would still be selected through a competitive request for proposals process.
Other items on Monday’s agenda include proclamations recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and Arbor Month. Council will also hear a presentation tied to Salem’s Tree City of the Year award, review the 2025 Annual Tree Report and consider Federal Aviation Administration grants.
The meeting follows a March 16 City Council session in which councilors discussed the city’s mission, vision and values as part of Salem’s five-year strategic planning process. That meeting is available to watch on the city’s YouTube channel.
