CITY COUNCIL

$9K in matching park grants available

At the Feb. 21 Keizer City Council meeting, Lisa Cejka of the Keizer Parks Advisory Board gave a report that including the reminder that there is $9,400 in grant money for parks projects.

Projects funded in part by the city’s Parks Matching Grant Program must be completed by June 30.

Each year, the Budget Committee and the City Council will consider the recommendation of the Keizer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board with regard to the total amount to budget for the Parks Matching Grant Program for the upcoming fiscal year. The Parks Advisory Board solicits applications from citizens for projects that will benefit parks in Keizer.

To be eligible, the project must qualify under one or more of the following categories:

• Projects that are listed in the Keizer Parks Master Plan, or;

• Projects that qualify as a City of Keizer standard park amenity, or;

• Projects that would improve a park or parks in Keizer can be submitted on a city-approved form. All applications must be addressed to Deputy City Recorder.

To learn more about the matching grant program visit keizer.org/parks-matching-grant-information.

A scheduled public hearing regarding utility services utilizing the public rights-of-way The proposal is to change from a franchise fee to a code model. The hearing was pushed to the March  20 regular session meeting to allow more time to address industry concerns.

A resolution to authorize City Manager Adam Brown to enter in an agreement with a consulting firm to assist the Community Diversity Engagement Committee to develop a work plan for the year was continued to the next council meeting. A proposed $24,000 contract with the firm, Buffalo Cloud Consulting, LLC, of Lake Oswego, was not in the council’s meeting packet.

Councilor Laura Reid, a member of the committee, said representatives of the company presented at the committee’s January meeting.

“I was impressed,” said Reid.

Councilor Soraida Cross said $24,000 was a lot of money and questioned having a Lake Oswego company advising Keizer what to do.

In other business:

• Matt Lawyer of the Planning Commission gave a report. He said the commission will once again address the Auxillary Dwelling Unit (ADU) issue due to changes allowed by Oregon, including adding an ADU to the top of an existing detached garage.

Lawyer and Planning Director Shane Witham reminded the council, attendees and the television viewing  audience of a virtual public meeting about state rules regarding walkable, mixed use areas.

The annual clean up of the Keizer Civic Center campus is scheduled for Saturday, March 11, Lawyer also reported. The event, sponsored by the Claggett Creek Watershed Council is a project by members of the Rotary Club of Keizer. Lawyer said that volunteers are needed at 9 a.m. that day for 2-3 hours of work.

• Room rental fees were waived for the Keizer Chamber of Commerce’s use of the conference space at the Civic Center for the State of the City luncheon on March 14.

• Human Resources Director Machell DePina gave a report on current collective bargaining with employee unions.