The Keizer City Council approved new regulations at its Oct. 2 meeting that outline how and where private businesses can operate at several city parks.
The new rules allow only food and non-alcoholic beverages to be sold from a pushcart or similar mode. Rules also dictate the maximum size of the carts.
Only three parks will be available for private businesses to operate: Keizer Rapids, Claggett Creek and Chalmers Jones.
Interested businesses will be required to submit an application to the city’s Public Works department. The fee for vendors will be $100 per year or $50 per month.
In other action the council gave official consent to the Volcanoes Stadium to change field lights at a cost of $250,000. The lease requires the city council to get consent of any project at the stadium costing more than $100,000.
Before council business, Andrew Copeland took the ceremonial oath as Keizer’s new police chief from City Attorney Shannon Johnson.
After taking the oath Copeland addressed the council and the audience. He said he was passionate about his new job as well as four things in life: “My faith, my family, policing and football.”
He added that he passionate about treating the Keizer community “super well.” He said he will assure that police department personnel are treated well.
Mayor Cathy Clark announced that Robin Barney was the city’s Volunteer of the Second Quarter. Barney, sales representative for the Keizertimes, was recognized for her work on Keizer’s 40th birthday celebration this summer as well as her leadership of the Keizer Heritage Foundation, RiverFAIR and other community events.
She was nominated by Mayor Clark and councilors Daniel Kohler and Laura Reid. In their nomination letters Kohler said, “Her tireless efforts in organizing, calling, running down participants and donations was an integral part of the success of the (40th birthday) event.” Council Reid wrote, “Her expertise in planning and coordinating was indispensable.”
Barney served several terms as president of the Keizer Heritage Foundation, which owns and operates the Keizer Cultural Center.
Monday’s council meeting began with three proclamations by Clark, naming Oct. 9 Indigenous People’s Day, October as Domestic Violence Awareness, National Disability Employment Awareness and Phillipino-American History month.
Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson and Jane Downing, executive director of the Center for Hope and Safety, spoke to the council and were presented with the Domestic Violence Awareness month proclamation. The women were joined by Maxwell, the Center’s labrador mascot and greeter.
Clarkson said it matters that domestic violence is talked about. “It is for those who feel they are not good enough, not strong enough and they’re not worthy of something better,” she said. Clarkson’s office filed more than 700 domestic violence cases in 2022 and she said there were many more cases that go unreported.
Downing told the council that it is unusual for a domestic violence service provider and a district attorney’s office to work so closely together. She lamented that is the not case in all counties.
Tammy Kunz of Keizer talked to the council about disabilities employment. She was presented the proclamation by Clark.
The council approved five appointments to city committees including Elaine Wilson, Jane Herb and Lore Christopher to the Keizer Budget Committee and Fernando Lopez along with Robb Witters to the Keizer Planning Commission.
Four student leaders with McNary High School’s National Honor Society Tina Hanson, Reese Ramirez, Pawat Potisuk and Pawit Potisuk), asked the mayor and councilors to be judges at this year’s Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, Oct. 29, at the school from 2 to 4 p.m.
The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 16.