Salem city councilors want state legislators to put millions towards Salem’s homelessness programs, and secure an annual payment from the state to help plug its budget deficit. Those are among the items on the legislative agenda councilors adopted unanimously at a Monday evening meeting. The agenda outlines both general policy positions city officials will take when lobbying legislators, as well as specific items Salem wants to secure funding for. The city’s legislative committee, which worked to craft the agenda, includes Councilors Virginia Stapelton, Vanessa Nordyke, Linda Nishioka and Mayor Chris Hoy. The next legislative session begins in January.  Also on Monday, the city’s new fire chief, David Gerboth, was sworn in following former chief Mike Niblock’s Sept. 20 retirement.  “I stand before you deeply humbled and honored to assume the role of your 43rd fire chief and to lead this department that has an extraordinary history of service,” Gerboth said during the ceremony. “While significant challenges lie ahead, such as assuming ambulance service, filling key vacancies and managing fiscal constraints, they also bring immense opportunities. I look forward to tackling these challenges and capitalizing on these opportunities together as a team.”  City gets new fire chief as Niblock retires after a 20-year career in Salem  State payment, tax reforms among city priorities The city’s legislative policy statements for the coming year include support for state property tax reform, developing the Salem-Willamette Valley Airport and the Mill Creek Corporate Center, and pursuing millions in annual compensation from the state to help pay for public safety.  Rep. Tom Andersen, a Salem Democrat and former city councilor, introduced a bill during the 2024 legislative session addressing the high amount of state-owned, tax-exempt land within city limits. It called for the state to pay the city of Salem millions each year. The bill died in committee. The annual payments were also proposed by the city’s revenue task force which was convened to help the city come up with options to generate money to help resolve its budgetary shortfalls.  Salem legislators seek annual state payments to cover police, fire Councilors also indicate they support removing some limits on property tax growth that could help ensure the city is able to maintain basic services. The cost of such services in recent years has been rising faster than tax revenue, leading to a growing budget deficit. Economic development was also a major policy area outlined by the city. The priorities include increased revenue options and grant opportunities to benefit the Salem-Willamette Valley Airport, and supporting commercial air service. Also on the economic front, the city hopes to see continued state investment in the Mill Creek Corporate Center, an area of southeast Salem that has become a hub for warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Another major priority is additional funding to help mitigate homelessness through more rental assistance, intensive case management, mental and behavioral health treatment, short-term sobering services and long-term recovery programs, and transitional and permanent housing programs among others. The policy statements also included funding to prevent homelessness and reduce barriers to housing for the chronically unhoused. State funding has helped Salem’s micro shelter sites continue to operate after city money to support them dried up earlier this year. Salem wants to see continued state money for those programs: $8.2 million annually to sustain sheltering programs, and another $2.1 million a year to keep the Navigation Center running. Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and traffic safety were listed as one of the city’s federal legislative priorities. That includes money for implementing the city’s Vision Zero Plan, which hopes to reduce deaths on Salem’s roadways by lowering speed limits, and using new speed radar devices and public education campaigns. Councilors also hope to see state funding for some infrastructure projects, including $2 million for s renovation of Peace Plaza, money for park path rehabilitation, and money to replace playground equipment at Riverfront Park.  Crowded, aging Riverfront Park playground will be upgraded in 2026  Forum concerns center around trash as city explains new micro shelter locations Given the large number of state-owned properties in Salem, the redevelopment of those properties was listed as a city legislative priority.  The city’s policy statement calls for supporting legislation encouraging the redevelopment of properties including the Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility, and other surplus state-owned properties. The city also hopes to push for the demolition of buildings in preparation for potential redevelopment to make the surrounding neighborhoods more livable and economically viable.  Other items Councilors voted unanimously to apply for a grant through Oregon Department of Forestry to help deal with the effects of the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that feeds on ash species, in Salem. Applications to apply for the funding are due on Oct. 15. The funding could be used for pesticide injections of city-owned ash trees along city streets.  City councilors also voted unanimously to appoint Beth Schmidt, the Salem-Keizer Safe Routes to Schools coordinator, to a partial term on the Citizens Advisory Traffic Commission. Schmidt’s term expires Dec. 31, 2026. William Dixon and Andrew Cohen were reappointed to the Citizen Budget Committee for second terms expiring June 30, 2027.  City councilors unanimously accepted Monday a second amendment to the purchase and sale agreement between the city and Green Light-Home First, LLC for the sale of the former Salem General Hospital site. The amendment decreases the purchase price of one of the parcels and increases the purchase price of another to accommodate the financing requirements for the buyer. The city council authorized the purchase and sale agreement for the property on Northeast 23rd Street between Northeast D Street and Northeast Center Street on July 8. The city initially acquired the property from Salem Health to facilitate development by Green Light-Home First for affordable housing. Contact reporter Joe Siess: [email protected] or 503-335-7790.A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE – If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. 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