Salem city councilors on Monday will consider buying a northeast Salem property to be developed into affordable housing. If the council approves, the city’s Urban Development Department will buy an unimproved lot at 2445 Market St. N.E. for $750,000 from Scymanky Rentals LLC. The lot is just un der one acre and is a few blocks south of the Oregon State Fairgrounds. The money to buy the land comes from federal money set aside for affordable housing development. Once purchased, the Salem Housing Authority would develop the site, according to a staff report from Kacy Ramirez, Salem’s real estate services manager. The decision comes amid discussions of expanding affordable housing options throughout the city. There is no timeline given for the project or details about how much housing could be built. View the agenda here. How to participate The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Monday, March 24, and will be both in-person at the council chambers, 555 Liberty St. S.E., and available to watch online. Members of the public can submit a comment for any item on the council agenda. To comment remotely, sign up on the city website between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday. The meeting will be livestreamed on the YouTube in English and Spanish. For written comments, email citycouncil@cityofsalem.net before 5 p.m. on Monday, or submit on paper to the city recorder’s office at the Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. S.E., Room 225. Include a statement indicating the comment is for the public record. Interim city manager agreement Councilors will vote to ratify an employment agreement with acting City Manager Krishna Namburi, which increases her car allowance and several other benefits, but does not increase her salary of $257,441. The council appointed Namburi interim city manager on March 10 following the abrupt departure of former City Manager Keith Stahley. Namburi was a deputy city manager under Stahley and has worked for the city for more than 25 years. The council did not set an end date for her appointment, but voted to delay hiring of a new city manager until at least September so Namburi can lead the city through a tumultuous budget cycle and effort to seek a property tax increase from voters to help fill a nearly $14 million budget deficit. Under the agreement, Namburi would receive severance pay if a new city manager is hired and fires her within 18 months of the end of her interim appointment. She would not receive severance pay if she resigns, or if she is terminated from the interim job and resumes her role as deputy city manager. “Severance is typically provided for interim city manager appointments in order to encourage individuals to accept the appointment and safeguard the individual from arbitrary termination after the appointment ends,” according to a staff report from City Attorney Dan Atchison. The agreement also specifies that a portion of the city charter requiring city managers to live within city limits does not apply to Namburi’s interim appointment. Namburi lives in Keizer, according to a city spokeswoman. Other items Councilors will vote on applying for a $50,000 state grant to develop a plan to address post-wildfire water quality concerns in the North Santiam watershed. City drinking water comes from the North Santiam River and is treated at the city’s Geren Island facility. Councilors will also vote on applying for a federal grant to rebuild the 1965 bridge that serves as the only access point to the Geren Island treatment plant. The project would be about $12.3 million, with 25% of that total paid by the city. The new bridge would be taller, accounting for future predicted increases in water flow, and seismically sound. Councilors will consider a request from Chemeketa Community College President Jessica Howard to support the college’s property tax renewal measure, which would fund renovations and improvements at college campuses, allowing for expanded career education programs. The Salem-Keizer School Board earlier this month approved a statement in support of the measure to be included in the voter’s pamphlet. Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: rachel@salemreporter.com or 503-575-1241. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE – If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post Council to vote on buying Market St property for affordable housing development appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less