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Listening to the People...

New City Police Station?

Once again the Silverton City Council is trying to build a new "Police Station"...Last year the idea was brought up in a community survey, and it seems the community felt it was not needed....Now, the City Council has listed it as one of their "TOP 10" goals for the next 2 years...How the new police station will be funded, is not quite clear, maybe from the general city fund, or a possible grant, or a new tax bond. Where the new police station would be located, is not known at this time.

Jim Squires's picture

City Staff and City Council put new Police Facility on hold:

City staff recommends delaying action on a proposed ballot measure to construct a new Police Department Facility.

The Council estabilished as a 2009/2010 goal the construction of a new police facility. This goal was number 5 on the Council's top 10 goal's list. Given the state of the economy at present, city staff is recommending that action be delayed on this project.

Delaying action by no means diminishes the need for a new facility. Space needs are critical at this time. However, by 2012 other bonds will have been paid off and the economic forecast will likely be improved, according to City Staff, and Council members.

November 2, 2009 City Council Agenda Item NO: 6.5 and Report NO: 09-101, with Agenda Type: Consent Agenda,

Jim Squires

emily's picture

Police station/ public involvement

What is the public process to be in the decision to move the police station?

Oregon state law encourages or even requires the city to involve the public at all stages of planning when considering a change like this. The Oregon Land Use Planing Goal #1 is "Citizen Involvement." Check it out on the internet.

I am very unhappy when I read in the paper (if the paper decided to write an article) that the plans are finished and citizens can now see the proposal and comment.

Most often the notice to the public is the minimum required by state law, a small type minimum description run one time, two weeks before the event. The dinky ad is hidden in the classifieds, in the legal notice column. You know, that place in the paper where you see the "I am not responsible for my ex-husband Bill's debts anymore."

Government meetings (all open to the public) are very rarely listed in the place we all look to see what is happening. THAT PLACE IS THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR!

By the time the public is invited to an "open house" the project is set in stone, and any suggestions from the public are moot. City officials and the developers at the open houses say; "We value your input, but this is the final draft." "We welcome your testimony at the council meeting."

Of course by then, the council just wants to be done with it all. They rarely make changes. Even rarer would the city send a plan back to a committee for more public input.

Please join me in asking our newspaper editors to run government meeting notices with the community calendar section that posts the AA meeting days & times, school fundraising events, events at Silver Falls State Park and the "boot camp for new dads."