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Group seeks support for parking lot signs

SALEM

A group trying to promote downtown Salem is looking for support from city council for a colorful parking lot sign program.

William Dawes, president of the Downtown Salem Partnership, spoke to city council’s Economic Development Committee Monday night, explaining the concept behind Artful Access.

In an effort to secure funding from the Salem Community Foundation for the program, he said the group needs to show the city is on board, both with the idea and a financial stake.

He specifically asked for funding of up to $10,000 for the cost of the poles and signs, noting that the amount could be less since city Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst told him they could use existing poles in many areas.

“The key component here is having the support of the city,” Dawes said.

The Downtown Salem Partnership is made up of business owners, building owners and anyone with an interest in downtown Salem’s success. Their goal is to eliminate the misconception that there’s a lack of parking in downtown Salem.

He said there’s actually a lot of parking, but a lack of appropriate signage to direct people to the six public parking lots which are all within walking distance of downtown businesses.

Through Artful Access, color-coded signage will be used to direct visitors to themed parking lots based on Salem historical landmarks, such as a rock-n-roll guitar for Salem grad Alan Freed, who coined the phrase “rock-n-roll.” The information and color of each sign will correspond with the appropriate parking lot and there will be colorful murals in some spots.

A previous attempt to get grant funding for the project failed, but now the group is trying to work with the Salem Community Foundation. Dawes said some organizations in the city would likely be willing to fund the costs of kiosks in each parking lot.

When asked about the landmarks, he said they would be historically appropriate, with murals closely related to the landmark theme near their location.

Councilman Brian Whitehill said he doesn’t disagree with the concept, but he also thought there needed to be some conversation about business owners and managers taking up the parking spaces near their businesses.

He also said any request for funds would need to go through the Finance Committee, which he chairs. Councilman Geoff Goll, who was in the audience, asked if there was money in the service department budget to fund it, with Mayor John Berlin noting that the question still needs to come before council.

He explained that once there was a recommendation from the Economic Development Committee, then it could go to Finance and then all of council. If the Economic Committee didn’t find the idea worthwhile, it could stop there.

Councilman Andrew Null, who chairs Economic Development, asked Dawes to send them a copy of the grant presentation, which included a map of the parking lots and the budget breakdown. No decision was made at this time, pending receipt of the details. Dawes said he’s hoping to get installation of signs started by next spring.

In other business, the committee agreed to forward to council an application by Simmons Grain Co. for the tax incentive program. City Income Tax Administrator Fred Pamer said the business is planning to expand and add employees. The oversight board for the program supported the application.

Under the program, the company would receive an incentive payment from the city each year for five years as a reward for adding employees. The payment would be based on a percentage of the additional income tax paid to the city as a result of the added employees. For example, an additional 1 to 3 jobs would result in an incentive payment of 25 percent of the additional income tax paid, based strictly on the 1 percent income tax. The program does not include the .25 percent income tax set aside for improvement projects.

When asked how many employees were being added, he said that’s considered confidential, which is why the applications are handled by an independent board.

The committee agreed to support the board’s approval and send the appropriate resolution to council.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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