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SALEM -- Salem has expanded the borders of its community reinvestment area (CRA).
Following an approximately 20-minute executive session for the discussion of pending legal matters, council voted unanimously in its recent meeting to approve an ordinance expanding the borders of the city's post 1994 CRA with the emergency clause, meaning it will take effect immediately.
The expansion will include several properties on the northeast and southwest portions of the city that had not been annexed into the city when the post 1994 CRA was formed in February of 2022. The CRA allows the city to offer temporary tax incentives for qualifying new construction or redevelopment projects within the included areas to incentivize development.
"This allows us to extend tax abatement on improvements to properties within these areas. The areas that we're expanding into are parcels that have been annexed since we established the post 1994, and we do have some commercial development in those areas, and people exploring development," said Sustainable Opportunity Development Center Executive Director Julie Needs.
City Law Director Brooke Zellers said that as an expansion of the existing CRA, it would be administered by the same community reinvestment housing council and tax incentive review committee rather than forming new ones.
The meeting also saw appointments to the reinvestment housing council and tax committee.
Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey appointed Kate Oesch and Jordan Dickey to the housing council and John Berlin to the tax committee, while the city council selected Councilman Jim Harrington and Will Kline for its two appointments to the housing council. Dickey said that all four members of the housing council would need to collectively select two more members to finalize its roster.
The council also voted unanimously to approve an ordinance modifying and amended section 505.15 of Chapter 505 of part five of the codified ordinances of the city of Salem regarding management of cat populations. The update adds a new line stating that "any community cat caregiver who fails to comply with the rules and requirements as set out herein may be subject" to the same criminal penalties for cruelty to companion animals.
During his report, Zellers thanked the Salem school board, and everyone involved in the district's new K-8 school building project for hosting public tours of the new building on Oct. 17. He said that the building was already impressive and that once completed it will be a major factor in helping to attract families considering relocating to the area in the future.
"It is an absolute jewel in the crown of our city," Zellers said.
During the report of standing committees, Councilman Jeff Stockman reminded residents that the rules and ordinance committee would meet at 6 p.m. on Oct. 27.
Other matters included the approval of a resolution authorizing the utilities commission to apply for, accept, and enter a water supply revolving loan account agreement for the planning, design, and construction of phase two upgrades at the water treatment plant and an ordinance authorizing appropriations and transfers.
The city council will meet next at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4.