By James Day
The Silverton City Council passed its regular budget for 2024-25 and one for its urban renewal agency at its June 17 meeting at the Silverton Community Center.
But both spending plans, which total approximately $79 million, involved little councilor discussion and no amendments were offered. The budgets passed unanimously, and the largest chunk of time at the session was spent on marine parks and swimming holes.
Councilors discussed challenges at Silverton Marine Park but have not yet developed a plan to address them. They also heard via email from resident Kevin Pack, who also spoke during the public comment period at their June 3 meeting. Pack expressed concerns about parking gridlock and challenges loading and unloading boats at the reservoir.
Councilors and city staff engaged in their most-spirited discussions during councilor communication time on June 17 to talk about the reservoir and the less-well-known swimming hole on Peach Street.
City Manager Cory Misley said he made a site visit to the reservoir after hearing from Pack. “We need to have a bigger conversation on it. What do we want it to look like in 10 years? We can look at a boat dock piece, but there is nothing that we can do in the short term on capacity or parking lot.”
Councilor April Newton added “We’ve been hearing about problems up there for years and it would be great if we could do something.”
The city’s parks and recreation master plan, which was not mentioned by councilors or staff, lists a series of projects that could improve the situation at the reservoir. Its “medium” priority left it 12th on the list.
The plan lists entry enhancement, “green” parking lot and composting restroom upgrades, a loop nature trail and interpretive displays, a feasibility study on a foot bridge over Silver Creek below the dam, Silver Creek access for canoes and kayaks, picnic facilities, “exploring the efficiency of parking lot capacity and alternate modes of transportation” and acquiring 50 acres for water quality protection.
The plan lists $1 million as the cost for improvements. It is not clear if all of the upgrades could be managed for
that, or if the reservoir work might move up the priority list.
Councilors also discussed a swimming hole off of Peach Street that is on city property yet with no defined access or amenities. Mayor Jason Freilinger and others expressed concerns about possible liability issues.
“We should either put up no trespassing signs or treat it as a park by adding garbage cans, signs and rules,” Freilinger said. He noted options include giving away property or selling it.
In other council news:
• Councilor Eric Hammond has been named to a just-formed statewide panel that is charged with evaluating and awarding grants for green infrastructure programs. Hammond, who is in his first term on the council, is representing Sustainable Silverton. The Department of Land and Conservation Development has allocated $6.5 million in state funds to spend on the program.
Green infrastructure includes infrastructure that includes or mimics natural systems, such as urban green space, parks, rain gardens, bioswales and trees. The goal is to provide an array of social, environmental, and economic benefits.
“Generally, I think anything Silverton can do to position itself as a competitive bidder on grant applications is a really good thing,” Hammond told Our Town. “We should maximize the quantity of grant dollars we bring into our community. This will give me a window into that process.”
• Silverton extended its agreement with the Silver Falls YMCA to operate the municipal pool. The contract, which is renewed annually, requires the city to pay the YMCA $50,000 per year.
The vote to renew the deal was unanimous.
