PAGE 2, WE ARE KEIZER, SUMMER 2020 RESERVE YOURS NOW AT FORD.COM 3555 River Road N, Keizer (503) 463-4853 www.skylineforddirect.com WHICH IS ON YOUR HORIZON?SUMMER 2020, WE ARE KEIZER, PAGE 3 Since Thomas Dove Keizur laid down stakes in a verdant area near a calm river in the Oregon Territory in 1843, the city that bears (kind of) his name—Keizer—has been a desirable address for generations. Keizur and his fellow settlers were the first residents of undulating land that in the coming century would be a hub for farmers, tilling the rich soil of the Willamette Valley. Though it is hard to see today, Keizer has a rich history of people making this area their home. What is now bustling River Road through town was at one time lined with prune, apple and cherry orchards. Agricultural is still the economic engine of Marion County though one would have to drive a few miles north and east of the city to find today’s operating farms. The resilient pioneers of the mid-19th century has given way to the modern-day Keizer residents city, who exhibit a fierce independence and pride. This publication, We Are Keizer, is a celebration of our past, present and future. Though only seven square miles, in 2020 the Iris City holds almost 40,000 people, a diverse population featuring many backgrounds. Many people choose Keizer as their home due to what they describe as its quaint, small-town feel. Keizer has become a city of neighborhoods, from the established Palma Ciea area near the river to the newer neighborhood of The Vineyards in north Keizer. Every neighborhood features at least one city park, joined by the gem of them all, Keizer Rapids Park, a vision that has become a popular for people from throughout the region. The city’s motto, Pride, Spirit and Volunteerism, comes alive every day throughout Keizer. It is easy to be proud of being a Keizerite; the generosity exhibited in times of need is legendary. We open our hearts and wallets to others, especially to benefit the children of the community. You want spirit? Head to Flesher Field for any home football game at McNary High School and the air is so thick with spirit you can cut it. We cheer our athletes, be they high schoolers, middle schoolers or club athletes. The cheers are loud from along the street during the city’s two major parades—KeizerFEST in May and the Holiday Lights in December. Christmas is a special time of year everywhere, but the Gubser neighborhood takes it to a new level each year with its Miracle of Christmas Lights. Hundreds of homeowners try to outdo each other decorating their homes with grand themes. Thousands of pounds of food and thousands of dollars are donated by the tens of thousands of spectators who drive through, all to benefit Marion Polk Food Share. Volunteerism, the third leg of the city’s motto, is found at city hall. The mayor and city councilors are all volunteers. The city could not function without the thousands of hours citizens donate, not only the city council but also the many committees, boards and commissions that recommend policies for the council’s approval. In the 38 years since Keizer became a city 50 of its citizens have sat on the city council, six of whom became mayor (the mayor is a voting member of council). Robert Simon, Andy Orcutt, Dennis Koho, Bob Newton, Lore Christopher and Cathy Clark have all held the mayor’s gavel. The city council sets policy and oversees the city manager who puts those policies into operation along with the heads of city departments. Grass roots government is on full display, as citizens speak before the council on issues affecting the city. Whether testifying at a public hearing or appearing to express their views, Keizer citizens are always welcome to address and be heard by the city council. What is means to be a Keizerite BP was hit by a pitch and Ara le.eaisre lieveerreraaretire high school and middle school I's.This is part of their plan to Keizer teen searches for control of her life at Taylors ouse hasspecificstandardsfor cstrctedtis h vnng Bndon tralaterrveit mental health problem public crisis helpline for youth is one SafeOregon is a statewide network that aows students, parents and schools a place to It excees liits fr Lyndon Zaitz Publisher & Editor Matt Rawlings Associate Editor Karli McNutt Advertising Account Representative Eric A. Howald Managing Editor Brooklyn Flint Intern journalist Lauren Murphy Reporter Andrew Jackson Designer and Production Manager a publication of Wheatland Publishing Corp. 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 Phone: 503.390.1051 • www.keizertimes.com Volunteerism in Keizer may begin with public service but it goes far beyond that. There are many non-profit organizations in Keizer working to make life better. Volunteers man stations at various events, in schools and in the community. The city’s cultural organizations, such as the Keizer Community Library and the Keizer Art Association are run by volunteers. There would be no Keizer Little League nor any other youth sports organization without an army of volunteers who give of their time, expertise and money to assure that the Keizer Way of life is maintained. Keizer continues to be one of the most desirable addresses in the Willamette Valley. The city has gone through growth spurts, both residential and commercial. There are currently few sizable plots of land available for development of any kind. Discussions of expanding Keizer’s Urban Growth Boundary (and Keizer’s border) will begin in earnest in the coming years. Keizer’s past, present and future will all converge as everyone weighs in on how Keizer can grow, or whether it should grow at all. What Thomas Dove Keizur saw when he first built a home is what many people still see today: a quaint community, something worth preserving. Lyndon Zaitz PublisherPAGE 4, WE ARE KEIZER, SUMMER 2020 ELECTED OFFICIALS Get to know How long have you served on the council? Almost eight years. Did you serve the in city other capacities before you joined the council? Yes I served on the parks advisory board, volunteer coordinating committee, urban renewal, and River Road Renaissance committees. Was there a specific issue that prompted you to run for city council? Were you able to make headway on it as a councilor? With over 15 years serving on various committees, I felt it a good opportunity to run for city council to continue the good work of my fellow councilors. As a team, I feel like this city council has made some good sound decisions, and kept fiscally conservative. The Big Toy, The parks and police fee. Different land use issues, we worked on the urban growth boundary with great discussions. Our committees are doing some amazing work and bring great ideas to the city council. In your view, what are the most important decisions the council makes? The most important decisions that we make as a council are passing ordinances and resolutions, keeping them up to date. And the budget ... most important. What do you think the most important issues facing the city in the coming years? The budget, urban growth, and land use. What makes Keizer unique in your eyes? Keizer is a bedroom community with great volunteers. If something needs to be done in Keizer our volunteers show up and we get it done. I have never seen or heard of that in other communities. Big Toy was a great example.” Councilor Marlene Parsons Councilor Kim Freeman How long have you served on the council? When my current term ends it will have been seven-and- a-half years. (Freeman is not running for re-election.) Did you serve the in city other capacities before you joined the council? Volunteer coordinat- ing committee for 12 years and budget com- mittee for three years. Was there a specific issue that prompted you to run for city council? Were you able to make headway on it as a councilor? No issues prompted me to serve on city council. It was a bucket list item. In your view, what are the most important decisions the council makes? Establish good policy, work with city manager for a balanced budget and to ensure we have the resources to deliv- er excellent services to our community. What do you think the most important issues facing the city in the coming years? Growth, limited funds to adequately grow city staff to deliver the services needed for our community. What makes Keizer unique in your eyes? We are a growing city, but we still have a small town feeling. Neighbors care about each other. When projects need volunteers, they come out to support the project. Discover the Benefits of PURE RAW OREGON HONEY HANNA’S HONEY hannashoney.buzz AVAILABLE IN SALEM-KEIZER: Roth’s Fresh Markets (all locations), Cherry Produce, Jones Farm Produce, EZ Orchards, Aspinwall Fruit Stand, Morrow & Sons, and ELSEWHERE IN OREGONSUMMER 2020, WE ARE KEIZER, PAGE 5 How long have you served on the council? This is my 14th year. (Keizer’s mayor leads the council, but their vote counts the same as any other councilor.) Did you serve the in city other capacities before you joined the council? Budget committee since 2002, Keizer TV task force, community policing, volunteer coordinating committee (VCC), backyard burning task corce. A little trivia - the first person to go through the VCC Interview process was me when I applied for a second term on the budget committee. Was there a specific issue that prompted you to run for city council? Were you able to make headway on it as a councilor? No specific issue. In gen- eral, Keizer is a vibrant city that needed to continue to chart its own way into the kind of community it was becoming. Keizer was still a very young city at 24 years old. And I felt I had skills and experience that would be helpful in that effort. Keizer Station was just getting going, along with issues with infill development, sidewalks, parks - Keizer Rapids was still in develop- ment stage, urban renewal needs, shortage of employment land and housing land, growing city services to meet increasing population. Yes, doing my part as a member of the Council, progress has been made in parks, policing, budget (weathering the 2008 reces- sion) and fees for stable funding, completing the urban renewal district, among other work. I was tasked from the beginning with rep- resenting Keizer on regional transportation committees - SKATS and MWACT, which has been very important in making sure our voice is part of decision making for our re- gional transportation system. I represented Keizer on the Salem River Crossing Oversight Team. We know how that turned out. (Editor’s note: It’s been almost 50 years since conversations began about a third bridge. There’s still only two bridges.) In 2006, there was very little discussion about the needs for homeless people in Keiz- er and our region. Since then we have rec- ognized the deep needs of people and the need for an effective plan of action. Through the now established Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance, the work for regional col- laboration on addressing the needs of people in our community who are homeless has been amazing - projects that are well planned, collaborative and equipped with appropriate support services are helping people change their lives for good. Much has yet to be done, but the results are positive and encouraging. In your view, what are the most important decisions the council makes? How to deliver city ser- vices in an effective, con- tinually improving manner that makes the most of our resources and takes care to consider the diverse and changing needs of people in our community. Being a strong regional presence with a clear under- standing of Keizer’s unique- ness and strengths. Setting and working with staff on goals and objectives to direct work needed to keep Keizer moving forward. What do you think the most important issues facing the city in the coming years? Local economy, as we pivot into more online work, education and recreation. Broadband services that are meeting busi- ness, education and family needs. Finishing systems that were built long ago when this was a rural county area; updating to be able to meet current needs (sidewalks/ walkways, street lights for example). Ongoing stable funding for police, parks and other services. Maintaining high quality of our public works services and infrastructure. Land use - housing supply is a huge is- sue along with supply of employment land. Keizer needs to grow but we have to be able to structure that growth to preserve our very valuable farm lands as well as not exacerbate the economic segregation that comes from our current land use system. What makes Keizer unique in your eyes? Pride, Spirit and Volunteerism is more than a motto. It is a way of life. People can and do get involved because there is a strong sense of ownership in our community and deep commitment to caring for one another. We show up. We find our common ground to create solutions for problems that arise. We intentionally create community connec- tion so that the 13th largest city in the state still feels like a small town. We call it “the Keizer way.” From your local Keizer McDonald’s ® restaurants 6025 Keizer Station Blvd NE 4880 River Rd NE we’re lovin’ you, Keizer With the safety and well-being of all Americans in mind, we have proactively implemented procedures based upon the expert guidance of health authorities. We’ve made improvements to our restaurant operations to serve food safely — matched with the convenience and customer service you’ve come to expect from our restaurants. Delivery Partners ELECTED OFFICIALS Get to know Mayor Cathy ClarkPAGE 6, WE ARE KEIZER, SUMMER 2020SUMMER 2020, WE ARE KEIZER, PAGE 7 How long have you served on the council? This is my fourth year. Did you serve the city in other capacities before you joined the council? No. Was there a specific issue that prompted you to run for city council? Were you able to make headway on it as a councilor? For years, I have tried to convince my students at McNary High School to get involved in their community and that one only has “whining rights” if one is involved in the decision-making or at least informed about the decision-making process. I was looking for a way to serve my community in a meaningful way, and the opportunity arose. There are so many varied issues that the city council deals with, and if one is motivated only by one issue, that brings a very limited perspective. One of the things I admire most about our council is that we all come from a variety of backgrounds (housing, education, small business, trans- portation, social advocacy, etc.) and those perspectives help us see a broader view of the community and how we can best be of service. In your view, what are the most important decisions the council makes? There are some decisions that the Council makes that affect individuals directly (no parking zones, budget- ing, COVID-19 policies, ADA policies, etc.). These are important because the whole job of local govern- ment is to make sure we do what is fair and equitable and right. On the other hand, there are more “big picture” decisions that define the trajectory of what Keizer will look like and feel like in the future. These are also crucial because they define Keizer. What do you think the most important issues facing the city in the coming years? How we grow is probably the biggest issue we are facing. We have been very careful about getting as much information as we can from consulting firms, transportation specialists, other government entities, and from key stakeholders. One thing that I have learned from being involved in this process is that it is unbelievably complicated, as are most “big picture” decisions. I have advocated for optimum flexibility in all our decisions about this so far. We have a long way to go as we figure this out. What makes Keizer unique in your eyes? I have lived in Keizer for 19 years, and I have never felt so entirely at home. It is a smallish town, connected to a big city, and conveniently located near a metropolis, not to mention close to the coast and mountains; we have the best of all worlds. I love that we are a one-high school town and that we value the rising generation so much. There is a real community feel here. Furthermore, we are innovative in the way we run our city. Our police department does a phenomenal job of understanding how to best promote public safety through establishing relationships and being proactive instead of reactive. Things like the citizen’s police academy really helped me understand their philosophy and how they put that into practice. Innovation is also a key factor in our other city departments. We have some of the best staff in the state that are creative in stretching a very thin budget. Through my work on the city council, I have come to be so appreciative of all the little things that go into making sure Keizer thrives. Keizer fun fact Numerous Chinese-American farmers were part of the early development of Keizer. Woo Sun, who grew up in Keizer, was the first Chinese American graduate of the University of Oregon. ELECTED OFFICIALS Get to know Councilor Laura ReidWhen Mayor Clark asked me to run for City Council my answer was, “why would I want to do that, I’ve got enough peo- ple who hate me already?” She said she needed me and the city need- ed me. Knowing not everyone will agree with the decisions of the council is hard, howev- er it’s part of real life. Most of my service to Keizer has been behind the scenes. Being out front is a new experience I’m still try to become accustomed to. Mayor Clark assigned me to many committees. I’d never heard of most of them. When I inquired, she smiled and said, “if it flows you go.” The day after being sworn in I attend- ed the groundbreaking of the Cogeneration Facility at the sewage treatment plant. I figure I can’t go any- where but up from there. I’ve been totally impressed with the solid waste treatment plant in Brooks. What an amazing facil- ity. What a learning curve. It was like drinking out of a fire hose. I was intrigued at the possibility of ex- panding the urban growth boundary. A very complex proposition. I see it as nec- essary, however there are consequences, both good and bad. I’ve listened to pro- posals to leave it alone and others to ex- pand and even include Brooks. Mostly, I feel a sense of joy and humil- ity seeing all the good people do to make Keizer such a great place to live, to under- stand the rich history of Keizer. Meeting and learning about so many who make us who we are. The vast number of peo- ple who volunteer their time, talents and even money to make our community bet- ter make my efforts feel small. It reminds me of the efforts of so very many who do little things which combined with their neighbors efforts collectively add up to complete great tasks. I’m thrilled to be see- ing the city charter revi- sions being presented to the electors in the No- vember election. When I first saw what was there I made it a priority to see a change. Others were as- signed to the task force, however I didn’t miss many of the meetings in the audience. The task force did an amazing job. I urge passage of the up- dated charter. With the surprise of COVID-19 we were forced to make some adjustments to the way we do the business of the city. This helped us devel- op Facebook live broadcast in English and Spanish, allowing more of our residents to participate (thank you David Dahle). So many of our great city employees were able to modify their work stations (some at home) to keep the city functioning without most residents noticing any dif- ference. The establishment of a fund young community members can draw from to head and complete little projects for our parks has also been a highlight I’m thrilled about. I’ve seen some projects we’ve missed out on in the past because of lack of resources. We are seeing them being done now. It is exciting to see the growth and happiness our community enjoys. It’s ex- citing to see progress and people seceded. I’m humbled and honored to be work- ing with so many smart and wonderful people. How long have you served on the council? My first term started in January 2014 re-elected in 2018. Did you serve the city in other ca- pacities before you joined the council? I was an active volunteer, (like many Keizer folks) mostly Mc- Nary High School, parks and schools. Mayor Dennis Koho asked me to be on the first “Gang Task force” in the early 90’sand I was hooked. (expression) I later would serve on the communica- tion committee and the parks board. Was there a specific is- sue that prompted you to run for city council? Were you able to make head- way on it as a councilor? Frankly, I was at a coun- cil meeting when Hugo Nicholas was excused from serving as Youth Councilor because he was not a citizen. He was an amazing student and community volun- teer and I felt that there needed to be an- other voice on our council. (Today Hugo is a Wayne Morse Scholar at the Center for Law and Politics & CEO of H Nicolas while working as Licensed Relationship Banker for Key Bank in Tacoma.) I was also an advocate for Parks cre- ative funding, which we accomplished In your view, what are the most im- portant decisions the council makes? Our council reviews and approves an annual budget, the big one, and city coun- cilors also establish long and short-term goals (policy and priorities). What do you think the most im- portant issues facing the city in the coming years? 1) One would definitely be Growth, which means deciding if the city is going to attempt, and fund a UGB expansion project or not. 2) Economic and com- munity Development as the local and regional econo- my weather and hopefully come out of the pandemic depression doing what the city can do to help assure business health and family stability. 3) My personal favorite, adaptation of policies to better reflect community needs and values as defined by a changing and diverse community. What makes Keizer unique in your eyes? Keizer is a town where everybody knows your name. Small town appeal with great schools and parks (thanks to our new funding). We have the best and kindest folks around ...a nd we also have great Mexican restaurants. PAGE 8, WE ARE KEIZER, SUMMER 2020 Your locally owned & family operated collision repair business since 1958 Give Us Your Keys and You’ll Be Pleased! 3353 Silverton Road NE Salem 503-363-1990 Stop by for a free lightbulb check & replacement if needed. Councilor Roland Herrera Councilor Dan Kohler Cummings Lane was the first side street off River Road North in Keizer. ELECTED OFFICIALS Get to know Keizer fun factSUMMER 2020, WE ARE KEIZER, PAGE 9 Church on the Hill 2105 Keizer Road NE, see website for details on how to attend service www.cothcommunity.com/outside. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1375 Lockhaven Dr NE, Sunday at 9 a.m. Countryside Christian Church 5775 McLeod Lane NE, countrysidechristianchurch.org. Dayspring Fellowship 1755 Lockhaven Dr NE, Sunday 9 a.m. Faith Lutheran Church 4505 River Road North, flckeizer.org. Jesus Our Jubilee Church 128 Chemawa Rd N, family worship Sunday 10:30 a.m. John Knox Presbyterian Church 452 Cummings Lane N, services being held online, see website for more details www.johnknoxpreskeizer.org. Keizer Christian Church 6945 Wheatland Rd N, services being held online, see website for more detials keizerchristian.org. Keizer Church of Christ 5405 Ridge Dr NE, services being held online, see website for more details. Keizer Clear Lake United Methodist Church 7920 Wheatland Rd N, see website for service details www.kclumc.org. Keizer Community Church 380 Churchdale Ave N, Sunday 11 a.m. Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 5138 10th Ave NE, Thursday, 7 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. Lakepoint Community Church Keizer Civic Center, Sunday 10 a.m. Life Changers Church 4855 Bailey Rd Keizer, Saturday 6 p.m. Open Gate Church Nazarene Church 4855 Bailey Rd NE, 503-393-3325. Salem Mennonite Church 1045 Candlewood Dr. NE, Sermons are posted online at www.salemmennonitechurch.org. St. Edward Catholic Church 5303 River Road North, www.steds.com. WHERE TO WORSHIP IN KEIZER The Keizer area has experienced major flooding numerous times. Major flooding occurred in 1861, 1890, 1943, 1964 and 1996. The worst flood in which water levels were recorded occurred on Dec. 23, 1964. Willamette waters rose to a whopping 37.78 feet. The Willamette is considered to be at major flood stage when it reaches more than 32 feet. In 1996, the Willamette reached another “100-year” flood event at 35 feet. Much of west Keizer was saved from the river’s wrath by an earthen dike standing where a river wall was later installed. An orderly evacuation managed to avoid loss of life. Keizer fun factsNext >