[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6130767,"mediaKeyId","5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921","parentId",5735990,"title","Council adopts CAPER reporting CDBG activities for 2024–25 program year","audioSeconds",756,"startMs",3480000,"endMs",4236000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921&start=3480&end=4236","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921/thumbnail_3480000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6130767/Medford/Jackson-County/Oregon/Council-adopts-CAPER-reporting-CDBG-activities-for-202425-program-year","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130767-2aba519442f1827a43aae3359a3aaa06/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608571&Signature=FbxKEypHh13dd0jtRJ4AKLST2Tu4OCCeIFZF7PEVAXGsDzRjaBpJtHUAHYPpElyaJuH8VfekorKe1h13zBsyL1wYGeP8KKCH9nUI~fer8IFowxJSsbcVGEuMNLjBe4V5TKK6~Hq6HSws6l68vvdWlLMCV16SxBriRV0L2cvudh77-OfvEmWGCwGEQxCeb48bEWtu-wSklb~aEKRafxfw~Ohsll4JpwivLOXI8fj7~O5NtigBRonEYm64Kawcz7rtNzOQLA1Df7mK8qYYjeqTzLKfzunSJCxYXHKQ-dFvF92eWY~QW4p2AVRMiaJ0RG77RooDrfuLR00B~-yo5-LG2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Medford, OR","date","2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","article","Medford City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 3 to adopt the city’s 2024–25 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs and to submit the report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Planning director Michelle King presented highlights including the program year period (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025), that expenditures must target low- and moderate-income beneficiaries, and that the city spent down a multi-year CDBG balance through several projects and subrecipient activities. The report showed approximately $687,000 available for the program year across categories such as public services, public facilities, administration and housing; CDBG-CV (COVID) funds were reported separately.

Key projects and outcomes in the CAPER presentation included navigation-center expenditures (about $900,000 from CDBG and CARES Act funds when leveraged with other funding), Columbia Care rehab of 16 veteran-occupied apartments (reported figure in the meeting record), and multiple service-provider programs that together served roughly 2,600 people during the year. Staff said the city remained under HUD caps for public services and administration and highlighted leveraged funds from partners, including a $2.7 million ARPA-funded water and sewer infrastructure award that connected to affordable housing development.

King told council the CAPER is largely formulaic for HUD reporting purposes and that the Planning Department will bring a housing “extravaganza” study session on Oct. 8 to discuss funding priorities for the upcoming grant season. Council then opened and closed a public hearing on the CAPER; no members of the public spoke. The council approved council bill 2025-274 by roll call (8 yes) to transmit the CAPER to HUD.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Medford City Council Meeting September 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The city adopted the consolidated annual performance and evaluation report (CAPER) for the 2024–25 program year, approving submission to HUD and reporting that CDBG and CDBG-CV funds served multiple local projects and providers.","taxTitle","Medford, Jackson County, Oregon","taxId",2888,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6130772,"Council approves streamlined Vision Implementation Committee structure to accelerate 2040 plan implementation",510,2437000,2947000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921&start=2437&end=2947","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921/thumbnail_2437000.jpg","/articles/6130772/Medford/Jackson-County/Oregon/Council-approves-streamlined-Vision-Implementation-Committee-structure-to-accelerate-2040-plan-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130772-1c4620aaa084b614df076ffd53f4493c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608571&Signature=M2jr1lB0Ihn~XD-FFFQ~m30v0Tmgsb-iePR1Aw-g7TwWjN0W6d6TIus-f2Fp4QcPU9Ego54MPPBo4o~tP7dMnwvkl15jCTc1GI564X1tT39Rxq82D5SoMqNgvPCFKspnpqR3PLVOW-UqoaqRcwN5NO-K43bnU2I0pBRX9guqTW86vIZ~AxeB9L1viddZ2000Cn4r89LE-8idFKRgy~ZlEsAyjVMFdpTJN2nfS5aOyg88J9HeC8bk0OVn8Oo3Wy4GasZwTU-GMCv9mlVfqVERYfiLEbtF5wvWeDUBYdcQs9hGH2Du2JtqSiYrGs3NQqCV1ZKu3UFEgdcn7vdyr8XIhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Medford City Council on Sept. 3 approved a resolution updating the Vision Implementation Committee’s membership and structure to improve efficiency and focus for implementing the Medford 2040 Vision and Action Plan.

Communications and government relations director Christina Wilson briefed council on the proposed changes, which were developed after a five-year review of the plan’s implementation cycle. The update reduces the number of public-at-large chairs from two to one, increases lead-partner seats to three (targeting the top three partners with the most action items) and retains ward representatives, Latino/a/x community liaison and two community-at-large positions to keep total voting membership to 12.

Councilors and VIC liaison participants said large committee size had made meetings unwieldy and hindered production of annual reports that would help council track plan progress and resource needs. Councilor Nick Card, who serves as VIC liaison, said the committee’s role had drifted toward plan discussion rather than implementation and that the structural changes are intended to refocus the group on producing actionable annual reports.

The council voted 8-0 to authorize the membership changes in council bill 2025-073; staff said lead partners not holding voting seats would still be invited to every meeting to present updates on action items.

Councilors asked about meeting cadence; staff said VIC meetings will be scheduled monthly in the short term but had previously met quarterly. The resolution also aligns VIC membership rules with the city’s boards-and-commissions framework so the committee’s membership and appointment process are consistent with other advisory groups.

City staff said the updated structure aims to improve efficiency and increase the committee’s ability to move 2040 action items forward through clearer deliverables to council.","Medford City Council voted 8-0 to approve updates to the Vision Implementation Committee (VIC) membership that reduce public-at-large chairs from two to one and narrow lead-partner voting seats to three, aiming to improve meeting efficiency and deliverable reporting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6130777,"Urban renewal board delegates staff to finalize $350,000 seismic aid package for Living Waters Church",1080,6438000,7518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921&start=6438&end=7518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921/thumbnail_6438000.jpg","/articles/6130777/Medford/Jackson-County/Oregon/Urban-renewal-board-delegates-staff-to-finalize-350000-seismic-aid-package-for-Living-Waters-Church","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130777-7992f5977dc6e97eaccdf49f22dac1f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608571&Signature=C~1SaNBmQYMJHiv-Wa6kUhqiVfROVwoYNALNfwcam02PlfP~x8bsHSDWY1rKfRsrTguYMGhBFPe403b3i92VZx0~mzmkexa6zUlJhi34V~FO0rKkv5MbO2cF~j1AWtksFLl~2K9PVT3h9pbgpCH5OoOpgS20mQFUpazVMazu05TeKlI04~~pHubwFE4bvnHvHfeIeB43dx7XM00fnJozrd0uKCBZOZ9Ryvu6VaIi4zDfG2drkqt3agzoWBAlUhzmtIIPf~bLLzHYt5wnBY49CAmPFRLiT0k4~~jDh0L9zHZFhkhrMfu76MTCn59~OXelY9TIpmpDEwiMA1a7LwVZpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Medford urban renewal board (MURA) on Sept. 3 directed staff to draft and execute an agreement that would deliver $350,000 to Living Waters Church — split as a $175,000 grant and a $175,000 0% loan secured against the property — for seismic retrofits and completion work.

The board’s motion authorized staff to negotiate and sign the grant-and-loan agreement immediately and return the executed document to the board for ratification. Board members said the split grant/loan structure balances the board’s interest in supporting building resilience and downtown revitalization while protecting the agency against a short-term resale windfall.

Project proponents and some board members described the building as already improved from a blight-control perspective and said seismic work will expand the building’s usefulness for assemblies, potential commercial tenancy and emergency-response use. Opponents expressed reservations about providing public funds to a nonprofit property owner and asked for clarity on whether the building would remain owned and operated by the church.

Board staff said the loan will be due on sale of the property; they also offered options such as forgiveness after a term (for example, 10 years) if the board later agreed. Project terms discussed at the meeting included a 0% interest loan and an amortizing lien secured to the property.

The motion to delegate authority to staff passed with one abstention (the mayor) and the remainder of the board voting yes. Staff will draft the agreement consistent with the terms discussed and circulate the executed document to board members before the Sept. 17 meeting for formal ratification.","Medford urban renewal board directed staff to draft and execute a grant/loan agreement totaling $350,000 (a $175,000 grant and $175,000 0% loan) for seismic retrofit and related work at Living Waters Church, then bring the executed agreement back to the board for ratification. The motion passed with one abstention.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6130782,"Residents urge council to remove $3 paperless-billing fee, cite fixed-income impacts",315,492000,807000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921&start=492&end=807","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921/thumbnail_492000.jpg","/articles/6130782/Medford/Jackson-County/Oregon/Residents-urge-council-to-remove-3-paperless-billing-fee-cite-fixed-income-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130782-809c938320914504821f96cea58967f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608572&Signature=Yp3PYW7ImHoi-PpXsVJZRxeJOxkg1m1p~a0J0SB8X1ho~Uz35MikUJa3Zjx836AGj83inzZZQgCKVWpZ5ut-~shhR4sbiGPCUp~jWCnWqjdyhWEfCIt9wKkazR0BS9Br5GCW7H3afDEaRptRTCznnBNnuWabEZ1j0K32WUSQF1FVZ2ci5Ky4h99lg~gagdnsGavM7oJu0-W1fwrZHMIE10R-pki8R9BYUv364fmNZg90N~~dA1TkXdKGb66g3vTMCv7KAmwVwMVBfgKMGUfWLBWTOvlbuwsz1jOR~OeOx3JUusq2ES-o0N5ibmfTYumYoeVLM~lrA5ZA99fP9QuODw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Three Medford residents used the council’s public-comment period on Sept. 3 to criticize a newly implemented $3 monthly charge for paperless utility billing and an $8.62 utility-rate increase approved earlier by the council.

Gary DeGarmo, who told the council he lacks a home computer, said the $3 monthly fee to enroll in paperless billing is onerous for people without internet access and that local alternatives suggested by staff — using public-library computers or paying someone to help set up accounts — are inadequate. “$3 seems like a lot today to bill you each month extra,” DeGarmo said.

Kathy Arnold told the council she spent more than 30 minutes to sign up online and that her August utility bill had risen “240%” since 2013; she also asked the council to restore in-person or mailed-bill options for residents who do not use computers.

Homeowner Cynthia Cornish, who identified herself as a Ward 2 resident on a fixed income, said she opposes both the $3 paperless-billing charge and the $8.62 rate increase. “My elderly friends are on a fixed income. They do not have computers, and they cannot afford that increase or set up paperless billing for the $3 expense,” Cornish said.

City staff and councilors did not take action on those comments at the meeting; the remarks were heard during the public-comment segment. Staff told an individual commenter that written responses and options will be provided in writing after the meeting.

Council members acknowledged receipt of one written comment from Kathy Arnold submitted before the meeting and said the city will follow up. Several councilors expressed sympathy for residents without internet access but did not make immediate policy changes during the Sept. 3 meeting.

The city’s current policy and any next steps on the $3 charge or the $8.62 increase were not changed at the meeting; staff signaled they will provide written responses to commenters and suggested further consideration in follow-up staff work.","Multiple residents told the Medford City Council they cannot afford a $3 monthly charge to enroll in paperless utility billing and urged removal of a separate $8.62 utility rate increase approved by the council.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6130787,"Council adds $50,000 to community initiatives, including humane-society project",742,1648000,2390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921&start=1648&end=2390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735990-3e0b8ece7a2bdf526798cf97b3592921/thumbnail_1648000.jpg","/articles/6130787/Medford/Jackson-County/Oregon/Council-adds-50000-to-community-initiatives-including-humane-society-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130787-7d127c8bfd0ef42efa23b05cdd67249c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608572&Signature=OasjLRiiS-CeHfOsWzb5xe-Sqzec8R8NIa8~3Ihoyby29-2LMPiWOnSD-mSGkI9soMtScAnEdtvkNvcW3wDyghkGB7ju6uiQt3e6D8Y1NWx3I~GB~rqOokwhobU7IctwkWV1uQUXh0HN1XHTz-JJMITXIxNQ3H-5g3-CBukWEK-kDE4EMuEMEZ27CCu-m9-O-r~6fV-g1pR6TGtKwXTpGMu0kTEzKKk46z5dSbo5dlGmiN8i5klT1lv6~Y2TKzN8D-8FAOhLuTt504oIhDh1eKAuH-9E49mUtlw~tUDi7pIBFvx208zVgmtUe-vipj37TLBZVdn~pFMqaFVdka1HZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Medford City Council on Sept. 3 approved a resolution allocating $561,750 from the council community initiative fund and amended the resolution to add $50,000 for the Southern Oregon Humane Society's new shelter project.

The amendment was proposed during discussion of council bill 2025-572 and carried on an 8-0 roll call after councilors debated whether CCIF dollars were better spent on service delivery versus capital projects.

Councilor Garrett West moved to add the $50,000 to the list of CCIF awards; the motion was seconded and passed. Supporters said the contribution would leverage much larger private fundraising for an estimated $11,000,000 shelter project and would supplement animal-protection capacity in Medford. Councilor West described the award as “a great return on equity” for a small municipal contribution to a much larger private capital campaign.

Opponents and hesitant members said they worry CCIF historically has been used to fund services rather than capital construction and that the fund performs best when filling service gaps. Councilor Nick Card noted those concerns but said leftover CCIF funds and the council’s goodwill supported his vote in favor. Councilor Kevin Keating and others emphasized CCIF’s role has included both service and capital projects in past years and that small grants can still have meaningful local impact.

The resolution includes funding for nine separate community initiatives. The council’s unanimous vote (8 yes) followed about 20 minutes of public and council discussion on the priorities and the pace of the humane-society project.

The amendment and final vote were recorded during the meeting’s consent/ordinance segment; staff will proceed with distribution of the approved CCIF awards.

Local officials said the $50,000 is not an SDC waiver; city staff noted that once the project completes, system development charges would be payable and would offset the city’s initial contribution.

The council did not attach additional conditions beyond standard grant terms; staff will administer the award through the city’s CCIF process.","Medford City Council amended a council-community-initiative fund (CCIF) resolution to add $50,000 for the Southern Oregon Humane Society project and approved nine CCIF allocations totaling $561,750 by an 8-0 roll call.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts CAPER reporting CDBG activities for 2024–25 program year

Council approves streamlined Vision Implementation Committee structure to accelerate 2040 plan implementation

Urban renewal board delegates staff to finalize $350,000 seismic aid package for Living Waters Church

Residents urge council to remove $3 paperless-billing fee, cite fixed-income impacts

Council adds $50,000 to community initiatives, including humane-society project