[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,86,98],{"_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",6010554,"mediaKeyId","5807725-a9ef2744f910417074d6e4a8515ebeb2","parentId",5807725,"title","Council considers Housing Production Strategy to guide non-regulatory measures for housing growth","audioSeconds",159,"startMs",3557000,"endMs",3716000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5807725-a9ef2744f910417074d6e4a8515ebeb2&start=3557&end=3716","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5807725-a9ef2744f910417074d6e4a8515ebeb2/thumbnail_3557000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6010554/Independence/Polk-County/Oregon/Council-considers-Housing-Production-Strategy-to-guide-non-regulatory-measures-for-housing-growth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6010554-362460d9a80df8c0ef2e5d4157d32373/orig.mp4?Expires=1771064304&Signature=aT9q2Gey4e2IXbnHTE1q0Z0ymqZkYb56Xfz0fY0n46YDlEFKUDjJ2cmJ6CXPppLZvTRS55uemZVGoGAm3nW2uwM5aGO0T1sXn~ZdVtEXTNQ89N~z7vo8r5Nq-w2c9IOqxEwn2RSFEX0tw-9U1lbiaIhaD205XQC-uWu0VpLYJNCgJMWcJDKVgQXtoCpza0QM8O6xgVZ3mJwBJ1fNBmuVGnko4HvJmx7FDdEcl4LlaCazZYlfcNhsN~2PTt0W~xpirS9cAzmbju9DrT0hFDwbjHi0ps8xwHry1SiqMhMnkAIsCXq-oLLGZV7fFWJHv8N8wnGwDIQgWljGfUC-WnR0PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Independence, OR","date","2025-01-11T00:00:00Z","article","City planning staff presented a Housing Production Strategy to the Independence City Council describing recommended actions — partnerships, regulatory considerations, incentives and land actions — to address housing needs following a housing-needs analysis. Staff characterized the strategy as non-regulatory guidance meant to identify options for future code or policy changes rather than immediate code amendments.

Staff highlighted that the multi-unit property tax exemption had been removed from the draft following council feedback at a previous meeting. The plan groups recommendations by likely impact and identifies several items the city is already pursuing, such as infill standards and parking requirement considerations. Staff recommended council adopt a resolution to approve the strategy so the city can show progress on the State-required housing-production effort.

A motion to adopt the housing production strategy resolution was made and seconded on the council floor. The transcript excerpt includes the motion and second; no roll-call vote is recorded in the provided excerpt. Staff and councilors noted the strategy’s role as a non-regulatory document and said it would point to potential future code changes or programs to increase housing supply over the coming eight-year planning window.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Independence City Council Meeting - January 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff presented a housing production strategy recommending non-regulatory actions, incentives and land strategies; the council was asked to adopt the resolution and was told the plan does not itself change land-use regulations.","taxTitle","Independence, Polk County, Oregon","taxId",70329,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6010559,"Independence council ratifies two labor contracts and approves liquor-license renewals",0,4052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5807725-a9ef2744f910417074d6e4a8515ebeb2&start=4052&end=4052","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5807725-a9ef2744f910417074d6e4a8515ebeb2/thumbnail_4052000.jpg","/articles/6010559/Independence/Polk-County/Oregon/Independence-council-ratifies-two-labor-contracts-and-approves-liquor-license-renewals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6010559-22bb0812062ec8d882229a34d56331ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771064304&Signature=TWjZ~af33n1KxAiGCMoNGChiN5JRi6a-N-6JQHh9usHVLuUD2WgtPZfZJrZQzEyQC0xo9uA9kl3FsDhkBhs0tWm6EUmF8xVIie3TO1JHnx1ZXdQ~UgfiO3ubEYRurLhkA00~kSdBGoTmCYE284clfE4tozz7gFlcjhKq~6vHEykwvagOdqsBUaPotIt~gDTFepvXUPMsnoKdU92ldqmOEIfZBDG2bSMNBP-xsJoXXIZbahX0JHRxIqrHcYIc7IeWSOrQmO-ajv5LAtS~~DUAn5xx35Diaa919sfJaol~uAlKr7O-GvgoySmVt8wJKF42tzor8-LfnVo1BiOJ6H82Ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Independence City Council ratified two collective bargaining agreements and recommended approval of annual liquor-license renewals during its January 14 meeting.

Council voted to ratify a bargaining agreement between the City of Independence and General Teamsters Local 324 and authorized the city manager to sign the agreement. The motion was made on the floor and councilors recorded aye votes during roll call; the transcript records the motion and that the motion passed.

The council also ratified the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Independence and the Independence Police Officers Association and authorized the city manager to sign. The motion passed on recorded aye votes by councilors who cast their votes during the meeting.

Independence Police Lieutenant Gilbert presented an overview of liquor-license renewals. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission provides the city a list of establishments seeking annual renewal; the city has the option to comment or make no recommendation. Lieutenant Gilbert noted relatively few OLCC-related incidents in 2024 across all establishments. The council moved to recommend approval of all liquor licenses upon receipt of city fees; the motion was seconded and passed on recorded aye votes.

The three personnel-contract and licensing items were presented as separate action items and each received council approval recorded in the meeting minutes excerpt.

","The council ratified collective bargaining agreements with Teamsters Local 324 and the Independence Police Officers Association and recommended approval of annual liquor-license renewals.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6010564,"Independence council considers $7.5 million borrowing for water treatment design amid questions about river levels and wells",507,4156000,4663000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5807725-a9ef2744f910417074d6e4a8515ebeb2&start=4156&end=4663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5807725-a9ef2744f910417074d6e4a8515ebeb2/thumbnail_4156000.jpg","/articles/6010564/Independence/Polk-County/Oregon/Independence-council-considers-75-million-borrowing-for-water-treatment-design-amid-questions-about-river-levels-and-wells","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6010564-83fddd773f2b30e7e73ad5620bc8d30a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771064304&Signature=kf1WpAYQ-r1maKVjzMUI9Lky1-JoX6isxW2xldG9RWGUZVwpQA1YYSKOwO5bn~V0agGroljsLgcj46k~bDJZ~1YFQo1x8MfGont8oqE2fXxdk2BgfMhkgLsZWNWRnm4Y~32u4T49roiuK-B0Q~4wdOYmR~XJDOAt2IQmeZ5ulKAWqsq4XNd6C0u5hOkZXXYbXlohReNUi9-kA2uCyKvH3G9MrIM17YZr9lU7o9b9X111ItEn-egNgXfcc7wc0hoHXk0965kzyGZIPHyj3rDhVpF~zouWtJWa0bcp0R7Owy1MqQUFoFWa6yp0E-u5LPJ6CjVXvvCgYUlzyoYcalzsag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Independence City Council considered a resolution authorizing the city to borrow up to $7,500,000 to fund the design phase of a planned surface-water treatment plant, prompting debate about regional river levels, the condition of existing wells and the urgency of putting city-held water rights into beneficial use.

Finance staff described a proposed bank line-of-credit (a taxable bank arrangement rather than a state revolving fund loan) to cover the design phase. Staff said the city sought state drinking-water revolving-fund financing but was told insufficient funding was available, and that the city negotiated a bank line of credit offering terms roughly comparable to what the state loan would have provided. Staff said the initial expected draw at closing would be about $500,000 to cover issuance costs and early design expenses, that the line allows periodic draws as needed, requires annual interest payments, defers principal until maturity, and allows prepayment without penalty. The interest rate mentioned during the presentation was 6.75% with a five-year maturity for the interim facility financing.

Councilor-level speakers raised concerns about water availability after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced planned reservoir-level changes upstream. One councilor warned that lowered reservoir levels could reduce flows in the Willamette River and said the city risked spending large sums to build a plant it might not be able to use. That councilor urged the council to delay borrowing and seek updated engineering review in light of the Corps’ announcement.

Staff and other councilors countered that existing wells are under stress, with frequent pump failures and reduced well performance in dry periods; planners and engineers recommended moving forward to protect long-standing municipal surface-water rights by putting them to beneficial use. Staff said the design phase work can evaluate these hydrologic issues and that proceeding with design is necessary to secure regulatory timelines tied to water-right use requirements.

A motion was made on the council floor to approve the proposed resolution authorizing borrowing up to $7,500,000 for design of the water treatment plant (referred to in the packet as Resolution 25-622). The transcript shows debate and multiple requests for additional engineering review; the meeting record in this excerpt does not include a completed roll-call vote on the motion.

Key fiscal details from staff: the proposed interim borrowing is structured as a bank line of credit with interest-only payments until maturity, an illustrative interest rate reported at 6.75%, and estimated initial closing draws of roughly $500,000 to cover issuance costs. Staff also said grant opportunities and potential lower-rate loan alternatives were being pursued to reduce future borrowing needs.

Council directed staff to continue outreach on grants and to ensure that engineering analysis during design addresses the Army Corps’ reservoir changes and local well performance.

","Council considered a resolution to authorize up to $7.5 million in interim borrowing to complete design for a proposed surface-water treatment plant; debate centered on water availability, pump failures at existing wells, and the need to put purchased water rights to beneficial use.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6010569,"Independence council adopts downtown parking and zoning changes to limit use of on-street spaces",707,3297000,4004000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5807725-a9ef2744f910417074d6e4a8515ebeb2&start=3297&end=4004","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5807725-a9ef2744f910417074d6e4a8515ebeb2/thumbnail_3297000.jpg","/articles/6010569/Independence/Polk-County/Oregon/Independence-council-adopts-downtown-parking-and-zoning-changes-to-limit-use-of-on-street-spaces","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6010569-90713cf537aff3d5df1a902f05cc7e20/orig.mp4?Expires=1771064304&Signature=n9nZ649fDmbYLGh5rtc6jxGfmOLWqtR7E3i6AIuePL4tj1lN0jC74T9dtOVdNq6vz6Nz01AFudNhxS500KHP8YWFjtKJQ0UQV1Mi6-NiPyRTt15e7OdoXEYeWhJQGtsfcwgqoo7dWiojWjFk0QZ1DWJkOQY9jhSAihA~jigHvRNjRKH2tvtdsP3KD0jTPPAFrQjIWorpDKSldoGwTRGaNBrru34i7okDfRJYA~s9tKDBF3XMqwJ5T~o2HyO1iwouSbZMeTAxm~C6rYfpOqJ8PvrOWoQHIYCjQV9zVs3spo9GE3TgHGGSq1IFIVQWwNY8NSegczwd8XrwTAOal48mfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Independence City Council voted to adopt an ordinance amending several sections of the city development code to narrow how on-street parking counts toward required parking in the downtown mixed-use and riverfront zones and to allow angled parking as a design option.

Council adopted Council Bill 2024-09, amending Independence Development Code subchapters 33 (mixed-use pedestrian-friendly commercial), 34 (downtown riverfront), 54 (buffering/screening/landscape), and 73 (parking), and declared an effective date. The ordinance will be filed as ordinance number 1620.

The change limits the use of on-street parking counts specifically to the mixed-use district and downtown riverfront zone and prevents counting on-street spaces on Main Street, Monmouth Street and C Street toward a site’s required parking. The amendment also creates a process by which a developer may reconfigure a street to include angled parking and count those angled spaces toward a project’s parking total. Staff said the restrictions respond to the downtown parking study and are intended to protect the city’s highest-occupancy corridors.

Planning staff reviewed the specific code references for council: several edits appear in subchapter 73 (notably sections labeled in the packet as 73020(b)(2) and (b)(3)) and supporting language on pages cited in the council packet. Staff noted the change preserves existing flexibility elsewhere in the code — for example, retaining a one-space-per-residential-unit baseline for mixed-use buildings while encouraging other methods of flexibility through landscaping and site design standards in the downtown riverfront zone.

Council discussion included a question about whether the one-space standard for residential units in mixed-use buildings could be scaled by unit size; staff said the city retained the existing one-space-per-unit standard and preferred to offer flexibility through alternate means such as adjustments to landscaping requirements and lot layout rather than change the per-unit baseline. Council also asked whether former driveways on Second Street could be reclassified as on-street spaces; staff said such changes are operational and could be implemented by painting and striping under city authority.

Mayor Kate Swartzler and councilors recorded their approvals during the roll call. The motion to adopt passed on the council floor. Staff said the measure focuses the reduced-count allowance to core downtown blocks and implements the angled-parking option as a site-design alternative.

The ordinance’s changes take effect on the date specified in the final ordinance paperwork; staff will publish the adopted code updates and notify the planning and building communities of the specific section edits and the pages in the official packet where the amended language appears.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance (Council Bill 2024-09) — adopted; ordinance number 1620.

","The Independence City Council adopted an ordinance amending multiple development-code subchapters to tighten downtown parking counts, allow angled on-street parking as an option, and adjust landscaping and buffering standards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council considers Housing Production Strategy to guide non-regulatory measures for housing growth

Independence council ratifies two labor contracts and approves liquor-license renewals

Independence council considers $7.5 million borrowing for water treatment design amid questions about river levels and wells

Independence council adopts downtown parking and zoning changes to limit use of on-street spaces