Votes at a glance: council approves medical-waste rate changes, annexation; tables tribal MOU

Salem City Council members recorded several formal actions at their Jan. 27 meeting. Most prominently, the council adopted a resolution to amend commercial medical-waste collection rates after a public hearing; approved a petition to annex 1.43 acres at 5725 Skyline Road; advanced Salem Willamette Valley Airport ordinance changes to second reading; scheduled a hearing on designation of the Criterion Schoolhouse as a local historic resource; and voted to table a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz for further discussion.

The votes and key details are summarized below.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025-1 — Commercial medical-waste collection rates and charges: Adopted (unanimous roll call). Motion by Councilor Nordyke. The adopted changes implement higher disposal-based rates after the closure of a local incinerator and a county-wide sourcing shift; staff told council the increases reflect new disposal costs and a change to per-box pricing for much medical waste. Council approved the resolution by roll call vote (Nordyke, Varney, Tygan, Nishioka, Matthews, Gwynn, Brown, Mayor Hoy — all Aye).

- Annexation (Case ANX-759) — Territory at 5725 Skyline Road South (1.43 acres) with RA (Residential Agriculture) zoning: Approved (unanimous roll call). Motion by Councilor Nordyke; seconded by Councilor Gwynn. Roll call: Varney, Tygan, Nishioka, Matthews, Gwynn, Brown, Nordyke, Mayor Hoy — all Aye. Staff will return an ordinance to finalize the annexation and to withdraw the territory from the Salem Suburban Rural Fire Protection District.

- Ordinance Bill 125 (Salem Willamette Valley Airport): Advanced to second reading (unanimous roll call). Motion by Councilor Nishioka; second by Councilor Gwynn. The ordinance updates sections of Salem Revised Code Chapter 9 to allow additional landing and overnight-parking fees; staff said the program would be implemented by a third party that installs tracking equipment and manages billing.

- Ordinance Bill 2-25: Designation of Criterion Schoolhouse as local historic resource — Motion to schedule a public hearing and move forward (unanimous roll call). Motion by Councilor Nishioka; second by Councilor Matthews.

- Memorandum of Understanding with Confederated Tribes of Siletz (item 3.3a / 5c): Motion to table the MOU for further consultation and review: Adopted (unanimous roll call). Motion to table by Councilor Nordyke (second recorded). Roll call: Tygan, Nishioka, Matthews, Gwynn, Brown, Nordyke, Barney, Mayor Hoy — all Aye. Councilors said they wanted additional time to consult with tribal partners and review suggested clarifying language before a final vote.

Context and next steps

Several of the items will return to council for further action: staff will return an ordinance to finalize the Skyline Road annexation; the airport fee ordinance will come back for second reading with a companion fee resolution; and the Siletz MOU will be held until staff, the city attorney and councilors complete further consultation with tribal parties. The commercial medical-waste rate resolution takes effect on the dates discussed during the hearing: staff said the hospital rate would take effect Feb. 1 and other generator classes would go into effect March 1 (as noted in staff presentation).