Stayton’s City Council approved Resolution 25-038 to award $20,000 in Community Improvement Grants for the 2025–26 program, allocating funds to local arts groups, facility improvements and a pilot medical-training program.

Jennifer Cicliano, the city’s Community and Economic Development Director, presented the final allocations and noted last year’s grants totaled about $14,500 across visible downtown projects. “Tonight we are being—you’re being asked to make a final decision on which projects to fund for the community improvement grant and what amounts,” she said.

The council-approved allocations include: a $4,825 award for outdoor table-tennis equipment at Pioneer Park (reduced from a $5,000 request and contingent on Parks and Recreation Board placement approval); $1,100 for the Santiam Teen Center to weatherize and secure an existing ADA ramp at a city-owned building; $4,350 for three new mural areas at the Odd Fellows mural (design to be coordinated with the Public Arts Commission); $2,000 for the Brown House for landscape maintenance and professional trimming; $4,945.21 for Spotlight Community Theater safety improvements (lighting upgrades and an ADA sink, with an itemized quote provided at the work session); a $2,000 award recommended for a local “Saving Lives” training program (pending a revised budget; original request was $5,000); and $1,200 directed to the North Santiam service integration team to support emergency assistance for Stayton residents (the original request had been $5,000). Cicliano told council the 2025–26 grant cycle was budgeted at $20,000 and that staff evaluated 14 applications this year, up from nine the previous cycle.

The applicant for the Saving Lives program, who identified himself as Scott and as the operator of MedProEd, described the proposal as a community-facing training series distinct from the local fire district. “It is going through my business operation called MedProEd … I am a lieutenant and a paramedic in this community, but it’s not a State and Fire District endeavor at all at this point,” he said. Scott said the $2,000 award would fund roughly four classes (about 24 people at $480 per class), while his original $5,000 request would have funded roughly 60 people; he also outlined a longer-term goal of training hundreds of residents in 2026 with additional partners and sponsorships.

Councilors questioned eligibility and delivery details. Councilor Sims asked whether classes would be limited to Stayton residents and whether the training was affiliated with the fire department; Scott said the focus was on city residents and local businesses and that he expected to manage the modest grant reporting and administration himself. Councilor Patty asked whether grant criteria could be revised in future rounds to spread funding to applicants who had not previously been funded; Cicliano said staff can refine objectives and bring proposed changes to council before the next cycle.

Council discussion also touched on product durability for the outdoor table-tennis installation (an applicant reported a 10-year warranty) and on directing the SIT-team funds to specific Stayton resident needs. Staff replied that the SIT funding would be used directly for Stayton residents and noted the SIT manager keeps separate pots for purpose-specific expenditures.

Councilor O’Rourke moved to approve Resolution 25-038 authorizing the recommended grant projects and amounts for the 2025–26 fiscal year; the motion was seconded by Councilor Patey. During roll call, Councilor Hayes, Councilor Ort, Councilor Patty, Councilor Kerrey and Councilor Sims each voted “yes.” The mayor announced the motion carried, 5–0.

Following the vote the mayor suggested adding a future eligibility criterion to exclude tax-exempt government agencies from consideration for these grants so taxpayer dollars would not go to entities already funded by government sources. City staff had no additional announcements; councilors then shared brief community updates before adjourning.

What happens next: award recipients will coordinate required design approvals and any needed permits with relevant city boards and departments (Parks and Recreation Board, Public Arts Commission, Public Works) as noted by staff. The granted amounts and the council’s approval finalize the 2025–26 allocations under Resolution 25-038.