Stayton council approves $20,000 community improvement grant allocations including lifesaving training

Stayton — The Stayton City Council on a 5–0 vote approved Resolution 25-038 to allocate the city’s 2025–26 Community Improvement Grant of $20,000 among local projects, councilors said at the Nov. work session and confirmed in the meeting.

Jennifer Siciliano, the community and economic development director, told the council the city budgeted $20,000 for the grant cycle and reviewed 14 applications this year, up from nine last year. “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,” Siciliano said, summarizing staff recommendations and conditions tied to several awards.

Council approved the staff recommendations, which include the following allocations and conditions: table tennis at Pioneer Park — adjusted to $4,825 with a requirement that the applicant coordinate placement with the parks and recreation board; Santiam Teen Center — $1,100 to weatherize and secure an ADA ramp with coordination from public works; Odd Fellows murals — funding for three new mural areas subject to public arts commission design approval; Brown House — $2,000 for landscape maintenance (professional trimming, weeding, compost, bark application); Spotlight Community Theater — $4,945.21 for lighting upgrades and an ADA sink (applicant provided an itemized quote); a Saving Lives training program (applicant MedProEd) — recommended $2,000 pending submission of a revised budget; and a proposed $1,200 allocation for the North Santiam Team (SIT) to support emergency assistance to Stayton residents (the original SIT request was $5,000).

Scott, representing MedProEd, explained the Saving Lives curriculum and how grant funds would be used. “It is going through my business operation called MedProEd,” Scott said, adding that he is a local lieutenant and paramedic. He described classroom modules covering CPR, first aid, Narcan use for opioid overdoses and “Stop the Bleed” techniques intended to help residents stabilize life-threatening conditions before emergency services arrive. Scott said the $481-per-workshop budget would cover about six participants per class and that $2,000 would fund roughly four classes (about 24 participants); his original $5,000 request aimed to train about 60 people, and he said his broader goal is to train 500 people in Stayton in 2026.

Councilors asked several clarifying questions before the vote. Councilor Patty asked whether staff would consider refining scoring to favor projects that have not been funded previously; Siciliano said staff could propose such refinements and that an objective of the current criteria was to avoid increasing ongoing costs to the city. Councilor Ort asked whether the SIT allocation would be a general emergency fund or earmarked for specific items; staff said Kim had assured the work session that the funds would be directed to Stayton residents’ needs and could be used for specific purposes.

Counselor O'Rourke moved to approve Resolution 25-038, with Councilor Patty seconding. A roll-call vote was taken and the motion carried 5–0.

During the meeting the mayor also asked staff to consider adding a future criterion to exclude tax-exempt government agencies from eligibility, noting concern that some applicants already receive taxpayer funding. Councilors and staff acknowledged the request and discussed broader outreach to diversify applicants for future cycles.

The resolution authorizes grant payments to be spent in the 2025–26 fiscal year and includes direction that applicants comply with department approvals and design reviews where noted. The council did not amend the resolution on the floor and no public comments were offered on the final allocations.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 25-038 (Community Improvement Grant 2025–26) — Motion: approve staff-recommended awards and conditions; Mover: Counselor O'Rourke; Second: Councilor Patty; Vote: 5 yes, 0 no, outcome: approved.