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Residents urge passage of Stayton parks and pool levy ahead of May election
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Summary
Several residents and volunteers spoke at the meeting urging voters to approve Measure 24-518, a parks-and-pool levy that would replace an expiring levy and fund park and pool operations; volunteers emphasized local programming, swim lessons and economic benefits to nearby businesses.
Multiple residents urged the council and their neighbors to support Measure 24-518, a parks-and-pool levy that the speakers said is designed to fund maintenance and operations after the current levy expires in June 2026.
Nicholas Raba, who identified himself as a local volunteer, thanked the council and staff for revising the measure and said the campaign reduced the proposed rate and focused on maintaining the services that residents use most. "The community noticed the effort to listen to feedback, reduce the proposed rate, and refine the levy to focus on maintaining the parks and pool services that matter most to our residents," Raba said.
Rebecca Riggs described the broad community uses of parks and the pool, from swim teams and third‑grade swim lessons to gatherings and local events, and warned that without replacement levies the city would face staff and materials shortfalls. "When the previous levy expires in June without a yes vote on the new levy, the city will have no other choice but to close parks or the pool and defer park maintenance," she said.
Council members later urged residents to review information and consider endorsing the campaign statement; one councilor asked colleagues to complete a form to have their names added to the Keep Stayton Livable PAC statement of support if they wished. Councilors also publicly expressed their personal support for the levy during staff updates.
