Marion County latest to advocate for broadband

For local broadband, when it rains, it pours. First, Salem-Keizer School District approves installation of a dark fiber ring to connect schools and students with broadband. Then, downtown Salem is targeted with a broadband feasibility study. Now, Marion County is looking for broadband solutions and they want your help with a survey.

All the sudden interest and activity by local governments to increase our digital footprint is positive. Will they coordinate all efforts with transparency or build more bureaucratic silos? Get involved and have your voice heard.  The county is hosting plenty of focus group opportunities Tuesday and Wednesday at the transit center.

Educators (Curriculum) Session – Tuesday, April 3rd at 7:30 AM
Location TBD. Pastries and coffee will be provided.
Local Business Session – Tuesday, April 3rd at 9:30 AM
Location: 626 High St NE Suite 200, Salem, OR
Entrepreneurs, Start Ups, and Techies Session – Tuesday, April 3rd at 11:30 AM
Location: 626 High St NE Suite 200, Salem, OR​. Lunch will be provided for participants who rsvp.
Emergency Management/First Responders Session – Wednesday, April 4th at 8:30 AM​
Location:  555 Court St NE, Suite 5231, Salem OR. Pastries and coffee will be provided.
Agriculture/Farmers Session – Wednesday, April 4th at 1:00 PM
Location: 201 E Main St Silverton, OR
Manufacturers Session – Wednesday, April 4th at 3:00 PM​
Location: 201 E Main St Silverton, OR
Silverton Community Discussion – Wednesday, April 4th at 5:00 PM
Location: 201 E Main St Silverton, OR

Entertainment district absent from budget line items

Entertainment District feasibility has yet to find a place on next year’s budget. Part of the City’s Strategic Plan, the idea of a district that grows the night tome economy may languish yet another year. With the closure of Nordstrom, it would seem that more effort is needed to attract visitors downtown. Contact the mayor andcouncilors and ask for a budget line item or testify at the committee and council meetings.

Arts Technica autonomous zone at the Salem Arts Building on First Wednesday

Stop by the Salem Arts Building, 155 Liberty St NE, on First Wednesday, April 4, 2018 to kick off a season of Arts Technica events with local artists, tech nerds and performers. Music, refreshments, entertainment provided 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sign up to sell.

Streetscape revisions continue

Community members gathered to propose streetscape ideas last week during six focus groups and the entertainment district was discussed with plenty of input from artists, promoters, business and property owners. Amenities for temporary pedestrian-only zones included performance areas, public bathrooms, weather protection, free speech kiosks electrical, lighting improvements. As the design team refines the vision, plan to attend the Streetscape Plan Open House #2 Tuesday, February 13 at 555 Court St NE and vote for a more livable, public-friendly downtown.

Downtown broadband remains priority 

A Strategic Plan item that made the city’s priority list this year was municipal broadband in downtown Salem. The next opportunity to voice support is 6:00 p.m., Monday, February 26 at the City Council meeting where the priority list gets final approval for the July 1, 2018 budget. After a 6 month feasibility study, further work may be necessary for implementation. Advocates for municipal broadband should stay vigilant and provide support for Network Operation Center model adoption by local agencies.

 

Now’s your chance to influence what happens downtown. Six Streetscape Design focus groups are scheduled January 30, 31 at the Salem Public Library Anderson Room. The most important happen Tuesday at 3:30 (Street furniture) and 5:30 (Gathering and Event Spaces.

Salem Creative Network is advocating for an Entertainment District with extended hours for noise, alley improvements for events (electrical, lighting, weather protection) and parklets, street dining, free speech kiosks and public restrooms.

Please send an email if you’re unable to go.

Downtown Salem Streetscape Plan – Focus Group Schedule

Day 1 – January 30th 
Trees and Landscaping
January 30, 1:30 – 3:00
This group will discuss existing street trees and their contributions to downtown streetscape aesthetics and environment and how trees could be effective in the Plan. Other landscape plantings or vegetation will also be discussed.

Street Furniture and Materials
January 30, 3:30 – 5:00
This group will discuss existing street furnishings and sidewalk materials and discuss what can be retained as well as consistent conceptual approaches for new furnishings and paving.

Gathering and Event Spaces
January 30, 5:30 – 7:00
This group will discuss sidewalk places where people gather in the downtown Salem area and how these places can be improved for safety and comfort.

Day 2 – January 31st
Connecting Places
January 31, 1:30 – 3:00
This group will discuss how people move on foot through downtown Salem, including connections from the State Capitol and Riverfront Park and key destinations in the study area.

Art and Signage 
January 31, 3:30 – 5:00
This group will discuss opportunities to provide better pedestrian-scale signage to aid with wayfinding downtown, as well as, the benefits/opportunities for public art.

Business Considerations 
January 31, 5:30 – 7:00
This group will be focused on how a range of streetscape improvements should positively benefit adjacent businesses and how businesses will participate in the streetscape improvement program.

Public input at six focus group meetings next week may influence how much of the actual street gets included for public use in the city’s streetscape plan. Alternative use of street-side parking space was mentioned as an item up for discussion during the January 8 Urban Renewal meeting.  Put you wishlist together and attend the 5:30 January 30 meeting at the library. See details below.

Salem Municipal Broadband

Salem Municipal Broadband continues to flow toward reality as the mayor and two councilors expressed enthusiasm for the project during last Monday’s council meeting.

Mark Rasch, a returning resident, spoke in favor of making municipal broadband a priority for the City.

Mayor Bennett committed to staff and consultants,”We want to know what other cities are doing.

We believe it’s a major economic development factor, particularly in our downtown.”

The final vote on priorities is February 26, 2018. Upon approval, Urban Renewal funds will be budgeted for the $100,000 consultants for a six month study.

Are you interested in getting involved? Citizens need representation and input while creating this utility. Evaluate the proposed city action and submit your testimony to City Council before February 20.

Entertainment District

The Streetscape Open House Summary is in and you should read it, then attend the Gathering and Event Spaces Streetscape Focus Group 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 30th at Salem Public Library Anderson Room.

Luckily, the survey seems to skew younger (shout out to 25-34!). Let’s continue that trend during the campaign.

Email ross@salemcreative.net with any questions.

Focus Group – Gathering and Event Spaces January 30th, 5:30 – 7:00

Thank you for your participation in the Downtown Salem Streetscape Plan process. You had expressed interest in attending a future focus group discussing the topic Gathering and Event Spaces. This group will discuss sidewalk places where people gather in the downtown Salem area and how these places can be improved for safety and comfort. We would like to invite you to take part in the focus group on:   Focus Group – Gathering and Event Spaces January 30th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM City of Salem Library 585 Liberty St SE Anderson Room on first floor Space is Limited – RSVP by January 16th! There will be six focus groups taking place on January 30th and 31st for the Downtown Salem Streetscape Project (see below for more details). Please reserve your spot for this focus group and any others you are interested in by Tuesday, January 16th by contacting Sarah Johnson, who is helping set up the meetings. Contact: Sarah Johnson, sarah@jla.us.com, 503-235-5881

Free Riverfront Park wifi and municipal broadband are on tonight’s agenda as city staff present a broadband market feasibility proposal to city council. Given the go ahead, a $100,000 consultant will suggest the best approach in six months, which may include a pilot project of free wifi in Riverfront Park.

“A pilot Wi-Fi project would potentially be undertaken in Riverfront Park due to topography and property ownership. A pilot Wi-Fi project in this area would cost $40,000 to $50,000 to install five-to-ten access points. Technical support hours and costs and long-term financial viability are not known at this time.”

While the report offers a smorgasbord of options, we’re advocating for municipal broadband and the creation of a community mesh of publicly-owned Network Operation Centers (Salem-Keizer Schools, City of Salem, State of Oregon) that provides 100 gigabit speeds for around $40. The meeting is 6:00 p.m. tonight in council chambers.