Salem council raises water and pressurized irrigation impact fees, cuts the storm drain fee 23.84% and commits $750,000 to a Woodland Hills sewer line
October 7, 2026, 7:00 p.m. · Salem City Council Chambers, 30 West 100 South
At its Oct. 7 meeting the Salem City Council voted 5-0 to enact new impact fees: a drinking water fee of up to $3,331.07, a pressurized irrigation fee of up to $4,788.65 and a storm drain fee of up to $1,485.18, which is 23.84% lower than before. The council also approved a $750,000 sewer line contract for Woodland Hills Drive, a $87,780 paving job at Loafer Soccer Park, master plan updates for storm drain ($66,982.63) and transportation ($20,250), a CivicPlus website, and an amended Moonlight Village development agreement, and tabled a new city logo. In a work session members reviewed a possible Inland Port Authority map. These are the approved minutes.
From the approved minutes. Updated November 3, 2026.
In brief
10 items came up for a decision or discussion: 9 approved and 1 discussed.
The agenda records 9 dollar amounts, the largest $3.65 million.
1 item here is tracked in the city's development tracker.
This write-up links 3 source documents.
6 members were present.
Residents raised impact fees, sewer reserves, inland port, and city logo.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Water, pressurized irrigation and storm drain impact fees | Approved · 5-0 |
| Woodland Hills Drive sewer line contract | Approved · 5-0 |
| Storm drain master plan update | Approved · 5-0 |
| Transportation master plan update | Approved · 5-0 |
| Amendment to the Moonlight Village master plan development agreement | Approved · 5-0 |
| Loafer Soccer Park east parking lot paving | Approved · 5-0 |
| 2027 Ford Maverick for the office | Approved · 5-0 |
| City website and logo | Approved · 5-0 |
| City manager report: wage study and Inland Port Authority maps | Discussed |
| Minutes amendment and bills | Approved · 5-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item 6-9 · Taxes and fees
Water, pressurized irrigation and storm drain impact fees
Approved · 5-0
City Engineer Bradey Wilde said the maximum indoor drinking water fee per equivalent residential connection rises to $3,331.07 and the pressurized irrigation fee to $4,788.65, while the storm drain fee falls 23.84% to $1,485.18. At the public hearing a representative of a local group said the increases are hard to pass on to residents and developers and promised documents to the finance director; the city's Fiber Director, John Bowcut, said impact fees protect existing residents by making new residents pay their share of growth; a third asked whether fees vary by property type such as apartments. Wilde and City Manager Matt Marziale answered that a recent study by the group New Salem found water use in townhomes similar to single-family homes, and Councilperson Snyder noted the calculations rest on single-family lot sizes. The council adopted the three ordinances separately, each 5-0.
- Fee$3,331.07
- Fee$4,788.65
- Fee$1,485.18
- Consultant: Hansen, Allen & Luce prepared the facilities plans and analyses
Item 17 · Contract
Woodland Hills Drive sewer line contract
Approved · 5-0
In the work session Marziale said the city is committing $750,000 under its contract with Landmark Excavation, plus $455,000 in bond funds to finish unfinished road construction, so the road can fully reopen before winter. Funding options named were sewer impact fees and the sewer unreserved fund, which would hold about $2.5 million afterward; Councilperson Snyder raised concern about reserves for future sewer emergencies. The developer of the area has been told a lien will be placed on the property so the city is reimbursed from current or future development. The 1280 project is not affected. The council accepted the contract.
- Contract$750,000 to Landmark Excavation
Item 10 · Contract
Storm drain master plan update
Approved · 5-0
Hansen, Allen & Luce proposed an update, not to exceed $66,982.63, taking about six months. The last update was in 2023, and staff said periodic updates keep the plan and next year's impact fee update aligned.
- Contract$66,982.63 to Hansen, Allen & Luce
Item 11 · Contract
Transportation master plan update
Approved · 5-0
Methods Consulting will update the transportation master plan for $20,250, paid from funds set aside from impact fees.
- Contract$20,250 to Methods Consulting
Item 12 · Development
Amendment to the Moonlight Village master plan development agreement
Approved · 5-0
The amendment updates the traffic impact study and changes one of two planned parks from a large neighborhood park to a roughly one-third-acre city dog park. The planner said each garden home would have a two-car garage, one driveway space and one on-street space. A builder representative said sales are slow, partly because of developer incentives at competing multifamily properties and the development's limited setbacks.
Item 13 · Contract
Loafer Soccer Park east parking lot paving
Approved · 5-0
Eckles Paving quoted $87,780 for paving the prepared east lot, scheduled for the next week weather permitting, paid from impact fees. Marziale said Staker Parsons expressed interest in bidding in the future and becoming an approved vendor.
- Contract$87,780 to Eckles Paving
Item 14 · Contract
2027 Ford Maverick for the office
Approved · 5-0
The council approved buying a 2027 Ford Maverick for $30,706 as an administrative office vehicle that stays at the office, from reserve budget funds.
- Purchase$30,706
Item 15-16 · Contract
City website and logo
Approved · 5-0
Public Relations Director Jen Wright proposed a CivicPlus website with AudioEye accessibility tools, taking 24 to 26 weeks; the council accepted it. A proposed new city logo was tabled after members asked for more design options; Councilperson Snyder said she was reluctant to leave the current logo designed by students and showing the Salem bridge and mountains.
- ContractAmount not given to CivicPlus
Item 20 · Other
City manager report: wage study and Inland Port Authority maps
Discussed
Marziale said an employee wage study found six or seven employees underpaid and that the city will raise those wages. In the work session he reviewed a proposed Inland Port Authority map of possible areas east of Beer Creek, near SR-198 and 1150 North and the city shops, noting that inclusion does not require an owner to develop, that property tax increment starts when development begins and that funds must pay for public infrastructure. The Inland Port board meets in December and wants a letter before then on Salem's willingness to participate and proposed areas.
Item 18-19 · Other
Minutes amendment and bills
Approved · 5-0
Councilperson De Graw asked to replace his Sept. 16 remarks with a statement retracting comments that could be read as directed at an individual and clarifying that homebuilders and industry groups share responsibility for housing affordability; the council amended the minutes 5-0. The council then approved bills totaling $3,650,760.16.
- Payment$3.65 million
What residents said
Impact feesSewer reservesInland PortCity logo
At the impact fee hearing, speakers raised the cost to residents and developers, the share new growth should pay, and whether fees vary by home type.