Albany council

Council asked to back single-payer health plan

Written May 24th, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 17 responses.

As if it didn’t have enough on its plate, the Albany City Council has been asked to get involved in the drive by many Democrats in Salem and Washington for single-payer health insurance. It may do so by considering a resolution on June 10.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany council, health insurance, Oregon Health Care for All, Ray Hilts, single-payer health plan

Pump station on path worries neighbors

Written February 12th, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

Some Albany residents have become concerned about plans to build a sewer pump station on the Dave Clark Path near where they live in the Iron Works townhouses on Water Avenue. But the design is more than half done, and the city says changing it would cause delays and a significant increase in the cost.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany council, Dave Clark Path, Iron Works townhouses, Riverfront Interceptor, sewer pump station

Albany ADUs can be mobile homes

Written January 6th, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 11 responses.

The Albany City Council gets another chance this week to pass a code change to allow detached “accessory dwelling units” — essentially small second houses –on all single-family residential lots in line with a state mandate.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: accessory dwelling units, ADUs, Albany and ADUs, Albany council, Albany Planning Commission, tiny houses as ADUs

Date set for demolition hearing

Written September 19th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 7 responses.

The request for permission to demolish three old houses at Fourth and Calapooia, a contentious issue, will come up for a public hearing before the Albany City Council on Oct. 10.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: 4th and Calapooia, Albany council, demolition, Landmarks Commission, Siegners

Speed control, the low-cost approach

Written May 21st, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 8 responses.

Whether this works if speed control is the goal, I’m not sure. Yachats, on the central coast in Lincoln County, seems to think it’s worth a try.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany council, radar displays, Radar on Second, speed control, Yachats

Fuel tax defeat: Council out of touch

Written May 15th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 30 responses.

The crushing rejection of Albany’s local fuel tax Tuesday may be just the latest example of the majority of council members and a majority of their constituents not being on the same page.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany council, albany fuel tax, Albany streetscape project

Albany’s war on vagrancy, crime

Written March 29th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 5 responses.

Albany has banned unauthorized camping on public property and set up a zone from which the municipal court may banish repeat criminals for up to a year. Both measures are in effect starting now.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany council, camping ban, exclusion zone, homelessness, vagrancy

Analyze this: Boost for business

Written February 1st, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 21 responses.

If this works, Albany may have fewer empty buildings and vacant storefronts in a couple of years. By “this,” I mean an agreement between the city council and Buxton, a firm that uses advanced analytic techniques to help cities attract business.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany council, Buxton, economic development, Waxhaw NC

Albany flap: Inclusion vs. harmony

Written June 29th, 2017 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 26 responses.

Harmony evidently is not good enough as a goal, so Albany’s Human Relations Commission wants a change in its official mission to include striving for “diversity, equity and inclusion.” The city council’s response on Wednesday: “Not so fast.”

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany council, diversity, Human Relations Commission, inclusion

Council: No roundabout on Gibson

Written May 23rd, 2017 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 16 responses.

Reversing a decision it made a year ago, the Albany City Council now says it does not want a full roundabout at the junction of Gibson Hill Road and Crocker Lane in North Albany.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany council, Crocker Lane, Gibson Hill, roundabout