The Grants Pass City Council reached a consensus on addressing the funding gap for public safety by proposing a 3% food and beverage tax, coupled with a $9 utility fee. In an advisory vote on Wednesday night, the decision received five approvals and three dissents from Council members D.J. Faszer, Dwayne Yunker, and Valerie Lovelace.
The next step involves city staff drafting ordinances to implement these proposed revenue measures. The aim is not only to sustain existing staffing levels but also to augment resources by adding three police officers, a crime analyst, three firefighters, and an administrator. A final vote on these ordinances is scheduled for the upcoming meeting on February 21st.
Before the Council’s deliberation and vote, over an hour of public testimony was heard, covering a spectrum of opinions on public safety funding. Citizens expressed diverse views, both in favor of and against options such as a sales tax, a food and beverage tax, and a utility fee.
The meeting commenced with the Council unanimously approving an ordinance amending the Development Code to relax residential development standards. These amendments streamline requirements for multifamily housing developments, reducing the 30% open space requirement while preserving high-value recreation areas. Setback standards near single-family residences in multifamily developments were retained.
Additionally, the Council approved an ordinance correcting solar development standards, incorporating minor, non-substantive corrections. A property at 630 Lincoln Road was annexed into the city limits to facilitate connection to the municipal sewer system at the owner’s request.
Further decisions included the sale of a one-tenth acre residential property on Southeast 8th Street for a cash offer of $70,000 to the Sabrina Gaunce Trust, with the property’s value assessed at $68,000 by the Assessor’s office.
