Keizer plans town halls on UGB and fluoride, schedules sidewalk and streetlight work sessions

At its Feb. 24 work session the Keizer City Council agreed to a calendar of town halls and work sessions intended to increase public engagement on major issues.

Councilors approved a first, open-format town hall to "listen to citizens," and agreed additional town halls will address the urban growth boundary (UGB) and fluoride. Staff and councilors discussed holding town halls on Saturdays to maximize participation; one councilor suggested a morning time slot (for example, 10–11:30 a.m.).

The council also scheduled a series of work sessions and events: a sidewalk work session in July, a streetlight work session in August, a parks tour in September, and semiannual meetings with the long‑range planning task force in March and November. The council set aside October as a flexible month for a town hall or other topical meeting and asked staff to coordinate neighborhood associations and volunteer groups on outreach.

Councilors suggested the first town hall be an open listening session where residents can submit questions and staff/council draw topics from a question bucket; council president Starr and others encouraged an intentionally inclusive format. Staff will return with logistics and a schedule for recruitment of volunteers and neighborhood partners for outreach.