1. Celebrate Historic Preservation Month

• Action: Continue celebrating Historic Preservation Month in May with awards and educational programming.
• Strategy: Improve community engagement and acknowledge excellence in historic preservation.
• Need: The community is not aware of excellent historic preservation projects.
• Timeline: Annual.

2. Establish ‘Historic Neighborhood Day’

• Action: Work with Neighborhood Associations to establish and celebrate ‘Historic Neighborhood Day.’
• Strategy: Improve community engagement and acknowledge excellence in historic preservation.
• Need: The community is not aware of excellent historic preservation projects.
• Timeline: Annual.

3. Develop Educational Materials

• Action: Create a Frequently Asked Questions sheet, brochure, and online resource about the designation process and the benefits and responsibilities of owning a historic property.
• Strategy: Educate the public about the designation process.
• Need: Neighborhood support for designation can be difficult to obtain.
• Timeline: 2020.

4. Update Communication Methods

• Action: Review and update the Historic Landmarks Commission newsletter format and distribution method, including the annual mailing about historic property owner responsibilities. Use social media to share information regularly.
• Strategy: Improve website and social media presence.
• Need: There is not enough easily accessible information about the review process, Salem’s history, and the program.
• Timeline: Annual.

5. Create a Centralized Online Resource

• Action: Develop a single City Historic Landmarks Commission website landing page with all information and resources for historic property owners.
• Strategy: Improve website and social media presence.
• Need: There is not enough easily accessible information about the review process, Salem’s history, and the program.
• Timeline: 2021.

6. Host Homeowner Forums

• Action: Coordinate homeowner forums where owners can share experiences and information.
• Strategy: Provide technical training.
• Need: There is not enough easily accessible information about the review process, Salem’s history, and the program.
• Timeline: Annual.

7. Organize History Talks and Walking Tours

• Action: Partner with Travel Salem and local non-profits to organize history talks and walking tours, including school groups.
• Strategy: Develop interpretation and coordinate educational programming about Salem’s diverse local history.
• Need: There is not enough information about local history.
• Timeline: Annual.

8. Install Interpretive Signage

• Action: Develop interpretive signage, such as vinyl utility box wraps and sign toppers, for each historic district and Heritage Neighborhood.
• Strategy: Develop interpretation and coordinate educational programming about Salem’s diverse local history.
• Need: There is not enough information about local history.
• Timeline: 2021.

9. Highlight Underrepresented Histories

• Action: Develop interpretation and educational programming about Salem’s traditionally underrepresented history and cultural landscapes.
• Strategy: Develop interpretation and coordinate educational programming about Salem’s diverse local history.
• Need: There is not enough information about local history.
• Timeline: Annual.

10. Support a Cultural Heritage Strategic Master Plan

• Action: Partner with Travel Salem and local heritage non-profits to develop a citywide Cultural Heritage Strategic Master Plan.
• Strategy: Develop interpretation and coordinate educational programming about Salem’s diverse local history.
• Need: There is not enough information about local history.
• Timeline: 2023.

11. Educate Neighborhoods

• Action: Work with Neighborhood Associations through the Salem Heritage Neighborhood Program to develop educational products about neighborhood history and teach about the survey and designation process.
• Strategy: Educate the public about designation.
• Need: There is not enough information about the designation process, benefits, and responsibilities.
• Timeline: Annual.

12. Sponsor Workshops with State Historic Preservation Office

• Action: Collaborate with the State Historic Preservation Office and other Certified Local Governments to educate residents about historic survey and designation in Oregon.
• Strategy: Educate the public about designation.
• Need: There is not enough information about the designation process, benefits, and responsibilities.
• Timeline: Annual.

13. Continue the “This Place Matters” Photo Contest

• Action: Continue the photo contest with awards.
• Strategy: Improve community engagement and acknowledge excellence in historic preservation.
• Need: There is not enough information about the designation process, benefits, and responsibilities.
• Timeline: Annual.

14. Host Workshops for Historic Property Owners

• Action: Provide an annual workshop outlining responsibilities and opportunities for historic property owners.
• Strategy: Provide training about the design review process and code.
• Need: There is not enough information about the designation process, benefits, and responsibilities.
• Timeline: Annual.

15. Offer “Lunch with the Historic Preservation Officer”

•  Action: Provide a monthly opportunity for residents to ask questions about the design review process and code.
• Strategy: Provide training about the design review process and code.
• Need: There is not enough information about the designation process, benefits, and responsibilities.
• Timeline: Annual.

16. Develop a Welcome Packet

• Action: Create a welcome packet for new historic property owners with brochures and information about owning a historic property.
• Strategy: Provide training about the design review process and code.
• Need: People need assistance understanding the historic design review process and the code.
• Timeline: 2021.

17. Share Technical Preservation Resources

• Action: Digitally share National Park Service technical briefs for homeowners and develop an online video series about appropriate historic preservation methods.
• Strategy: Provide technical training.
• Need: People need technical preservation help.
• Timeline: 2020.

18. Collaborate on Technical Workshops

• Action: Partner with organizations like State Historic Preservation Office, the University of Oregon, Restore Oregon, and local community colleges to sponsor workshops on topics like seismic retrofitting, lead safety, and window/door replacements.
• Strategy: Provide technical training.
• Need: People need technical preservation help.
• Timeline: Annual.

 1. Establish Archaeological Site Policies

• Action: Create policies and procedures for addressing impacts to known archaeological sites in Salem.
• Strategy: Improve enforcement policy.
• Need: Enforcement is inconsistent.
• Timeline: 2020.

2. Coordinate with Neighborhood Associations

• Action: Work with Neighborhood Associations (e.g., Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization, Northeast Neighbors, and South Central Association of Neighbors) to review and update historic enforcement policies and their implementation.
• Strategy: Improve enforcement policy.
• Need: Enforcement is inconsistent.
• Timeline: Annual.

3. Implement Double Fees for Enforcement Cases

• Action: Establish a policy to charge double fees for historic design review in enforcement cases.
• Strategy: Improve enforcement policy.
• Need: Enforcement is inconsistent.
• Timeline: 2026.

4. Hold Monthly Historic Landmarks Commission Meetings

• Action: Conduct monthly Historic Landmarks Commission meetings, public hearings, and roundtable discussions.
• Strategy: Improve criteria and streamline the design review process.
• Need: The Historic Landmarks Commission reviews alterations to designated historic resources, and apply criteria established in Salem Revised Code 230 but the process can be complex.
• Timeline: Annual.

5. Develop Educational Materials

• Action: Create a brochure and Frequently Asked Questions with a flowchart explaining the historic design review process and an overview of the historic code. Develop an online Frequently Asked Questions and consultation form for historic property owners.
• Strategy: Provide training about the design review process and code.
• Need: People need assistance understanding the historic design review process and the code.
• Timeline: 2020.

6. Clarify Design Review Criteria for Accessibility

• Action: Improve and clarify design review criteria for accessibility, such as aging in place.
• Strategy: Address key issues identified as priorities in the Comprehensive Plan.
• Need: The relationship between use and historic preservation is unclear. Criteria needs to align with priorities like climate change and affordable housing.
• Timeline: 2020.

7. Clarify Criteria for Accessory Dwelling Units and Infill Housing

• Action: Improve and clarify design review criteria for accessory dwelling units and infill housing development, in coordination with House Bill 2001/2003 and Salem’s Middle Housing initiatives.
• Strategy: Address key issues identified as priorities in the Comprehensive Plan.
• Need: The relationship between use and historic preservation is unclear. Criteria needs to align with priorities like climate change and affordable housing.
• Timeline: 2023.

8. Clarify Criteria for Adaptive Reuse

•  Action: Improve and clarify design review criteria for adaptive reuse of historic properties.
• Strategy: Streamline the design review process.
• Need: The relationship between use and historic preservation is unclear. Criteria needs to align with priorities like climate change and affordable housing.
• Timeline: 2020.

9. Exemptions for Ordinary Maintenance

• Action: Clarify criteria for work exempt from historic design review, such as ordinary maintenance, repair, and work approvable through building permit review.
• Strategy: Streamline the design review process.
• Need: Design review for simple projects can be time-consuming and expensive.
• Timeline: 2020.

10. Simplify Administrative Reviews

• Action: Develop criteria, processes, and lower fees for “over-the-counter” (Class One) administrative historic design reviews.
• Strategy: Streamline the design review process.
• Need: Design review for simple projects can be time-consuming and expensive.
• Timeline: 2020.

11. Review and Streamline Historic Code

• Action: Review the historic code and identify areas for cleanup and streamlining.
• Strategy: Streamline the design review process.
• Need: Design review for simple projects can be time-consuming and expensive.
• Timeline: 2025.

12. Improve Criteria for Archaeological Resource Preservation

• Action: Clarify and improve criteria in Salem Revised Code 230.100 for the preservation of archaeological resources, including policies and procedures for ground-disturbing activities in Salem’s Historic and Cultural Resource Protection Zone.
• Strategy: Streamline the design review process.
• Need: Design review for simple projects can be time-consuming and expensive.
• Timeline: 2026.

1. Consolidate Design Review Applications

• Action: Allow consolidation of design review applications so property owners pay one fee for multiple projects on a single property.
• Strategy: Establish a Historic Design Review Fee Program that supports historic property owners.
• Need: Design review fees are too burdensome for residential historic property owners.
• Timeline: 2020.

2. Limit Fee Increases

• Action: Limit any increase in historic design review fees for residential historic property owners, focusing on limiting cost recovery for staff time.
• Strategy: Establish a Historic Design Review Fee Program that supports historic property owners.
• Need: Design review fees are too burdensome for residential historic property owners.
• Timeline: 2022.

3. Streamline Low-Cost Projects

• Action: Offer a streamlined process for projects valued under $1,000 with a small fee (e.g., $25.00).
• Strategy: Establish a Historic Design Review Fee Program that supports historic property owners.
• Need: Design review fees are too burdensome for residential historic property owners.
• Timeline: 2025.

4. Residential Historic Design Review Fee Voucher

• Action: Develop and offer a program allowing homeowners to apply for a Residential Historic Design Review Fee Voucher, funded by double fees collected through enforcement cases.
• Strategy: Establish a Historic Design Review Fee Program that supports historic property owners.
• Need: People need financial support and assistance to maintain and restore historic structures, which provide a public benefit to the community.
• Timeline: Annual.

5. Annual Residential Toolbox Grant

• Action: Offer an annual Residential Toolbox Grant to support historic property owners.
• Strategy: Improve financial support for historic property owners.
• Need: People need financial support and assistance to maintain and restore historic structures, which provide a public benefit to the community.
• Timeline: Annual.

6. Expand Toolbox Grant Program with City Funding

• Action: Identify a sustainable City funding source to expand the Residential Toolbox Grant Program, such as exploring the feasibility of a permanent allocation from the Council through Transient Occupancy Tax funding.
• Strategy: Improve financial support for historic property owners.
• Need: People need financial support and assistance to maintain and restore historic structures, which provide a public benefit to the community.
• Timeline: Annual.

7. Expand Toolbox Grant Program with Non-Profit Support

• Action: Identify additional non-profit community sources to expand the Residential Toolbox Grant Program.
• Strategy: Improve financial support for historic property owners.
• Need: People need financial support and assistance to maintain and restore historic structures, which provide a public benefit to the community.
• Timeline: Annual.

8. Expand Toolbox Grant Program with Private Donors

• Action: Identify additional private donor sources to expand the Residential Toolbox Grant Program.
• Strategy: Improve financial support for historic property owners.
• Need: People need financial support and assistance to maintain and restore historic structures, which provide a public benefit to the community.
• Timeline: Annual.

 1. Celebrate Historic Landscape Architecture Month

• Action: Celebrate Historic Landscape Architecture Month annually in April.
• Strategy: Encourage preservation of the natural environment.
• Need: The community is not aware of excellent examples of historic and cultural landscapes in Salem.
• Timeline: Annual.

2. Introduce a Beautification Award

• Action: Develop and offer a “Beautification Award” to recognize maintenance and restoration of historic or cultural landscapes.
• Strategy: Encourage preservation of the natural environment.
• Need: The community is not aware of excellent examples of historic and cultural landscapes in Salem.
• Timeline: Annual.

3. Develop Cultural Resource Management Plans

• Action: Collaborate with Parks (Salem’s Public Works Department) and the Salem Parks Advisory Board to create Cultural Resource Management Plans for identifying and preserving historic, character-defining natural features and landscapes.
• Strategy: Encourage preservation of the natural environment.
• Need: There is insufficient coordination with Parks regarding the identification and preservation of historic, character-defining natural features and landscapes.
• Timeline: 2020.

4. Revise Design Review Code for Significant Landscapes

•  Action: Coordinate with Parks (Salem’s Public Works Department) to review and revise design review code and criteria related to altering significant landscapes and removing/replacing significant trees within historic districts and on individually listed historic properties.
• Strategy: Encourage preservation of the natural environment.
• Need: There is insufficient coordination with Parks regarding the identification and preservation of historic, character-defining natural features and landscapes.
• Timeline: 2020.

5. Create Educational Materials for Tree Removal Review Process

• Action: Collaborate with Parks (Salem’s Public Works Department) to develop a clear Frequently Asked Questions and brochure about the review process for tree removal in Salem’s historic districts and on individually listed historic properties.
• Strategy: Encourage preservation of the natural environment.
• Need: There is insufficient coordination with Parks regarding the identification and preservation of historic, character-defining natural features and landscapes.
• Timeline: 2020.

6. Public Education on Cultural Landscapes

• Action: Identify opportunities to collaborate with Parks (Salem’s Public Works Department) to create educational programming that informs the public about Salem’s historic cultural landscapes.
• Strategy: Encourage preservation of the natural environment.
• Need: There is insufficient coordination with Parks regarding the identification and preservation of historic, character-defining natural features and landscapes.
• Timeline: Annual.

7. Adopt Historic and Cultural Resource Protection Zone Map

•  Action: Adopt a Historic and Cultural Resource Protection Zone Map and associated administrative policies and procedures.
• Strategy: Encourage preservation of historic and cultural archaeological resources.
• Need: Project managers, planners, and property owners need guidance on archaeological compliance and coordination with State Historic Preservation Office and the Tribes during property redevelopment.
• Timeline: 2020.

8. Develop Memorandums of Understanding with Tribes

• Action: Support the development of Memorandums of Understanding with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, similar to the existing Memorandum of Understanding with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
• Strategy: Encourage preservation of historic and cultural archaeological resources.
• Need: Project managers, planners, and property owners need guidance on archaeological compliance and coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office and the Tribes during property redevelopment.
• Timeline: 2021.

9. Host Monthly Compliance Coordination Meetings

• Action: Hold monthly historic and cultural resource compliance coordination meetings with the Tribes and the State Historic Preservation Office.
• Strategy: Encourage preservation of historic and cultural archaeological resources.
• Need: Property owners need guidance on archaeological compliance and coordination with State Historic Preservation Office and the Tribes during property redevelopment.
• Timeline: Annual.

 1. Address Energy Efficiency and Environmental Concerns

• Action: Develop and improve historic design review criteria to address community-defined "hot topics," including energy efficiency, solar panel installation, and light pollution.
• Strategy: Encourage sustainability in the restoration and redevelopment of historic structures.
• Need: There is a lack of support and education regarding sustainable practices that benefit the environment.
• Timeline: 2020.

2. Require Deconstruction Plans for Demolition

• Action: Develop historic design review criteria requiring a deconstruction plan to be submitted as part of any demolition application.
• Strategy: Encourage sustainability in the restoration and redevelopment of historic structures.
• Need: There is a lack of support and education regarding sustainable practices that benefit the environment.
• Timeline: 2020.

3. Establish a Historic Preservation Green Fund Grant

•  Action: Create and offer a Historic Preservation Green Fund Grant to provide financial support for window restoration, energy efficiency improvements, and solar panel installation.
• Strategy: Encourage sustainability in the restoration and redevelopment of historic structures.
• Need: There is a lack of support and education regarding sustainable practices that benefit the environment.
• Timeline: Annual.

4. Host an Annual Speaker Series

• Action: Offer an annual speaker series to educate the public about sustainable practices in historic preservation. Collaborate with regional partners, such as the National Trust Preservation Green Lab in Seattle, WA, to develop educational programming.
• Strategy: Encourage sustainability in the restoration and redevelopment of historic structures.
• Need: There is a lack of support and education regarding sustainable practices that benefit the environment.
• Timeline: Annual.

1. Spotlight Key Surveyed Resources

• Action: Highlight key surveyed resources or buildings featured in the Salem Heritage Neighborhood Architectural Guide through the Historic Landmarks Commission social media and newsletter.
• Strategy: Work with neighborhoods to identify, survey, and designate archaeological sites, historic structures, places, and landscapes that are meaningful.
• Need: Neighborhood support for designation can be difficult to obtain.
• Timeline: Annual.

2. Develop Cultural Resource Management Plans

• Action: Coordinate with the Oregon Historic Preservation Office, Tribes, and other stakeholders to survey and create Cultural Resource Management Plans for areas in Salem with a high concentration of archaeological sites and/or significant cultural landscapes.
• Strategy: Work with neighborhoods to identify, survey, and designate archaeological sites, historic structures, places, and landscapes that are meaningful.
• Need: Neighborhood support for designation can be difficult to obtain.
• Timeline: 2023–2025.

3. Use Interactive Mapping for Public Input

• Action: Utilize an online interactive map to gather public input on areas to survey and/or designate in preparation for the Historic Preservation Plan update in 2030.
• Strategy: Work with neighborhoods to identify, survey, and designate archaeological sites, historic structures, places, and landscapes that are meaningful.
• Need: Neighborhood support for designation can be difficult to obtain.
• Timeline: 2029.