The Rogue River City Council announced the top five statewide issues on which it voted to be submitted to the League of Oregon Cities at its meeting on Thurs., Aug 27.
The ranked choices, from a list of 27, will be submitted to the league and compiled with rankings from city and town councils across the state in time for the 2027 Legislative Session.
The city’s top five priorities include: 1. Infrastructure Funding, 2. Investment in Community Energy Resilience and Disaster Planning, 3. Maintaining Local Control of a Safe, Modern Right-of-Way. 4. Emergency Communications System Resources, and 5. Water Re-use.
Infrastructure Funding entails advocating for increased, sustained investment in drinking water, stormwater, and water reuse to support housing production, economic development, and environmental protection.
Community Energy Resilience includes resources for energy efficiency and biomass, solar, hydro, biogas, and generators, as well as cities’ ongoing resilience and viability during floods, seismic events, drought, and wildfire.
The League of Oregon Cities will oppose any legislation seeking to preempt local control of municipal rights-of-way, and it will promote legislation for home-rule management of the local Right-of-Way, encouraging cities to timely upgrade and replace their infrastructure lost to natural disasters.
The LOC supports legislation that enhances the effectiveness of the emergency communications system by increasing the 911 tax. Inflation-related factors have lessened the impact of taxes raised for emergency communications efforts.
Water Re-Use includes the advocacy for policies and investments that support the development and expansion of water re-use projects in the state.
Reach reporter Brian Mortensen at [email protected] or 541-582-1707.